EDOARDO DEL VECCHIO

PhD Graduate

PhD program:: XXXVII


advisor: Antonio Genova

Thesis title: Characterization of Static and Time-varying Gravity Anomalies on Planetary Bodies with Radio Science Data

The study of planetary gravity fields provides fundamental insights into the internal structure, mass distribution, and dynamic evolution of celestial bodies. This dissertation merges advanced precise orbit determination techniques with refined geodetic models, offering a comprehensive investigation into static and time-varying gravity anomalies of planetary bodies. A detailed analysis of BepiColombo’s Venus and Mercury flybys was conducted, leveraging a multi-arc precise orbit determination approach that integrated spacecraft radio science and accelerometer data with the entire MESSENGER mission’s radio-tracking measurements. The analysis validated onboard accelerometer data and semi-empirical models of non-conservative forces acting on BepiColombo. This methodology led to a new estimate of the gravity field of Mercury and an improved characterization of gravity anomalies across the Beethoven impact basin region, enhancing the correlation with topography and enabling further investigations into the lithospheric properties of the planet. The investigation then extended to the seasonal variations of the Martian gravity field, driven by CO2 mass exchange between the polar caps and the atmosphere. A mascon-based approach, combined with remote-sensing observations, was developed to quantify temporal variations in the mass of the seasonal polar caps, leveraging multi-year Doppler tracking data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. A comparative assessment of atmospheric models was performed, evaluating the density behavior of MarsGram2010 and the Mars Climate Database across different Martian years. The results provided accurate estimates of the mass evolution of the northern polar cap, revealing a stable trend during summer, which aligns with general circulation model predictions and remote-sensing observations. The methodologies developed in this study are designed for broad applicability, extending beyond the specific cases of Mercury and Mars to the analysis of radio science data from any planetary mission.

Research products

11573/1701511 - 2024 - Precise orbit determination of the MESSENGER spacecraft
Andolfo, Simone; Genova, Antonio; Del Vecchio, Edoardo - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: JOURNAL OF GUIDANCE CONTROL AND DYNAMICS (American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics:1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 500:Reston, VA 20191:(800)639-2422, (703)264-7500, EMAIL: custserv@aiaa.org, INTERNET: http://www.aiaa.org/, Fax: (703)264-7657) pp. 518-530 - issn: 0731-5090 - wos: WOS:001155574000001 (4) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85187121491 (4)

11573/1711224 - 2024 - First Analysis of BepiColombo Radio Science and Accelerometer Data Acquired During Venus and Mercury Flybys
Del Vecchio, E.; Gargiulo, A. M.; Petricca, F.; Genova, A.; Andolfo, S.; Cappuccio, P.; De Filippis, U.; Lefevre, C.; Lucente, M.; Magnafico, C.; Santoli, F.; Iess, L.; Benedetto, C.; Benkhoff, J. - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON AEROSPACE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (IEEE / Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Incorporated:445 Hoes Lane:Piscataway, NJ 08854:(800)701-4333, (732)981-0060, EMAIL: subscription-service@ieee.org, INTERNET: http://www.ieee.org, Fax: (732)981-9667) pp. 1-9 - issn: 0018-9251 - wos: WOS:001291141500110 (2) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85189148900 (3)

11573/1725047 - 2024 - Estimation of Venus' atmospheric density through EnVision precise orbit determination
Gargiulo, Anna Maria; Genova, Antonio; Petricca, Flavio; Del Vecchio, Edoardo; Andolfo, Simone; Torrini, Tommaso; Rosenblatt, Pascal; Lebonnois, Sébastien; Marty, Jean-Charles; Dumoulin, Caroline - 04d Abstract in atti di convegno
conference: EGU General Assembly 2024 (Vienna; Austria)
book: EGU General Assembly 2024 - ()

11573/1725251 - 2024 - Sensor data fusion for precise orbit determination of interplanetary spacecraft
Genova, Antonio; Andolfo, Simone; Ciambellini, Martina; Federici, Pierluigi; Teodori, Riccardo; Torrini, Tommaso; Zavoli, Alessandro; Del Vecchio, Edoardo; Maria Gargiulo, Anna; Petricca, Flavio; De Matteis, Guido; Cottini, Valeria - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 2024 International Conference on Space Robotics (iSpaRo) (Lussemburgo; Lussemburgo)
book: 2024 International Conference on Space Robotics (iSpaRo) - (979-8-3503-6723-2)

11573/1711773 - 2024 - Gravity investigation to characterize enceladus's ocean and interior
Genova, Antonio; Parisi, Marzia; Gargiulo, Anna Maria; Petricca, Flavio; Andolfo, Simone; Torrini, Tommaso; Del Vecchio, Edoardo; Glein, Christopher R.; Cable, Morgan L.; Phillips, Cynthia B.; Bradley, Nicholas E.; Restrepo, Ricardo L.; Mages, Declan M.; Babuscia, Alessandra; Lunine, Jonathan I. - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: THE PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL (Bristol: IOP Publishing, 2020-) pp. - - issn: 2632-3338 - wos: WOS:001161914400001 (4) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85185443810 (4)

11573/1699095 - 2023 - Joint determination of Venus gravity and atmospheric density through EnVision radio science investigation
Gargiulo, Anna Maria; Genova, Antonio; Petricca, Flavio; Del Vecchio, Edoardo; Andolfo, Simone; Torrini, Tommaso; Rosenblatt, Pascal; Lebonnois, Sébastien; Marty, Jean-Charles; Dumoulin, Caroline - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: ACTA ASTRONAUTICA (Elmsford N.Y.: Pergamon Press) pp. 725-738 - issn: 0094-5765 - wos: WOS:001153971800001 (2) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85182029124 (2)

11573/1664612 - 2023 - Regional variations of Mercury's crustal density and porosity from MESSENGER gravity data
Genova, A.; Goossens, S.; Del Vecchio, E.; Petricca, F.; Beuthe, M.; Wieczorek, M.; Chiarolanza, G.; Di Achille, G.; Mitri, G.; Di Stefano, I.; Charlier, B.; Mazarico, E.; James, P. - 01a Articolo in rivista
paper: ICARUS (NY: Elsevier Orlando, FL: Academic Press Incorporated) pp. - - issn: 0019-1035 - wos: WOS:000895847700004 (11) - scopus: 2-s2.0-85141747279 (10)

11573/1701519 - 2022 - Semi-autonomous guidance, navigation and control system for planetary rovers
Andolfo, S.; Del Vecchio, E.; Gargiulo, A. M.; Petricca, F.; Genova, A. - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022 (Parigi, Francia)
book: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC - ()

11573/1701517 - 2022 - Processing of altimetric data for precise orbit determination
Del Vecchio, E.; Petricca, F.; Genova, A. - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022 (Parigi, Francia)
book: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC - ()

11573/1629987 - 2022 - Geophysical investigations of celestial bodies through the combination of radio science and altimetric crossover data
Del Vecchio, Edoardo; Petricca, Flavio; Genova, Antonio; Mazarico, Erwan - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: EGU (Vienna, Austria)
book: EGU General Assembly 2022 - ()

11573/1699096 - 2022 - Lunar Surface exploration based on LCNS orbiters and Onboard Sensor observables
Tomasicchio, G.; Gargiulo, A. M.; Genova, A.; Marsella, M.; Andolfo, S.; Del Vecchio, E.; Petricca, F.; Rodriguez, F.; Albanese, C. - 04b Atto di convegno in volume
conference: 73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022 (Parigi, Francia)
book: Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC. 73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022 - ()

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