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Search for the Transmitting Antenna on Earth by Observing its Signals Reflected from the Moon

Yu. S. Bondarenko, D. A. Marshalov, A. Maklakov, J. Sun

Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 52, 13–16 (2020)

Keywords: ranging, the Moon, echo, phase measurements, Chang'E-3 spacecraft

Abstract

Currently, the number of space programs designed to explore the Moon is constantly growing. As a result, the number of artificial radio signals directed towards the Earth is increasing. These can be both signals emitted by lunar orbiting or landing vehicles, and signals from ground-based communications reflected directly from the lunar surface. The task of recording and analyzing such signals is subject to application. So, in 1978 the coordinates of the transmitters installed and operating on the Moon within the ALSEP program were determined from the signal registered by the RATAN-600 radio telescope. Since 2017, the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences has regularly conducted observations of the transponder radio signal installed on the Chang'E-3 lunar lander. The transponder is designed to receive a highly stable signal at a frequency of 7.2 GHz and its coherent reradiation at a frequency of 8.47 GHz. Transmitting antennas of the Chinese deep space communication stations are used to transmit the signal to the Chang'E-3 lunar lander. Then, the signal reradiated by the transponder is recorded by RT-32 radio telescopes at the Svetloe, Zelenchukskaya and Badary observatories. As a result, based on the obtained series of phase observations, the coordinates of the Chang'E-3 lander on the Moon are refined. Signals of ground-based communications emitted towards the Moon are partially reflected from its surface and can also be recorded by radio telescopes of the “Quasar” VLBI network. In case such echoes are detected, the question of their affiliation and characteristics may arise. In this paper, we determine the location of a transmitting antenna on Earth by observing its signals reflected from the Moon.

Citation

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Yu. S. Bondarenko, D. A. Marshalov, A. Maklakov, J. Sun. Search for the Transmitting Antenna on Earth by Observing its Signals Reflected from the Moon // Transactions of IAA RAS. — 2020. — Issue 52. — P. 13–16.

@article{bondarenko2020,
  abstract = {Currently, the number of space programs designed to explore the Moon is constantly growing. As a result, the number of artificial radio signals directed towards the Earth is increasing. These can be both signals emitted by lunar orbiting or landing vehicles, and signals from ground-based communications reflected directly from the lunar surface. The task of recording and analyzing such signals is subject to application. So, in 1978 the coordinates of the transmitters installed and operating on the Moon within the ALSEP program were determined from the signal registered by the RATAN-600 radio telescope. Since 2017, the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences has regularly conducted observations of the transponder radio signal installed on the Chang'E-3 lunar lander. The transponder is designed to receive a highly stable signal at a frequency of 7.2 GHz and its coherent reradiation at a frequency of 8.47 GHz. Transmitting antennas of the Chinese deep space communication stations are used to transmit the signal to the Chang'E-3 lunar lander. Then, the signal reradiated by the transponder is recorded by RT-32 radio telescopes at the Svetloe, Zelenchukskaya and Badary observatories. As a result, based on the obtained series of phase observations, the coordinates of the Chang'E-3 lander on the Moon are refined.
Signals of ground-based communications emitted towards the Moon are partially reflected from its surface and can also be recorded by radio telescopes of the “Quasar” VLBI network. In case such echoes are detected, the question of their affiliation and characteristics may arise. In this paper, we determine the location of a transmitting antenna on Earth by observing its signals reflected from the Moon.},
  author = {Yu.~S. Bondarenko and D.~A. Marshalov and A. Maklakov and J. Sun},
  doi = {10.32876/ApplAstron.52.13-16},
  issue = {52},
  journal = {Transactions of IAA RAS},
  keyword = {ranging, the Moon, echo, phase measurements, Chang'E-3 spacecraft},
  pages = {13--16},
  title = {Search for the Transmitting Antenna on Earth by Observing its Signals Reflected from the Moon},
  url = {http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2027/},
  year = {2020}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Search for the Transmitting Antenna on Earth by Observing its Signals Reflected from the Moon
AU  - Bondarenko, Yu. S.
AU  - Marshalov, D. A.
AU  - Maklakov, A.
AU  - Sun, J.
PY  - 2020
T2  - Transactions of IAA RAS
IS  - 52
SP  - 13
AB  - Currently, the number of space programs designed to explore the Moon
is constantly growing. As a result, the number of artificial radio
signals directed towards the Earth is increasing. These can be both
signals emitted by lunar orbiting or landing vehicles, and signals
from ground-based communications reflected directly from the lunar
surface. The task of recording and analyzing such signals is subject
to application. So, in 1978 the coordinates of the transmitters
installed and operating on the Moon within the ALSEP program were
determined from the signal registered by the RATAN-600 radio
telescope. Since 2017, the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the
Russian Academy of Sciences has regularly conducted observations of
the transponder radio signal installed on the Chang'E-3 lunar lander.
The transponder is designed to receive a highly stable signal at a
frequency of 7.2 GHz and its coherent reradiation at a frequency of
8.47 GHz. Transmitting antennas of the Chinese deep space
communication stations are used to transmit the signal to the
Chang'E-3 lunar lander. Then, the signal reradiated by the
transponder is recorded by RT-32 radio telescopes at the Svetloe,
Zelenchukskaya and Badary observatories. As a result, based on the
obtained series of phase observations, the coordinates of the
Chang'E-3 lander on the Moon are refined.  Signals of ground-based
communications emitted towards the Moon are partially reflected from
its surface and can also be recorded by radio telescopes of the
“Quasar” VLBI network. In case such echoes are detected, the question
of their affiliation and characteristics may arise. In this paper, we
determine the location of a transmitting antenna on Earth by
observing its signals reflected from the Moon.
DO  - 10.32876/ApplAstron.52.13-16
UR  - http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2027/
ER  -