RPC: The Rosetta Plasma Consortium

The Rosetta Plasma Consortium (RPC) will make in-situ measurements of the plasma environment of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The consortium will provide the complementary data sets necessary for an understanding of the plasma processes in the inner coma, and the structure and evolution of the coma with the increasing cometary activity. Five sensors have been selected to achieve this: the Ion and Electron Sensor (IES), the Ion Composition Analyser (ICA), the Langmuir Probe (LAP), the Mutual Impedance Probe (MIP) and the Magnetometer (MAG). The sensors interface to the spacecraft through the Plasma Interface Unit (PIU). The consortium approach allows for scientific, technical and operational coordination, and makes optimum use of the available mass and power resources.     

Precise line-of-sight vector estimation based on an inter-satellite radio frequency system

This paper proposes a precise line-of-sight (LOS) vector estimation using an inter-satellite radio frequency system. GNSS-like technology is inherited such that the ranging signals are locally generated inside the formation. However, the approach differs from the standard GNSS model usage in that the LOS vector to be of a unit length is fully explored as a priori constraint for the carrier phase integer ambiguity resolution. The constraint is lumped to the mapping process from the real-valued ambiguities to the integers by what is called validation or subset ambiguity bounding. These two approaches have the same rules of regarding the constraint as a gateway to accept or reject the ambiguity candidates, but differ by using “all-ambiguity-set” and “subset-ambiguity”. Both show remarkable improvement with up to 80% lower integer fixing failure rates than without treating the constraint. Validation provides a slightly better performance than the subset ambiguity bounding in terms of the integer fixing failure rates and the computational efficiency. The predefined tolerance regions that are critical for these two methods are analytically determined as function of the carrier noise. The paper also introduces a LOS dependent ambiguity dilution of precision (ADOP_LOS) measure that can serve as a metric to characterize the expectation of being able to successfully resolve the ambiguities. The region of ADOP_LOS lower than 0.21 is empirically summarized as the safe region where the integer fixing failure rates are less than 1%. A closed form of the ADOP_LOS is derived which is able to capture the impact of the various factors. Antenna baseline geometries and multiple frequencies in the form of an ultra-BOC signal structure are demonstrated as the most important influencing factors. With multiple properly arrayed antennas and using ultra-BOC structure, instantaneous ambiguity resolution can be achieved and the LOS accuracy can reach millimeter level.     

On Higher Order Discrete Phase-Locked Loops

An exact mathematical model is developed for a discrete loop of a general order particularly suitable for digital computation. The deterministic response of the loop to the phase step and the frequency step is investigated. The design of the digital filter for the second-order loop is considered. Use is made of the incremental phase plane to study the phase error behavior of the loop. The model of the noisy loop is derived and the optimization of the loop filter for minimum mean-square error is considered.     

Influence of sensor and actuator errors on impulsive satellite formation control methods

This paper investigates how sensor and actuator errors are impacting formation control accuracy and propellant consumption of a two-satellite formation in a low Earth orbit. Realistic relative navigation errors are implemented, based on the results from the PRISMA mission, as well as realistic actuator uncertainty and actuator constraints. Two impulsive control methods are investigated. The first method is based on a controller that is implemented onboard PRISMA and the second method uses linear programming to arrive at a model predictive controller. The control methods are tested in a simulation environment and are subjected to orbital perturbations and realistic sensor errors and actuator errors. Both control methods are able to maintain the desired relative geometry of a projected circular orbit in the presence of the errors. The PRISMA control method demonstrates lower propellant consumption, while the model predictive controller shows better control accuracy. The results show that, based on the used scenario, sensor errors dominate both the formation control accuracy and propellant consumption. The versatility of the model predictive controller is demonstrated in a challenging formation control scenario including formation maintenance and formation reconfiguration tasks.