ESA Tracking Systems

Abstract

This paper presents the tracking systems currently used at ESA. Two systems are described: Meteosat Ranging System (MRS), and Multi-Purpose Tracking System (MPTS). The MRS is presently in operational use on Meteosat. It has been designed to meet the need for a simultaneous multi-point ranging in a channel shared with other services. As a result, a new code ranging technique, based on split-phase-level data formats, has been designed and developed. The MPTS (previously Deep Space Tracking System - DSTS) was first developed and deployed for the Giotto mission. At a later stage, a near-earth capability has been added to the system, thereby creating a truly multi-purpose tracking system. The ranging signal employed in the MPTS makes use of the good properties of both the PN code type of ranging system and the tone ranging system. The concept, architectural design, capabilities and performance of these systems are presented in this paper. Finally, insight into the European Data Relay Satellite and Data Relay User Satellite ranging systems is given.