Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Author and Contributors
1 Investigations and Techniques
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Historical Background
1.1.1 The Field of Radio Science
1.2 Fundamental Concepts
1.2.1 Categories of RS Investigations
1.2.2 Related Fields
1.3 Historical Development
1.4 Overview of the Radio Science Instrumentation System
1.4.1 Flight System
1.4.2 Ground System
1.4.3 Other Ground Stations
1.5 Noise, Error Sources, and Calibrations
1.6 Experiment Implementation, Data Archiving, and Critical Mission Support
1.7 Radio Science at Home
1.8 Future Directions
1.9 Summary and Remaining Chapters
Appendix 1A Selected Accomplishments and Planned Observations in Spacecraft Radio Science
1A.1 Selected Accomplishments in Radio Science
1A.2 Planned Observations in the Near-Term
1A.3 Planned Observations in the Long Term
2 Planetary Atmospheres, Rings, and Surfaces
2.1 Overview of Radio Occultations
2.2 Neutral Atmospheres
2.2.1 Abel Inversion
2.3 Ionospheres
2.4 Rings
2.4.1 Ring Occultation Observables
2.4.2 Ring Occultation Analysis
2.4.3 Ring Diffraction Correction
2.4.4 Data Decimation and Profile Resolution
2.4.5 Signal-to-noise Ratio-resolution Tradeoff
2.5 Surface Scattering
3 Gravity Science and Planetary Interiors
3.1 Overview
3.2 Gravity Observables and Formulations
3.2.1 Alternative Basis and Methods
3.2.2 Tidal Forces and Time Variable Gravity
3.2.3 Covariance Analysis
3.3 Earth and Moon Gravity Measurements and the Development of Crosslinks
3.4 Shape and Topography Data for Interpretation of Gravity Measurements
3.4.1 Imagery
3.4.2 Altimetry
3.4.3 Space-based Radar
3.4.4 Radio Occultations
3.4.5 Ground-based Radar
3.4.6 Examples of Results of Gravity–Topography Analysis
3.5 Application to Solar System Bodies
3.5.1 Moon
3.5.2 Mercury
3.5.3 Venus
3.5.4 Mars
3.5.5 Jupiter
3.5.6 Saturn
3.5.7 Uranus
3.5.8 Neptune
3.5.9 Pluto
3.5.10 Asteroids and Comets
3.5.11 Pioneer and Earth Flyby Anomalies
3.6 A User’s Guide
3.6.1 Calculation of Observables and Partials
3.6.2 Estimation Filter
3.6.3 Solution Analysis
Appendix 3A Planetary Geodesy
3A.1 Planetary Geodesy: Gravitational Potentials and Fields
3A.2 Gravity Determination Technique
3A.3 Dynamical Integration
3A.4 Processing of Observations
3A.5 Filtering of Observations
4 Solar and Fundamental Physics
4.1 Principles of Heliospheric Observations
4.2 Inner Heliospheric Electron Density
4.3 Density Power Spectrum
4.4 Intermittency, Nonstationarity, and Events
4.5 Faraday Rotation
4.6 Spaced-receiver Measurements
4.7 Space-time Localization of Plasma Irregularities
4.8 Utility for Telecommunications Engineering
4.9 Precision Tests of Relativistic Gravity
4.10 Scientific Goals and Objectives
4.10.1 Determine γ to an Accuracy of 2 × 10−6
4.10.2 Determine β to an Accuracy of ~3 × 10−5
4.10.3 Determine η to an Accuracy of at Least 4.4 × 10−4
4.10.4 Determine α1 to an Accuracy of 7.8 × 10−6
4.10.5 Determine the Solar Oblateness to an Accuracy of 4.8 × 10−9
4.10.6 Test Any Time Variation of the Gravitational Constant, G,
to an Accuracy of 3 × 10−13 Per Year
4.10.7 Characterize the Solar Corona
4.11 Comparison with Other Experiments
4.11.1 Cassini
4.11.2 Gravity Probe B
4.11.3 Messenger
4.11.4 Lunar Laser Ranging
4.11.5 Gaia
4.12 MORE Summary
4.13 Anomalous Motion of Pioneers 10 and 11
Appendix 4A Solar Corona Observation Methodology Illustrated by Mars Express
4A.1 Formulation
4A.2 Total Electron Content from Ranging Data
4A.3 Change in Total Electron Content from Doppler Data
4A.4 Electron Density
4A.5 Coronal Mass Ejections
4A.6 Separation of Uplink and Downlink Effects from Plasma
4A.7 Earth Atmospheric Correction
4A.8 Example Data
Appendix 4B Faraday Rotation Methodology Illustrated by Magellan Observations
4B.1 Formulation
4B.2 Coronal Radio Sounding
4B.3 The Faraday Rotation Effect
4B.4 Measurement of the Total Electron Content
4B.5 Combining the Faraday Rotation and Total Electron Content
4B.6 Instrument Overview: The Magellan Spacecraft
4B.7 Instrument Overview: The Deep Space Network
4B.8 Data Processing and Results
4B.9 Conclusion
Appendix 4C Precision Doppler Tracking of Deep Space Probes and the Search for Low-frequency Gravitational Radiation
4C.1 Background
4C.2 Response of Spacecraft Doppler Tracking to Gravitational Waves
4C.3 Noise in Doppler GW Observations and Their Transfer Functions
4C.4 Detector Performance
4C.4.1 Periodic and Quasi-periodic Waves
4C.4.2 Burst Waves
4C.4.3 Stochastic Waves
4C.5 Sensitivity Improvements in Future Doppler GW Observations
5 Technologies, Instrumentation, and Operations
5.1 Overview
5.1.1 End-to-end Instrumentation Overview
5.1.2 Experiment Error Budgets
5.2 Key Concepts and Terminology
5.2.1 The Allan Deviation for Frequency and Timing Standards
5.2.2 Signal Operational Modes
5.2.3 Reception Modes
5.2.4 Signal Carrier Modulation Modes
5.3 Radio Science Technologies
5.3.1 Spacecraft Ultrastable Oscillator
5.3.2 Spacecraft Ka-band Translator
5.3.3 Spacecraft Open-loop Receiver
5.3.4 Spacecraft Radio Science Beacon
5.3.5 Ground Water Vapor Radiometer
5.3.6 Ground Advanced Ranging Instrument
5.3.7 Ground Bethe Hole Coupler
5.3.8 Ground Advanced Pointing Techniques
5.4 Operations and Experiment Planning
5.5 Data Products
5.5.1 Range Rate
5.5.2 Range
5.5.3 Delta Differential One-way Ranging (Delta-DOR)
5.5.4 Differenced Range Versus Integrated Doppler
5.5.5 Open-loop Receiver (Radio Science Receiver)
5.5.6 Media Calibration
5.5.7 Spacecraft Trajectory
5.5.8 Calibration Data Sets
Appendix 5A Spacecraft Telecommunications System and Radio Science Flight Instrument for Several Deep Space Missions
6 Future Directions in Radio Science Investigations and Technologies
6.1 Fundamental Questions toward a Future Exploration Roadmap
6.1.1 Fundamental Questions about the Utility of RS Techniques
6.1.2 Possible Triggers for Specific Innovations for Future Investigations
6.1.3 Possible Synergies with Other Fields
6.1.4 Examining Relevant Methodologies
6.2 Science-Enabling Technologies: Constellations of Small Spacecraft
6.2.1 Constellations for Investigations of Atmospheric Structure and Dynamics
6.2.2 Constellations for Investigations of Interior Structure and Dynamics
6.2.3 Constellations for Simultaneous and Differential Measurements
6.2.4 Constellations of Entry Probes and Atmospheric Vehicles
6.2.5 Constellations for Investigations of Planetary Surface
6.3 Science-enabling via Optical Links
6.4 Science-enabling Calibration Techniques
6.4.1 Earth’s Troposphere Water Vapor Radiometry
6.4.2 Antenna Mechanical Noise
6.4.3 Advanced Ranging
6.5 Summary
Appendix 6A The National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey,
Radio Science Contribution, 2009: Planetary Radio Science: Investigations of Interiors, Surfaces, Atmospheres, Rings, and Environments
6A.1 Summary
6A.2 Background
6A.3 Historical Opportunities and Discoveries
6A.4 Recent Opportunities and Discoveries
6A.5 Future Opportunities
6A.6 Technological Advances in Flight Instrumentation
6A.7 The Future of Flight Instrumentation
6A.7.1 Crosslink Radio Science
6A.7.2 Ka-band Transponders and Other Instrumentation
6A.8 Ground Instrumentation
6A.8.1 NASA’s Deep Space Network
6A.8.2 Other Facilities
6A.9 New Communications Architectures: Arrays and Optical Links
6A.10 Conclusion and Goals
Appendix 6B The National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey,
Radio Science Contribution: Solar System Interiors, Atmospheres, and Surfaces Investigations via Radio Links: Goals for the Next Decade
6B.1 Summary
6B.2 Current Status of RS Investigations
6B.3 Key Science Goals for the Next Decade
6B.4 Radio Science Techniques for Achieving the Science Goals of the Next Decade
6B.5 Technology Development Needed in the Next Decade
References
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Index
EULA