Estimating atmospheric density profiles using orbit determination with a focus on JUICE and Cassini
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Orbit determination allows us to determine a spacecraft’s position, velocity, and dynamical model parameters that directly affect a spacecraft’s trajectory, such as gravity field coefficients, which relate to the interior structure of a planetary body, and tidal forces. In addition, when a spacecraft experiences substantial drag in the presence of an exosphere/atmosphere, the density profile may be estimated. This work presents an analysis of two cases where atmospheric drag has effects on the orbit and gravity measurements in planetary missions: Cassini, the mission to Saturn’s system which ended with a plunge into the planet in 2017, and JUICE, the future mission to Jupiter’s icy moons which will include an insertion into a circular, polar orbit around Ganymede.
For Saturn, we have estimated a vertical atmospheric density profile which we have compared with in-situ measurements taken by Cassini’s INMS (Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer). For Ganymede, we find that the exosphere may be dense enough to affect JUICE’s trajectory around the moon.
Coverage
AIAC18: 18th Australian International Aerospace Congress (2019): HUMS - 11th Defence Science and Technology (DST) International Conference on Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS 2019): ISSFD - 27th International Symposium on Space Flight Dynamics (ISSFD)
Start page
995
Conferenece
18th Australian Aerospace Congress
Conferenece place
Melbourne (Australia)
Conferenece date
24-28 February 2019
Rights
restricted
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Hickey_etal_ISSFD 2019.pdf
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