@article{O’Leary2023, 
author = {Joseph O’Leary and Jean-Pierre Barriot},
title = {Reconstructing the cruise-phase trajectory of deep-space probes in a general relativistic framework: An application to the Cassini gravitational wave experiment},
year = {2023},
journal = {Astrodynamics},
volume = {7},
number = {3},
pages = {301-314},
keywords = {general relativity, planetary orbitography, orbit prediction and determination},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.1007/s42064-023-0160-x},
doi = {10.1007/s42064-023-0160-x},
abstract = {Einstein’s theory of general relativity is playing an increasingly important role in fields such as interplanetary navigation, astrometry, and metrology. Modern spacecraft and interplanetary probe prediction and estimation platforms employ a perturbed Newtonian framework, supplemented with the Einstein–Infeld–Hoffmann n-body equations of motion. While time in Newtonian mechanics is formally universal, the accuracy of modern radiometric tracking systems necessitate linear corrections via increasingly complex and error-prone post-Newtonian techniques—to account for light deflection due to the solar system bodies. With flagship projects such as the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission now operating at unprecedented levels of accuracy, we believe the standard corrected Newtonian paradigm is approaching its limits in terms of complexity. In this paper, we employ a novel prototype software, General Relativistic Accelerometer-based Propagation Environment, to reconstruct the Cassini cruise-phase trajectory during its first gravitational wave experiment in a fully relativistic framework. The results presented herein agree with post-processed trajectory information obtained from NASA’s SPICE kernels at the order of centimetres.}
}