Mission simulation and free fall payload tests for MICROSCOPE

Paper number

IAC-09.A2.I.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 in space. The mission goal is the determination of the Eötvös parameter $\eta$ with an accuracy of 10e-15. The launch is sheduled for
2012. As a member of the MICROSCOPE performance team,  ZARM performs free fall drop tower tests of the MICROSCOPE differential accelerometers as well as  mission simulations and the preperation of the mission data analysis in close cooperation with the french partners CNES, ONERA and OCA.The free fall tests are essential for the validation of the sensor performance. The mission simulation includes satellite and test mass
dynamics as well as interactions between the spacecraft and the orbital environment. The project concepts and current results of the free fall tests (MICROSCOPE accelerometer engineering model) and current simulation results of the influence of different mission parameters on the of the satellite and test mass dynamics are presented.

Abstract document

IAC-09.A2.I.4.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-09.A2.I.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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