Title :
Communication system and operation for lunar probes under lunar surface
Author :
Mizuno, T. ; Saito, H. ; Ichikawa, M.
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Space & Astronaut. Sci., Kanagawa, Japan
fDate :
1/1/2000 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
In the Japanese LUNAR-A mission, penetrators will be deployed to the Moon for global seismic measurement. The unique communication system between the subsurface probes under the lunar surface and the lunar orbiter is described. Radiowave propagation through a crater which is formed at the penetration is investigated by means of scaled measurements in a simulating environment. Acquisition and tracking sequence is optimized within limited power capacity of the probe to maximize contact time between the probe and the spacecraft
Keywords :
dipole antennas; lunar interior; receiving antennas; space communication links; space telemetry; space vehicles; transmitting antennas; Japanese Lunar-A mission; S-band communication; acquisition and tracking sequence; communication system; crater; global seismic measurement; limited power capacity; link performance; lunar orbiter; lunar probes; maximized contact time; missile shaped instrument carrier; penetrators; probe antenna; radiowave propagation; regolith; scaled measurements; simulating environment; subsurface probes; telemetry; under lunar surface; Control systems; Earth; Extraterrestrial measurements; Instruction sets; Moon; Probes; Seismic measurements; Space missions; Space technology; Space vehicles;
Journal_Title :
Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on
