Publication Date:
2011-08-19
Description:
The 'Pathfinder' project uses the resources of NASA, ESA and Intercosmos to support the Giotto space probe flyby of comet Halley. The required 500-km approach to comet Halley on the sunward side was so uncertain as to preclude the trajectory's realization with sufficient accuracy on the basis of ground-based astronomical observations alone. Spaceborne observations by the two Vega satellites were accordingly conducted; these, in combination with a very accurate determination of the Vega trajectories using VLBI, allowed a flyby distance of 600 km to be achieved with only + or - 40 km uncertainty.
Keywords:
SPACE COMMUNICATIONS, SPACECRAFT COMMUNICATIONS, COMMAND AND TRACKING
Type:
Nature (ISSN 0028-0836); 321; 318-320
Format:
text
Permalink