A monitoring campaign (2013-2020) of ESA's Mars Express to study interplanetary plasma scintillation

The radio signal transmitted by the Mars Express (MEX) spacecraft was observed regularly between the years 2013-2020 at X-band (8.42 GHz) using the European Very Long Baseline Interferometry (EVN) network and University of Tasmania's telescopes. We present a method to describe the solar wind parameters by quantifying the effects of plasma on our radio signal. In doing so, we identify all the uncompensated effects on the radio signal and see which coronal processes drive them. From a technical standpoint, quantifying the effect of the plasma on the radio signal helps phase referencing for precision spacecraft tracking. The phase fluctuation of the signal was determined for Mars' orbit for solar elongation angles from 0 to 180 deg. The calculated phase residuals allow determination of the phase power spectrum. The total electron content of the solar plasma along the line of sight is calculated by removing effects from mechanical and ionospheric noises. The spectral index was determined as which is in agreement with Kolmogorov's turbulence. The theoretical models are consistent with observations at lower solar elongations however at higher solar elongation ($ ]]>160 deg) we see the observed values to be higher. This can be caused when the uplink and downlink signals are positively correlated as a result of passing through identical plasma sheets.

Calves, G. M.University of Tasmania (author)
Cimo, G.Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE) (author)
Pogrebenko, SergeiJoint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE) (author)
Bahamon, T. M. B. (author)
Duev, DmitryCalifornia Institute of Technology (Caltech) (author)
Md Said, M. D.Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE) (author)
Edwards, J.University of Tasmania (author)
Ma, M.Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. Chinese Academy of Sciences,Shanghai Astronomical Observatory Chinese Academy of Sciences (author)
Quick, J.Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (author)
Neidhardt, AlexanderTechnische Universität München (TUM),Technical University of Munich (TUM) (author)
Vicente, P. deObservatorio de Yebes (IGN),Yebes Observatory (author)
Haas, Rüdiger,1966Chalmers tekniska högskola,Chalmers University of Technology(Swepub:cth)rudiger (author)
Kallunki, J.Aalto-Yliopisto,Aalto University (author)
Maccaferri, G.Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF) (author)
Colucci, G.Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (author)
Yang, W. J. (author)
Hao, L. F.Yunnan Observatories (author)
Weston, S.Auckland University of Technology (author)
Kharinov, M. A.Russian Academy of Sciences (author)
Mikhailov, A. G.Russian Academy of Sciences (author)
Jung, T.Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (author)
University of TasmaniaJoint Institute for VLBI in Europe (JIVE) (creator_code:org_t)

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