Optical Test Environment for Verification of an Inter-Satellite Laser Ranging Interferometer

Abstract

Next generation gravity missions such as GRACE-FO, LISA and beyond will measure distance variations between orbiting spacecraft by Laser Ranging Interferometry, a system with higher accuracy then the current system used in GRACE. A promising approach is a new space saving metrology terminal. For verification of the new design a test environment is necessary. This master thesis lays the basis for a test terminal in which six beat signals are generated using an optical breadboard, which will be measured by a phasemeter in the future progress. In order to achieve high accuracy for the test terminal, two piezo-actuated mirrors can be angularly adjusted. To see the dependency between these two mirrors and to evaluate the angular range in regards to height and length difference of both mirrors, a simulation is performed. The setup is assembled in the Laboratory for Enabled Technology at Airbus DS GmbH in a cooperation with HTWG Konstanz and the German Aerospace Center. I