Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 4089 |
| Pages (from-to) | 4089 |
| Journal | Remote sensing |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 16 |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Aug 2022 |
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.
Keywords
- Earth gravity, GRACE, GRACE Follow-On, laser interferometry, NGGM
ASJC Scopus subject areas
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In: Remote sensing, Vol. 14, No. 16, 4089, 21.08.2022, p. 4089.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards NGGM: Laser Tracking Instrument for the Next Generation of Gravity Missions
AU - Nicklaus, Kolja
AU - Voss, Kai
AU - Feiri, Anne
AU - Kaufer, Marina
AU - Dahl, Christian
AU - Herding, Mark
AU - Curzadd, Bailey Allen
AU - Baatzsch, Andreas
AU - Flock, Johanna
AU - Weller, Markus
AU - Müller, Vitali
AU - Heinzel, Gerhard
AU - Misfeldt, Malte
AU - Delgado, Juan Jose Esteban
N1 - Funding information: This research was funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), by the activity “Pre-development of a Laser Tracking Instrument”,contract no. 4000134527/21/NL/AD. The view expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency. This work, or some authors, were supported by: The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, project-ID 434617780, SFB 1464) and Clusters of Excellence “QuantumFrontiers: Light and Matter at the Quantum Frontier: Foundations and Applications in Metrology” (EXC-2123, project number: 390837967).
PY - 2022/8/21
Y1 - 2022/8/21
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Earth gravity
KW - GRACE
KW - GRACE Follow-On
KW - laser interferometry
KW - NGGM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137761300&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/rs14164089
DO - 10.3390/rs14164089
M3 - Article
VL - 14
SP - 4089
JO - Remote sensing
JF - Remote sensing
SN - 2072-4292
IS - 16
M1 - 4089
ER -