DEFINITION:

Aero-assist and atmospheric entry (AAE) systems are defined as the intra-atmospheric technologies that decelerate a spacecraft from hyperbolic arrival through the hypersonic phase of entry. The mission requirements range from high-speed entries of scientific probes at Venus and Saturn, to sample return capsules to Earth (Mars sample return being the most challenging), and human missions to Mars.

(Source: NASA TA9.1 except TA9.1.5 Instrument & Health Monitoring included into 1-B-3 and TA9.1.6 Entry Modelling and Simulation included into 1-G-2)

SUBDOMAINS:

1. Ground Tracking Networks: Covers the deployment, operation and data collection for GNSS sensor stations, network management, data handling services.
2. GNSS and Geodetic Data Processing: Models, algorithms, data monitoring, data quality assessment and delivery of services and products.
3. MEO and LEO Precise Orbit Determination Algorithms: Orbit dynamics and related models, analytical and numerical algorithms, for real-time (ground) and non-real-time (onboard/ground) data processing, performance analysis.
4. Geodetic Reference Frames: Satellite geodesy, standards, processing of different observations.