File(s) under permanent embargo
The exploration of lunar gravity by VLBI observations of SELENE (Kaguya)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 15:44 authored by Hanada, H, Iwata, T, Namiki, N, Kawano, N, Sasaki, S, Matsumoto, K, Noda, H, Tsuruta, S, Asari, K, Ishikawa, T, Kikuchi, F, Liu, Q, Gossens, S, Ishihara, Y, Petrova, N, Harada, Y, Shibata, K, Iwadate, K, Kameya, O, Tamura, Y, Hong, X, Ping, J, Aili, Y, Simon EllingsenSimon Ellingsen, Schluter, WSELENE (Kaguya), which was successfully launched on Sep. 14, 2007, consists of the main orbiter, and two small free-flying sub-satellites, called Rstar (OKINA) and Vstar (OUNA). We use multi-frequency VLBI to measure the angular distance between the two sub-satellite radio sources Okina and Ouna in order to improve the accuracy of the low degree gravitational harmonics and the gravity field near the limb. The observations are made at three frequencies in S-band, (2212, 2218 and 2287 MHz), and one in X-band, (8456MHz) with carrier waves. The Japanese domestic VLBI network, VERA, will conduct VLBI observations for the whole mission period of one year. In addition, we will conduct two periods of international observations, each one month in duration, which will also include the international stations, Shanghai, Urumqi, Hobart, and Wettzell. We have succeeded in making VLBI observations of Okina/Ouna with VERA and the international network, and have also succeeded in correlating of signals from Okina/Ouna. We obtained phase delays with an accuracy of several pico-seconds in S-band.
History
Publication title
Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Space Technology JapanVolume
7Issue
ists26Pagination
Tk_1-Tk_5ISSN
0549-3811Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Japan Soc Aeronaut Space SciPlace of publication
Kokukaikan-Bunkan 1-18-2 Shinbashi Minato-Ku, Tokyo, JapanRights statement
Copyright 2009 The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences and ISTSRepository Status
- Restricted