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Yuan, D. N.

Publications and source records attributed to Yuan, D. N..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Fluid core size of Mars from detection of the solar tide

The solar tidal deformation of Mars, measured by its k2 potential Love number, has been obtained from an analysis of Mars Global Surveyor radio tracking. The observed k2 of 0.153 +/- 0.017 is large enough to rule out a solid iron core and so indicates that at least the outer part of the core is liquid. The inferred core radius is between 1520 and 1840 kilometers and is independent of many interior properties, although partial melt of the mantle is one factor that could reduce core size. Ice-cap mass changes can be deduced from the seasonal variations in air pressure and the odd gravity harmonic J3, given knowledge of cap mass distribution with latitude. The south cap seasonal mass change is about 30 to 40% larger than that of the north cap.

Mars↗
NASA NTRS1997

Interior structure and seasonal mass redistribution of Mars from radio tracking of Mars Pathfinder

Doppler and range measurements to the Mars Pathfinder lander made using its radio communications system have been combined with similar measurements from the Viking landers to estimate improved values of the precession of Mars' pole of rotation and the variation in Mars' rotation rate. The observed precession of -7576 +/- 35 milliarc seconds of angle per year implies a dense core and constrains possible models of interior composition. The estimated annual variation in rotation is in good agreement with a model of seasonal mass exchange of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and ice caps.

unmanned↗
NASA NTRS1997

(abstract) Application of the GPS Worldwide Network in the Study of Global Ionospheric Storms

Ionospheric storm dynamics as a response to the geomagnetic storms is a very complicated global process involving many different mechanisms. Studying ionospheric storms will help us to understand the energy coupling process between the Sun and Earth and possibly also to effectively forecast space weather changes. Such a study requires a worldwide monitoring system. The worldwide GPS network, for the first time, makes near real-time global ionospheric TEC measurements a possibility.

GPS ionospheric storms communications geomagnetic ↗
NASA NTRS1996

(abstract) Using GPS Measurements to Identify Global Ionospheric Storms in Near Real-Time

The solar wind interacts with the Earth's magnetosphere, eventually dissipating energy into the ionosphere and atmosphere. As a terminator, the ionosphere responds to magnetic storms, which is very important in understanding the energy coupling process between the Sun and the Earth and in forecasting space weather changes.The worldwide GPS network, for the first time, makes near real-time global ionospheric TEC measurements a possibility. Based on these measurements, global ionospheric TEC maps are generated with time resolution of from 5 minutes to hours. Using these maps, we can analyze the global evolution of ionospheric storms on temporal and spatial scales, which have been dificult to study before. We find that for certain types of storms (such as TID-driven), it is possible to identify them near onset and issue warning signals during the early stages. Main attention has been paid on northern hemispheric winter storms. Their common features and physical mechanisms are being investigated.

solar wind magnetospheres GPS ionosphere atmospher↗
NASA NTRS1996

Evaluation of IGS Orbits with Satellite Laser Ranging

The accuracy with which orbits for the Global Positioning System (GPS) spacecraft, can be computed directly affects the accuracy of the resulting site coordinates and polar motion. Several groups routinely analyze GPS ground tracking data to compute precise orbits and terrestrial reference frame solutions. In this paper, we infer the accuracy of the orbits of two of the GPS satellites by comparing to independent laser ranges of subcentimeter accuracy obtained by a small but reasonably well distributed network of tracking sites. We find that all seven International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS) analysis centers achieve range residual root mean square (rms) errors at or below the 100 mm level. The best orbit solutions, from JPL, CODE, and the IGS combined product, yield a residual rms of about 50 mm. These residuals are consistent with three dimensional orbit errors of less than 150 mm. Estimating yaw rates for the spacecraft during shadow events, and using these estimates to compute the laser residual, significantly improves the fit. A small mean residual value of -15 to -30 mm seems to exist for most centers and laser sites which is not fully explained at present, but may be due to uncertainties in the corrections to the laser data, such as the reflector to spacecraft center of mass vector or small reference frame differences between the SLR sites and the GPS orbits.

Watkins, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Modeling Non-Gravitational Forces Acting on Topex/Poseidon: The Early Days

Topex/Poseidon is a satellite mission that will use altimetry to make precise measurements of sea-level with unprecedented acuracy such that small-amplitude, basin wide sea-level with unprecedented accuracy such that small-amplitude, basin wide sea-level changes caused by large-scale ocean circulation can be detected.

Topex/Poseidon↗
NASA NTRS1993

Modeling non-gravitational forces acting on TOPEX/POSEIDON: The early days

TOPEX/POSEIDON is a satellite mission that will use altimetry to make precise measurements of sea-level. The principal goal is to measure sea-level with unprecedented accuracy such that small-amplitude, basin wide sea-level changes caused by large-scale ocean circulation can be detected. To reach this goal, the sensor system and orbit must measure sea-level with decimeter accuracy. This requires that the radial component of the orbit be known to the decimeter level. Orbital errors are dominated by mismodelled gravitational and non-gravitational forces. This paper presents our analysis of non-gravitational forces acting on the satellite during the early days of the mission. Studies were conducted by comparing direct estimates of these forces with observed perturbations in the mean orbital elements. The results show that the satellite is experiencing an unexpected along-track acceleration. Hypotheses range from out-gassing to thruster leaks and drag forces to radiative force. Currently, these issues have not been resolved; however, the evidence suggests that out-gassing was dominant during the first weeks of the mission and that thermal imbalances persist.

Christensen, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Short arc orbit determination for altimeter calibration and validation on TOPEX/POSEIDON

TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) is a joint mission of United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) design launched August 10, 1992. It carries two radar altimeters which alternately share a common antenna. There are two project designated verification sites, a NASA site off the coast at Pt. Conception, CA and a CNES site near Lampedusa Island in the Mediterranean Sea. Altimeter calibration and validation for T/P is performed over these highly instrumented sites by comparing the spacecraft's altimeter radar range to computed range based on in situ measurements which include the estimated orbit position. This paper presents selected results of orbit determination over each of these sites to support altimeter verification. A short arc orbit determination technique is used to estimate a locally accurate position determination of T/P from less than one revolution of satellite laser ranging (SLR) data. This technique is relatively insensitive to gravitational and non-gravitational force modeling errors and is demonstrated by covariance analysis and by comparison to orbits determined from longer arcs of data and other tracking data types, such as Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) and Global Positioning System Demonstration Receiver (GPSDR) data.

Williams, B. G.↗