Design and verification of the multinode and multisystem relay communication system for the Tianwen-1 Mars Probe

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">As an important part of China’s first Mars exploration mission, the Tianwen-1 relay communication system is responsible for providing efficient and reliable communication services between the lander-rover and the orbiter and for supporting the completion of the patrol and exploration mission on the Martian surface. Considering the large elliptical relay orbit of the Mars exploration mission, the XHF/UHF dual-band relay communication scheme of the Tianwen-1 probe is introduced in this paper. Moreover, the design, technical mechanism, and verification approach of the critical parts of the relay communication system are given. Finally, the results of the on-orbit flight data are analyzed. The flight verification results show that the newly developed relay communication system of the Tianwen-1 probe successfully achieves the exploration mission objectives. Furthermore, its design, implementation, and application provide technical reference for the subsequent development of China’s deep-space relay communication system.