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In-situ radio-metric tracking to support navigation for interplanetary missions with multiple spacecraftDoppler and ranging measurements between spacecraft can be obtained only when the ratio of the total received signal power to noise power density (P(sub t/N(sub 0)) at the receiving spacecraft is sufficiently large that reliable signal detection can be achieved within a reasonable time period. In this paper, the requirements on P(sub t)/N(sub 0) for reliable carrier signal detection is calculated as a function of various system parameters, including characteristics of the spacecraft computing hardware and a priori uncertainty in spacecraft-spacecraft relative velocity and acceleration. Also calculated is the P(sub t)/N(sub 0) requirement for relaible detection of a ranging signal, consistting of a carrier with pseudo-noise phase modulation. Once the P(sub t)/N(sub 0) requirement is determined, then for a given set of assumed spacecraft telecommunication characteristics (transmitted signal power, antenna gains, receiver noise temperatures) it is possible to calculate the maximum range at which a carrier signal or ranging signal may be acquired. A brief error covariance analysis has been conducted to illustrate the utility of in situ Doppler and ranging measurements for Mars approach navigation. The results indicate that navigation accuracies of a few kilometers can be achieved with either data type. The analysis also illustrates dependency of the achievable accuracy on the approach trajectory velocity.
Document ID
19950049807
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kahn, Robert D.
(Jet Propulsion Laab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA US, United States)
Thurman, Sam W.
(Jet Propulsion Laab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA US, United States)
Edwards, Charles D.
(Jet Propulsion Laab., California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA US, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: In: Spaceflight mechanics, 1993; AAS(AIAA Spaceflight Mechanics Meeting, 3rd, Pasadena, CA, Feb. 22-24, 1993, Parts 1 & 2 . A95-81344
Publisher: American Astronautical Society (Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, Vol. 82, Pts. 1 & 2)
ISSN: 0065-3438
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Accession Number
95A81406
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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