# Multi-link laser interferometry architecture for interspacecraft displacement metrology

Multi-link laser interferometry architecture for interspacecraft displacement metrology Targeting a future Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, we present a new laser interferometry architecture that can be used to recover the displacement between two spacecraft from multiple interspacecraft measurements. We show it is possible to recover the displacement between the spacecraft centers of mass in post-processing by forming linear combinations of multiple, spatially offset, interspacecraft measurements. By canceling measurement error due to angular misalignment of the spacecraft, we remove the need for precise placement or alignment of the interferometer, potentially simplifying spacecraft integration. To realize this multi-link architecture, we propose an all-fiber interferometer, removing the need for any ultrastable optical components such as the GRACE Follow-On mission’s triple mirror assembly. Using digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry, the number of links is readily scalable, adding redundancy to our measurement. We present the concept, an example multi-link implementation and the signal processing required to recover the center of mass displacement from multiple link measurements. Finally, in a simulation, we analyze the limiting noise sources in a 9 link interferometer and ultimately show we can recover the $$80\;\text {nm}/\sqrt{\text {Hz}}$$ 80 nm / Hz displacement sensitivity required by the GRACE Follow-On laser ranging interferometer. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Geodesy Springer Journals

# Multi-link laser interferometry architecture for interspacecraft displacement metrology

, Volume 92 (3) – Sep 5, 2017
11 pages

Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Subject
Earth Sciences; Geophysics/Geodesy; Earth Sciences, general
ISSN
0949-7714
eISSN
1432-1394
D.O.I.
10.1007/s00190-017-1059-1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

### Abstract

Targeting a future Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, we present a new laser interferometry architecture that can be used to recover the displacement between two spacecraft from multiple interspacecraft measurements. We show it is possible to recover the displacement between the spacecraft centers of mass in post-processing by forming linear combinations of multiple, spatially offset, interspacecraft measurements. By canceling measurement error due to angular misalignment of the spacecraft, we remove the need for precise placement or alignment of the interferometer, potentially simplifying spacecraft integration. To realize this multi-link architecture, we propose an all-fiber interferometer, removing the need for any ultrastable optical components such as the GRACE Follow-On mission’s triple mirror assembly. Using digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry, the number of links is readily scalable, adding redundancy to our measurement. We present the concept, an example multi-link implementation and the signal processing required to recover the center of mass displacement from multiple link measurements. Finally, in a simulation, we analyze the limiting noise sources in a 9 link interferometer and ultimately show we can recover the $$80\;\text {nm}/\sqrt{\text {Hz}}$$ 80 nm / Hz displacement sensitivity required by the GRACE Follow-On laser ranging interferometer.

### Journal

Journal of GeodesySpringer Journals

Published: Sep 5, 2017

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