New Horizons REX KEM1: Calibrated Radio Science Data from the MU69 Encounter

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft collected this calibrated radio science data between 08/14/2018 and 01/31/2019 during the KEM1 mission phase targeting object MU69. The dataset includes calibration measurements using known radio sources, Jupiter, and cold sky, along with operational readiness tests and prime science observations. This is Version 1.0, containing only data downlinked before 02/01/2019.

Use Cases

• Calibrate deep-space radio science instruments based on measurements from known radio sources and Jupiter.
• Analyze spacecraft operational readiness based on test pattern calibration data.
• Study the Kuiper Belt object MU69 through prime science radiometry and occultation observations.
• Validate radio signal propagation models using cold sky measurements.

Strengths

• Data is calibrated, indicating a processed state ready for scientific analysis.
• Covers a defined time range from 08/14/2018 to 01/31/2019.
• Produced by NASA, a leading authority in space exploration.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is limited to what was downlinked before 02/01/2019; future versions may contain more.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Acquired by the New Horizons Radio Science Experiment (REX) instrument.

Time Range

08/14/2018 to 01/31/2019

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 19:22:38.617028; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Deep space, Kuiper Belt region during the MU69 encounter.