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Reeder, Joshua and Rohr, Johann Max and Koch, Alexander and Weigelt, Matthias and Rievers, B. and Gust, Tim and Garcia, Antonio (2025) A Compact LRI for Cubesat Platforms. GRACE-FO STM 2025, 2025-10-07 - 2025-10-09, Online.
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Abstract
Current and planned satellite gravimetry missions which track global mass transport, such as the GRACE missions and NGGM, only allow gravity field solutions with a monthly temporal resolution but achieve a high spatial resolution with a low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking approach through the use of a Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI). The low temporal resolution of these missions is currently limited by the low number of spacecraft due to their high cost. The SENSORIS mission proposes a constellation of many CubeSat sized spacecraft utilising commercial off the shelf components and tracking via GNSS, thus using high-low satellite-to-satellite tracking. While the use of GNSS restricts the spatial resolution, a significantly higher temporal resolution of one solution per day is achievable due to the increased number of cost-effective spacecraft. SENSORIS thus aims to improve the currently insufficient background models used to create the gravity field solutions of GRACE-like missions whilst simultaneously providing redundancy to these missions. By implementing an LRI on a SENSORIS-like platform the spatial resolution of the gravity field solutions can be increased in comparison to those provided by GNSS. Compared to GRACE-FO, a significantly more compact LRI is necessary to fit into the required volume of a CubeSat. In order to achieve this, a New Space approach is proposed to allow the use of current state of the art technology which has limited or no space heritage, but allows the lower size, weight and power constraints to be met. While the expected ranging performance of the developed system will initially most likely not match the performance of the full-sized LRI, the first steps towards a compact LRI are under development. In this contribution we will give an overview of the SENSORIS mission concept as well as our activities towards a compact LRI.
| Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/220995/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Document Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Speech) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title: | A Compact LRI for Cubesat Platforms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Authors: |
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| Date: | October 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refereed publication: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gold Open Access: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In SCOPUS: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In ISI Web of Science: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status: | Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keywords: | Laser Ranging Interferometer, Cubesat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Title: | GRACE-FO STM 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Location: | Online | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Type: | international Conference | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event Start Date: | 7 October 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event End Date: | 9 October 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HGF - Program: | Space | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HGF - Program Themes: | Communication, Navigation, Quantum Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DLR - Research area: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DLR - Program: | R KNQ - Communication, Navigation, Quantum Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DLR - Research theme (Project): | R - Quantum optical sensors with macroscopic test masses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | Hannover | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Institutes and Institutions: | Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing > Laser Interferometric Sensing Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing > Satellite Geodesy and Geodetic Modelling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deposited By: | Reeder, Joshua | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deposited On: | 16 Dec 2025 16:44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Modified: | 01 Sep 2026 08:11 |
Available Versions of this Item
- A Compact LRI for Cubesat Platforms. (deposited 16 Dec 2025 16:44) [Currently Displayed]
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