深空卫星重力测量计划研究综述

地球卫星重力测量计划CHAMP(CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload)、GRACE(Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment)、GOCE(Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer)和月球卫星重力测量计划(Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory,GRAIL)的成功实施,以及下一代地球重力卫星(GRACE Follow-On)的即将发射昭示着我们将迎来一个前所未有的高精度和高空间分辨的深空卫星重力探测时代。围绕深空卫星重力测量的研究背景、必要性、可行性、卫星重力反演软件平台构建、轨道摄动和未来研究方向开展了研究论证。研究表明:深空卫星重力测量作为新世纪重力探测技术,在精化量体重力场、提高惯性导航精度、天体动力学、天体物理学和军事技术的研究,以及促进国民经济发展和提高社会效益等方面具有广泛的应用前景。     

基于激光干涉星间测距原理的下一代月球卫星重力测量计划需求论证

月球卫星重力测量是21世纪国际开展深空探测的发展趋势和追逐热点。月球重力场的精密测量是国际探月计划的重要组成部分,它决定着月球探测器的轨道优化设计和载人登月飞船月面理想着陆点的合适选取。本文首先介绍未来国际GRAIL（Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory）月球重力场探测双星计划的总体概述、关键载荷以及科学目标和研究方向。其次,重点阐述月球卫星观测模式可行性论证、月球卫星关键载荷的优化选取、卫星轨道参数的优化设计、仿真模拟研究的先期开展等我国将来月球卫星重力测量计划的实施建议。第一,由于高低/低低卫星跟踪卫星结合多普勒和甚长基线干涉系统观测模式（SST-HL/LL-Doppler-VLBI）对中长波月球重力场的探测精度较高,技术要求相对较低,月球重力场测定速度快、代价低和效益高,可借鉴地球重力卫星GRACE（Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment）系统的成功经验,对定轨精度的要求较低,而且可有效探测远月面区域的月球重力场信号,因此我国将来首期月球卫星重力测量计划采用SST-HL/LL-Doppler-VLBI观测模式较优。第二,我国应先期开展高精度的月球重力卫星关键载荷（激光干涉星间测距仪、非保守力补偿系统等）和地面Doppler\|VLBI系统的研制工作。第三,月球卫星轨道高度（50~100 km）和星间距离（100±50 km）的优化设计是成功实施将来我国月球卫星重力测量计划的重要保证。第四,建议我国将仿真技术应用于月球重力卫星的方案论证、系统设计、部件研制、产品检验、实际应用、故障分析等研制和运行的全过程。本文的研究不仅对我国将来首期月球卫星重力测量计划的成功实施具有重要的参考价值,同时对未来国际太阳系行星重力探测的发展方向具有广泛的指导意义。
     

Long-wavelength lunar gravity field recovery from simulated orbit and inter-satellite tracking data

As has been demonstrated recently, inter-satellite Ka-band tracking data collected by the GRAIL (Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory) spacecraft have the potential to improve the resolution and accuracy of the lunar gravity field by several orders of magnitude compared to previous models. By means of a series of simulation studies, here we investigate the contribution of inter-satellite ranging for the recovery of the Moon’s gravitational features; the evaluation of results is made against findings from ground-based Doppler tracking. For this purpose we make use of classical dynamic orbit determination, supported by the analysis of satellite-to-satellite tracking observations. This study sheds particularly light on the influence of the angular distance between the two satellites, solar radiation modeling and the co-estimation of the lunar Love number k₂. The quality of the obtained results is assessed by gravity field power spectra, gravity anomalies and precision orbit determination. We expect our simulation results to be supportive for the processing of real GRAIL data.