VLBI Orbit Determination Technology for Mars Exploration

Abstract

China will launch the first Mars probe composed of an orbiter and a rover in 2020. The tracking and precise orbit determination of the Mars probe is the basis for completing engineering tasks and scientific exploration. At present, three methods, ranging, Doppler measurement and VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) angle measurement based on terrestrial radio measurement, are mainly used in the tracking and orbit determination of the Mars probe. In this paper, the application of differential VLBI technology is introduced, the Mars probe VLBI technology and orbit determination errors based on VLBI and Doppler/ranging measurement in the arc segment of Martian orbit insertion are analyzed, the positioning analysis of rover based on the same-beam VLBI and the Mars probe VLBI observation are presented. The results are of great application value to the orbit determination of Mars probe in China.

Keywords

Mars exploration / VLBI / same-beam VLBI / orbit determination / measuring position