Accurate Doppler navigation with a simple spacecraft transceiver

An accurate method of Doppler tracking a satellite using a simple transceiver design has been developed. This method provides the high accuracy required for deep space missions, yet permits the flexibility of a simple transceiver architecture. Coherency between the transmit and receive signals is not required, nor is a highly stable oscillator on the spacecraft. The method is compatible with current and projected Deep Space Network (DSN) resources and practices. Velocity precision and accuracy of 0.1 mm/s over 60-second measurement intervals are achieved for deep space operation. This performance has been established by thorough analysis, simulation, and testing of engineering hardware. This paper describes the basic method and its implementation within a simple transceiver design. Error sources are described and test results are presented to show that the goals of accuracy and precision have been met