The Bepi Colombo Laser Altimeter (BELA): Concept and baseline design

Thomas, N. and Spohn, T. and Barriot, J.-P. and Benz, W. and Beutler, G. and Christensen, U. and Dehant, V. and Fallnich, C. and Giardini, D. and Groussin, O. and Gunderson, K. and Hauber, E. and Hilchenbach, M. and Iess, L. and Lamy, P. and Lara, L.-M. and Lognonné, P. and Lopez-Moreno, J.J. and Michaelis, H. and Oberst, J. and Resendes, D. and Reynaud, J.-L. and Rodrigo, R. and Sasaki, S. and Seiferlin, K. and Wieczorek, M. and Whitby, J. (2007) The Bepi Colombo Laser Altimeter (BELA): Concept and baseline design. Planetary and Space Science, 55, pp. 1398-1413. DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2007.03.003.

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Abstract

The BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA) has been selected for flight on board the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO). The experiment is intended to be Europe’s first planetary laser altimeter system. Although the proposed system has similarities to the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) currently flying on board NASA’s MESSENGER mission to Mercury, the specific orbit and construction of the MPO force the use of novel concepts for BELA. Furthermore, the base-lined range-finding approach is novel. In this paper, we describe the BELA system and show preliminary results from some prototype testing.

Document Type:

Article

Title:

The Bepi Colombo Laser Altimeter (BELA): Concept and baseline design

Authors:

Authors	Institution or Email of Authors
Thomas, N.	Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Spohn, T.
Barriot, J.-P.	Bureau Gravimetrique International, Avenue Edouard Belin 18, F-31055 Toulouse, France
Benz, W.	Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Beutler, G.	Astronomy Institute, Sidlerstr. 5, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Christensen, U.	Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau
Dehant, V.	Royal Observatory of Belgium, 3 avenue Circulaire, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium
Fallnich, C.	Physikalische-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Bundesallee 100, D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany
Giardini, D.	Institute of Geophysics/Swiss Seismological Service, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, (ETHZ), Honggerberg, CH-3093 Zurich, Switzerland
Groussin, O.	Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA
Gunderson, K.	Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Hauber, E.
Hilchenbach, M.	Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau
Iess, L.	Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale e Astronautica, Universita’ degli Studi di Roma ‘‘La Sapienza’’, Via Eudossiana 18, I-00184 Rome, Italy
Lamy, P.	Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Site Peiresc, Traverse du Siphon-Les Trois Lucs, 13376 Marseille Cedex 12, France
Lara, L.-M.	Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, C/ Camino Bajo de Hue´tor 24, 18008 Granada, Spain
Lognonné, P.	Département de Géophysique Spatiale et Planétaire/UMR7096-CNRS, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, 4 Avenue de Neptune,
Lopez-Moreno, J.J.	Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, C/ Camino Bajo de Hue´tor 24, 18008 Granada, Spain
Michaelis, H.
Oberst, J.
Resendes, D.	Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Reynaud, J.-L.	Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Site Peiresc, Traverse du Siphon-Les Trois Lucs, 13376 Marseille Cedex 12, France
Rodrigo, R.	Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, C/ Camino Bajo de Hue´tor 24, 18008 Granada, Spain
Sasaki, S.	Planetary Sciences Group, Geological Institute, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Seiferlin, K.	Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Wieczorek, M.	Département de Géophysique Spatiale et Planétaire/UMR7096-CNRS, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, 4 Avenue de Neptune,
Whitby, J.	Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Switzerland

Date:

2007

Journal or Publication Title:

Planetary and Space Science

Refereed publication:

Yes

In ISI Web of Science:

Yes

Volume:

DOI:

10.1016/j.pss.2007.03.003

Page Range:

pp. 1398-1413

Status:

Published

Keywords:

Mercury, BepiColombo, Laser altimetry, Instrument design

HGF - Research field:

Aeronautics, Space and Transport

HGF - Program:

Space

HGF - Program Themes:

W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums

DLR - Research area:

Space

DLR - Program:

W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums

DLR - Research theme (Project):

W - Vorhaben BepiColombo (old)

Location:

Berlin-Adlershof

Institutes and Institutions:

Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Physics
Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Geodesy
Institute of Planetary Research
Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Geology
Institute of Planetary Research > Planetary Sensor Systems

Deposited By:

Judit Jänchen

Deposited On:

26 Jul 2007

Last Modified:

27 Apr 2009 14:08

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