Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Ka-Band (32 GHz) Demonstration: Cruise Phase Operations

Shambayati, S.; Morabito, D. D.; Border, James S.; Davarian, F.; Lee, Dennis; Mendoza, Ricardo; Britcliffe, M.; Weinreb, S.

doi:10.2514/6.2006-5786

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…During cruise the MRO Ka‐band system set a new record for the rate of data return from deep space as part of in‐flight testing. Detailed analysis of Ka‐band performance during the MRO cruise is presented elsewhere [ Shambayati et al , 2006, 2007].…”

Section: Mro Mission Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) science mission

Zurek¹,

Smrekar²

2007

J. Geophys. Res.

221

140

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[1] The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is the latest addition to the suite of missions on or orbiting Mars as part of the NASA Mars Exploration Program. Launched on 12 August 2005, the orbiter successfully entered Mars orbit on 10 March 2006 and finished aerobraking on 30 August 2006. Now in its near-polar, near-circular, low-altitude ($300 km), 3 p.m. orbit, the spacecraft is operating its payload of six scientific instruments throughout a one-Mars-year Primary Science Phase (PSP) of global mapping, regional survey, and targeted observations. Eight scientific investigations were chosen for MRO, two of which use either the spacecraft accelerometers or tracking of the spacecraft telecom signal to acquire data needed for analysis. Six instruments, including three imaging systems, a visible-near infrared spectrometer, a shallow-probing subsurface radar, and a thermal-infrared profiler, were selected to complement and extend the capabilities of current working spacecraft at Mars. Whether observing the atmosphere, surface, or subsurface, the MRO instruments are designed to achieve significantly higher resolution while maintaining coverage comparable to the current best observations. The requirements to return higher-resolution data, to target routinely from a low-altitude orbit, and to operate a complex suite of instruments were major challenges successfully met in the design and build of the spacecraft, as well as by the mission design. Calibration activities during the seven-month cruise to Mars and limited payload operations during a three-day checkout prior to the start of aerobraking demonstrated, where possible, that the spacecraft and payload still had the functions critical to the science mission. Two critical events, the deployment of the SHARAD radar antenna and the opening of the CRISM telescope cover, were successfully accomplished in September 2006. Normal data collection began 7 November 2006 after solar conjunction. As part of its science mission, MRO will also aid identification and characterization of the most promising sites for future landed missions, both in terms of safety and in terms of the scientific potential for future discovery. Ultimately, MRO data will advance our understanding of how Mars has evolved and by which processes that change occurs, all within a framework of identifying the presence, extent, and role of water in shaping the planet's climate over time.

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Section: Mro Mission Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) science mission

Zurek¹,

Smrekar²

2007

J. Geophys. Res.

221

140

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These passes indicated that while the blind-pointing of the ground antennas were adequate they needed further improvements. In addition, the monopulse system was deemed difficult to operate due to both its complexity and the lack of familiarity of the complex personnel with it [83]. Ka-band Doppler and 2-way ranging were also analyzed for these passes [84].…”

Section: Dsn Developments Deep Space 1 and Cassini: 1997 To 2002mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Struggle for Ka-band: NASA's Gradual Move Towards Using 32-GHz Ka-band for Deep Space Missions

Shambayati

2007

2007 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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32-GHz Ka-band was first considered for deepspace use in 1976deepspace use in . In 1979 GHz of spectrum at 32-GHz Ka-band was allocated for Deep Space use. Since then NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has been developing technologies and architectures necessary to support Kaband planetary missions. This paper is a survey of JPL's effort. This survey includes a summary of early paper studies done in the 1980's and 1990's, development of the 34-m beam waveguide (BWG) antennas at the Deep Space Network (DSN), and Ka-band experiments on Mars Observer, Mars Global Surveyor, Deep Space 1, Cassini and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. The focus of this paper is on the technological and architectural challenges that 32-GHz Ka-band operations have presented throughout this long history. These include challenges presented by the weather and tighter pointing requirements for the spacecraft as well as the need to use multiple data rates during a pass.

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“…MRO also includes a technology demonstration experiment consisting of a Ka‐band transponder on the spacecraft that produces an RF downlink at a frequency of 32.2 GHz [ Shambayati et al , 2006]. The Ka‐band subsystem has a 35‐Watt TWTA to amplify its signal so that it can be downlinked to DSN antennas that have been modified to receive at that frequency.…”

Section: Tracking Of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbitermentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Radio Science Gravity Investigation

et al. 2007

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[1] The objectives of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Radio Science Gravity Investigation are to improve knowledge of the static structure and characterize the temporal variability of the Martian gravitational field relevant to the planet's internal dynamics, the structure and dynamics of the atmosphere, and the orbital evolution of spacecraft at Mars. The investigation will utilize range rate and range measurements from X-band and, when available, Ka-band tracking systems of the MRO spacecraft. MRO will enable a considerable improvement in the spatial resolution and quality of Mars' global gravity field. The low orbital periapsis of MRO ($255 km) will yield gravity maps suitable for study of regional ($10 2 km) structure of the crust and lithosphere. The addition of tracking data from the Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey spacecraft, also currently orbiting Mars, will be useful in decorrelating errors in spherical harmonic coefficients of the gravity field that will improve the quality of the static field. Studies of the low-degree gravity field combined with measurements of rotational dynamics will permit insight about the structure of Mars' deep interior. Changes in the low-degree spherical harmonic coefficients of the Martian gravity field and in polar mass anomalies will be used to track the seasonal cycle of CO 2 exchange with the surface. Measurements of spacecraft drag will be used to estimate density variations in the atmosphere relevant to weather patterns and aerobraking of future spacecraft. Tracking observations will also be used to improve the ephemeris of Mars and the masses of the Martian moons.

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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Ka-Band (32 GHz) Demonstration: Cruise Phase Operations

Cited by 16 publications

References 5 publications

An overview of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) science mission

An overview of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) science mission

The Struggle for Ka-band: NASA's Gradual Move Towards Using 32-GHz Ka-band for Deep Space Missions

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Radio Science Gravity Investigation

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