OKB MPEI: Active low-base correlation-phase direction finder

2023: Development of an active low-base correlation-phase direction finder

Specialists OKB MPEI (part of the holding Russian space systems"") State Corporation "Roscosmos" have developed an active low-base correlation-phase direction finder, which significantly increases the efficiency of determining the location of space vehicles in orbit. Technology will make the control of existing satellites and ships more accurate, and will also become the basis navigation for space future systems. This was announced on May 3, 2023 by representatives of The Russian the "space systems."

The development of near-Earth space poses tasks for space instrumentation to modernize ground-based satellite control and control systems. As the vehicles are launched, the number of man-made objects in space grows, the density of orbital groups increases. The need to increase the accuracy of determining the position of spacecraft and ships in order to work out various options for their flight is becoming more and more obvious.

Special command and measurement systems are widely used for space navigation. Additional types of measuring means are also often involved - correlation-phase direction finders, optical telescopes, laser rangefinders, autonomous satellite navigation equipment and other methods, instruments, systems.

The existing multi-point technology for controlling spacecraft from geographically disparate ground complexes is no longer relevant for the development of space technology, and it is also expensive. The improvement of ground measuring systems allows you to switch to a more economical and dynamically developing single-point navigation technology, in which all satellite control operations are carried out by means of a single control and measuring point. The first step towards creating such a technology was made by specialists from OKB MPEI - a patent was obtained for the invention "Active low-base correlation-phase direction finder," said the general director of OKB MPEI Konstantin EMELYANOV.

During the measurement sessions, the Maple command and measurement system located at the Bear Lakes Research Test Technical Center, which determines the range to the spacecraft, and the Rhythm-M correlation-phase direction finder, which measures the direction of movement with high accuracy, were involved. This technology of OKB MPEI, in fact, combines these measuring systems not only functionally, but also structurally: the joint operation of the systems allows you to determine the location of vehicles in orbit with high accuracy.