MARS EXPLORATION DEEP SPACE RETURN LINK SCENARIO AND TRANSMIT SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION

摘要

This paper presents a deep space high rate data return link communication scenario for human and robotic exploration of Mars and estimates optimal spacecraft transmitter and high gain antenna combinations to support the scenario. The papers shows that for the scenario and technologies considered, spacecraft High Gain Antenna (HGA) mass is approximately proportional to antenna area and spacecraft mass is approximately proportional to Radio Frequency (RF) output power. The paper then shows that spacecraft mass can be minimized by sizing the spacecraft HGA and RF amplifier so that HGA mass is equal to the combined mass of the RF amplifier and the incremental mass of the spacecraft power subsystem (including power source and radiator) needed to power the RF amplifier. The study found, for example, that using a 10.2 m diameter HGA with a 750 W Ka-band transmitter minimizes the spacecraft mass needed to send 440 Mbps from Mars at maximum range to 45 arrayed 12 m antennas on Earth.