Share

Technical challenges of Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) mission.

Author(s) : MASON P. V., ISRAELSSON U. E., PETRAC D., JACKSON H. W., WORDEN P., PARMLEY R.

Type of article: Article

Summary

The STEP experiment is being proposed to improve knowledge of the equivalence of inertial and gravitational mass by a factor of one million, yielding a crucial test of one of the fundamental postulates of Einstein's theory of general relativity. The experiment will use six differential superconducting accelerometers in a spacecraft in low Earth orbit. The mission will last six months and is planned for launch in 2000. The entire experiment must be cooled to 1.8 K and must be held to this level within 1 milliK per orbit. A 200 dm3 superfluid helium dewar will maintain this environment. The motion of the liquid helium in the local gravity gradient field, may generate gravitational variation signals much less than the expected signal. An electrostatic confinement system proposed for this purpose is described. A back-up system using the superfluid fountain effect will also be discussed.

Details

  • Original title: Technical challenges of Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) mission.
  • Record ID : 1994-0049
  • Languages: English
  • Source: Cryogenics - vol. 33 - n. 4
  • Publication date: 1993/04

Links


See other articles in this issue (13)
See the source

Indexing