Citation
Abstract
Most spacecraft currently at Mars utilize the X-band (8,400–8,450 MHz) deep space spectrum to communicate with the ground receiving systems such as the Deep Space Network (DSN). Although efforts are made to allocate dedicated bands in the spectrum to individual orbiters and landers, the ever-increasing number of Martian probes and their need to communicate with ground networks has raised the potential for interfering signals that pose serious challenges to robust acquisition of data from these space-borne assets. This work examines data from the DSN’s open-loop receivers to diagnose interference tones in the Martian X-band radio environment. By comparing the Doppler shifts on the radio links between the various assets at Mars, the individual asset can be identified, provided there is a priori knowledge of the spacecraft’s telecommunication band allocation and a reliable spacecraft ephemeris is available. Radio frequency interference (RFI) has been observed in open-loop techniques as far back as 2004 between Mars Express and Mars Global Surveyor. Most recently, RFI has been observed between the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Trace Gas Orbiter and China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft, and between the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover and the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter. It will be critical in the future to continually monitor the Martian environment so radiometric tracking and telemetry downlinks to the DSN can continue nominally.
Details
- Volume
- 42-230
- Published
- August 15, 2022
- Pages
- 1–15
- File Size
- 1.9 MB