The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) has adopted an integrated electronics module (IEM) approach for many of its spacecraft programs. As a result APL has developed a relatively simple X-band transceiver that allows the telecommunications subsystem to be manufactured on plug-in cards that fit into the IEM. An issue with the transceiver approach is that the downlink frequency is not related to the uplink frequency. The noncoherent relationship between the uplink and downlink signals has implications in both Doppler tracking and ranging. APL has developed a method for performing highly precise noncoherent Doppler tracking (J.R. Jensen and R.S. Bokulic, IEEE Trans. Aerospace and Electronic Sys., vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 963-973, 1999). This paper addresses a technique for performing accurate ranging with a noncoherent system. Comet Nucleus Tour (CONTOUR) is the first deep space mission to employ a transceiver and rely on the noncoherent ranging technique. Analysis and testing of the technique implemented for the CONTOUR mission is presented. Tests of the noncoherent ranging technique using the CONTOUR communications hardware at the Deep Space Network's (DSN) Development and Test Facility (DTF21) verified that the technique will provide ranging measurements that meet its navigation requirements.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A two-way noncoherent ranging technique for deep space missions


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2002-01-01


    Size :

    730624 byte




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    A two-way noncoherent ranging technique for deep space missions

    Bryant, S. / Reynolds, M. K. / Reinhart, M. J. et al. | NTRS | 2002


    4.1005 A Two-way Noncoherent Ranging Technique for Deep Space Missions

    Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002


    Drag-Free Deep-Space Laser Ranging Missions for Fundamental Physics

    Dittus, H. / European Space Agency / Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiales | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2006


    A noncoherent adaptive detection technique

    Monticciolo, P. / Kelly, E.J. / Porakis, J.G. | IEEE | 1992