Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices I (ASTROD I) - Mission Overview

摘要

ASTROD I is the first planned space mission in a series of ASTROD missionsfor testing relativity in space using optical devices. The main aims are: (i)to test General Relativity with an improvement of three orders of magnitudecompared to current results, (ii) to measure solar and solar system parameterswith improved accuracy, (iii) to test the constancy of the gravitationalconstant and in general to get a deeper understanding of gravity. The firstideas for the ASTROD missions go back to the last century when new technologiesin the area of laser physics and time measurement began to appear on thehorizon. ASTROD is a mission concept that is supported by a broad internationalcommunity covering the areas of space technology, fundamental physics, highperformance laser and clock technology and drag free control. While ASTROD I isa single-spacecraft concept that performes measurements with pulsed laserranging between the spacecraft and earthbound laser ranging stations, ASTROD-GWis planned to be a three spacecraft mission with inter-spacecraft laserranging. ASTROD-GW would be able to detect gravitational waves at frequenciesbelow the eLISA/NGO bandwidth. As a third step Super-ASTROD with larger orbitscould even probe primordial gravitational waves. This article gives an overviewon the basic principles especially for ASTROD I.