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Jacobson, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Jacobson, R..

12 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Does Vesta Have Moons?

Previous searches for moons around Vesta have found nothing to an upper limit of 22.5 magnitude, that corresponds to 44 +/- 4 m diameter assuming the same albedo as Vesta. The Dawn mission's approach phase has dedicated satellite search observations consisting of two mosaic sequences bracketing the first observations of a complete rotation of Vesta scheduled for early July, 2011. In addition, we use the approach optical navigation image sequences for initial satellite searches. We will report any findings from these observations, and upper limits of magnitude and size.

McFadden, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Use of Very Long Baseline Array Interferometric Data for Spacecraft Navigation

The main VLBI technique that is used at JPL is known as the Delta Differential One-way Ranging ((Delta)DOR). Two DSN antennas simultaneously track a source, and alternate between sources. The signals recorded at the antennas from each source are correlated to obtain the delay in arrival to the two antennas, and the delays are differenced to remove common-source errors. An alternative technique is to use carrier phase differences between antennas. This is routinely done by the Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA) as part of source imaging. The VLBA capabilities are used for scientific research, but also have the potential to be used for navigation. Two main experiments were performed with the VLBA and JPL spacecraft. This paper describes and analyzes these experiments and discusses the possible uses of VLBA tracking for spacecraft navigation.

Very Large Baseline Array (VLBA)↗
NASA NTRS2000

Shape, Mean Radius, Gravity Field and Interior Structure of Callisto

Radio Doppler data generated by the Deep Space Network (DSN) from five encounters of the Galileo spacecraft with Callisto, Jupiter's outermost Galilean satellite, have been used to determine the quadrupole moments of the satellite's external gravitational field.

Galileo Mission gravity radio science Jupiter sate↗
NASA NTRS1978

Solar sailing - The concept made realistic

The practicability of using solar sails as a means of spacecraft propulsion is discussed with reference to a Haley's comet rendezvous mission in 1981. Two types of sails are examined: square and heliogyro. Because of ease of deployment (release into space from a space shuttle, and unfolding of the blades through solar radiation pressure) the latter is preferred. Structural and mission parameters are given for the heliogyro configuration, with attention to operational temperature limits and material coefficients. A cranking orbit is described, where a sail-powered spacecraft flies first toward the sun, and then away from it in order to achieve rendezvous with a comet. Other missions using solar sails, including a back-up mission to Encke's comet in 1983, are also discussed.

Friedman, L.↗