| Description |
Data Set Overview ================ The Mars Express (MEX) Radio Science (MaRS) Data Archive is a time-ordered collection of raw and partially processed data collected during the MEX Mission to Mars. For more information on the investigations proposed see the MaRS User Manual MARSUSERMANUAL2004 in the MaRS DOCUMENT/MRS_DOC folder. This is a Bistatic Radar measurement covering the time 2004-05-20T22:11:00 to 2004-05-21T05:05:00. BCAL 00:30 - 01:00 : Pre-Calibration SLEW 01:00 - 01:30 : Slew to position BSR 01:30 - 02:30 : Actual measurement SLEW 02:30 - 03:00 : Slew to position BCAL 02:30 - 03:30 : Post-Calibration This data set was collected during the MEX Mission Comissioning Phase (MCO) - during the first 6 months the spacecraft was in orbit around Mars. This is a Bistatic Radar measurement to determine surface properties of Mars. The measurement was done as the specific target was available under good observing conditions. The High Gain Antenna was pointed towards Mars. There were three types of scientific measurements conducted during MCO: Occultation, Bistatic Radar and Gravity where one has to distinguish between global gravity measurements which were conducted around apocenter and target gravity measurements which were conducted around pericenter over interesting geophysical structures. For more information see INST.CAT or the MaRS User Manual MARSUSERMANUAL2004. One exception are the data from the 2004-01-23 (DOY 23/2004). This was not really a science measurement but rather a pure comissioning measurement. The so called TWOD-X procedure was supposed to assess the influence of telemetry on the background frequency noise after arrival at mars. The activity was planned with an X-band uplink and a dual-frequency Xand S-band downlink for a length of three hours with -One hour TM and RNG ON; 1100 - 1200 UT -One hour TM and RNG OFF (pure carrier), 1200 - 1300 UT -One hour of TM and RNG ON; 1300 - 1400 UT Data were recorded at ESA New Norcia ground station. Ranging was only for X-Band available. Please note: Because of an anomaly with the star tracker, the telemetry was not switched off between 1200 and 1300 UT. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many anomalies occured during the MCO phase. See anomaly report at the end of this file and ERRATA.TXT. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For all measurements if not indicated otherwise Transponder 1 onboard the s/c was used. Transponder 2 is designed to be a backup. Mission Phase Definition ======================== It should be noted that the Mars Express (MEX) Radio Science (MaRS) group uses mission phases which deviate from the ones defined in the MISSION.CAT files given by ESA in order to keep the keywords and abbreviations consistent for Mars Express, Venus Express and Rosetta. Those mission phase abbreviations are also used in the data description field of the dataset_id. MaRS mission name | abbreviation | time span ================================================================ Near Earth Verification | NEV | 2003-06-02 - 2003-07-31 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Cruise 1 | CR1 | 2003-08-01 - 2003-12-25 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Mission Comissioning | MCO | 2003-12-26 - 2004-06-30 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Prime Mission | PRM | 2004-07-01 - 2005-11-30 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Extended Mission | ENT | TBD ---------------------------------------------------------------- Data files ---------- Data files are: The tracking files from Deep Space Network (DSN) and from the Intermediate Frequency Modulation System (IFMS) used by the ESA ground station New Norcia. Level 1a to level 2 data are archived. The predicted and reconstructed Doppler and range files Geometry files All Level 1a binary data files will have the file name extension eee = .DAT IFMS Level 1a ASCII data files will have the file name extension eee = .RAW Level 1b and 2 tabulated ASCII data files will have the file name extension eee = .TAB Binary data files will have the file name extension .DAT Data levels ---------- It should be noted that these data levels which are also used in the file names and data directories are PSA data levels whereas in the PDS label files CODMAC levels are used. PSA data level | CODMAC level ----------------------------- 1a | 1 1b | 2 2 | 3 Data Set Identifier ------------------- The DATA_SET_ID is a unique alphanumeric identifier for the data sets. It looks something like: XXX-Y-ZZZ-U-VVV-NNNN-WWW Acronym | Description | Example -------------------------------------------------------- XXX | Instrument Host ID | MEX -------------------------------------------------------- Y | Target ID | M (for Mars) -------------------------------------------------------- ZZZ | Instrument ID | MRS -------------------------------------------------------- U | Data level (here | 1/2/3 (Data set | CODMAC levels are used) | contains raw, edited | | and calibrated data) --------------------------------------------------------- VVV | MaRS mission phase |MCO | (deviate from the |(for values see above) | mission phases) | --------------------------------------------------------- NNNN | 4 digit sequence number | 0123 | which is identical to | | the number in Volume_id | --------------------------------------------------------- WWW | Version number | V1.0 MaRS data were originally archived as volumes rather than data sets. However, ESA PSA does not uses volume but data set. To avoid confusion it was specified that one MaRS data volume is equal one data set. Thus the data set was also assigned a 4 digit sequence number which is identical to the one used in the volume_id. If the data_set_id is known it is automatically specified on which volume the data set is found. VOLUME_ID --------- The VOLUME_ID is a unique alphanumeric identifier for volume. It looks something like: XXXXXX-ZZZZ Acronym | Description | Example -------------------------------------------------------- XXXXXX | Mission and Instrument ID | MEXMRS -------------------------------------------------------- ZZZZ | 4 digit sequence number | 0123 Descriptive files ----------------- Descriptive files contain information in order to support the processing and analysis of data files. The following file types are defined as descriptive files with extension eee = .LBL PDS label files .CFG IFMS configuration .AUX Anxiliary files (event files, attitude files, ESOC orbit files, products, SPICE files) .TXT Information (text) files File naming convention ====================== All incoming data files will be renamed and all processed data files will be named after the following file naming convention format. The original file name of the incoming tracking data files will be stored in the according label file as source_product_id. The new PDS compliant file name will be the following: rggttttlll_sss_yydddhhmm_qq.eee Acronym | Description | Examples ============================================================= r | space craft name abbreviation | M | R = Rosetta | | M = Mars Express | | V = Venus Express | ------------------------------------------------------------- gg | Ground station ID: | 43 | | | 00: valid for all ground stations; | | various ground staions or independent | | of ground station or not feasible to | | appoint to a specific ground station or | | complex | | | | DSN complex Canberra: | | --------------------- | | 34 = 34 m BWG (beam waveguide) | | 40 = complex | | 43 = 70 m | | 45 = 34 m HEF (high efficiency) | | | | ESA Cebreros antenna: | | --------------------- | | TBD = 35 m | | | | DSN complex Goldstone: | | ---------------------- | | 10 = complex | | 14 = 70 m | | 15 = 34 m HEF | | 24 = 34 m BWG | | 25 = 34 m BWG | | 26 = 34 m BWG | | 27 = 34 m HSBWG | | | | ESA Kourou antenna: | | ------------------- | | TBD = 15 m | | | | DSN complex Madrid: | | ------------------- | | 54 = 34 m BWG | | 55 = 34 m BWG | | 63 = 70 m | | 65 = 34 m HEF | | 60 = complex | | | | ESA New Norcia antenna: | | ----------------------- | | 32 = 35 m | ------------------------------------------------------------- tttt | data source identifier: | TNF0 | | | Level 1a and 1b: | | ---------------- | | ODF0 = ODF closed loop | | TNF0 = TNF closed loop (L1a) | | T000-T017 = TNF closed loop (L1b) | | ICL1 = IFMS 1 closed loop | | ICL2 = IFMS 2 closed loop | | ICL3 = IFMS RS closed loop | | IOL3 = IFMS RS open loop | | R1Az = RSR block 1A open loop | | R1Bz = RSR block 1B open loop | | R2Az = RSR block 2A open loop | | R2Bz = RSR block 2B open loop | | R3Az = RSR block 3A open loop | | R3Bz = RSR block 3B open loop | | z=1...4 subchannel number | | ESOC = ancillary files from ESOC DDS | | DSN0 = ancillary files from DSN | | SUE0= ancillary and information files | | coming from Stanford University | | center for radar astronomy | | | | Level 2: | | ------- | | UNBW = predicted and reconstructed | | Doppler and range files | | ICL1 = IFMS 1 closed loop | | ICL2 = IFMS 2 closed-loop | | ICL3 = IFMS RS closed-loop | | ODF0 = DSN ODF closed loop file | | T000-T017 = TNF closed loop file | | RSR0 = DSN RSR open loop file | | RSRC = DSN RSR open loop file containing | | data with right circular | | polarization (only solar | | conjunction measurement) | | RSRL = DSN RSR open loop file containing | | data with left circular | | polarization (only solar | | conjunction measurement) | | NAIF = JPL or ESTEC SPICE Kernels | | SUE0 = ancillary, information and | | calibration files coming from | | Stanford University center for | | radar astronomy | | GEOM = geometry file | | | --------|------------------------------------------|-------- lll | Data archiving level | L1A | L1A = Level 1A | | L1B = Level 1B | | L02 = Level 2 | | L03 = Level 3 | --------|------------------------------------------|-------- sss | data type | | | | IFMS data files level 1A & 1B: | | ------------------------- | | D1X uncalibrated Doppler 1 X-Band | | D1S uncalibrated Doppler 1 S-Band | | D2X uncalibrated Doppler 2 x-Band | | D2S uncalibrated Doppler 2 S-Band | | C1X Doppler 1 X-Band equip. calibration | | C1S Doppler 1 S-Band equip. calibration | | C2X Doppler 2 X-Band equip. calibration | | C2S Doppler 2 S-Band equip. calibration | | RGX uncalibrated X-Band range | | RGS uncalibrated S-Band range | | MET meteo file | | AG1 AGC 1 files | | AG2 AGC 2 files | | RCX X-Band range equip. calibration | | RCS S-Band range equip. calibration | | | | DSN data files level 1A: | | ------------------------- | | ODF original orbit files (closed loop) | | RSR radio science receiver open-loop file| | TNF file (closed loop) | | | | ESOC ancillary data level 1A: | | ----------------------------- | | ATR attitude file, reconstrucetd | | EVT orbit event file | | OHC orbit file, heliocentric cruise | | OMO orbit file, marscentric, operational | | | | DSN Calibration files level 1A: | | ------------------------------- | | TRO DSN tropospheric calibration model | | MET DSN meteorological file | | ION DSN ionospheric calibration model | | BCL SUE Bistatic radar temperature | | calibration | | | | DSN ancillary data level 1A: | | ----------------------------- | | DKF DSN Keyword File | | MON DSN monitor data | | NMC DSN Network Monitor and Control file | | SOE DSN Sequence of Events | | EOP DSN earth orientation parameter file | | ENB SUE Experimenter Notebook | | MFT SUE Manifest files | | LIT DSN Light time file | | HEA DSN Data collection list | | OPT DSN Orbit and timing geometry file | | | | DSN Browse Plots level 1A: | | -------------------------- | | BRO bistatic radar 4-panel plots (browse)| | | | IFMS data files level 1b: | | ------------------------- | | D1X uncalibrated Doppler 1 X-band | | D1S uncalibrated Doppler 1 S-band | | D2X uncalibrated Doppler 2 X-band | | D2S uncalibrated Doppler 2 S-band | | C1X Doppler 1 X-band equip. calibration | | C1S Doppler 1 S-band equip. calibration | | C2X Doppler 2 X-band equip. calibration | | C2S Doppler 2 S-band equip. calibration | | RGX uncalibrated X-band range | | RGS uncalibrated S-band range | | MET meteo | | AG1 AGC 1 | | AG2 AGC 2 | | RCX X-band range equip. calibration | | RCS S-band range equip. calibration | | | | DSN ODF data files level 1b: | | ----------------------------- | | DPS S-band Doppler | | DPX X-band Doppler | | RGS uncalibrated S-Band ranging file | | RGX uncalibrated X-Band ranging file | | RMP uplink frequency ramp rate file | | | | DSN calibration data level 1B: | | ----------------------------- | | MET meteorlogical file | | | | IFMS data level 2: | | ----------------- | | D1X uncalibrated Doppler 1 X-Band | | D1S uncalibrated Doppler 1 S-Band | | D2X uncalibrated Doppler 2 x-Band | | D2S uncalibrated Doppler 2 S-Band | | RGX uncalibrated X-Band range | | RGS uncalibrated S-Band range | | RCX X-Band range equip. calibration | | RCS S-Band range equip. calibration | | | | IFMS Browse plots level 2 | | ------------------------- | | B1X Quick look plots of calibrated | | Doppler 1 X-band | | B1S Quick look plots of calibrated | | Doppler 1 S-band | | B2X Quick look plots of calibrated | | Doppler 2 X-band | | B2S Quick look plots of calibrated | | Doppler 2 S-band | | | | DSN level 2 data: | | ----------------- | | DPX calibrated Doppler X-band | | DPS calibrated Doppler S-band | | RGS calibrated S-band ranging file | | RGX calibrated X-band ranging file | | BSR bistatic radar power spectra | | SRG bistatic radar surface reflection | | geometry file | | | | DSN level 2 calibration data: | | ---------------------------- | | SRF Surface Reflection Filter Files | | | | orbit files level 2: | | -------------------- | | PTW Doppler & range prediction two-way | | PON Doppler & range prediction on | | RTW reconstructed Doppler & range orbit | | file two-way | | RON reconstructed Doppler & range orbit | | file one-way | | LOC heliocentric state vector file | | | | Constellation file Level 2: | | --------------------------- | | MAR Mars constellation file | | VEN Venus constellation file | | P67 Churyumov-Gerasimenko | | constellation file | | | | SPICE kernel files level 2: | | --------------------------- | | BSP binary spacecraft/location | | kernel file | | FRM frame kernel file | | ORB orbit numbering file | | PBC predicted attititude kernel file | | PCK planetary constant kernel | | SCK space craft clock kernel | | TLS leap second kernel file | | | | Science data level 3: | | --------------------- | | SCP solar corona science | --------|------------------------------------------|-------- yy | Year | 04 --------|------------------------------------------|-------- ddd | Day of year | 153 --------|------------------------------------------|-------- hhmm | Sample hour, minute start time | 1135 | For IFMS files this is the ESOC | | reference time tag which usually | | coincides with the first sample time. | | For IFMS Ranging files however this is | | not true. Here the reference time tag | | is twoway light time before the first | | actual measurement. | --------|------------------------------------------|-------- qq | Sequence or version number | 01 --------|------------------------------------------|-------- eee | .DAT binary files (Level 1a) | .RAW | .TAB ASCII table data file | | .AUX ancillary file | | .CFG IFMS configuration file (Level 1b) | | .LBL PDS label files | | .TXT information files | | .RAW ASCII data files (Level 1a) | | .LOG Processing log files (Level 2) | Processing (DSN) ================ TNFs are screened for bad data points by the JPL Radio Metric Data Conditioning Team (RMDCT) before the files are processed to ODFs. The TNFs included in this archive, however, are the pre-screened versions. The open-loop (RSR) data in the archive have been assembled from individual records (packets) into files. They have not otherwise been processed. The Level 2 radio occultation data have been processed as follows. The RSR samples were digitally filtered to reduce bandwidth; in the process they were also converted from 16-bit I and 16-bit Q complex integer samples to 64-bit I and 64-bit Q double precision complex floating point samples. The complex floating point samples were Fourier transformed and estimates made of the carrier amplitude and frequency and their uncertainties. The reconstructed spacecraft trajectory, planetary ephemerides, records of uplink and downlink tuning, and other data were used to calculate the expected carrier frequency at the receiving antenna. The Level 2 products are tables of the observed amplitude, its uncertainty, the observed frequency, its uncertainty, and the difference between the observed and the expected frequency as a function of time. Separate tables have been created for each RSR. The Level 2 bistatic radar spectra (SPC) have been processed as follows. The RSR samples were converted from 16-bit I and 16-bit Q complex integer samples to 64-bit I and 64-bit Q double precision complex floating point samples. In the process they were digitally corrected for non-uniform spectral response of the receiving system. This was done by computing spectra from series of time samples and dividing each spectrum by the square root of a power spectrum computed from many minutes of noise. The amplitude of the samples was then adjusted so that power spectra in each receiver channel would have an amplitude proportional to kTsysB where k is Boltzmanns constant, Tsys is the receiver system temperature in kelvins, and B is the width of one frequency bin (spectral resolution) in the power spectrum. Then the power spectra (e.g., XR*conj(XR)) and cross spectra (e.g., XR*conj(XL)) were computed. Structure of DATA Directory =========================== Please note that the following description lists all possible subfolders. If however there is no data to fill some of these folders they will not be generated. |-DATA | |-LEVEL1A | | |-CLOSED_LOOP | | | |-DSN | | | | |-ODF Orbit Data Files | | | | |-Tracking and Navigation Files | | | | | | | |-IFMS | | | |-AG1 Auto Gain Control 1 data files | | | |-AG2 Auto Gain Control 2 data files | | | |-DP1 Doppler 1 data files | | | |-DP2 Doppler 2 data files | | | |-RNG Ranging data files | | |-OPEN_ LOOP | | | |-DSN | | | | |-RSR Radio-Science Receiver data files | | | | | | |-IFMS | | |-AG1 Auto Gain Control 1 data files | | |-AG2 Auto Gain Control 2 data files | | |-DP1 Doppler 1 data files | | |-DP2 Doppler 2 data files | | |-RNG Ranging data files | | | |-LEVEL1B | | |-CLOSED_ LOOP | | | |-DSN | | | | |-ODF Orbit Data Files | | | | | | | |- IFMS | | | | |- AG1 Auto Gain Control 1 data files | | | | |- AG2 Auto Gain Control 2 data files | | | | |- DP1 Doppler 1 data files | | | | |- DP2 Doppler 2 data files | | | | |- RNG Ranging data files | | | | | |- OPEN_LOOP | | | |-IFMS | | | | |-AG1 Auto Gain Control 1 data files | | | | |-AG2 Auto Gain Control 2 data files | | | | |-DP1 Doppler 1 data files | | | | |-DP2 Doppler 2 data files | | | | |-RNG Ranging data files | |-LEVEL2 | | |- CLOSED_ LOOP | | | |- DSN | | | | |-ODF Orbit Data Files | | | | | | | |- IFMS | | | | |-DP1 Doppler 1 data files | | | | |-DP2 Doppler 2 data files | | | | |-RNG Ranging data files | | |- OPEN_ LOOP | | | |-DSN | | | | |-BSR Bistatic radar power spectra | | | | |-SRG Bistatic radar surface reflection | | | | | geometry file | | | | |-DPX Doppler X-Band files | | | | |-DPS Doppler S-Band files | | | |-IFMS | | | | |-DP1 Doppler 1 data files | | | | |-DP2 Doppler 2 data files | | | | |-RNG Ranging data files Files in the DATA Directory ---------------------------- Files in the DATA directory are: Data Level 1a: ------------------- Level 1a data are incoming raw tracking data files obtained either from ESA IFMS or DSN. All incoming data files will be renamed after the file naming convention format defined in section 4.1 of the MaRS File Naming Convention document MARSFNC2004 and get a minimal detached label file .LBL. The original file name of the incoming tracking data files will be stored in the according label file as SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID. These files have the file extension .RAW if ASCII and .DAT if binary files. TNFs are screened for bad data points by the JPL Radio Metric Data Conditioning Team (RMDCT) before the files are processed to ODFs. The TNFs included in this archive, however, are the pre-screened versions. Tracking and Navigation Files (TNF Directory) --------------------------------------------- TNFs became available within a few hours of the completion of a Mars Express pass. Orbit Data Files -------------------------------- ODFs were typically issued daily throughout the MEX mission with weekend data being consolidated into a single file on Monday. Typical ODFs have sizes 15-50 kB. All ODFs in the NEV archive have 60 second sampling. For higher sampling rates, the user must resort to the (more primitive) TNF products. Radio Science Receiver Files (RSR Directory) -------------------------------------------- Each RSR generated a stream of packets which could be assembled into files of arbitrary length. It was decided, after some experimentation, that files containing about 300 MB were the largest that could be easily manipulated in the analysis computers available in 2003. With a small number of exceptions, this is the largest file size that will be found in the RSR directory. The open-loop (RSR) data in the archive have been assembled from individual records (packets) into files. They have not otherwise been processed. IFMS Data Level 1b: ------------------- Level 1b files are processed from level 1a (raw tracking data) into an edited ASCII formatted file. Three files are generated for each ESA IFMS Level 1a data file: Level 1b IFMS data file (extension .TAB) Level 1b IFMS configuration file (extension .CFG) Level 1b IFMS label file (extension .LBL) The label file contains the description of the .TAB as well as of the .CFG file. Up to eight files are generated for each DSN ODF Level 1a file: Level 1b ODF Doppler S-Band data file + label file Level 1b ODF Doppler X-Band data file + label file Level 1b ODF Ranging S-Band data file + label file Level 1b ODF Ranging X-Band data file + label file Cologne is processing IFMS and ODF data, Stanford University processes RSR data up to level 2 and forwards raw and processed data to Cologne for archiving. However, for RSR there will be no level 1b files. Data Level 2: ------------ Level 2 data are calibrated data after further processing. The file format is in ASCII. This data level can be used for further scientific interpretation. The keyword OBSERVATION_TYPE in the Level 2 data labels indicates which kind of measurement was done. Keyword values are: Occultation, Target Gravity, Global Gravity, Solar Conjunction, Bistatic Radar, Commissioning and Phobos Gravity. Commissioning covers the NEV, CR1 and partly MCO Mission Phase where no specific measurement was done but equipment on board the spacecraft and on ground station was tested. IFMS Level 2 input files: ------------------------ There may be several Doppler 1 X-Band files in level 1a which will be merged on level 2. The same is true for all other Doppler file type and Ranging X and S-Band files. Only files with continous sequenced numbers (the file names are the same only the sequence number varies for these files) are merged together. Otherwise a new Level 02 data file is created (merging data files with a new sequence of files). The level 2 source_product_id however gives the RAW IFMS file names since the raw files are used for processing. But the content of the IFMS raw files are identical to the corresponding level 1a IFMS files in one data set, only the file name is different. And the source_prodict_id of the level 1a files gives the original raw IFMS files. In addition the level 1A files have almost the same file name as the corresponding level 2 files. The corresponding level 1A files can be found in DATA/LEVEL1A/CLOSED_LOOP/IFMS/DP1 for Doppler 1 files DATA/LEVEL1A/CLOSED_LOOP/IFMS/DP2 for Doppler 2 files DATA/LEVEL1A/CLOSED_LOOP/IFMS/RNG for Ranging files ---------------------------------------------------------------- Example: M32ICL1L02_D1X_040931103_00.TAB is a level 2 Doppler 1 X-Band file in M32ICL1L02_D1X_040931103_00.LBL the following SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID is given: SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID = {NN11_MEX1_2004_093_OP_D1_110358_0000, NN11_MEX1_2004_093_OP_D1_110358_0001, NN11_MEX1_2004_093_OP_D1_110358_0002} which are the raw IFMS files. The corresponding Level 1A files can be found in DATA/L1A/CLOSED_LOOP/IFMS/DP1 Their names are: M32ICL1L1A_D1X_040931103_00.RAW M32ICL1L1A_D1X_040931103_01.RAW M32ICL1L1A_D1X_040931103_02.RAW and the corresponding label files give the source_product_id as: in the M32ICL1L1A_D1X_040931103_00.LBL file the source_product_id is given as: SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID = NN11_MEX1_2004_093_OP_D1_110358_0000 in the M32ICL1L1A_D1X_040931103_01.LBL file the source_product_id is given as: SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID = NN11_MEX1_2004_093_OP_D1_110358_0001 in the M32ICL1L1A_D1X_040931103_02.LBL file the source_product_id is given as: SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID = NN11_MEX1_2004_093_OP_D1_110358_0002 Note that in this example the three level 1A files were merged to one level 2 files. The file names of the level 1a files are almost identical to the level 2 file name with three differences: - L1A instead of L02 in the file name which tells the user that these are level 1A and level 2 files. - The two digit-sequence number at the end of the file can be different. - The level 1A files have file extension .RAW whereas level 2 files have file extension .TAB ----------------------------------------------------------------- Other inputs for Doppler and Ranging files: ------------------------------------------ predicted orbit file (see EXTRAS/ANCILLARY/UNI_BW) Meteorological file (see CALIB/CLOSED_LOOP/IFMS/MET) AGC file (see DATA/1A or 1B/CLOSED_LOOP/AGC1 or AGC2) Spacecraft orbit SPICE kernels (see EXTRAS/ANCILLARY/SPICE can also be downloaded from ftp://solarsystem.estec.esa.nl/pub/projects/MEX/data/spice ) Calibration Documentation: ------------------------- For documentation about Doppler and Ranging Calibration please see in DOCUMENT/MRS_DOC/MEX_MRS_IGM_DS_3035 and MEX_MRS_IGM_DS_3036 For differential Doppler: ------------------------ If the processed level 2 file is for example Doppler 1 X-Band then information from IFMS raw Doppler 1 S-Band files which cover approximately the same time were used for processing as well. For Doppler 1 S-Band information from IFMS raw Doppler 1 X-Band files were used. Doppler 2 files were processed accordingly. In most cases on IFMS1 and IFMS2 X-Band data were recorded: The corresponding raw files names start with NN11_ or NN12_ . S-Band data were in most cases recorded at IFMS3. The corresponding raw files names start with NN13_. If for some reason this configuration was changed this is indicated either at the beginning of this description or at the end in the anomaly report. For Ranging in addition are used: -------------------------------- Range calibration file (see CALIB/CLOSED_LOOP/IFMS/RCL) Klobuchar coefficients for Earth ionosphere calibration (can be downloaded from this site http://www.aiub.unibe.ch/download/CODE/) The calibrated Doppler files contain observed IFMS sky frequency, X-band Doppler and S-band Doppler frequency shift, residual (computed using the predict file), and the differential Doppler. If only a single downlink frequency was used, a differential Doppler cannot be computed and was set to zero in the output file. The level 2 ranging files contain the observed TWLT at X-band or S-band, the calibrated TWLT at X-band or S-band, the TWLT delay at X-band or S-band and the differential TWLT. If only one frequency was used, the differential TWLT is set to zero. IFMS Level 2 output files: ------------------------ Level 2 IFMS data file (extension .TAB) Level 2 IFMS label file (extension .LBL) Level 2 IFMS log file (extension .LOG). The logfiles can be found in /EXTRAS/ANCILLARY/MRS/LOGFILES and contain information about the level 2 Doppler and Ranging data processing. ODF Level 2 input files: ------------------------ ODF Level 1b files Doppler and Range prediction file Or Orbit reconstructed file Media calibration files The calibrated Doppler files contain observed IFMS Doppler expressed as X-band Doppler or S-band Doppler, residual and detrended X-band or S-band Doppler (computed using the predict file), the detrended differential Doppler. If only one single frequency was used, the differential Doppler will be set to zero. The level 2 ranging file contains the observed Two-Way-Light-Time (TWLT) at X-band or S-band, the calibrated TWLT at X-band or S-band, the TWLT delay at X-band or S-band and the differential TWLT. If only one frequency was used, the differential TWLT is set to zero. RSR Level 2 data: ---------------- There are four types of calibrated data in the data set; each is described briefly below. Surface Reflection Filter Files ------------------------------- SRF files contain power spectra derived from noise measurements when the radio system was stable and there were no spacecraft signals in the passband. SRFs were derived separately for each receiver channel; but the fact that the spectral characteristics of each receiver depended almost entirely on digital signal processing meant that there was little practical difference among channels when sampling rates (output bandwidths) were the same and the SRFs were interchangeable. SRFs were ASCII PDS SPECTRUM objects with attached labels. Level 2 Neutral Atmosphere Files ------------------------------------------------ L2N files were the calibrated output of partial processing of RSR data collected for radio occultations. They were ASCII tables of frequencies and amplitudes in physically meaningful units. Separate L2N files were derived for each receiver channel. The Level 2 radio occultation data have been processed as follows. The RSR samples were digitally filtered to reduce bandwidth; in the process they were also converted from 16-bit I and 16-bit Q complex integer samples to 64-bit I and 64-bit Q double precision complex floating point samples. The complex floating point samples were Fourier transformed and estimates made of the carrier amplitude and frequency and their uncertainties. The reconstructed spacecraft trajectory, planetary ephemerides, records of uplink and downlink tuning, and other data were used to calculate the expected carrier frequency at the receiving antenna. The Level 2 products are tables of the observed amplitude, its uncertainty, the observed frequency, its uncertainty, and the difference between the observed and the expected frequency as a function of time. Separate tables have been created for each RSR. Level 2 Bistatic Radar Spectra ---------------------------------------------- SPC files were the calibrated output of partial processing of RSR data collected for bistatic radar. They were ASCII tables of power and cross-voltage spectra. All spectra for a single observation were collected in a single ASCII file The Level 2 bistatic radar spectra (BSR) have been processed as follows. The RSR samples were converted from 16-bit I and 16-bit Q complex integer samples to 64-bit I and 64-bit Q double precision complex floating point samples. In the process they were digitally corrected for non-uniform spectral response of the receiving system. This was done by computing spectra from series of time samples and dividing each spectrum by the square root of a power spectrum computed from many minutes of noise. The amplitude of the samples was then adjusted so that power spectra in each receiver channel would have an amplitude proportional to kTsysB where k is Boltzmanns constant, Tsys is the receiver system temperature in kelvins, and B is the width of one frequency bin (spectral resolution) in the power spectrum. Then the power spectra (e.g., XR*conj(XR)) and cross spectra (e.g., XR*conj(XL)) were computed. Structure of CALIB Directory ============================ Please note that the following description lists all possible subfolders. If however there is no data to fill some of these folders they will not be generated. |-CALIB | |-CALINFO.TXT text description of the directory contents | |-CLOSED_ LOOP | | |-DSN Closed-loop calibration data of the DSN ground stations | | |-IFMS | | | |-RCL Range Calibration data files | | | |-DCL Doppler Calibration data files | | | |-MET Meteo data files | | | |-OPEN_LOOP | | |-DSN | | | |-BCAL System temperature calibration files | | | |-ION Ionospheric Calibration files | | | |-MET Meteo data files | | | |-TRO Tropospheric Calibration files | | | |-SRF Surface Reflection Filer Files | | | | | |-IFMS | | | |-RCL Range Calibration data files | | | |-DCL Doppler Calibration data files | | | |-MET Meteo data files | | | |-UPLINK_FREQ_CORRECT Folder includes files which indicate wrong | and corrected uplink frequency and their | corresponding files. Files in the CALIB Directory ---------------------------- Files in the CALIB directory are: Calibration data files have in principle the same structure as normal data files. But they do not contain scientific data but rather reflect the behaviour of the system. These kind of data is typically recorded at New Norcia once for every tracking before the real measurement took place. For example: range calibration data contain the equipment propagation delay measurements before the tracking pass. Note: if the uplink frequency in one of the .RAW files was identified as wrong the folder UPLINK_FREQ_CORRECT will be generated. It tells the user which files were affected and where to find the corrected Level 2 data files. Closed loop IFMS Calib data level 1a: ------------------------------------- These Level 1a data are incoming raw tracking data files obtained from ESA IFMS. All incoming data files will be renamed after the file naming convention format defined in section 4.1 of the MaRS File Naming Convention document MARSFNC2004 and get a minimal detached label file .LBL. The original file name of the incoming tracking data files will be stored in the according label file as SOURCE_PRODUCT_ID. These files have the file extension .RAW. Closed loop IFMS Calib data level 1b: ------------------------------------- IFMS Calib level 1b files are processed from level 1a (raw tracking data) into an edited ASCII formatted file. Three files are generated for each ESA IFMS Level 1a data file: Level 1b IFMS data file (extension .TAB) Level 1b IFMS configuration file (extension .CFG) Level 1b IFMS label file (extension .LBL) The label file contains the description of the .TAB as well as of the .CFG file. DSN METEO Files (MET directory) --------------------------------------------------- DSN METEO files were produced by the Tracking System Analytic Calibration (TSAC) Group at JPL. Files give weather calibration information for DSN complexes. These are ASCII files of variable length records. Each record is delimited by an ASCII line-feed (ASCII 10). METEO files were typically released weekly and contain all weather data for the complex since 1 January. Each METEO file is accompanied by a PDS label. The files grow at the rate of approximately 90 kB per month. DSN Ionosphere Calibration Files (ION Directory) --------------------------------------------------- Ionosphere Calibration files were produced by the Tracking System Analytic Calibration (TSAC) Group at JPL. They documented and predicted Earth ionospheric conditions. Global Ionosphere Map (GIM) software created daily maps from Global Positioning System (GPS) data. Each day, a final map was created for the UT day three days previously and a preliminary map was created for the UT day immediately before. Also created were predict maps a couple times a week by averaging recent normal days. Then the software evaluated the maps at the spacecraft line-of-sight and fitted the results to a normalized polynomial versus time over each spacecraft pass. This was done for all three modes: final, preliminary, and predict. Then the software selected the best available calibration for each pass (in priority order final > preliminary > predict). An operator ran a plotting program to view all of the calibrations and overrode the default selections where desired. The mapping technique is described by MANNUCCIETAL1998. These are ASCII files of variable length records. Each record is delimited by an ASCII carriage-return line-feed pair (ASCII 13 followed by ASCII 10). ION files were usually released at one week intervals to cover a single month; only final files covering a full month are included in this archive. Each ION file is accompanied by a PDS minimal label. Typical file sizes are approximately 50 kB. Troposphere Calibration Files (TRO Directory) --------------------------------------------------- Troposphere Calibration files were produced by the Tracking System Analytic Calibration (TSAC) Group at JPL. They documented and predicted Earth tropospheric conditions and were based on measurements made using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. These are ASCII files of variable length records. Each record is delimited by an ASCII line-feed (ASCII 10). Surface Reflection Filter Files (SRF Directory) ----------------------------------------------- SRF files contain power spectra derived from noise measurements when the radio system was stable and there were no spacecraft signals in the passband. SRFs were derived separately for each receiver channel; but the fact that the spectral characteristics of each receiver depended almost entirely on digital signal processing meant that there was little practical difference among channels when sampling rates (output bandwidths) were the same and the SRFs were interchangeable. SRFs were ASCII PDS SPECTRUM objects with attached labels. System Temperature Calibration Files (BCAL directory) ----------------------------------------------------- This table contains system temperature calibration results from Mars Express (MEX) bistatic radar experiments. For each receiver channel the table includes the best estimate of system temperature with the antenna pointed to zenith (either pre- or post-cal, or a combination of both), the associated noise diode temperature, and the system temperature at the mid-point of the bistatic (surface) observation. In general there is one set of four rows for each experiment - one for each receiver channel (X-band and S-band, right- and left-circular polarization). The table is cumulative, growing by four rows for each new observation. The Bistatic Radar Calibration Log is produced by the Stanford University Element (SUE) of the Mars Express Radio Science Team under the direction of R.A. Simpson. Browse Files (BROWSE Directory) ============================ Browse files may be composite PostScript files summarizing quick-look processing of raw RSR data. In that case each file has a name: rggttttL1A_BRO_yydddhhmm_00.AUX. Each file has a JPEG version with the same file name but extension .LBL. Both files are accompanied by a single detached label of the same file name but extension .LBL. Each PostScript file is sized to fit on a single 8-1/2x11 inch page. Each landscape format page includes four panels showing a histogram of raw data (12-bit) samples (upper left), one-minute average power spectra derived from the raw samples (upper right), one-second averages of raw sample power versus time (lower left), and an extract of the first few lines of the source RSR PDS label (lower right). BRO files may be helpful in quickly scanning data to determine which files are suitable for closer study. IFMS Browse plot files are only available as JPEG files. These plots are generated in order to check data quality of IFMS Level 2 closed-loop data. The name of the files are the same like the Level 2 data files except for the data type identifier which is set as sss=B1X,B1S,B2X,B2S if the source of the plots is a Doppler 1 X-Band, Doppler 1 S-Band, Doppler 2 X-Band or Doppler 2 S-Band file, and the extension will be .JPG. Ancillary Data ============== An extensive set of ancillary files is needed for proper analysis and interpretation of the radio data. These are organized in parallel directories and stored approximately chronologically. When a file type is not represented on a CD-WO volume, the corresponding directory has been omitted. Files in the EXTRAS/ANCILLARY Directory ---------------------------- Files in the EXTRAS/ANCILLARY directory are: ESOC: R^ant DDS files to describe the observation geometry SPICE: R^ant SPICE Kernels to describe the observation geometry UNI_BW: R^ant PREDICT files from the Uni BW Munich MRS: Level 2 processing logfiles SUE: Ancillary files coming from Stanford University |-SPICE: | Spice Kernels were produced by the MEX Flight Dynamics Team, | converted to IEEE binary format, and then distributed by the | JPL Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF). | For more information on NAIF and SPICE see | http://pds-naif.jpl.nasa.gov/ | | The original Spice Kernels were merged with the JPL DE405 | planetary ephemeris and the ephemerides of Phobos and Deimos | for the same time interval. | DSN: Ancillary files provided by Deep Space Network |-EOP: Earth Orientation Parameter Files | | Earth Orientation Parameter files were produced by the Time | and Earth Motion Precision Observation (TEMPO) Group at JPL. | They documented and predicted Earth rotation (rate and axis). | These are ASCII files of variable length records. Each | record is delimited by an ASCII line-feed (ASCII 10). | There are both longand short versions. The long file covered | past motion since about 1962 and a prediction for about three | months into the future; these files have typical sizes of 1 MB. | The short file covered the most recent nine months of past motion | and a prediction for three months into the future; these files are | typically 30 kB. Each EOP file is accompanied by a PDS minimal | label | |-OPT: Orbit Propagation and Timing Geometry File | |Orbit Propagation and Time Generation files contain estimates of |event timing (e.g., equator crossings) that depend on |precise knowledge of the spacecraft orbit. These are ASCII |files of variable length records. Each record is delimited |by an ASCII carriage-return (ASCII 13) line-feed |(ASCII 10) pair. File names have the form ydddeeeC.OPT where |the file name components are the same as for BCK files (above). |Each OPT file is accompanied by a PDS minimal label with file |name ydddeeeC.LBL. Typical files are based on reconstructed |spacecraft trajectories, cover a month of operation, and have |sizes less than 500 kB. | |-LIT: Light Time File | |Light Time files give radio propagation time from the spacecraft to |Earth as a function of time. These are ASCII files of fixed length |records. Each record is delimited by an ASCII carriage-return |line-feed pair. File names have the form ydddeeeC.LIT where the |file name components are the same as for DKF files. An LIT file may |cover more than 365 days; so eee may be a year or more after |yddd. Each LIT file is accompanied by a PDS label. |Typical file sizes are less than 1 MB. | Software ======== Software for parsing, reducing, and analyzing data such as these has been developed at University of Cologne and Stanford University. Because such software must usually operate at the bit-level and is written for a narrow range of platforms, it is not suitable for general distribution. No software is included with this archival data set. Documents ============ The DOCUMENT directory contains the files that provide documentation and supplementary information to assist in understanding and using the data products on the volume. The files evolved as the mission progressed; users should refer to the files on the most recent (highest numbered) archive volume for the most up-to-date information. Files on early volumes may be only place-holders. Structure of the DOCUMENT directory: DOCUMENT | |- DOCINFO.TXT Specifies the content of the | document directory |- MRS_DOC | | | |- M32ESOCL1B_RCL_021202_00.PDF Group delay stability specification | | and measurements at New Norcia. | | | |- M32ESOCL1B_RCL_030522_00.PDF Range calibrations at New Norcia | | and Kourou. | | | |- M32UNBWL1B_RCL_030801_00.PDF Transponder group velocities (in | | german). | | | |- MEX-MRS-IGM-IS-3019.PDF MaRS Data Archive Plan. | | MEX-MRS-IGM-IS-3019.ASC | | | | | |- MEX-MRS-IGM-IS-3016.PDF MaRS File Naming Convention. | | MEX-MRS-IGM-IS-3016.ASC | | | | | |- MEX-MRS-IGM-MA-3008.PDF MaRS User Manual. | | | | | | | |- MARS_OPS_LOGBOOK_04_COM.PDF Status of all planned comissioning | | radio science operations until | | 2004-01-23 | | | |- MEX-MRS-IGM-LI-3028.PDF | | | | List of MaRS Team members. | | | |- MEX_MRS_IGM_DS_3035.PDF | | | | IFMS Doppler Processing and | | Calibration Software | | Documentation: Level 1a to Level 2. | | | |- MEX_MRS_IGM_DS_3036.PDF | | | | IFMS Ranging Processing and | | Calibration Software | | Documentation: Level 1a to Level 2. | | | |- MEX-MRS-IGM-DS-3039.PDF Radio Science Predicted and Recon| | structed Orbit and Planetary Con- | | stellation Data: Specifications | | | |- MEX-MRS-IGM-TN-3045.PDF Reference Systems and Techniques | for Simulation and Prediction of | atmospheric and ionospheric | sounding measurements | | |- ESA_DOC | | | |- IFMS-OCCFTP_10_3_1.PDF Documentation of IFMS data format. | | | |- MEX-ESC-ID-5003_FDSICD.PDF File format description of ESOC | | Flight Dynamics files (ancillary | | files). | | | |- MEX-ESC-IF-5003_APPENDIX_C.PDF | | | | Documentation of DDS configuration. | | | |- MEX-ESC-IF-5003_APPENDIX_I.PDF | | | | Definition of XML-schema for the | | data delivery interface. | | | |- MEX-ESC-IF-5003_APPENDIX_H.PDF | | | | Description of content of ESOC | | Flight Dynamics files (ancillary | | files). | | | |- MEX-ESC-IF-5003.PDF Data delivery interface document. | | | |- RO-EST-IF-5010_D15.PDF Specifications of operational | interfaces and procedures. | |- DSN_DOC | | | |-DSN_DESIGN_HB | | Technical information and near future configurations of NASA | | DSN | |-DSN_ODF_TRK-2-18.PDF | | Documentation of Tracking System Interfaces and Orbit | | Data File Interface | |-HGA_CALA.ASC | | High Gain Antenna calibration | |-HGA_SBDA.PDF | | S-band antenna patterns | |-HGA_XBDA.PDF | | X-band antenna patterns | |-JPL_D-16765_RSR.PDF | | Documentation of RSR data format | |-LIT_SIS.HTM | | Software Interface Specification: Light Time File | |-M00DSN0L1A_DKF_....TXT | | DSN Keyword File derived from SOE file and models of | | activities supported by the DSN | |-M00DSN0L1A_SOE_....TXT | | Sequence of Events file | |-M00SUE0L1A_ENB_....TXT | | SUE Experimenter Notes | |-M00SUE0L1A_HEA_....TXT | | DSN MEX Data Collection | |-M43DSN0L1A_NMC_....TXT | | Network Monitor and Control Logfile | |-M43SUE0L1A_MFT_....TXT | | Mars Express Manifest file | |-MEDIASIS.HTM | | Media Calibration data: formats and contents | |-MON0158.ASC/.DOC/.PDF | | Definition of format and distribution of the real-time, | | mission monitor data | |-NMC_SIS.TXT | | Contents of Network Monitor and Control Log. | |-OCCLOGnn.TAB | | Summary information of MEX radio science tests and | | experiments. nn represents the sequence number. | |-OPTG_SIS.TXT | | Software Interface Specification for the Orbit Propagation | | and Timing Geometry (OPTG) file. | |-Ryddd?.ASC/.DOC/.PDF | | Set of notes describing tests before and during radio | | science tests or operations or the progress of an | | experiment itself. y represents the year, ddd the DOY. | |-Ryddd.ZIP | | Zip-folder with 4 sets of 24 jpeg-files, each from a | | different receiver, showing circularly polarized received | | power spectra averaged over 60 seconds. FILENAME: | | Rydddbca.jpg with y:year, ddd:doy, b:X- or S-band, c: Left- | | or Right-Hand circulation, a:alphabetic numbering for each | | plot of 60s. | |-SRX.TXT | | Software Interface Specification for Surface Reflection | | investigation files. | |-SUE_DMP.ASC/.DOC | | Data Management Plan | |-TNF_SIS.TXT | | Deep Space Mission System External Interface Specification | |-TRK_2_21.TXT | | Software Interface Specification | |-TRK_2_23.TXT / DSN_MEDIA_CAL_TRK_2_23.PDF | | Specification of DSN media calibration data. | |-TRK_2_24.TXT / DSN_WEA_FORMAT_TRK_2_24.PDF | | Specification of DSN weather file. The documents are either in PDF-Format or are text files in ASCII with variable length of characters per line. Each line is delimited with a carriage-return (ASCII 13) line-feed (ASCII 10) pair. Media/Format ============ The archival data set is written on CD-WO media using the WinOn CD Creation Software or Nero Burning Rom. The CD-WO volumes conform to ISO 9660 standards. More general description of radio science data ============================================== Closed-loop and Open-loop data: ================================ There are in principle two different ways to record radio science data: Open-loop and closed-loop data. The CLOSED-LOOP system used a phase-lock loop in the receiver to track the downlink signal, reporting both amplitude and frequency at rates typically of 1-10 times per second. In the OPEN-LOOP system, the signal was simply converted to a baseband frequency range; the entire passband was sampled and recorded for later processing. Typical open-loop sampling rates for MEX were 2000 complex samples per second. CLOSED-LOOP data are efficient for characterizing slowly changing signals; OPEN-LOOP data (because of their much higher volume) are usually used when the signal is very dynamic - such as during an occultation or bistatic radar measurement. The data set includes four primary data types with respect to the two different ground station systems. These systems are on the one hand the ESA ground station in New Norcia, Australia (NNO) and the NASA Deep Space Network (DSN). CLOSED-LOOP data types: | |- ESA: Intermediate Frequency Modulation System (IFMS) Closed-Loop (CL) | | In this data set file names of data recorded at the | New Norcia IFMS closed loop system start with the | string M32_ICL | | IFMS CL consists of Doppler and Ranging data at | selected sample rates. The sample rate is usually 1/s. | The only exception are occultation data where the | sample rate should be 10/s to get a good enough | vertical resolution of the atmosphere. | Ranging are only recorded for gravity measurements. | | Thus the IFMS closed loop has three recording systems | IFMS 1, IFMS 2 and IFMS 3 | The standard_data_product_id in the data label | specifies on which system the data was recorded. | | MaRS measurements are usually done in TWO-WAY | configuration: that is an uplink signal goes up | (This is usally X-BAND but the uplink signal can also | be S-Band) and the ground station receives a dual | frequency simultanous and coherent downlink signal. | | IFMS 1 is configured for the uplink signal. It | receives X-Band downlink if uplink was X-Band and | S-Band downlink if uplink was S-Band. | IFMS 2 acts at backup. | IFMS 3 records the second downlink signal. This is | usually S-Band. But can also be X-Band when the uplink | was S-Band. | From 20.12.04: | IFMS 1 D1 is fixed to a sample rate of 1/s | IFMS 1 D2 is on fixed to a sample rate of 1/10s | | In addition each Doppler recording system has also | two Doppler channels which can record simultanously | and act as an additional backup system. | Therefor for each IFMS system there should be at a | given time two Doppler files and two Auto Gain Control | files recorded. The file names of these data contain | the string _D1 or_D2 for Doppler and _G1 or | _G2 for Auto Gain control files and they will be on | different subfolders within the data directory. See | further down the description of the DATA Directory. | | For these data files only X-Band ranging was possible. | Ranging data was nominally recorded on IFMS1. | |- DSN: |-The Tracking and Navigation File (TNF) | | | The Tracking and Navigation File (TNF) is the primary output | from the DSN closed-loop receiver system. These are large | files, accumulating at the rate of approximately 3 megabytes | (MB) per hour of antenna operation. The files comprise nearly | 20 block types, each designed to carry data of interest to a | particular navigation, telecommunications, or science community. | The blocks are described by TNF_SIS.TXT in the DOCUMENT/DSN_DOC | directory. Fields include: | Uplink and downlink antenna numbers | Spacecraft number | Equipment identifiers, status flags, and calibration values | Time tags and frequency bands | Transmitted and received phase and frequency | Transmitted and received ranging information | Noise levels, signal-to-noise ratios, and uncertainties | |-Orbit Data Files (ODF) | | For many applications the TNF is too cumbersome. The ODF is an | edited and partially processed version of the TNF. It is a | smaller file, often issued in daily increments of about 0.2 MB. | It contains the most important information (range and Doppler) | needed by spacecraft navigators and investigators interested in | determining gravitational fields of bodies such as Mars. Each | ODF is accompanied by a full PDS label which describes both the | content and format of the associated file. ODF data fields | include: | Narrowband spacecraft VLBI, Doppler mode (cycles) | Narrowband spacecraft VLBI, phase mode (cycles) | Narrowband quasar VLBI, Doppler mode (cycles) | Narrowband quasar VLBI, phase mode (cycles) | Wideband spacecraft VLBI (nanoseconds) | Wideband quasar VLBI (nanoseconds) | One-way Doppler (Hertz) | Two-way Doppler (Hertz) | Three-way Doppler (Hertz) | One-way total count phase (cycles) | Two-way total count phase (cycles) | Three-way total count phase (cycles) | PRA planetary operational discrete spectrum range (range | units) | SRA planetary operational discrete spectrum range (range | units) | RE(GSTDN) range (nanoseconds) | Azimuth angle (degrees) | Elevation angle (degrees) | Hour angle (degrees) | Declination angle (degrees) | | For more information please refer to document | DSNTRK-2-18 in the DOCUMENT/DSN_DOC folder. Open- Loop data types: | |-ESA: Intermediate Frequency Modulation System (IFMS) Open-Loop (OL) | | During the comissioning phase the IFMS Open-Loop | recording system was not implemented, yet. | |-DSN: Radio- Science Receiver (RSR) | | The Radio Science Receiver (RSR) is a computer- | controlled open loop receiver that digitally records a | spacecraft signal through the use of an analog to | digital converter (ADC) and up to four digital filter | sub-channels. The digital samples from each | sub-channel are stored to disk in one second records | in real time. In near real time the one second records | are partitioned and formatted into a sequence of RSR | Standard Format Data Units (SFDUs) which are | transmitted to the Advanced Multi-Mission Operations | System (AMMOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). | Included in each RSR SFDU are the ancillary data | necessary to reconstruct the signal represented by the | recorded data samples. | | Each SFDU is defined here as a single row in a | PDS TABLE object; later SFDUs are later rows. The | first fields in each row contain the ancillary data | (time tags and frequency estimates, for example) that | applied while the samples at the end of the record | were being collected. The object definitions below | explain where the fields are and what the contents | represent. | | Analysis of variations in the amplitude, frequency, | and phase of the recorded signals provides information | on the ring structure, atmospheric density, magnetic | field, and charged particle environment of planets | which occult the spacecraft. Variations in the | recorded signal can also be used for detection of | gravitational waves. | | DSN open-loop receivers sample a narrow part of the microwave | spectrum near the spacecraft transmitting frequency. For radio | occultation tests, two RSRs were used -- one each for X-RCP | and S-RCP with output sampled at rates of 2000 (complex; | 16-bit I, 16-bit Q). | The data were examined for compliance with data acquisition | procedures and to measure the frequency/stability of the radio | link. Four RSRs (X-RCP, S-RCP, X-LCP, and S-LCP) each sample | at a rate of 25000 (complex; 16-bit I, 16-bit Q) to test bistatic | radar data acquisition. | | Header information accompanying each RSR record included: | | Date and time of the first data sample | Sample rate and channel assignments | Receiver local oscillator phase and frequency | Attenuator settings | RMS voltages at several stages in the receiving chain | | | For more information please refer to document | JPLD-16765 in the DOCUMENT/DSN_DOC folder. |
| Mission Description |
Mission Overview ================ Mars Express was the first flexible mission of the revised long-term ESA Science Programme Horizons 2000 and was launched to the planet Mars from Baikonur (Khazakstan) on June 2nd 2003. A Soyuz-Fregat launcher injected the Mars Express total mass of about 1200 kg into Mars transfer orbit. Details about the mission launch sequence and profile can be obtained from the Mission Plan (MEX-MMT-RP-0221) and from the Consolidated Report on Mission Analysis (CREMA)(MEX-ESC-RP-5500). The mission consisted of (i) a 3-axis stabilized orbiter with a fixed high-gain antenna and body-mounted instruments, and (ii) a lander named BEAGLE-2, and was dedicated to the orbital and in-situ study of the interior, subsurface, surface and atmosphere of the planet. After ejection of a small lander on 18 December 2003 and Mars orbit insertion (MOI) on 25 December 2003, the orbiter experiments began the acquisition of scientific data from Mars and its environment in a polar elliptical orbit. The nominal mission lifetime for the orbiter was 687 days following Mars orbit insertion, starting after a 5 months cruise. The nominal science phase was extended (tbc) for another martian year in order to complement earlier observations and allow data relay communications for various potential Mars landers up to 2008, provided that the spacecraft resources permit it. The Mars Express spacecraft represented the core of the mission, being scientifically justified on its own by investigations such as high- resolution imaging and mineralogical mapping of the surface, radar sounding of the subsurface structure down to the permafrost, precise determination of the atmospheric circulation and composition, and study of the interaction of the atmosphere with the interplanetary medium. The broad scientific objectives of the orbiter payload are briefly listed thereafter and are given more extensively in the experiment publications contained in ESAs Special Publication Series. See NEUKUM&JAUMANN2004, BIBRINGETAL2004, PICARDIETAL2004, FORMISANOETAL2004, BERTAUXETAL2004, PAETZOLDETAL2004 and PULLANETAL2004. The Mars Express lander Beagle-2 was ejected towards the Mars surface on 19 December 2003, six days before the orbiters capture manoeuvre. The probe mass was limited to about 70 kg by the mission constraints, which led to a landed mass of 32 kg. The complete experimental package was weighed in approximately at 9kg. The landers highly integrated scientific payload was supposed to focus on finding whether there is convincing evidence for past life on Mars or assessing if the conditions were ever suitable. Following safe landing on Mars, this lander mission would have conducted dedicated studies of the geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, meteorology and exobiology of the immediate landing site located in Isidis Planitia (90.74deg E, 11.6deg N), as well as studies of the chemistry of the Martian atmosphere. Surface operations were planned to last about 180 sols or Martian days ( about 6 months on Earth), see SIMSETAL1999. As no communication could be established to the BEAGLE-2 lander, it was considered lost in February 2004 after an extensive search. A nominal launch of Mars Express allowed the modify the orbit to a G3-ubeq100 orbit. The G3-ubeq100 orbit is an eliptical orbit, starting with the subspacecraft point at pericenter at the equator and a sun ^ation of 60 degrees. At the beginning of the mission, the pericentre moves southward with a shift of 0.54 degree per day. At the same time the pericentre steps towards the terminator which will be reached after about 4 months, giving the optical instruments optimal observing conditions during this initial period. Throughout this initial phase lasting until mid-May 2004, the downlink rate will decrease from 114 kbit/s to 38 kbit/s. After an orbit change manoeuvre on 06 May 2004 the pericentre latitude motion is increased to guarantee a 50/50 balance between dayside and nightside operations. With this manoeuvre, the apocentre altitude is lowered from 14887 km to 13448 km, the orbital period lowered from ~7.6 hours to 6.645 hours, and the pericentre latitude drift slightly increased to 0.64 degree per day. After 150 days, at the beginning of June 2004, the South pole region was reached with the pericentre already behind the terminator. Following, the pericentre moves northward with the Sun ^ation increasing. Thus, the optical instruments covered the Northern Mars hemisphere under good illumination conditions from mid-September 2004 to March 2005. During the next mission phase, lasting until July 2005, the pericentre was again in the dark. It covered the North polar region and moves southward. Finally, throughout the last 4 months of the nominal mission, the pericentre was back to daylight and moves from the equator to the South pole, and the downlink rate reached its highest rate of 228 kbit/s. The osculating orbit elements for the eq100 orbit are listed below: Epoch 2004:1:13 - 15:56:0.096 Pericentre (rel. sphere of 3397.2 km) 279.29 km Apocentre (rel. sphere) 11634.48 km Semimajor axis 9354.09 km Eccentricity 0.60696 Inclination 86.583 Right ascension of ascending node 228.774 Argument of pericentre 357.981 True anomaly -0.001 Mission Phases ============== The mission phases are defined as: (i) Pre-launch,Launch and Early Operations activities, including (1) science observation planning; (2) payload assembly, integration and testing; (3) payload data processing software design, development and testing; (4) payload calibration; (5) data archive definition and planning; (6) launch campaign. (ii) Near-Earth verification (EV) phase, including (1) commissioning of the orbiter spacecraft; (2) verification of the payload status; (3) early commissioning of payload. (iii) Interplanetary cruise (IC) phase (1) payload checkouts (2) trajectory corrections (iv) Mars arrival and orbit insertion (MOI) (1) Mars arrival preparation; (2) lander ejection; (3) orbit insertion; (4) operational orbit reached and declared; (5) no payload activities. (v) Mars commissioning phase (1) final instrument commissioning, (2) first science results, (3) change of orbital plane. (vi) Routine phase; Opportunities for dawn/dusk observations, mostly spectroscopy and photometry. This phase continued into a low data rate phase (night time; favorable for radar and spectrometers). Then daylight time, and went into a higher data rate period (medium illumination, zenith, then decreasing illumination conditions). Observational conditions were most favorable for the optical imaging instruments at the end of the routine phase, when both data downlink rate and Sun ^ation are high. (vii) MARSIS Deployment The dates of the MARSIS antenna deployment is not known as of writing this catalogue file. (viii) Extended operations phase A mission extension will be proposed in early 2005 to the Science Programme Committee (SPC). (ix) Post-mission phase (final data archival). Science Subphases ================= For the purpose of structuring further the payload operations planning, the mission phases are further divided into science subphases. The science subphases are defined according to operational restrictions, the main operational restrictions being the downlink rate and the Sun ^ation. The Mars Commissioning Phase and the Mars Routine Phase are therefore divided into a number of science subphases using various combinations of Sun ^ations and available downlink bit rates. The discrete downlink rates available throughout the nominal mission are: - 28 kbits/seconds - 38 kbits/seconds - 45 kbits/seconds - 57 kbits/seconds - 76 kbits/seconds - 91 kbits/seconds - 114 kbits/seconds - 152 kbits/seconds - 182 kbits/seconds - 228 kbits/seconds The adopted Sun ^ation coding convention is as follows: - HSE for High Sun Elevation (> 60 degrees) - MSE for Medium Sun Elevation (between 20 and 60 degrees) - LSE for Low Sun Elevation (between -15 and 20 degrees) - NSE for Negative Sun Elevation (< -15 degrees) The science subphase naming convention is as follows: - Science Phase - Sun Elevation Code - Downlink Rate - Science Subphase Repetition Number The following tables gives the available Science Subphases: NAME START END ORBITS BIT SUN RATE ELE ---------------------------------------------------------- MC Phase 0 2003-12-30 - 2004-01-13 1 - 16 MC Phase 1 2004-01-13 - 2004-01-28 17 - 58 114 59 MC Phase 2 2004-01-28 - 2004-02-12 59 - 105 91 69 MC Phase 3 2004-02-12 - 2004-03-15 106 - 208 76 71 MC Phase 4 2004-03-15 - 2004-04-06 209 - 278 57 51 MC Phase 5 2004-04-06 - 2004-04-20 279 - 320 45 33 MC Phase 6 2004-04-20 - 2004-06-04 321 - 475 38 22 MR Phase 1 2004-06-05 - 2004-08-16 476 - 733 28 -13 MR Phase 2 2004-08-16 - 2004-10-16 734 - 951 28 -26 MR Phase 3 2004-10-16 - 2005-01-07 952 - 1250 28 16 MR Phase 4 2004-01-08 - 2005-03-05 1251 - 1454 45 63 MR Phase 5 2004-03-05 - 2005-03-24 1455 - 1522 76 16 MR Phase 6 2004-03-25 - 2005-07-15 1523 - 1915 91 0 The data rate is given in kbit per seconds and represents the minimal data rate during the subphase. The sun ^ation is given in degrees and represents the rate at the beginning of the subphase. Detailed information on the science subphases can be found in MEX-EST-PL-13128. |
