On the Juno Radio Science Experiment: models, algorithms and sensitivity analysis

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of orbit determination software for the Juno mission's gravity experiments, detailing the models used and performing a sensitivity analysis on key parameters to enhance data interpretation.

Contribution

It introduces a new software tool for processing Juno's gravity data, with a focus on models and sensitivity analysis, independent of NASA's existing software.

Findings

Software effectively models Juno's orbit and gravity data

Sensitivity analysis identifies key parameters influencing data accuracy

Results support improved interpretation of Jupiter's deep structure

Abstract

Juno is a NASA mission launched in 2011 with the goal of studying Jupiter. The probe will arrive to the planet in 2016 and will be placed for one year in a polar high-eccentric orbit to study the composition of the planet, the gravity and the magnetic field. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) provided the radio science instrument KaT (Ka-Band Translator) used for the gravity experiment, which has the goal of studying the Jupiter's deep structure by mapping the planet's gravity: such instrument takes advantage of synergies with a similar tool in development for BepiColombo, the ESA cornerstone mission to Mercury. The Celestial Mechanics Group of the University of Pisa, being part of the Juno Italian team, is developing an orbit determination and parameters estimation software for processing the real data independently from NASA software ODP. This paper has a twofold goal: first, to tell about the development of this software highlighting the models used, second, to perform a sensitivity analysis on the parameters of interest to the mission.