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Deep Space Relay Architecture for Communication and Navigation
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The Deep Space Relay architecture explored in this paper is intended to provide
communication and navigation services to Mars surface users and spacecraft in the Mars
vicinity. The relay orbiters making up this architecture will be placed in strategic heliocentric
orbits near Mars so as to mitigate the Mars superior conjunction problem for optical
communications, and at the same time provide a good geometry for deep space navigation.
Design trades are performed to ensure that the relay architecture is optimal in its roles as both
a communication provider and navigation provider. Geometric constraints are identified that
allow the relay architecture to provide continuous optical link coverage throughout the time
period from 2030-2060. An optimal and minimal relay architecture is identified that meets
these geometric constraints while also maximizing the data return of the optical link and
providing a suitable geometry for trilateration-based navigation with the fewest relay orbiters
possible. The communication performance of this optimal relay geometry is assessed through
an analysis of the additional access time and data return it provides. On the navigation side,
the performance of the optimal architecture is assessed based on access and a geometric
dilution of precision (GDOP) analysis. An expanded architecture is introduced which adds a
relay in a Mars halo orbit to the minimal architecture for additional communication and
navigation benefits.