The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft

The force conditions experienced by spacecraft and astronauts in space are vastly different from those in Earth’s gravitational environment, hence it is necessary to conduct adequate micro-low-gravity environment simulation tests on the ground before launch. In this paper, an overview is provided of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Libin Zang, Weijie Hou, Lei Liu, Haixia Hu, Xingze Wang, Yong Jia, Yongbo Hao, Yuehua Li, Baoshan Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Lubricants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/6/258
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849705111647944704
author Libin Zang
Weijie Hou
Lei Liu
Haixia Hu
Xingze Wang
Yong Jia
Yongbo Hao
Yuehua Li
Baoshan Zhao
author_facet Libin Zang
Weijie Hou
Lei Liu
Haixia Hu
Xingze Wang
Yong Jia
Yongbo Hao
Yuehua Li
Baoshan Zhao
author_sort Libin Zang
collection DOAJ
description The force conditions experienced by spacecraft and astronauts in space are vastly different from those in Earth’s gravitational environment, hence it is necessary to conduct adequate micro-low-gravity environment simulation tests on the ground before launch. In this paper, an overview is provided of the current status of micro-low-gravity simulation test technology for spacecraft based on hydrostatic air-bearing. The paper systematically organizes the application of hydrostatic air-bearing technology in micro-low-gravity simulation tests, such as the deployment of space mechanisms, spacecraft GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), on-orbit operations of space manipulators, and astronaut training. It summarizes the principles of air-flotation micro-low-gravity simulation technology in different scenarios and distills suitable solutions for various requirements. Finally, the paper looks forward to the development trends of air-flotation micro-low-gravity simulation test technology and proposes key technical challenges that need to be overcome in aerostatic bearing.
format Article
id doaj-art-74e503b00d8a488a8a4203cebeecbf66
institution DOAJ
issn 2075-4442
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Lubricants
spelling doaj-art-74e503b00d8a488a8a4203cebeecbf662025-08-20T03:16:33ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-06-0113625810.3390/lubricants13060258The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for SpacecraftLibin Zang0Weijie Hou1Lei Liu2Haixia Hu3Xingze Wang4Yong Jia5Yongbo Hao6Yuehua Li7Baoshan Zhao8School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Microgravity and Hypogravity Environment Simulation Technology, Tianjin Institute of Aerospace Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Tianjin 300301, ChinaInstitute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing 100190, ChinaBeijing Institute of Control Engineering, Beijing 100190, ChinaInstitute of Spacecraft System Engineering, Beijing 100190, ChinaBeijing Institute of Control Engineering, Beijing 100190, ChinaBeijing Institute of Control Engineering, Beijing 100190, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Microgravity and Hypogravity Environment Simulation Technology, Tianjin Institute of Aerospace Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Tianjin 300301, ChinaTianjin Key Laboratory of Microgravity and Hypogravity Environment Simulation Technology, Tianjin Institute of Aerospace Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Tianjin 300301, ChinaThe force conditions experienced by spacecraft and astronauts in space are vastly different from those in Earth’s gravitational environment, hence it is necessary to conduct adequate micro-low-gravity environment simulation tests on the ground before launch. In this paper, an overview is provided of the current status of micro-low-gravity simulation test technology for spacecraft based on hydrostatic air-bearing. The paper systematically organizes the application of hydrostatic air-bearing technology in micro-low-gravity simulation tests, such as the deployment of space mechanisms, spacecraft GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), on-orbit operations of space manipulators, and astronaut training. It summarizes the principles of air-flotation micro-low-gravity simulation technology in different scenarios and distills suitable solutions for various requirements. Finally, the paper looks forward to the development trends of air-flotation micro-low-gravity simulation test technology and proposes key technical challenges that need to be overcome in aerostatic bearing.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/6/258air bearingmicro-low-gravity simulationspacecraft control simulatorair-float platformgravity compensation
spellingShingle Libin Zang
Weijie Hou
Lei Liu
Haixia Hu
Xingze Wang
Yong Jia
Yongbo Hao
Yuehua Li
Baoshan Zhao
The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft
Lubricants
air bearing
micro-low-gravity simulation
spacecraft control simulator
air-float platform
gravity compensation
title The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft
title_full The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft
title_fullStr The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft
title_full_unstemmed The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft
title_short The Application and Development of Static Pressure Air Floating in the Field of Micro-Low-Gravity Simulation Experiments for Spacecraft
title_sort application and development of static pressure air floating in the field of micro low gravity simulation experiments for spacecraft
topic air bearing
micro-low-gravity simulation
spacecraft control simulator
air-float platform
gravity compensation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/6/258
work_keys_str_mv AT libinzang theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT weijiehou theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT leiliu theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT haixiahu theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT xingzewang theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT yongjia theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT yongbohao theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT yuehuali theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT baoshanzhao theapplicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT libinzang applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT weijiehou applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT leiliu applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT haixiahu applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT xingzewang applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT yongjia applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT yongbohao applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT yuehuali applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft
AT baoshanzhao applicationanddevelopmentofstaticpressureairfloatinginthefieldofmicrolowgravitysimulationexperimentsforspacecraft