Welcome to Luciano Iess's Homepage
On the left: the JUNO mission (NASA) was launched on 5 agosto 2011 and it will orbit around Jupiter till 2021 and beyond. Its main purposes are the study of the atmosphere and the interior structure of the planet. Centre: artist view of the Cassini and Huygens probes at Saturn. Right: Saturn almost at equinox, as seen from Cassini (ISS Cassini).
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Abbreviations:
- SMS = Space Missions and Systems
- AS = Space Environment
Exams 6 July:
SMS final results
Results of MCT - SMS
Results of MCT - AS **** UPDATED 6 July 17:50 *****
There was an error in the correction mask for the AS MCT. Please review the new list and let me know by email if you are willing to take the oral exam. If you accept the outcome and you coose for the exam in person, please show up tomorrow 7 July at 11:00.
NEW - Exam calendar, 6-7 July
The exam will be offered in mixed mode, both online and in person. The MCT test will be online only for all students.
Download here an excel spreadsheet with the list of students and additional information. Please check that the info is correct.
MCT Space Missions and Systems: 6 July 9:00
MCT Space Environment: 6 July 10:00
Results of MCT tests will be published on this web site at 12:00. All students who took the test will meet the professor’s assistants in a Google Meet virtual room at 12:15 (see IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION below). Missing the virtual room implies that the proposed vote is rejected. You must declare your intention (or refusal) to take the oral exam.
Online oral exams SMS (easy mode): 6 July at 11:00
Online oral exams SMS (with MCT): 6 July
Online oral exams AS: 6 July (afternoon)
Oral exams SMS (in person): 7 July 10:00 (classroom TBD)
Oral exams AS (in person): 7 July 11:00 (classroom TBD)
Please read carefully the instructions and the procedure (link on the left panel "Exams from remote").
IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: The maximum mark indicated in the published results of the MCT may be increased by up to 3 pt only if the oral exam is remarkably good and not in line with the MCT outcome. The MCT score is a good indicator of your overall mastering of the course topics. The MCT score is in no way taken into account during the oral exam, nor in the final mark, except for setting a hard clipping. It is not included in any average.
Important notice:
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 situation, the MCT will be offered at every exam session.
OPIS questionnaire
Instructions for the OPIS questionnaire (student opinion on courses) can be downloaded here (in Italian and English). Please note that there are two separate evaluations for the teo modules on Space Missions and Systems. The code for Space Environment and my modules of the SMS courses are:
AS: 4JYJYBGQ
SMS: NKN3GXU4
**** Space Missions and Systems
Results of HW2 and students admitted to the exam in "easy mode" (no MCT) can be found here (corrected list)
Matlab codes for the coherent demodulator: version 1 (shown in class) and version 2
Challenge 2020 - Results
1st place: not awarded
2nd place: Fabiani, Gubernari
3rd place: Pallarés Chamorro, Di Muzio (+1 pt.)
The challenge is a valid replacement for HW1 for the following students:
Capocchiano, Di Francesca, Di Muzio, Maioli, Mattei, Mereu, Moretti, Paci, Silvestri, Sponsillo
Congratulations to all participants! Many of you did quite a good job.
Follow the link on the left panel to get the instructions for the remote exam sessions.
For detailed instructions you may also download this pdf document (last update 25/5).
MCT results are available here (24 April 2020)
**** Space Missions and Systems 2019/2020 - Download the Challenge here!
The Challenge is available also on Google Classroom. The solution and working codes must be uploaded on Google Classroom by Sunday 26 April 23:59 UTC. In case of problems with Google Classroom (and only in this case), send it by email to luciano.iess@uniroma1.it AND gael.cascioli@uniroma1.it.
First place: +3 pt at the final exam
Two second places: +2 pt at the final exam
Three third places: +1 pt at the final exam
You are all encouraged to try it! There is a lot to learn. The Challenge is a valid replacement for HW 1 for students who did not pass or take it.
**** Space Missions and Systems 2019/2020 - Homework #1:
The results of Homework 1 can be found following this link (30/4/2020)
Click here to download the test (zip file)
The solution (a pdf file) and the source code must be uploaded by Sunday 5 April 23:59:59 CEST on Google Classroom. If you have troubles with Classroom (and only in this case), the solution may be emailed to luciano.iess@uniroma1.it AND gael.cascioli@uniroma1.it AND daniele.durante@uniroma1.it. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Suggestions and remarks: Be concise and go right to the point. Plots convey information very effectively. Including a working source code is mandatory
Important message for students of the Space Missions and Systems:
The link for all Google Meet classes is always the same:
https://meet.google.com/wsf-pevk-fzb
Please turn off your cameras and mute your microphones (unless you wish to ask a question). Monday's class will be again on Youtube.
The video of the exercise on Kalman filter and the Earth orbiter (19 March 2020) is available on Google Classroom for DOWNLOAD (most of you won't be able to play it directly)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Ooa9B57kjii7Zz6CtY5cUwo72dr3aojr&authuser=0
The video will NOT be uploaded on Youtube, at least for now.
The Matlab files are available in the Class Notes/Space Missions and Systems/Supporting Material folder.
Important information to all Space Environment and Space Missions and Systems students:
Following the suspension of all in-class teaching activities till 15 March, we will continue the courses remotely on my Youtube streaming channel. This will enable some progress during this emergency situation.
Classes will resume online Monday 9 March, with the usual schedule:
Space Missions and Systems:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00-12:00
Thursday: 12:00-14:00
Space Environment:
Monday: 12:00-13:00
Tuesday: 8:00-10:00
Thursday: 10:00-12:00
To attend the classes in streaming:
Click here to access my Youtube channel.
(otherwise copy&paste the following link in your browser:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC03_ifjMXQt_eqvBYs3X4Kg?view_as=subscriber)
The videos are not immediately available for viewing after the streaming session is terminated. You'll have to wait about one hour grace time to be able to view it.
To ask questions, please use the chat available on the main page (give some try beforehands).
Alternatively, for more elaborate questions, give me a skype call. I'll have skype active on my laptop. My skypeid is luciano_diaa1.
Please visit this website for updates.
This is all experimental. If you have suggestions on better ways to continue the course, do not hesitate to contact me.
Luciano Iess
STAGE AND THESIS - NEW OPPORTUNITIES (updated 8 May 2020) - See link on the left
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Space Missions and Systems class 12 March 2020
Using the Matlab code and the concepts you learned during the course, answer the following questions:
1) Which observables are most sensitive to x_0?
2) Which observables are most sensitive to v_0?
3) How does the state accuracy (standatd deviation) vary with h? Make a plot or a table.
4) Try to change one of the model parameters (k_1,k_2,m). Does the filter converge? Why?
5) Implement the MVE in the Spring-Mass Matlab script.
6) How do the standard deviations of the estimated state variables change?
7) Try to simulate your own observed observables (you can find the code in the file “spring_main_batch.m”
8) Using only one type of observables at a time, what is the maximum level of noise that guarrantees convergence?
The spring-mass Matlab code has been uploaded in the folder "Class Notes"/"Space Missions and Systems"/"Supplementary Material".
The previous version is also available in the same folder. There the observable quantities are generated in the matlab code. You can play with the noise level.
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NEW: Work and stage opportunities - see link on the left. (21/5/2019).
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*** Plumbing the depth of Jupiter's winds
Here is the link to the recent paper on Nature and some of its echoes in the news:
Iess et al. "Measurement of Jupiter's asymmetric gravity field", Nature, 555, 220-222 (2018)
International coverage
Scientific American (really good)
The Hindustan Times (India)
Coverage in Italy
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*** Short course on Matlab: Download the full zip file here
Luciano Iess: "The Attraction of Gravity" - Jean Dominique Cassini Medal Lecture at the European Geosciences Union - Vienna, April 25, 2017. Video recording
*** New supporting material:
Matlab codes for batch and sequential estimation (spring-mass system) in Class Notes - Supporting Material
*** An interesting link: Cassini behind the scenes
**** Space Missions and Systems
Matlab code for the coherent demodulator
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For updated information you may follow me on Twitter (luciano_iess)
*** Seminars at Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunications Technology (BITTT):
Seminar 1: Deep Space Navigation Systems: Where Do We Stand?
Seminar 2: The European Delta-DOR Correlator
Seminar 3: BepiColombo, the ESA Mission To Mercury; MORE: Geodesy, Geophysics, Navigation
Seminar 4 and 5: The Scientific Use of Deep Space Tracking Systems; Radio Science in Deep Space Missions
***Tour of Robledo's DNS facilities. The visit to the Robledo and Cebreros tracking complexes was an interesting and profitable experience for all of us. Follow the link to see some photos.
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Neptune seen by Voyager 2