“嫦娥3号”月面探测器同波束干涉测量系统的设计与实现

为了提高"嫦娥3号"探测器(着陆器和巡视器)的相对定位精度,针对两器信标实际设置情况,设计了同波束干涉测量(same-beam interferometry,SBI)观测方案。利用着陆器和巡视器星地对接数据分析检验了由差分群时延解算含微小系统差的差分相时延的方法,给出了甚长基线干涉测量(very long baseline interferometry,VLBI)和同波束干涉测量模型及月面定位方法,并仿真分析了巡视器的相对定位精度。最终,把研究的方法实际应用于"嫦娥3号"巡视器的精密相对定位。结果表明,利用1h左右的连续观测弧段的着陆器数传信号以及巡视器数传信号(或遥测信号),采用事后处理方式,得到了随机误差约1ps的差分相时延数据。利用此数据,把"嫦娥3号"探测器的相对定位精度提高至1m左右。     

面向绕月交会对接的同波束VLBI研究

针对"嫦娥5号"(CE-5)探测器间高精度相对测量需求,设计了我国深空干涉测量处理中心框架下的同波束VLBI处理算法,分析了X波段同波束VLBI相位解模糊条件和结果;通过引入群时延辅助的相位干涉技术,大幅抑制了干涉时延随机误差,为同波束VLBI中相位解模糊提供了先验条件;利用CE-5对接实测数据验证了本文工作的有效性,为CE-5任务同波束VLBI的实施奠定了基础。     

基于同波束干涉的空间三维相对位置测量研究

针对深空探测器相对位置精确测量需求,建立了空间三维相对位置测量模型,研究了基于单基线同波束干涉测量(Same-beam VLBI,SBI)的空间三维位置最小二乘解算方法。利用"嫦娥3号"着陆器的测控天线与定向天线的SBI实测数据,验证了测量模型与解算方法的有效性。结果显示:SBI干涉时延随机误差约0.225 ps(0.07 mm);测控天线与定向天线之间距离误差约0.216 m,方向误差约30.4°。该研究结果有望应用于后续深空探测任务譬如"嫦娥5号"器间高精度相对测量中。     

火星探测VLBI测定轨技术

我国将于2020年首次发射由环绕器和着陆巡视器组成的火星探测器,火星探测器的跟踪及精密测定轨是完成工程任务和科学探测的基础。火星探测器的跟踪和测定轨,目前主要采用基于地面无线电测量的测距、测速和甚长基线干涉VLBI测角3种手段。主要针对VLBI技术予以介绍,主要内容为:△DOR型VLBI技术在国内外的应用情况、火星探测器VLBI测定轨技术分析、基于同波束VLBI的火星车定位技术、火星探测器VLBI观测等。这些内容对我国的火星探测器测定轨有重要的应用价值。     

嫦娥系列探月卫星无线电科学实验简介

在"嫦娥1/2/3号"系列探测任务中开展了行星无线电科学探测实验,这些工作包括:使用天文VLBI技术对探测器进行工程和科学测轨、定位观测,开环和闭环测速测距观测,基于微波观测重构和优化月球重力场模型,通过重力异常揭示质量瘤和撞击盆地。星载或器载主/被动雷达设备还用于探测月壤和月球内部结构。在"嫦娥2号"任务中,实现了对拉格朗日平动点利萨如轨道飞行的测控,以及对图塔蒂斯小行星的飞掠探测。在"嫦娥3号"任务中,实现了多通道开环3向相位测距和多普勒测速技术。该月球无线电相位测距技术LRPR作为一种新的空间测量技术,可以用于测定台站的位置、潮汐、星体的自转特性。还可以与月球激光测距技术LLR融合,监测月球动力学运动变化,并有潜力用于未来的火星探测任务。     

怀抱“玉兔”嫦娥三号成功登陆月球

<正>2013年12月2日1时30分,怀抱"玉兔"月球车的嫦娥三号探测器由长征三号乙运载火箭在西昌卫星发射中心成功发射升空。嫦娥三号是中国探月工程"绕、落、回"三步走中的关键一步,具有重要的里程碑意义。12月14日21时11分,嫦娥三号在月球虹湾地区实现软着陆,中国成为世界上第三个有能力独立自主实施月球软着陆的国家。随后,"玉兔"月球车从着陆器上"走"出来,和着陆器一动一静开展科学探测任务。嫦娥三号探测器共搭载8台尖端科学载荷,用以完成月表形貌与地质构造调查、月表物质成分和可利用资源调     

短消息

正"嫦娥四号"实现"双四百"突破截至3月31日,嫦娥四号着陆器和玉兔二号月球车顺利完成第十六月昼科学探测工作,进入第十六月夜休眠期,玉兔二号月球车累计行驶里程达到424.455米,实现工作天数和行驶里程"双四百"的突破。该月昼工作期,嫦娥四号着陆器搭载的月表中子及辐射剂量探测仪、低频射     

新颖别致的嫦娥-3着陆器

嫦娥-3任务由探测器、运载火箭、发射场、测控和地面应用五大系统构成,其中最引人注目的探测器系统由中国航天科技集团公司中国空间技术研究院为主承担,其有效载荷由中国科学院负责研制。它的宽度为4m、高有4.2m,发射质量3780kg,其中干质量1220kg。落月后,在测控系统和地面应用系统支持下,嫦娥-3携带的有效载荷开展科学探测。嫦娥-3由着陆器和巡视器（又叫玉兔号月球车）组成,其中的着陆器在嫦娥-3软着陆过程中起着举足轻重的作用,并装有2台在世界上首次应用的科学探测仪器。     

素描“三姑娘”

<正>嫦娥三号探测器,是我国第一个"有腿"的航天器,也是中国人首次用来尝试地外天体软着陆的航天器。"三姑娘"长什么样,与此前的嫦娥一号、二号相比有什么特点,是如何设计出来的?记者采访了中国航天科技集团的有关专家。构型设计——四腿六轮据介绍,"三姑娘"有四条腿六个轮子,是着陆器和"玉兔"巡视器(俗称"月球车")的组合体。与嫦娥一号、     

月夜生存的“护身符”

2014年1月12日08时21分，嫦娥三号着陆器受光照自主唤醒。此前，“玉兔”号月球车已于11日05时09分实现自主唤醒。两器安全度过长达14天的第一个月夜的极低温环境，我国成功突破探测器月夜生存技术。     

Do RadioAstron detections correlate with flaring states? An initial study of seven southern AGN

We examine the state of seven southern radio sources at the time of their RadioAstron AGN Survey observations. Both ATCA flux density monitoring data and Fermi light-curves are considered in determining the relative activity of the source. A simple hypothesis, that sufficiently compact source structure exists for detections on RadioAstron baselines when the source is in a flaring state, is qualitatively tested. We find four instances of RadioAstron detections during flaring radio states and four instances of RadioAstron non-detections during fading or quiescent radio states, in support of the hypothesis. However, we also find three instances of RadioAstron detections during quiescent or fading radio states, and two non-detections during a flaring state, indicating that the situation is (not unexpectedly) more complex. Radio and gamma-ray monitoring such as that described here, together with the full RadioAstron AGN Survey results, will allow a more thorough investigation of the dependencies of detections on baselines of >10 Earth diameters.     

RadioAstron probes the ultra-fine spatial structure in the H2O maser emission in the star forming region W49N

H₂O maser emission associated with the massive star formation region W49N were observed with the Space-VLBI mission RadioAstron. The procedure for processing of the maser spectral line data obtained in the RadioAstron observations is described. Ultra-fine spatial structures in the maser emission were detected on space-ground baselines of up to 9.6 Earth diameters. The correlated flux densities of these features range from 0.1% to 0.6% of the total flux density. These low values of correlated flux density are probably due to turbulence either in the maser itself or in the interstellar medium.     

The effect of neglecting VLBI reference station clock offsets on UT1 estimates

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) allows to monitor universal time (UT1) by conducting regular international experiments. Such dedicated observation networks are equipped with different hardware components, which require different processing strategies when the data are correlated. As the timing units at each stations are usually offset with respect to universal time (UTC) this effect should be considered during correlation processing. Thus, it is investigated how neglecting of these offsets theoretically impacts the estimation of UT1. Three different strategies for the proper handling of the timing offset will be discussed and their advantages/drawbacks will be pointed out. Moreover, it is studied how neglecting of these timing offsets affects UT1 time-series and how such a missing correction can be applied a posteriori. Although the discussed effect is for most of the UT1 experiments smaller than the formal error of the estimates, it is important to consider station clock offsets properly in next-generation VLBI systems, which are expected to improve accuracy of results by about one order of magnitude.     

利用VLBI技术进行深空航天器跟踪的仿真分析

差分VLBI(D-VLBI)技术常用于测量航天器相对于参考射电源的角位置,用其跟踪深空航天器可取得足够高的精度。针对深空探测任务中D-VLBI技术的特性,提供了观测时间间隔的设置参考,通过仿真分析,研究了航天器和参考射电源之间的角距离、传播路径上的介质差异等因素及其对观测精度的影响,为后续深空航天器飞行任务的设计提供技术支持。     

Integer phase ambiguity estimation in next-generation geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry

Next-generation Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) system designs are aiming at 1 mm global position accuracy. In order to achieve this, it is not only necessary to deploy improved VLBI systems, but also to develop analysis strategies that take full advantage of the observations taken. Since the new systems are expected to incorporate four independent radio frequency bands, it should be feasible to resolve phase ambiguities directly from post-correlation data, providing roughly an order of magnitude improvement in precision of the delay observable. As the unknown ambiguities are of integer nature, it is discussed here how they the can be resolved analytically using algorithms which have been developed for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications. Furthermore, it will be shown that ionosphere contribution and source structure effects, so-called core-shifts, can be solved simultaneously with the delay, which is the main geodetic observable for follow-on analysis. In order to verify the proposed algorithm, simulated observations were created using parameters from actual design studies. It is shown that, even in the case of low signal-to-noise ratio observations, reliable phase ambiguity resolution can be achieved and it is discussed how the integer ambiguity recovery depends on the number of observations and signal-to-noise ratio.     

Space VLBI: from first ideas to operational missions

The operational period of the first generation of dedicated Space VLBI (SVLBI) missions commenced in 1997 with the launch of the Japan-led mission VSOP/HALCA and is coming to closure in 2019 with the completion of in-flight operations of the Russia-led mission RadioAstron. They were preceded by the SVLBI demonstration experiment with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) in 1986–1988. While the comprehensive lessons learned from the first demonstration experiment and two dedicated SVLBI missions are still awaiting thorough attention, several preliminary conclusions can be made. This paper addresses some issues of implementation of these missions as they progressed over four decades from the original SVLBI concepts to the operational status.     

一种用于同步静止卫星监测的微型VLBI网

针对地球静止轨道（GEO）卫星全天时全天候高精度的监测需求，考虑传统甚长基线干涉（VLBI）测站高成本、高投入和GEO卫星专用观测时段有限等制约条件，研发了简易型VLBI观测系统，并组建了包括上海、都匀和乌鲁木齐三站的微型VLBI网（micro VLBI network，MVN），开展了并置站测试以及对GEO卫星亚太6C的连续监测，并评估了当前MVN的观测能力。结果表明MVN扣除系统差后的单站接收精度为2ns，各基线观测时延拟后残差约几纳秒，GEO目标实测位置精度为百米级（内外符精度分别约100m和400m）。不同于传统VLBI和其他GEO监测手段，MVN还具备全天时、全天候、低造价、易布设及易推广等特点，充分表明了其在GEO卫星监测领域的应用价值。     

Orbit Design for Twin-spacecraft Space VLBI

Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (S-VLBI) is an aperture synthesis technique utilizing an array of radio telescopes including ground telescopes and space orbiting telescopes. It can achieve much higher spatial resolution than that from the ground-only VLBI. In this paper, a new concept of twin spacecraft S-VLBI has been proposed, which utilizes the space-space baselines formed by two satellites to obtain larger and uniform uv coverage without atmospheric influence and hence achieve high quality images with higher angular resolution. The orbit selections of the two satellites are investigated. The imaging performance and actual launch conditions are all taken into account in orbit designing of the twin spacecraft S-VLBI. Three schemes of orbit design using traditional elliptical orbits and circular orbits are presented. These design results can be used for different scientific goals. Furthermore, these designing ideas can provide useful references for the future Chinese millimeter-wave S-VLBI mission.