Spacecraft Tracking Applications of the Square Kilometre Array

TL;DR

The paper explores how the Square Kilometre Array, a highly sensitive radio telescope, could serve as a backup deep space tracking system, discussing technical specifications and potential applications for interplanetary spacecraft communication.

Contribution

It presents the concept and technical considerations for using the SKA as a deep space tracking facility, highlighting its potential role alongside dedicated networks.

Findings

SKA could supplement existing deep space tracking networks.

Technical specifications for SKA-based tracking are outlined.

The concept remains relevant for future interplanetary missions.

Abstract

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is the next generation radio telescope distinguished by a superb sensitivity due to its large aperture (about one square kilometre) and advanced instrumentation. It will cover a broad range of observing bands including those used for tracking of and communications to deep space missions. While spacecraft tracking is not a main application defining the technical specifications of the SKA, this facility might play a role in tracking deep space probes as a backup to the ``dedicated'' deep space tracking networks. This paper presents possible applications of the SKA as a deep space tracking facility and major related technical specifications of various concepts of the SKA. It was presented at the 3rd International Workshop on Tracking, Telemetry and Command Systems for Space Applications, ESA-ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany, 7-9 September 2004. Over the past years, the SKA concept has developed to a much higher level of detalisation and is currently at the implementation phase. A number of specific considerations in this presentation no longer correspond to the actual status of the SKA project. However, the overall concept of the SKA applications for communication and tracking of interplanetary spacecraft remain topical, and some approaches presented here remain of interest for prospective deep space missions.