Research on Tianwen-1 Mars Probe Relay Communication Technology

Abstract

As an important part of China’s first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen-1 Mars probe relay communication system is responsible for supporting the capability of whole process communication self-management between the rover and orbiter, such as autonomous relay communication link establishment and communication parameters self-adaptive change mechanism. In the view of the limited resources and communication capacity of the rover and relay link, the X-band relay communication scheme is proposed for the first time in the world, which forms a backup with the UHF-band link to realize the relay communication at multi-node of the Mars relay orbit. In this paper, the UHF/X dual band relay communication system of Tianwen-1 Mars probe is firstly introduced, including the method of system design, relay communication protocol and operating mode are given. Finally, the results of on-orbit flight data are analyzed. The flight results show that the relay communication system of Tianwen-1 Mars probe successfully achieves the exploration mission objectives. Meanwhile, the system design, implementation and application can provide a technical reference for the China’s deep space relay communication system in the future.