Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 68: Precision measurements and metrology V

Q 68.1: Group Report

Friday, March 21, 2014, 16:30–17:00, DO24 1.101

The GRACE Follow-On Laser Ranging Interferometer — •Alexander Görth — Max Planck Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Deutschland

In the year 2017 a follow-on mission to the very successful joint German / NASA mission GRACE (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment) will be launched. The two GRACE satellites have been mapping the spatial and temporal variations of the Earth's gravitational field by satellite-to-satellite tracking for more than ten years now. While only a microwave ranging instrument has been used for this measurement in GRACE, an additional laser ranging interferometer (LRI) will be implemented into the architecture of the GRACE Follow-On satellites as a technology demonstrator. It is intended to verify the benefits of a laser-based measurement which is expected to eventually become the main science instrument in future geodesy missions. We will present the status of the development of the LRI as well as the latest results of experimental tests on sub-units of the LRI.