Modelling and simulation of the space mission MICROSCOPE

Paper number

IAC-09.A2.1.4

Author

Mrs. Stefanie Bremer, ZARM - University of Bremen, Germany

Coauthor

Mrs. Meike List, ZARM - University of Bremen, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Hanns Selig, ZARM - University of Bremen, Germany

Coauthor

Prof. Hansjörg Dittus, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany

Coauthor

Prof. Hans Rath, ZARM - University of Bremen, Germany

Year

2009

Abstract

MICROSCOPE is a French space mission for testing the Equivalence Principle (EP). The mission goal is the determination of the Eötvös parameter $\eta$ with an accuracy of 10e-15. The french space agency CNES
is responsible for the satellite which is developed and produced within the Myriade series. The satellite's payload T-SAGE (Twin Space Accelerometer for Gravitation Experimentation) is developed and built by
the french institute ONERA. It consists of two high-precision capacitive differential accelerometers. One accelerometer is used as reference sensor with two test masses of platinum, the science sensor contains a
platinum and a titanium proof mass. The detection of the test mass movement and their control is done via a complex electrode system.
 
As a member of the MICROSCOPE performance team, the German department ZARM performs free fall tests of the MICROSCOPE differential accelerometers at the Bremen drop tower. Besides mission simulations and the preperation of the mission data evaluation in close cooperation with the French partners CNES, ONERA and OCA are realised. Therefore a comprehensive simulation of the real system including the science signal and all error sources is built for the development and testing of data reduction and data analysis algorithms to extract the EP violation signal. In this context the focus lays on the correct modelling of the environmental disturbances. Currently new effort to  study the influence of the solar radiation and the Earth albedo to the MICROSCOPE mission scenario is underway. The actual status of the mission modelling will be presented.

Abstract document

IAC-09.A2.1.4.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-09.A2.1.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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