NSSDCA ID: 1975-083A-04
Mission Name: Viking 2 OrbiterThere are four distinct sets of Viking radio science data, three using orbiter data and one primarily using lander data with calibrations from orbiter data. The orbiter tracking data, obtained from the two-way, orbiter-earth S-band and X-band radio links, consist of Doppler frequencies and time-of-flight range measurements. These determined the position and motion of the orbiters, and can be used to study the Mars gravitational field, the plasma in interplanetary space, and the structure of the solar corona when the spacecraft was on the opposite side of the sun. The occultation data were obtained from these same radio links by analog recording of the signal when a spacecraft was passing into or out of occultation with Mars. The data can be used to produce altitude profiles of the temperature, density, and pressure of the atmosphere (including the ionosphere) and to measure the radius of the planet using a large number of surface points. The surface properties aspect of this investigation utilized the UHF (381 MHz) signal on which the landers transmitted data to the orbiters. At the beginning or end of a data transmission session, when the orbiter was near the lander's horizon, the strength of the received signal was recorded as a function of time. These signal "fading patterns," resulting from interaction of the radio waves with the Martian surface, contain information about the physical properties of the surface near the landers. The lander tracking data from the two-way direct lander-earth S-band links permit determination of the location of the landers and studies of the motion of the planet.
Questions and comments about this experiment can be directed to: Dr. David R. Williams
Name | Role | Original Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr. William H. Michael, Jr. | Team Leader | NASA Langley Research Center | |
Dr. Irwin I. Shapiro | Team Member | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | ishapiro@cfa.harvard.edu |
Prof. G. Leonard Tyler | Team Member | Stanford University | len@nova.stanford.edu |
Mr. Dan L. Cain | Team Member | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | |
Dr. Mario D. Grossi | Team Member | Raytheon Corporation | mgrossi@cfa.harvard.edu |
Dr. Joseph P. Brenkle | Team Member | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | |
Dr. Robert H. Tolson | Team Member | NASA Langley Research Center | tolson@gwu.edu |
Dr. J. G. Davies | Team Member | University of Manchester | |
Dr. Charles T. Stelzried | Team Member | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | ctsteltzr@mailhost4.jpl.nasa.gov |
Dr. George H. Born | Team Member | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | georgeb@colorado.edu |
Dr. Robert D. Reasenberg | Team Member | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | rreasenberg@cfa.harvard.edu |
Dr. Gunnar F. Lindal | Team Member | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory |