The Quantum Sensor Challenge Designing a System for a Space Mission. Astrid Heske European Space Agency The Netherlands

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1 The Quantum Sensor Challenge Designing a System for a Space Mission Astrid Heske European Space Agency The Netherlands Rencontres de Moriond - Gravitation, La Thuile, 2017

2 Quantum Sensors in Lab Experiments Easy access to experiment Earth gravity field Noisy environment Short interaction times Limited access to wavelength ranges Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

3 The Advantages of Space Large variations of the gravitational potential Infinitely long free fall conditions Long interaction times Quiet environmental conditions Huge free-propagation distances and variations in altitude Large velocities and velocity variations Observations at wavelengths inaccessible from ground Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

4 and the Demands of a Space Mission Autonomy and operability: routine operations cycle and calibration carried out through instrument electronics/software without real-time intervention from ground Radiation environment: instrument design for a harsh environment Accommodation on spacecraft: limitations on instruments mass, power and dimensions Reliability and redundancy: instrument needs to work reliably for the whole mission duration, requiring an appropriate redundancy concept (back-up) Model philosophy, qualification and verification: dedicated instrument models to verify required properties and functional/scientific performance during ground testing of the instrument which needs to survive the launch! A Pantheon of Standards, Reviews and Data Packages! Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

5 Mission Assessment Study Are all requirements there? Science Mission Engineering Is the mission feasible? Launcher mass and orbit Space environment Technology needs & maturity Sizing and performance Mission duration Science performance Operations concept Organization and Interfaces Schedule and budgets/funding Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation 2017 What are the drivers? 5

6 Case Study 1 STE - QUEST Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

7 Case Study 1 - Science Objectives more than two orders of magnitude improvement Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

8 Case Study 1 - The Instrument Suite Dual Species Atom Interferometer In-orbit requirements: Local gravitational acceleration: > 3 m/s 2 Gravity gradient: < s -2 Rotations: < 10-6 rad/s Inertial pointing Temperature Control Calibration (error budget) Time and Frequency Ground Clock Comparisons Microwave Link 2-way 3-frequency link (Ka and X) Inaccuracy: < Frequency instability: < (1 s); < (58,000 s) Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

9 Case Study 1 The Reference Orbit Performance requirements: (post processing) Position error: 2 m Velocity error: 2 mm/s Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

10 Case Study 1 - Science Performance Analysis Numerical simulations Input: HEO reference orbit Results: Interferometer sensitivity per orbit: reached in 1.2 years (could reach in 4 years) Ground clock comparison sensitivity per 3 orbits: Sun redshift: reached in 4 years Moon redshift: reached in 4 years Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

11 Case Study 1 Techno Assessment Results Design drivers: Thermal control (stability, drift) Payload accommodation Radiation environment / shielding Feasibility ok & no major critical items for the spacecraft And for the instrument suite some technical risks: Atom Interferometer Measurement concept proven in ongoing experiments ; New developments: Dual atomic source, laser system; Hardware heritage, including operations, from ongoing experiments Microwave Link Improvements to an existing design; Increase of: modulation rate, up- and downlink bands and transmit power GNSS Receiver Standard Platform Equipment Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

12 Case Study 2 L3 / LISA Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

13 Case Study 2 Science Objective Detect, explore and characterize Gravitational Waves and their origins in an unprecedented frequency range Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

14 Case Study 2 Instrument Suite Nov 2011 LISA Pathfinder CAD Nota Bene: Telescope Design Mechanisms Lasers Thermal Stability & Control Unit Accommodation Disturbance Suppression Budgets Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

15 Case Study 2 A Reference Orbit Nota Bene: Pointing Data Rates and Storage Communications Transponder Antenna Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

16 Case Study 2 Partners and Organization Nota Bene: Schedule/Deliveries Responsibilities MoUs Funding -Ground Segment- Data Processing Operations LISA -Space Segment- Instrument Suite and Platform ESA Consortium NASA -Launcher Services- Telescope Optical Bench Gravity Reference Sensor Phase Meter Mounting Structure Data Management Diagnostics Mechanisms Laser Systems Drag Free Attitude Control Ground Support Equipment Integration Test Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

17 Case Study 2 Techno Assessment Results Coming soon Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

18 Conclusion Science Performance Schedule Technology Readiness Design & Development Inter- National Funding Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

19 Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation

20 Orbit selection after mission assessment Noise budget Assessment technology deltas wrt a pathfinder mission AIT/V consideration for the design New science ideas next steps (cold atoms suite in space) Consortium architecture and intl cooperation Setting up an international engineering management team (JPIP) Some examples for LISA Quantum Sensors in Space - RdM Gravitation