Mainz 2017 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 5: Precision Measurements and Metrology: Gravity (with Q)

A 5.1: Group Report

Monday, March 6, 2017, 14:30–15:00, P 104

The Laser Ranging Interferometer on GRACE Follow-On - current status and outlook — Germán Fernández Barranco, Alexander Görth, •Christoph Mahrdt, Vitali Müller, Daniel Schütze, Gunnar Stede, Gerhard Heinzel und Karsten Danzmann — Albert-Einstein-Institut (AEI), Hannover

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is able to observe the Earth's dynamic gravitational field on a global scale. Changes due to mass transport within the Hydrosphere and Cryosphere, with unprecedented precision have been observed with a temporal resolution of one month. Long term monitoring of these changes is important for a better understanding of the processes causing these time variations. GRACE has been flying for nearly 15 years now, tripling it's targeted design lifetime. Due to the increasing risk of failure a rebuild of GRACE has been build and is currently under test for an anticipated launch as early as spring 2018. GRACE Follow-On carries an additional laser ranging interferometer as technology demonstrator for future gravity field missions which has the potential to enable improved spatial resolution. This talk will give an overview of the architecture of the laser ranging interferometer, a status update, and outlook towards the launch.