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Space Accelerometers: Present Status

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Gyros, Clocks, Interferometers...: Testing Relativistic Graviy in Space

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics ((LNP,volume 562))

Abstract

In view of space missions, for accurate recovery of the Earth gravity field, for the test of the equivalence principle and for the observation of gravity waves in particular, specific inertial sensors are developed exhibiting very high resolution and limited full scale range suited for in orbit operation. These sensors are constructed around a high density proof-mass with a very fine and stable silica gold coated core. The proof-mass position and attitude are measured with highly sensitive capacitive sensors and are controlled with electrostatic actuators. The configuration and the major design parameters of these instruments are described in relation to the expected performances. The present status of the development of these instruments is shown together with the associated space mission scientific objectives. The main experimental results obtained during the ground qualification of these accelerometers are also presented.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics, Instrumentation and Sensing Department, Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales, BP 72, 92322, Châtillon Cedex, France

    Pierre Touboul

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  1. Pierre Touboul
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Experimental Physics, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, German

    Claus Lämmerzahl

  2. W.W.Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, CA, USA

    C. W. Francis Everitt

  3. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Cologne, 50923, Köln, Germany

    Friedrich W. Hehl

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Touboul, P. (2001). Space Accelerometers: Present Status. In: Lämmerzahl, C., Everitt, C.W.F., Hehl, F.W. (eds) Gyros, Clocks, Interferometers...: Testing Relativistic Graviy in Space. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 562. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-40988-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-40988-2_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-41236-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-40988-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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