4
$\begingroup$

This answer to Radio Telescope / DSN Node in L4 and/or L5 presents the challenge of implementing "very long" VLBI using the ~1 AU distance between Earth and a Sun-Earth triangular libration point orbit as a baseline.

For radio astronomy interferometry there are ways in post-processing to reconstruct the baseline to millimeter accuracy, but since these involve search and optimization, you need a good starting point that's close to correct. For the Event Horizon Telescope that was done with GPS plus atomic clocks at each dish plus "fringe maximization" from a calibration/reference target.

But for space-based VLBI with a circa 1 AU baseline there's no GPS to get a starting point for a fringe maximization search. Therefore I'd like to ask the following to get an idea of the state of the art inter-spacecraft ranging:

Question: What are the largest distances between two spacecraft that have been determined to a meter or so accuracy? How were these done?

Example:

The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory or GRAIL spacecraft pair were used to map the Moon's gravity field to very high spatial resolution and precision using precise radiometric range and range-rate links in a triangle between the two spacecraft and between each spacecraft and Earth.

GRAIL lunar probes, NASA Press release, 12 December 2007

GRAIL lunar probes, NASA Press release, 12 December 2007 source

$\endgroup$
1
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Wow, cool followup-question! Absolutely true. If we go L4 AND L5 we'd even have $\sqrt{3}AU$ (around 1.7AU) baseline (L4/5 each form a same sided triangle with sun and earth as the base, so the distance between earth and L4/5 is 1AU each and the distance between L4 and L5 is twice the "height" of the triangle). $\endgroup$
    – TrySCE2AUX
    Feb 11, 2022 at 10:33

0

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.