Events

You are hereby invited to the annual Final Projects event of the Aerospace Faculty's graduate students:

Orbital Dynamics around Mars and the Martian Moons

• Lecturer: Guy Marcus
• Credits: Dr. Guy Marcus | MERHAV Award Seminar
• Location: Classroom 165, ground floor, Library, Aerospace Eng., June 19, 2023
• Zoom: click here
• Affiliation: Department of Aerospace Engineering
• Institute: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

Abstract:

The interest in the Martian system has increased over the past decades, as more studies indicate that Mars was once habitable and may preserve subsurface lakes. In this research, we focused on the dynamics around Mars and the Martian Moons. In this talk, we will discuss three endeavours taken for modelling and analysing different regions in the Martian system. One region is beyond the radii of the Martian moons. This is the first study to model the long-term dynamics in such an environment. The second region is low Mars orbits. In this region, we focused on establishing long-term bounded satellite formation flying around Mars. The third region is the vicinity of the Martian moons, Phobos and Deimos. Studying the dynamics nearby the Martian moons can provide important information on the evolution of science orbits for Martian moon exploration. In that context, we focused on finding the exact location of the liberation points adjacent to the moons – where potential exploration spacecraft can reside in a stable position or a periodic orbit.

Comments: Light refreshments will be served before the lecture or complexities.

Monday 30.01.2023 | 13:30 Lecturer: Ariel Baron| MSc student under the supervision of Prof. Pini Gurfil (AE) and Dr. Hector Rotstein (EE) Location: Classroom 165, ground floor, Library, Aerospace Eng. Zoom: click here Affiliation: Department of Aerospace Engineering Institute: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Seminar Language: The talk will be given in English Abstract: In a GNSS-denied environment, it is important to have alternative navigation systems that can provide accurate andreliable positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) information. This is particularly critical in scenarios where PNT isessential for safety or mission-critical applications, such as in aviation, maritime navigation, and military operations. This research aims to develop a 4D (position/navigation/time) system by passively receiving downlink signals fromlarge constellations of low Earth orbit satellites, such as OneWeb, Starlink, and GlobalStar. These constellations willnot support pseudorange-based navigation because they will not carry atomic clocks and will not broadcast downlinksignals that support pseudorange measurements. Instead, the system will use carrier Doppler shift as the onlynavigation observable, using eight or more measurements to determine 3D position, receiver clock offset, velocity, andreceiver clock offset rate. The research focused on a Doppler shift measurement model. Convergence techniques for non-linear optimizationwere explored and the expected accuracy was evaluated through the development of Geometric Dilution of Precision(GDOP) formulations. A simulator was developed to assess navigation performance in static environments and predictGDOP at any given time and receiver location. Additionally, the research included a hardware implementation on asmartphone device as well as investigation into the effect of atmospheric and orbital errors on the navigation system. Comments: Light refreshments will be served before the lecture

Monday 26.12.2022 | 13:30 Lecturer: Guy Marcus| A PhD student under the supervision of Prof. Pini Gurfil Location: Classroom 165, ground floor, Library, Aerospace Eng. Zoom: click here Affiliation: Department of Aerospace Engineering Institute: Technion – Israel Institute of Technology Seminar Language: The talk will be given in English Abstract: The interest in the Martian system has increased over the past decades, as more studies indicate that Mars was once habitable and may preserve subsurface lakes. Establishing long-term bounded satellite formation flying about Mars is an important effort in the exploration of the Martian system. In this research, we focused on the dynamics around Mars and the Martian Moons, as a part of that effort. In this talk, we will discuss three endeavours taken for modelling and analysing different regions in the Martian system. One region is beyond the radii of the Martian moons. This is the first study to model the long-term dynamics in such an environment. The second region is low Mars orbits. In this region, we focused on establishing long-term bounded satellite formation flying around Mars. The third region is the vicinity of the Martian moons, Phobos and Deimos. Studying the dynamics nearby the Martian moons can provide important information on the evolution of science orbits for Martian moon exploration. In that context, we focused on finding the exact location of the libration points adjacent to the moons – where potential exploration spacecraft can reside in a stable position or a periodic orbit. Comments: Light refreshments will be served before the lecture

IACAS is an important annual event on the calendar of the aerospace community in Israel and arouses a great deal of interest abroad. Taking part in this yearly event are engineers, scientists and experts in the field of aeronautics and astronautics, representing well-known local aerospace agencies and industries, as well as participants  from major research centres worldwide. The two-day conference covers new research, presents up-to-date technology, and provides a forum for exchanging new ideas.

Astronaut Jeff Hoffman, an American former NASA astronaut and currently a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT will give an open talk to the Technion.

Two Technion projects will be tested on board the International Space Station, as part of the Ramon Foundation and the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology’s “Rakia Mission”. The projects were carefully selected by a scientific-technological committee appointed by the Ramon Foundation and the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology.

Join us for a fascinating look at Israel’s space program and Technion’s role in advancing space exploration. Home to the only faculty of aerospace engineering in Israel, the Technion is one of the few universities in the world to build and launch satellites into space. Its researchers helped Israel join the elite club of spacelaunch-capable countries in 1988 with the launch of Israel’s first satellite. Today, Technion innovations, faculty, and alumni continue to propel Israel into a leader in exploring the final frontier.