Engineering topics
Krisher, T. P.
Publications and source records attributed to Krisher, T. P..
The flight performance of the Galileo orbiter USO
Results are presented from an analysis of radio metric data received by the DSN stations from the Galileo spacecraft using an Ultrastable Oscillator (USO) as a signal source. These results allow the health and performance of the Galileo USO to be evaluated, and are used to calibrate this Radio Science instrument and the data acquired for Radio Science experiments such as the Red-shift Observation, Solar Conjunction, and Jovian occultations. Estimates for the USO-referenced spacecraft-transmitted frequency and frequency stability were made for 82 data acquisition passes conducted between launch (October 1989) and November 1991. Analyses of the spacecraft-transmitted frequencies show that the USO is behaving as expected. The USO was powered off and then back on in August 1991 with no adverse effect on its performance. The frequency stabilities measured by Allan deviation are consistent with expected values due to thermal wideband noise and the USO itself at the appropriate time intervals. The Galileo USO appears to be healthy and functioning normally in a reasonable manner.
The flight performance of the Galileo orbiter USO
Results are presented in this article from an analysis of radio metric data received by the DSN stations from the Galileo spacecraft using an Ultrastable Oscillator (USO) as a signal source. These results allow the health and performance of the Galileo USO to be evaluated, and are used to calibrate this Radio Science instrument and the data acquired for Radio Science experiments such as the Redshift Observation, Solar Conjunction, and Jovian occultations. Estimates for the USO-referenced, spacecraft-transmitted frequency and frequency stability were made for 82 data acquisition passes conducted between launch (Oct. 1989) and Nov. 1991. Analyses of the spacecraft-transmitted frequencies show that the USO is behaving as expected. The USO was powered off and then back on in Aug. 1991 with no adverse effect on its performance. The frequency stabilities measured by Allan deviation are consistent with expected values due to thermal wideband noise and the USO itself at the appropriate time intervals. The Galileo USO appears to be healthy and functioning normally in a reasonable manner.
The Parametrized Post-Newtonian Gravitational Redshift
A derivation of the gravitational redshift effect to order c ^(-4) is presented. The calculation isperformed within the framework of the parametrized post-Newtonian formalism for analyzing metrictheories of gravity, which includes corrections to second- order in the Newtonian potential,gravitomagnetic contributions, and preferred-frame terms. We briefly discuss how to generalize ourresults to include possible violations of local Lorentz invariance or local position invariance which canarise in nonmetric theories. Our results are useful for analyzing possible new redshift experimentswhich may be sensitive to second-order effects, such as a close solar flyby mission.
Letter to the Editor on Robert Yaes's Letter
In his letter on page 13 of the March 1993 issue, Robert Yaes raised the question of whether the existence of the cosmic microwave background (CMB), now observed so precisely with COBE, is compatible with the principle of relativity: The laws by which the states of physical systems undergo change are not affected, whether these changes of state be referred to the one or other of two systems of coordinates in uniform translatory motion. Although I do not claim to provide an xpertresponse to this question, as desired by Yaes, it is my understanding that the principle of relativity is not necessarily violated by the mere existence of a universal reference frame. The laws of physics can still be invariant under some transformation of coordinates. This transformation is not specified by the principle of relativity itself, although we have discovered so far that Nature respects Lorentz invariance (principle of the constancy of the velocity of light).
Gravitation and celestial mechanics investigations with Galileo
The gravitation and celestial mechanics investigations that are to be conducted during the cruise and Orbiter phases of the Galileo Mission cover four investigation categories: (1) the gravity fields of Jupiter and its four major satellites; (2) a search for gravitational radiation; (3) mathematical modeling of general relativistic effects on Doppler ranging data; and (4) improvements of the Jupiter ephemeris via Orbiter ranging. Also noted are two secondary objectives, involving a range fix during Venus flyby and the determination of the earth's mass on the bases of the two earth gravity assists used by the mission.
Radio range measurements of coronal electron densities at 13 and 3.6 centimeter wavelengths during the 1988 solar conjunction of Voyager 2
Radio range measurements of total solar plasma delay obtained during the solar conjunction of the Voyager 2 spacecraft in December 1988, which occurred near solar maximum activity in the 11 yr cycle are reported. The radio range measurements were generated by the Deep Space Network at two wavelengths on the downlink from the spacecraft: 3.6 and 13 cm. A direct measurement of the integrated electron density along the ray path between the earth stations and the spacecraft was obtained by differencing the range at the two wavelengths. Coronal electron density profiles have been derived during ingress and egress of the ray path, which approached the sun to within 5 solar radii. At 10 solar radii, the derived density profiles yield 34079 + or - 611/cu cm on ingress and 49688 + or - 983/cu cm on egress. These density levels are significantly higher than observed near previous solar maxima.