The VLBA Spacecraft Navigation Pilot Project

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

NRAO recently began a NASA-sponsored pilot project to investigate the suitability of VLBA snapshot observations for enhancing spacecraft navigation. High-precision angular position measurements obtained by imaging the spacecraft downlink transmitter are expected to provide strong additional constraints on orbit determination. Since current solutions are derived primarily from range data, the addition of fairly frequent, straightforwardly obtainable measurements of the orthogonal angular coordinates should be powerfully synergistic. Angular position measurements would be performed using standard VLBA phase-referencing techniques to correct for atmospheric effects, with a goal of 1 nano-radian precision in an individual measurement. It is expected that each such measurement could be completed in about ten minutes, so that several snapshots daily could be interleaved expeditiously with ongoing astronomical VLBA observations.
The central thread of the feasibility study, to be performed in collaboration between NRAO and JPL, will evaluate the enhancement that can be achieved in orbit determination by the incorporation of high precision angular positions. As part of this study, the required interval between observations, sensitivity, density of phase-reference sources, and impact of atmospheric and meteorological conditions, will all be estimated. Other aspects of the NRAO portion of the study involve evaluation and design of the necessary enhancements to several areas of the VLBA's instrumentation and operational procedures.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

The VLBA Spacecraft Navigation Pilot Project 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 The VLBA Spacecraft Navigation Pilot Project, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The VLBA Spacecraft Navigation Pilot Project will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1419330

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.