PROJECT STATEMENT

TITLE: Martian Positioning System (MPS)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Satellite Systems, Radiolocation, Antennas, RF engineering

OBJECTIVE: Design an innovative satellite system for providing planet-wide positioning
capability on Mars to support future NASA exploration and colonization platforms.

DESCRIPTION: In several decades, NASA anticipates having numerous robotic and manned
missions operating simultaneously across the entire surface of Mars, with the possibility of
several small manned outposts or science colonies. Positioning in this alien world will be of
extraordinary importance, both for scientific and safety purposes. This project is meant to jumpstart
the design of a future MPS so that NASA will be ready for that day.

The system technical description must include (a) the RF components and modulation for the
MPS downlink (satellite to Martian surface), (b) low-data rate radio links between satellites to
share time synchronization and status information with one another, and (c) a two-way 1
Mbit/sec (minimum) radio link between the system and Earth for the exchange of digital
telemetry, control, sensor, and synchronization data.

The location system must operate somewhere between 1-3 GHz and not include any of the
current radio-astronomy bands. The system must allow a user on the surface of Mars positioning
accuracy within +/-5 meters everywhere (including the poles). An estimate of system cost must
be included in the design, which will depend heavily on the number of satellites used to provide
ubiquitous coverage. Each RF link budget in the system (satellite-to-Mars, satellite-to-Earth,
Earth-to-satellite, or satellite-to-satellite) must be thoroughly analyzed and presented. You may
assume Earth Station statistics comparable to NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) are available
for communicating with the Martian satellites.

PHASE I: Deliverables include
(a) a technical report summarizing the design
(b) measured prototype of an electrically small antenna that a Martian terminal can use to receive your
proposed MPS waveform. Link budget and location performance statistics in your technical
report must be based on this measured prototype antenna.

Competitive rankings will consider
1) cost
2) practicality
3) functionality
in equal proportions.