2d ray tracings; Applied magnetic fields; Atmospheric entry; Blackout mitigation; Bow shocks; Communication blackouts; Hypersonic flights; Magnetized plasmas; Signal characterization; Strong magnetic fields; Aerospace Engineering
Abstract :
[en] Atmospheric entries and hypersonic flights are challenging. The bow shock in front of the vehicle and friction heat the gas flow around the vehicle and result in the ionization of molecules and atoms. This plasma surrounding the spacecraft leads to a total or partial cut-off of radio communication for telecommand, telemetry, and navigation if the plasma frequency is near or exceeds the radio frequency of the communication system. Recent improvements in high-temperature superconducting materials brought back the focus on the magnetic windowing radio communication blackout mitigation method. Within the Horizon 2020 MEESST (Magnetohydrodynamic Enhanced Entry System for Space Transportation) project the effect of an applied magnetic field using a superconductive magnet with a sufficiently strong magnetic field is analyzed. The BlackOut Ray-Tracer (BORAT) was further developed to predict the wave propagation in the plasma in two dimensions for magnetized plasma using the Eikonal solver. A signal characterization model was added for a better understanding of the physics of wave propagation. The latest results for non-magnetized plasma show a good agreement between the numerical solutions and the experiment. The signal characterization allows us to further define brownout scenarios with partially disrupted communication. The effect of a weak applied magnetic field on the ray propagation path and the signal characteristics are discussed leading to the conclusion that the magnetic windowing method is promising to mitigate radio blackout when strong magnetic fields are applied.
Disciplines :
Electrical & electronics engineering
Author, co-author :
Laur, J.S.; Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Giangaspero, V.F.; Centre for mathematical Plasma Astrophysics (CmPA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Sharma, V.; Centre for mathematical Plasma Astrophysics (CmPA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Lani, A.; Centre for mathematical Plasma Astrophysics (CmPA), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Luis, D.; Aeronautics and Aerospace Department (VKI), Signal Theory and Communication Department (UPC), Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium ; Universitat Polictecnica de Catalunya, UPC Campus Nord, Barcelona, Spain
Viladegut, A.; Aeronautics and Aerospace Department, Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
Giacomelli, J.; Institute of Space Systems (IRS), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Herdrich, G.; Institute of Space Systems (IRS), University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Gonzales Rios, J.L.; Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
QUEROL, Jorge ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > SigCom
VASQUEZ-PERALVO, Juan Andres ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > SigCom
MERLANO DUNCAN, Juan Carlos ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > SigCom
HEIN, Andreas ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > SPASYS
Thoemel, J.; Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT), University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
This work and the whole MEESST project were supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder programme of the European Commission\u2019s Horizon 2020 scheme [grant no. 899298]. Diana Lu\u00EDs\u2019 research is funded by a doctoral fellowship (2021.04930.BD) granted by Funda\u00E7\u00E3o para a Ci\u00EAncia e Tecnologia (FCT Portugal). The authors would especially like to acknowledge the help of Prof. Sebasti\u00E1n Blanch from UPC for performing and processing the antenna pattern measurements conducted at the UPC anechoic chamber.
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