1. Fundamental physics and absolute positioning metrology with the MAGIA lunar orbiter.
- Author
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Dell'Agnello, Simone, Lops, Caterina, Monache, Giovanni, Currie, Douglas, Martini, Manuele, Vittori, Roberto, Coradini, Angioletta, Dionisio, Cesare, Garattini, Marco, Boni, Alessandro, Cantone, Claudio, March, Riccardo, Bellettini, Giovanni, Tauraso, Roberto, Maiello, Mauro, Porcelli, Luca, Berardi, Simone, and Intaglietta, Nicola
- Subjects
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METROLOGY , *LUNAR Orbiter (Artificial satellite) , *GENERAL relativity (Physics) , *ATOMIC clocks , *LUNAR laser ranging , *MOON - Abstract
MAGIA is a mission approved by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for Phase A study. Using a single large-diameter laser retroreflector, a large laser retroreflector array and an atomic clock onboard MAGIA we propose to perform several fundamental physics and absolute positioning metrology experiments: VESPUCCI, an improved test of the gravitational redshift in the Earth-Moon system predicted by General Relativity; MoonLIGHT-P, a precursor test of a second generation Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) payload for precision gravity and lunar science measurements under development for NASA, ASI and robotic missions of the proposed International Lunar Network (ILN); Selenocenter (the center of mass of the Moon), the determination of the position of the Moon center of mass with respect to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame/System (ITRF/ITRS); this will be compared to the one from Apollo and Lunokhod retroreflectors on the surface; MapRef, the absolute referencing of MAGIA's lunar altimetry, gravity and geochemical maps with respect to the ITRF/ITRS. The absolute positioning of MAGIA will be achieved thanks to: (1) the laboratory characterization of the retroreflector performance at INFN-LNF; (2) the precision tracking by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS), which gives two fundamental contributions to the ITRF/ITRS, i.e. the metrological definition of the geocenter (the Earth center of mass) and of the scale of length; (3) the radio science and accelerometer payloads; (4) support by the ASI Space Geodesy Center in Matera, Italy. Future ILN geodetic nodes equipped with MoonLIGHT and the Apollo/Lunokhod retroreflectors will become the first realization of the International Moon Reference Frame (IMRF), the lunar analog of the ITRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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