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Planetary Orbits and Gravity Fields

Speaker: Dr. Ryan Park, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab

Talk Title: Planetary Orbits and Gravity Fields

Abstract: The orbit and gravity of planetary bodies play a crucial role in both spacecraft operation and planetaryscience. Precise knowledge of the orbital paths of celestial objects is essential for accurate guidance andtargeting of spacecraft at millions of miles away from Earth. It also enables predicting the orbital evolution ofour solar system as well as assessing the potential Earth impact of hazardous near-Earth objects forplanetary defense. Understanding the gravity field of planetary objects allows for precision spacecraftnavigation and provides insights into the planetary interior structure and geophysical processes.
The orbit and gravity field are typically computed through an orbit determination process, which involvesvarious topics in engineering and science, such as orbital mechanics, estimation, relativity, signal processing,and others. Various observables, including radiometric ranging, Doppler, Very Long Baseline Interferometry,astrometry, and onboard optical imagery, are used to compute the orbit and gravity field. The dataacquisition process and analysis methods for predicting the trajectories of celestial objects will be discussed.In addition, how the recovered gravity field data can be used to probe the interior structure of planetarybodies will be discussed, providing an understanding of the geophysical processes at work.
In summary, this presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of the complex process of orbitdetermination, emphasizing the fundamental role of orbit and gravity in spacecraft operation and planetaryscience

Biography: Dr. Ryan Park is a Principal Engineer, Senior Research Scientist, and supervisor of the Solar SystemDynamics group at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His group is responsible for predicting the orbits ofall natural planetary bodies, including planets, planetary moons, asteroids, and comets. Dr. Park also servesas the Associate Directorate Scientist of JPL’s Interplanetary Network Directorate, responsible for overseeingresearch activities involving NASA’s Deep Space Network. He has contributed to numerous space missionsand studies, including the GRAIL, Dawn, Juno, Psyche, Europa Clipper, and Hera missions. Dr. Park is anAdjunct Professor at USC, a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society, and an Associate Fellow of AIAA.

Host: Dr. Ryan Park

More Information: ASTE-Seminar-RyanPark.pdf

Location: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 526

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Shanya Olivares

This event is open to all eligible individuals. USC Viterbi operates all of its activities consistent with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

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