Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration

Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration

by Sami W. Asmar
Released March 2022
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119734147

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Book description

Explore the development and state-of-the-art in deep space exploration using radio science techniques

In Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration, accomplished NASA/JPL researcher and manager Sami Asmar delivers a multi-disciplinary exploration of the science, technology, engineering, mission operations, and signal processing relevant to deep space radio science. The book discusses basic principles before moving on to more advanced topics that include a wide variety of graphical illustrations and useful references to publications by experts in their respective fields.

Complete explanations of changes in the characteristics of electromagnetic waves and the instrumentation and technology used in scientific experiments are examined.

Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration offers answers to the question of how to explore the solar system with radio links and better understand the interior structures, atmospheres, rings, and surfaces of other planets. The author also includes:

  • Thorough introductions to radio science techniques and systems needed to investigate planetary atmospheres, rings, and surfaces
  • Comprehensive explorations of planetary gravity and interior structures, as well as relativistic and solar studies
  • Practical discussions of instrumentation, technologies, and future directions in radio science techniques

Perfect for students and professors of physics, astronomy, planetary science, aerospace engineering, and communications engineering, Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration will also earn a place in the libraries of engineers and scientists in the aerospace industry.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Serious page
  3. Title page
  4. Copyright
  5. Foreword
  6. Preface
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Author and Contributors
  9. 1 Investigations and Techniques
    1. 1.0 Introduction
    2. 1.1 Historical Background
    3. 1.1.1 The Field of Radio Science
    4. 1.2 Fundamental Concepts
    5. 1.2.1 Categories of RS Investigations
    6. 1.2.2 Related Fields
    7. 1.3 Historical Development
    8. 1.4 Overview of the Radio Science Instrumentation System
    9. 1.4.1 Flight System
    10. 1.4.2 Ground System
    11. 1.4.3 Other Ground Stations
    12. 1.5 Noise, Error Sources, and Calibrations
    13. 1.6 Experiment Implementation, Data Archiving, and Critical Mission Support
    14. 1.7 Radio Science at Home
    15. 1.8 Future Directions
    16. 1.9 Summary and Remaining Chapters
    17. Appendix 1A Selected Accomplishments and Planned Observations in Spacecraft Radio Science
    18. 1A.1 Selected Accomplishments in Radio Science
    19. 1A.2 Planned Observations in the Near-Term
    20. 1A.3 Planned Observations in the Long Term
  10. 2 Planetary Atmospheres, Rings, and Surfaces
    1. 2.1 Overview of Radio Occultations
    2. 2.2 Neutral Atmospheres
    3. 2.2.1 Abel Inversion
    4. 2.3 Ionospheres
    5. 2.4 Rings
    6. 2.4.1 Ring Occultation Observables
    7. 2.4.2 Ring Occultation Analysis
    8. 2.4.3 Ring Diffraction Correction
    9. 2.4.4 Data Decimation and Profile Resolution
    10. 2.4.5 Signal-to-noise Ratio-resolution Tradeoff
    11. 2.5 Surface Scattering
  11. 3 Gravity Science and Planetary Interiors
    1. 3.1 Overview
    2. 3.2 Gravity Observables and Formulations
    3. 3.2.1 Alternative Basis and Methods
    4. 3.2.2 Tidal Forces and Time Variable Gravity
    5. 3.2.3 Covariance Analysis
    6. 3.3 Earth and Moon Gravity Measurements and the Development of Crosslinks
    7. 3.4 Shape and Topography Data for Interpretation of Gravity Measurements
    8. 3.4.1 Imagery
    9. 3.4.2 Altimetry
    10. 3.4.3 Space-based Radar
    11. 3.4.4 Radio Occultations
    12. 3.4.5 Ground-based Radar
    13. 3.4.6 Examples of Results of Gravity–Topography Analysis
    14. 3.5 Application to Solar System Bodies
    15. 3.5.1 Moon
    16. 3.5.2 Mercury
    17. 3.5.3 Venus
    18. 3.5.4 Mars
    19. 3.5.5 Jupiter
    20. 3.5.6 Saturn
    21. 3.5.7 Uranus
    22. 3.5.8 Neptune
    23. 3.5.9 Pluto
    24. 3.5.10 Asteroids and Comets
    25. 3.5.11 Pioneer and Earth Flyby Anomalies
    26. 3.6 A User’s Guide
    27. 3.6.1 Calculation of Observables and Partials
    28. 3.6.2 Estimation Filter
    29. 3.6.3 Solution Analysis
    30. Appendix 3A Planetary Geodesy
    31. 3A.1 Planetary Geodesy: Gravitational Potentials and Fields
    32. 3A.2 Gravity Determination Technique
    33. 3A.3 Dynamical Integration
    34. 3A.4 Processing of Observations
    35. 3A.5 Filtering of Observations
  12. 4 Solar and Fundamental Physics
    1. 4.1 Principles of Heliospheric Observations
    2. 4.2 Inner Heliospheric Electron Density
    3. 4.3 Density Power Spectrum
    4. 4.4 Intermittency, Nonstationarity, and Events
    5. 4.5 Faraday Rotation
    6. 4.6 Spaced-receiver Measurements
    7. 4.7 Space-time Localization of Plasma Irregularities
    8. 4.8 Utility for Telecommunications Engineering
    9. 4.9 Precision Tests of Relativistic Gravity
    10. 4.10 Scientific Goals and Objectives
    11. 4.10.1 Determine γ to an Accuracy of 2 ×10−6
    12. 4.10.2 Determine β to an Accuracy of ~3 ×10−5
    13. 4.10.3 Determine η to an Accuracy of at Least 4.4 ×10−4
    14. 4.10.4 Determine α1 to an Accuracy of 7.8 ×10−6
    15. 4.10.5 Determine the Solar Oblateness to an Accuracy of 4.8 ×10−9
    16. 4.10.6 Test Any Time Variation of the Gravitational Constant, G, to an Accuracy of 3 10×−13 Per Year
    17. 4.10.7 Characterize the Solar Corona
    18. 4.11 Comparison with Other Experiments
    19. 4.11.1 Cassini
    20. 4.11.2 Gravity Probe B
    21. 4.11.3 Messenger
    22. 4.11.4 Lunar Laser Ranging
    23. 4.11.5 Gaia
    24. 4.12 MORE Summary
    25. 4.13 Anomalous Motion of Pioneers 10 and 11
    26. Appendix 4A Solar Corona Observation Methodology Illustrated by Mars Express
    27. 4A.1 Formulation
    28. 4A.2 Total Electron Content from Ranging Data
    29. 4A.3 Change in Total Electron Content from Doppler Data
    30. 4A.4 Electron Density
    31. 4A.5 Coronal Mass Ejections
    32. 4A.6 Separation of Uplink and Downlink Effects from Plasma
    33. 4A.7 Earth Atmospheric Correction
    34. 4A.8 Example Data
    35. Appendix 4B Faraday Rotation Methodology Illustrated by Magellan Observations
    36. 4B.1 Formulation
    37. 4B.2 Coronal Radio Sounding
    38. 4B.3 The Faraday Rotation Effect
    39. 4B.4 Measurement of the Total Electron Content
    40. 4B.5 Combining the Faraday Rotation and Total Electron Content
    41. 4B.6 Instrument Overview: The Magellan Spacecraft
    42. 4B.7 Instrument Overview: The Deep Space Network
    43. 4B.8 Data Processing and Results
    44. 4B.9 Conclusion
    45. Appendix 4C Precision Doppler Tracking of Deep Space Probes and the Search for Low-frequency Gravitational Radiation
    46. 4C.1 Background
    47. 4C.2 Response of Spacecraft Doppler Tracking to Gravitational Waves
    48. 4C.3 Noise in Doppler GW Observations and Their Transfer Functions
    49. 4C.4 Detector Performance
    50. 4C.4.1 Periodic and Quasi-periodic Waves
    51. 4C.4.2 Burst Waves
    52. 4C.4.3 Stochastic Waves
    53. 4C.5 Sensitivity Improvements in Future Doppler GW Observations
  13. 5 Technologies, Instrumentation, and Operations
    1. 5.1 Overview
    2. 5.1.1 End-to-End Instrumentation Overview
    3. 5.1.2 Experiment Error Budgets
    4. 5.2 Key Concepts and Terminology
    5. 5.2.1 The Allan Deviation for Frequency and Timing Standards
    6. 5.2.2 Signal Operational Modes
    7. 5.2.3 Reception Modes
    8. 5.2.4 Signal Carrier Modulation Modes
    9. 5.3 Radio Science Technologies
    10. 5.3.1 Spacecraft Ultrastable Oscillator
    11. 5.3.2 Spacecraft Ka-band Translator
    12. 5.3.3 Spacecraft Open-loop Receiver
    13. 5.3.4 Spacecraft Radio Science Beacon
    14. 5.3.5 Ground Water Vapor Radiometer
    15. 5.3.6 Ground Advanced Ranging Instrument
    16. 5.3.7 Ground Bethe Hole Coupler
    17. 5.3.8 Ground Advanced Pointing Techniques
    18. 5.4 Operations and Experiment Planning
    19. 5.5 Data Products
    20. 5.5.1 Range Rate
    21. 5.5.2 Range
    22. 5.5.3 Delta Differential One-way Ranging (Delta-DOR)
    23. 5.5.4 Differenced Range Versus Integrated Doppler
    24. 5.5.5 Open-loop Receiver (Radio Science Receiver)
    25. 5.5.6 Media Calibration
    26. 5.5.7 Spacecraft Trajectory
    27. 5.5.8 Calibration Data Sets
    28. Appendix 5A Spacecraft Telecommunications System and Radio Science Flight Instrument for Several Deep Space Missions
  14. 6 Future Directions in Radio Science Investigations and Technologies
    1. 6.1 Fundamental Questions toward a Future Exploration Roadmap
    2. 6.1.1 Fundamental Questions about the Utility of RS Techniques
    3. 6.1.2 Possible Triggers for Specific Innovations for Future Investigations
    4. 6.1.3 Possible Synergies with Other Fields
    5. 6.1.4 Examining Relevant Methodologies
    6. 6.2 Science-Enabling Technologies: Constellations of Small Spacecraft
    7. 6.2.1 Constellations for Investigations of Atmospheric Structure and Dynamics
    8. 6.2.2 Constellations for Investigations of Interior Structure and Dynamics
    9. 6.2.3 Constellations for Simultaneous and Differential Measurements
    10. 6.2.4 Constellations of Entry Probes and Atmospheric Vehicles
    11. 6.2.5 Constellations for Investigations of Planetary Surface
    12. 6.3 Science-enabling via Optical Links
    13. 6.4 Science-enabling Calibration Techniques
    14. 6.4.1 Earth’s Troposphere Water Vapor Radiometry
    15. 6.4.2 Antenna Mechanical Noise
    16. 6.4.3 Advanced Ranging
    17. 6.5 Summary
    18. Appendix 6A The National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey, Radio Science Contribution, 2009: Planetary Radio Science: Investigations of Interiors, Surfaces, Atmospheres, Rings, and Environments
    19. 6A.1 Summary
    20. 6A.2 Background
    21. 6A.3 Historical Opportunities and Discoveries
    22. 6A.4 Recent Opportunities and Discoveries
    23. 6A.5 Future Opportunities
    24. 6A.6 Technological Advances in Flight Instrumentation
    25. 6A.7 The Future of Flight Instrumentation
    26. 6A.7.1 Crosslink Radio Science
    27. 6A.7.2 Ka-band Transponders and Other Instrumentation
    28. 6A.8 Ground Instrumentation
    29. 6A.8.1 NASA’s Deep Space Network
    30. 6A.8.2 Other Facilities
    31. 6A.9 New Communications Architectures: Arrays and Optical Links
    32. 6A.10 Conclusion and Goals
    33. 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
    34. 6B.1 Summary
    35. 6B.2 Current Status of RS Investigations
    36. 6B.3 Key Science Goals for the Next Decade
    37. 6B.4 Radio Science Techniques for Achieving the Science Goals of the Next Decade
    38. 6B.5 Technology Development Needed in the Next Decade
  15. References
  16. Acronyms and Abbreviations
  17. Index
  18. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Radio Science Techniques for Deep Space Exploration
  • Author(s): Sami W. Asmar
  • Release date: March 2022
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119734147