Summary
International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation
2013
Session Number:FA-P
Session:
Number:FA-P-15
Developing RSR for Chinese Astronomical Antenna and Deep Space Exploration
J. Ping, M. Wang, Q. Meng, C. Chen, S. Qiu, N. Jan, L. Fung, S. Zhang, K. Shang, Z. Wang,
pp.-
Publication Date:2013/10/22
Online ISSN:2188-5079
Summary:
Following the fast development of Chinese lunar and deep space exploration science 2004, VLBI OD technique and planetary radio science experiments have been involved in the Chinese lunar exploration missions and other deep space missions. In order catch up with above progress and to satisfy the requirements from both of S/C VLBI OD tracking and multibands lunar and planetary radio science experiments, we have been developing a software radio defined Radio Science Receiver (RSR) system. The first version of RSR can be used as 4-channel astronomical VLBI receiver with maximum bandwidth of 16 MHz for each channel. It can also work at differential one way range and Doppler model with minimum bandwidth of 50 KHz for each Channel of 8 bits digital resolution. To enhance the application of RSR, real-time Doppler counting mode was developed for signal site observation. Under the Doppler model, it can track 4 separated carrier wave sent from spacecraft(s) simultaneously, with frequency or phase resolution as high as 1/100 circle, when tracking the ESA MEX Martian orbiter and VEX Venus orbiter. In laboratory test, the resolution is about 1 order better at X-band. Additionally, the RSR can work as planetary radio science experiment mode, which will record and retrieve the spacecraft carrier wave signal variation of frequency, phase, amplitude and polarization. The radio science experiment makes a virtue out of a necessity by using the radio propagation techniques that convey data and instructions between the spacecraft and Earth to investigate the planet's atmosphere, ionosphere, rings, and magnetic fields, surface, gravity field, GM and interior, as well as testing the theories of relativity. The experiments have been conducted by most planetary missions and are planned for many future ones. This is almost like getting science for free some way, and has been used also in Chinese lunar orbiting missions to carry out POD and estimate the lunar gravity field successfully.