The MESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging) probe to Mercury will use low-gain radio frequency antennas and other telecom systems to study various aspects of the planet. The probe’s Radio Science team has just completed a month of successful Doppler performance testing sims within an environment similar to what the probe will encounter in space.
The tests were conducted form August 20th through September 19th for radio frequency system calibration in order to receive accurate velocity measurements. Deep Space Network (DSN) ground stations will receive the probe’s radio signals. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located in Australia, California and Spain operates these extremely powerful antennas. The Mercury flyby is expected to occur in January of next year and will be the first probe to visit the planet in more than 30 years—Washington, D.C.
- Skip to primary navigation
- Skip to main content
- Skip to primary sidebar
- Skip to secondary sidebar
- Skip to footer
Satellite Industry Intelligence Since 1983
Footer
Satnews is a leading provider of satellite news, events, publications, research and other satellite industry information in both commercial and military enterprises worldwide.