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Doppler tracking of planetary spacecraftThis article concerns the measurement of Doppler shift on microwave links that connect planetary spacecraft with the Deep Space Network. Such measurements are made by tracking the Doppler effect with phase-locked loop receivers. A description of equipment and techniques as well as a summary of the appropriate mathematical models are given. The two-way Doppler shift is measured by transmitting a highly-stable microwave (uplink) carrier from a ground station, having the spacecraft coherently transpond this carrier, and using a phase-locked loop receiver at the ground station to track the returned (downlink) carrier. The largest sources of measurement error are usually plasma noise and thermal noise. The plasma noise, which may originate in the ionosphere or the solar corona, is discussed; and a technique to partially calibrate its effect, involving the use of two simultaneous downlink carriers that are coherently related, is described. Range measurements employing Doppler rate-aiding are also described.
Document ID
19920063427
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Kinman, Peter W.
(JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Volume: 40
Issue: 6, Ju
ISSN: 0018-9480
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Accession Number
92A46051
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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