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131673 - Venus Express radio occultation observed by PRIDE print version.pdf (2.53 MB)

Venus Express radio occultation observed by PRIDE

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 02:20 authored by Bocanegra-Bahamon, TM, Guifre Molera CalvesGuifre Molera Calves, Gurvits, LI, Cimo, G, Dirkx, D, Duev, DA, Pogrebenko, SV, Rosenblatt, P, Limaye, S, Ciu, L, Li, P, Kondo, T, Sekido, M, Mikhailov, AG, Kharinov, MA, Ipatov, AV, Wang, W, Zheng, W, Ma, M, James LovellJames Lovell, Jamie McCallumJamie McCallum

Context: Radio occultation is a technique used to study planetary atmospheres by means of the refraction and absorption of a spacecraft carrier signal through the atmosphere of the celestial body of interest, as detected from a ground station on Earth. This technique is usually employed by the deep space tracking and communication facilities (e.g., NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), ESA’s Estrack).

Aims: We want to characterize the capabilities of the Planetary Radio Interferometry and Doppler Experiment (PRIDE) technique for radio occultation experiments, using radio telescopes equipped with Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) instrumentation.

Methods: We conducted a test with ESA’s Venus Express (VEX), to evaluate the performance of the PRIDE technique for this particular application. We explain in detail the data processing pipeline of radio occultation experiments with PRIDE, based on the collection of so-called open-loop Doppler data with VLBI stations, and perform an error propagation analysis of the technique.

Results: With the VEX test case and the corresponding error analysis, we have demonstrated that the PRIDE setup and processing pipeline is suited for radio occultation experiments of planetary bodies. The noise budget of the open-loop Doppler data collected with PRIDE indicated that the uncertainties in the derived density and temperature profiles remain within the range of uncertainties reported in previous Venus’ studies. Open-loop Doppler data can probe deeper layers of thick atmospheres, such as that of Venus, when compared to closed-loop Doppler data. Furthermore, PRIDE through the VLBI networks around the world, provides a wide coverage and range of large antenna dishes, that can be used for this type of experiments.

History

Publication title

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Volume

624

Article number

A59

Number

A59

Pagination

1-14

ISSN

0004-6361

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

EDP Sciences

Place of publication

7, Ave Du Hoggar, Parc D Activites Courtaboeuf, Bp 112, Les Ulis Cedexa, France, F-91944

Rights statement

Reproduced with permission from Astronomy & Astrophysics, © 2019 ESO”.

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  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the physical sciences

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