Library · IAA RAS

Papers

Software for Visual Display of the Results of Processing VLBI Observations from Spacecraft

Transactions of IAA RAS, issue 76, 3–7 (2026)

Keywords: VLBI, spacecraft, software, visual estimation, cross-correlation, autocorrelation

Abstract

A distinctive feature of VLBI observations of spacecraft (SC) is the long-duration observation process (tens of minutes) with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This allows us to extract correlation responses (amplitude and phase responses, delays) at one-second data accumulation intervals. However, the a priori known trajectory of the SC may contain significant errors, leading to inaccuracies in the pre-calculated delays during correlation processing. Consequently, this affects the amplitude variation of the correlation response throughout the observation scan, the cross-correlation spectrum of the signal, and the displacement of the response within the correlation window. The existing tools for visualizing the results of correlation processing are designed to analyze VLBI observations of quasars, where data are accumulated and averaged over the entire observation scan. These tools are not suitable for analyzing SC observation sessions with a large number of scans, where it is necessary to monitor the behavior of the correlation response during the observation. To solve this problem, the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAA RAS) has developed software that enables visual analysis of VLBI correlation processing results for spacecraft observations. The software is implemented in Python and utilizes its libraries to create an interactive environment for user interaction. It provides a user-friendly interface for visual analysis of spectral characteristics. The software features an interactive window that allows users to select directories and observations for review, display brief information about each observation, and present graphical data for selected auto- or cross-correlation results. This tool offers an ergonomic solution for visual inspection of the spectral characteristics of VLBI spacecraft signal observations, enabling quick and efficient evaluation of the results and forming an objective assessment of the observation quality.

Citation

Text

BibTeX

RIS

I. A. Arnaut. Software for Visual Display of the Results of Processing VLBI Observations from Spacecraft // Transactions of IAA RAS. — 2026. — Issue 76. — P. 3–7.

@article{arnaut2026,
  abstract = {A distinctive feature of VLBI observations of spacecraft (SC) is the long-duration observation process (tens of minutes) with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This allows us to extract correlation responses (amplitude and phase responses, delays) at one-second data accumulation intervals. However, the a priori known trajectory of the SC may contain significant errors, leading to inaccuracies in the pre-calculated delays during correlation processing. Consequently, this affects the amplitude variation of the correlation response throughout the observation scan, the cross-correlation spectrum of the signal, and the displacement of the response within the correlation window.
The existing tools for visualizing the results of correlation processing are designed to analyze VLBI observations of quasars, where data are accumulated and averaged over the entire observation scan. These tools are not suitable for analyzing SC observation sessions with a large number of scans, where it is necessary to monitor the behavior of the correlation response during the observation.
To solve this problem, the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAA RAS) has developed software that enables visual analysis of VLBI correlation processing results for spacecraft observations. The software is implemented in Python and utilizes its libraries to create an interactive environment for user interaction. It provides a user-friendly interface for visual analysis of spectral characteristics. The software features an interactive window that allows users to select directories and observations for review, display brief information about each observation, and present graphical data for selected auto- or cross-correlation results.
This tool offers an ergonomic solution for visual inspection of the spectral characteristics of VLBI spacecraft signal observations, enabling quick and efficient evaluation of the results and forming an objective assessment of the observation quality.},
  author = {I.~A. Arnaut},
  doi = {10.32876/ApplAstron.76.3-7},
  issue = {76},
  journal = {Transactions of IAA RAS},
  keyword = {VLBI, spacecraft, software, visual estimation, cross-correlation, autocorrelation},
  pages = {3--7},
  title = {Software for Visual Display of the Results of Processing VLBI Observations from Spacecraft},
  url = {http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2235/},
  year = {2026}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Software for Visual Display of the Results of Processing VLBI Observations from Spacecraft
AU  - Arnaut, I. A.
PY  - 2026
T2  - Transactions of IAA RAS
IS  - 76
SP  - 3
AB  - A distinctive feature of VLBI observations of spacecraft (SC) is the
long-duration observation process (tens of minutes) with a high
signal-to-noise ratio. This allows us to extract correlation
responses (amplitude and phase responses, delays) at one-second data
accumulation intervals. However, the a priori known trajectory of the
SC may contain significant errors, leading to inaccuracies in the
pre-calculated delays during correlation processing. Consequently,
this affects the amplitude variation of the correlation response
throughout the observation scan, the cross-correlation spectrum of
the signal, and the displacement of the response within the
correlation window.  The existing tools for visualizing the results
of correlation processing are designed to analyze VLBI observations
of quasars, where data are accumulated and averaged over the entire
observation scan. These tools are not suitable for analyzing SC
observation sessions with a large number of scans, where it is
necessary to monitor the behavior of the correlation response during
the observation.  To solve this problem, the Institute of Applied
Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAA RAS) has developed
software that enables visual analysis of VLBI correlation processing
results for spacecraft observations. The software is implemented in
Python and utilizes its libraries to create an interactive
environment for user interaction. It provides a user-friendly
interface for visual analysis of spectral characteristics. The
software features an interactive window that allows users to select
directories and observations for review, display brief information
about each observation, and present graphical data for selected auto-
or cross-correlation results.  This tool offers an ergonomic solution
for visual inspection of the spectral characteristics of VLBI
spacecraft signal observations, enabling quick and efficient
evaluation of the results and forming an objective assessment of the
observation quality.
DO  - 10.32876/ApplAstron.76.3-7
UR  - http://iaaras.ru/en/library/paper/2235/
ER  -