Towards NGGM: Laser Tracking Instrument for the Next Generation of Gravity Missions

verfasst von

Kolja Nicklaus, Kai Voss, Anne Feiri, Marina Kaufer, Christian Dahl, Mark Herding, Bailey Allen Curzadd, Andreas Baatzsch, Johanna Flock, Markus Weller, Vitali Müller, Gerhard Heinzel, Malte Misfeldt, Juan Jose Esteban Delgado

Abstract

The precise tracking of distance variations between two satellites in low Earth orbit can provide key data for the understanding of the Earth’s system, specifically on seasonal and sub-seasonal water cycles and their impact on water levels. Measured distance variations, caused by local variations in gravitational field, serve as inputs to complex gravity models with which the movement of water on the globe can be identified. Satellite missions GOCE (2009–2013) and GRACE (2002–2017) delivered a significant improvement to our understanding of spatial and temporal gravity variations. Since 2018, GRACE Follow-On has been providing data continuity and features for the first time through the use of a laser interferometer as the technology demonstrator, in addition to a microwave ranging system as the main instrument. The laser interferometer provides an orders-of-magnitude lower measurement noise, and thereby could enable a significant improvement in the measurement of geoids if combined with suitable improvements in auxiliary instrumentation and Earth system modelling. In order to exploit the improved ranging performance, the ESA is investigating the design of a ‘Next Generation Gravity Mission’, consisting of two pairs of satellites with laser interferometers, improved accelerometers and improved platform performance. In this paper, we present the current design of the laser interferometer developed by us, the development status of the individual instrument units and the options available.

Organisationseinheit(en)

PhoenixD: Simulation, Fabrikation und Anwendung optischer Systeme
Institut für Gravitationsphysik
QuantumFrontiers
SFB 1464: Relativistische und quanten-basierte Geodäsie (TerraQ)

Externe Organisation(en)

Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein-Institut)
SpaceTech GmbH Immenstaad (STI)

Typ

Artikel

Journal

Remote sensing

Band

14

Seiten

4089

ISSN

2072-4292

Publikationsdatum

21.08.2022

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Erdkunde und Planetologie (insg.)

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14164089 (Zugang: Offen)