The Microscope Space Mission and the In-Orbit Calibration Plan for its Instrument
Abstract
The MICROSCOPE space mission aims at testing the Equivalence Principle (EP) with an accuracy of 10-15. This principle is one of the basis of the General Relativity theory; it states the equivalence between gravitational and inertial mass. The test is based on the precise measurement of a gravitational signal by a differential electrostatic accelerometer which includes two cylindrical test masses made of different materials. The accelerometers constitute the payload accommodated on board a drag-free micro-satellite which is controlled inertial or rotating about the normal to the orbital plane. The acceleration estimates used for the EP test are disturbed by the instruments physical parameters and by the instrument environment conditions on-board the satellite. These parameters are partially measured with ground tests or during the integration of the instrument in the satellite (alignment). Nevertheless, the ground evaluations are not sufficient with respect to the EP test accuracy objectives. An in-orbit calibration is therefore needed to characterize them finely. The calibration process for each parameter has been defined.
- Publication:
-
Thirteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting: On Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics and Relativistic Field Theories
- Pub Date:
- January 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1142/9789814623995_0254
- Bibcode:
- 2015mgm..conf.1679L