Testing of new physical models in the processing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking data

Details Testing of new physical models in the processing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking data Testing of new physical models in the processing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking data

May 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agusm.p21b..03m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #P21B-03

Physics

5704 Atmospheres (0343, 1060), 6994 Instruments And Techniques (1241), 7969 Satellite Drag (1241), 7974 Solar Effects, 1241 Satellite Geodesy: Technical Issues (6994, 7969)

Scientific paper

Using Precision Orbit Determination (POD), radio tracking data of Mars orbiting spacecraft missions has been commonly used to invert for global gravity fields. More recently, time series of the atmospheric density at ~400km altitude could be obtained. In this altitude range (the exosphere), the magnitude of the drag acceleration experienced by the spacecraft is very small, and its retrieval is still challenging. Better modeling of the surface forces such as the solar radiation pressure, the reflected and thermal radiation pressure and the atmospheric drag, would potentially strengthen those atmospheric results. Here, we present the results of the reprocessing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking observations using new models for: (1) Martian moons ephemerides (Lainey et al., 2005); (2) revised ground station weather correction; (3) improved seasonal albedo model based on MOLA data (Neumann, personal communication); (4) improved spacecraft macromodel accounting for self-shadowing (used in the modeling of all the surface forces). We discuss the effect on the convergence of the trajectory arcs and on the adjusted model parameters. For instance, in the case of Mars Odyssey, the cross-sectinal area for the direct solar radiation pressure calculation can be modified by as much as 20% when including self-shadowing. This is especially important considering that the atmospheric drag acceleration is about two orders of magnitude smaller. This work is also motivated by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission whose primary science phase is set to begin in November 2006. The self-shadowing is expected to be important for this spacecraft as well. Testing these new models with the Mars Odyssey data, which has already been processed, provides a way to assess the improvements to be expected in the processing of the new MRO radio tracking data.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Testing of new physical models in the processing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking data does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Testing of new physical models in the processing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking data, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Testing of new physical models in the processing of Mars Odyssey radio tracking data will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1024905