Desprats, William (2024). Simulation Study for Geodetic Parameter Recovery at Europa and Callisto. (Thesis). Universität Bern, Bern
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24desprats_w.pdf - Thesis Available under License Creative Commons: Attribution (CC-BY 4.0). Download (12MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Precise determination of geodetic and geophysical parameters is fundamental to understanding a celestial body’s internal structure and its interactions with its environment. Closed-loop simulations are performed to evaluate the recovery of Europa’s and Callisto’s gravity fields, Love numbers (k2, h2), and rotational parameters from orbiting spacecraft, using development version of the Bernese GNSS Software (BSW) and the pyXover Python toolkit for planetary geodesy are applied. Results show that low-altitude, near-polar orbits maximise sensitivity to gravity field features, while observation geometry—especially the orbital plane’s alignment with the Earth direction—strongly influences data sensitivity. Combining Doppler tracking with altimetry crossover measurements significantly improves parameter estimation and reduces correlations, with additional benefits for extended mission durations. These findings provide actionable guidance for upcoming missions such as Tianwen-4 and JUICE, and demonstrate methods applicable to a broad range of planetary exploration efforts, including BepiColombo and potential Uranus missions.
| Item Type: | Thesis |
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| Dissertation Type: | Single |
| Date of Defense: | 8 March 2024 |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 520 Astronomy |
| Institute / Center: | 08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Astronomy |
| Depositing User: | Sarah Stalder |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Aug 2025 14:57 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Aug 2025 16:19 |
| URI: | https://boristheses.unibe.ch/id/eprint/6603 |
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