In-orbit demonstration of novel Solid State Micro-Accelerometers
Abstract
A selfcontained sensor package comprising 12 Solid State Micro-Accelerometers with its support system flown in a Get-Away-Special canister onboard the Columbia orbiter during the STS 40 mission. The aim of this experiment is to characterize these novel accelerometers in space in microgravity environment and to prove the technology's potential in space applications. The successful flight on 6th June 1991 returned excellent calibration data of the accelerometer and gave insight into the real microgravity level of the Space Shuttle. While the demonstrated sensitivity is in the order of 50 x 10 exp -9 g, the residual gravitational disturbances of the Shuttle are at least a factor of 10 above. Current and future space projects will benefit from the ultrasensitive small size, low weight/low power sensors.
- Publication:
-
Montreal International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- October 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991mont.iafcQ....K
- Keywords:
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- Accelerometers;
- Get Away Specials (Sts);
- Instrument Packages;
- Orbital Space Tests;
- Solid State Devices;
- Columbus Space Station;
- Earth Orbital Environments;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Pointing Control Systems;
- Silver Zinc Batteries;
- Spacecraft Instrumentation