Heidelberg 2007 – scientific programme
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GR: Fachverband Gravitation und Relativitätstheorie
GR 403: Experimente zur Gravitation
GR 403.2: Talk
Thursday, March 8, 2007, 14:15–14:30, KIP Kl. HS
Space Missions to Verify Fundamental Physics — •Claus Braxmaier1,2, Dennis Weise2, Christian Jentsch2, and Ulrich Johann2 — 1University of Applied Sciences Konstanz, Brauneggestr. 55, 78462 Konstanz — 2EADS Astrium GmbH, An der B31, 88039 Friedrichshafen
EADS Astrium is Europe’s largest space system company, especially as prime for science and earth observation missions. Space industry is involved at the very beginning of the mission developments, especially to garantuee their technical feasibility. This talk reports on the current development status of selected ESA scientific space missions from the industrial point of view, such as LISA and HYPER. The two basic theories of physics, general relativity and Quantum Theory, have to be tested in foundations and predicted effects. The physical fundaments to be verified are e.g. Special Relativity, EEP, LPI or the universality of redshift. High precision measurements will be used to determine the predicted signature of the Lense-Thirring-effect and to detect gravitational waves. Also to be tested are the time dependency of the finestructure constant or h/m in the field of Quantum Theory. Main ESA projects beside LISA and HYPER are the Space MOT, Optical Clocks in Space and other conceivable missions for the Cosmic Vision program. The scientific payloads of such missions are challenging and highly sophisticated individual metrology systems. We will give an overview on missions, the derived requirements to the instrument to meet the mission goals, the status of relevant currently available space techniques and the technical road map to meet these challenges.