Advanced radio science instrumentation for the mission BepiColombo to Mercury

Iess, L.; Boscagli, G.

doi:10.1016/s0032-0633(01)00096-4

Cited by 72 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…It consists of ground and onboard instrumentation enabling a highly stable, multi-frequency radio link in X and Ka bands. Two-way Doppler and range observables, obtained from this advanced radio-link, will be unaffected by plasma noise and are expected to attain accuracies of at least 3 micron/s (at 1000 seconds integration time) and 20 cm, at nearly all solar elongation angles [5]. Furthermore, MORE will benefit from a direct measurement of the non-gravitational accelerations, provided by the Italian Spring Accelerometer (ISA).…”

Section: The Relativity Experiments Of Bepicolombomentioning

confidence: 99%

On the determination of post-Newtonian parameters with BepiColombo radio science experiment

Imperi

Schettino

Iess

2017

The Fourteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting

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One of the main goals of the Mercury Orbiter Radio science Experiment (MORE), onboard the ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury, is to perform a test of gravitational theories by means of high precision radio-observables, constraining several Post-Newtonian (PN) parameters. This will be performed in two steps: (i) with a superior solar conjunction experiment during the cruise phase of the mission; (ii) by reconstructing the orbit of Mercury around the Sun once the spacecraft will be arrived at Mercury. In this work we present the results of numerical simulations of the MORE relativity experiment, carried out in a realistic scenario, showing how the experiment can improve over current estimates.

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Section: The Relativity Experiments Of Bepicolombomentioning

confidence: 99%

On the determination of post-Newtonian parameters with BepiColombo radio science experiment

Imperi

Schettino

Iess

2017

The Fourteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting

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“…In a radio science experiment, the observational technique is complicated by many factors (for example plasma reduction) but in simulations it can be merely considered as a tracking from an Earth-based station, giving range and range-rate information (see, e.g., [3]). In order to compute the range distance from the ground station on the Earth to the spacecraft around Mercury (or in an interplanetary trajectory), and the corresponding range-rate, we introduce the following state vectors, each one evolving according to a specific dynamical model (see Figure 4): They can be combined to define the range distance using the following formula, as a first approximation: As explained in [22], Equation (2) corresponds to model the space as a flat arena (r is the Euclidean distance) and the time as an absolute parameter.…”

Section: Computation Of Observablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thanks to the state-of-the-art on-board and on-ground instrumentation [3], MORE will enable a better understanding of both Mercury geophysics and fundamental physics. The main goals of the MORE radio science experiment are concerned with the gravity of Mercury [4][5][6][7][8], the rotation of Mercury [9][10][11] and General Relativity (GR) tests [12][13][14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing General Relativity with the Radio Science Experiment of the BepiColombo mission to Mercury

Schettino

Tommei

2016

Universe

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Abstract:The relativity experiment is part of the Mercury Orbiter Radio science Experiment (MORE) on-board the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury. Thanks to very precise radio tracking from the Earth and accelerometer, it will be possible to perform an accurate test of General Relativity, by constraining a number of post-Newtonian and related parameters with an unprecedented level of accuracy. The Celestial Mechanics Group of the University of Pisa developed a new dedicated software, ORBIT14, to perform the simulations and to determine simultaneously all the parameters of interest within a global least squares fit. After highlighting some critical issues, we report on the results of a full set of simulations, carried out in the most up-to-date mission scenario. For each parameter we discuss the achievable accuracy, in terms of a formal analysis through the covariance matrix and, furthermore, by the introduction of an alternative, more representative, estimation of the errors. We show that, for example, an accuracy of some parts in 10 −6 for the Eddington parameter β and of 10 −5 for the Nordtvedt parameter η can be attained, while accuracies at the level of 5 × 10 −7 and 1 × 10 −7 can be achieved for the preferred frames parameters α 1 and α 2 , respectively.

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“…This will provide detailed data on the masses and ephemerides of Europa and additionally can be used to study Jupiter. An ultra-stable oscillator must be added to the orbiter payload to stabilize power and frequency of the radio signal and increase the resolution for a Europa study (Iess & Boscagli 2001). By utilizing the accurate position of the spacecraft, determined by radio tracking, along with accelerometer data (orbiter engineering payload), information about the variation of the gravitational field of Europa will be retrieved.…”

Section: Radio Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

The HADES mission concept – astrobiological survey of Jupiter's icy moon Europa

Böttcher

Huber

Corre

et al. 2009

International Journal of Astrobiology

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: The HADES Europa mission concept aims to provide a framework for an astrobiological in-depth investigation of the Jupiter moon Europa, relying on existing technologies and feasibility. This mission study proposes a system consisting of an orbiter, lander and cryobot as a platform for detailed exploration of Europa. While the orbiter will investigate the presence of a liquid ocean and characterize Europa's internal structure, the lander will survey local dynamics of the ice layer and the surface environment. The lander releases a cryobot, that melts into the ice, will sample the pristine subsurface and is expected to provide data on organic and gaseous content and putative bio-signatures. In summary, we present the scientific objectives for an astrobiological investigation of Europa, resulting in a mission concept with a detailed evaluation of scientific instrumentation, mission sequences, basic design of the spacecraft, technology needs and cost estimations.

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Advanced radio science instrumentation for the mission BepiColombo to Mercury

Cited by 72 publications

References 6 publications

On the determination of post-Newtonian parameters with BepiColombo radio science experiment

On the determination of post-Newtonian parameters with BepiColombo radio science experiment

Testing General Relativity with the Radio Science Experiment of the BepiColombo mission to Mercury

The HADES mission concept – astrobiological survey of Jupiter's icy moon Europa

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