Frequency-Sweeping Interferometry for Intersatellite Baseline Metrology in Array Telescope Formation
Wenjun Chen (Xidian University)
Xiaoping Li (Xidian University)
Zhongwen Deng (Xidian University)
Chenxu Wang (Xidian University)
Shuwei Zhang (Xidian University)
Haifeng Sun (Xidian University)
Hengkang Zhang (Beijing Institute of Control Engineering)
Lin Li (Beijing Institute of Control Engineering)
Li Wang (Beijing Institute of Control Engineering)
Hai Gong (Zhejiang University - Huzhou)
Herman Koara (Zhejiang University - Hangzhou)
Gleb Vdovin (TU Delft - Team Raf Van de Plas)
Weimin Bao (Xidian University, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)
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Abstract
Space-based distributed array telescope formations hold substantial potential for deep space exploration, with their performance highly dependent on precise baseline measurements between subtelescopes. This study presents a double-sideband frequency-sweeping interferometry (DSB-FSI) technique based on electro-optic modulation for intertelescope baseline measurements. To address the lack of on-orbit frequency-sweep calibration references, a Fabry–Pérot etalon is used for real-time in situ frequency-sweep rate calibration. Experimental results show that the Fabry–Pérot etalon effectively calibrates the frequency-sweep rate of the DSB-FSI system, reducing long-term baseline measurement drift error from 20.11 to 13.38 μm and decreasing maximum measurement deviation from 18.03 to 13.14 μm over a 5.7-m baseline. Metrological calibration confirms that the calibrated system achieves a baseline measurement accuracy of 44.30 μm over a 10-m range, with excellent dynamic measurement performance for monitoring baseline variations. The DSB-FSI technique is expected to provide a reliable solution for the high-precision intertelescope baseline measurements in “MEAYIN” (Multiple-Spacecraft Exoplanet Aperture Synthetic Interferometer) project, thus supporting the advancement of space-based distributed array telescope formation technologies.
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