Abstract
The MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) Radio Frequency (RF) Telecommunications Subsystem is used to send commands to the spacecraft, transmit information on the state of the spacecraft and science-related observations, and assist in navigating the spacecraft to and in orbit about Mercury by providing precise observations of the spacecraft’s Doppler velocity and range in the line of sight to Earth. The RF signal is transmitted and received at X-band frequencies (7.2 GHz uplink, 8.4 GHz downlink) by the NASA Deep Space Network. The tracking data from MESSENGER will contribute significantly to achieving the mission’s geophysics objectives. The RF subsystem, as the radio science instrument, will help determine Mercury’s gravitational field and, in conjunction with the Mercury Laser Altimeter instrument, help determine the topography of the planet. Further analysis of the data will improve the knowledge of the planet’s orbital ephemeris and rotation state. The rotational state determination includes refined measurements of the obliquity and forced physical libration, which are necessary to characterize Mercury’s core state.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J.D. Anderson, G. Colombo, P.B. Esposito, E.L. Lau, G.B. Trager, Icarus 71, 337–349 (1987)
J.D. Anderson, R.F. Jurgens, E.L. Lau, M.A. Slade III, G. Schubert, Icarus 124, 690–697 (1996)
R.S. Bokulic et al., IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Mont., IEEAC paper 1370, 2004, 10 pp., CD-ROM 4-1503
J.F. Cavanaugh et al., Space Sci. Rev. (2007, this issue). doi:10.1007/s11214-007-9273-4
R.E. Gold et al., Planet. Space Sci. 49, 1467–1479 (2001)
W.M. Kaula, Theory of Satellite Geodesy (Blaisdell, Waltham, 1966), 124 pp
P.W. Kinman, JPL DSMS Document 810-005, Rev. E (2002), 124 pp
A.J. Kliore, F.J. Fjeldbo, B.L. Seidel, M.J. Sykes, P.M. Woiceshyn, J. Geophys. Res. 78, 4331–4351 (1973)
J. Leary et al., Space Sci. Rev. (2007, this issue). doi:10.1007/s11214-007-9269-0
G.F. Lindal et al., J. Geophys. Res. 84, 8443–8456 (1979)
J.V. McAdams, R.W. Farquhar, A.H. Taylor, B.G. Williams, Space Sci. Rev. (2007, this issue). doi:10.1007/s11214-007-9162-x
S.J. Peale, Nature 262, 765–766 (1976)
S.J. Peale, Icarus 48, 143–145 (1981)
S.J. Peale, in Mercury, ed. by F. Vilas, C.R. Chapman, M.S. Matthews (Univ. Arizona Press, Tucson, 1988), pp. 461–493
S.J. Peale, R.J. Phillips, S.C. Solomon, D.E. Smith, M.T. Zuber, Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 37, 1269–1283 (2002)
A.G. Santo et al., Planet. Space Sci. 49, 1481–1500 (2001)
D.E. Smith, M.T. Zuber, Science 271, 184–188 (1996)
D.E. Smith et al., J. Geophys. Res. 98, 20,871–20,889 (1993)
S.C. Solomon et al., Planet. Space Sci. 49, 1445–1465 (2001)
D.K. Srinivasan et al., IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Mont., IEEEAC paper 1067, 2005, 11 pp
R.K. Stilwell, R.E. Wallis, M.L. Edwards, Proceedings of the IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and United States National Committee, Canadian National Committee, International Union of Radio Science North American Radio Science Meeting, vol. 3, Columbus, OH, 2003, pp. 1030–1033
R.E. Wallis, J.R. Bruzzi, P.M. Malouf, in Antenna Measurements Techniques Association 26th Annual Meeting and Symposium, Stone Mountain, GA (2004), pp. 331–336
M.T. Zuber, D.E. Smith, Lunar Planet. Sci. 27, 1637–1638 (1997)
M.T. Zuber et al., Space Sci. Rev. (2007, this issue). doi:10.1007/s11214-007-9265-4
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Srinivasan, D.K., Perry, M.E., Fielhauer, K.B. et al. The Radio Frequency Subsystem and Radio Science on the MESSENGER Mission. Space Sci Rev 131, 557–571 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-007-9270-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-007-9270-7