Analysis and design of a electrostatic space accelerometer

In order to eliminate the non-gravitational effects in the accurate determination of the orbit and determine the higher harmonics of the Earth's gravity potential, an electrostatic space accelerometer is being developed for these space applications, exhibiting a much lower bias and a high resolution, a hundred times better than the accelerometer used in aircraft for inertial navigation. The electrostatic space accelerometer operation is based on the electrostatic suspension of an inertial proof mass. The servo-control is fed with the position of the proof mass and generates through drive voltage amplifiers, voltage differences that exert the necessary force on the proof mass to maintain it motionless with respect to the frame. The frame's acceleration is proportional to the force opposing to the motion of the proof mass. The results of the simulations and experiments validate the feasibility of the levitation concept and meet the expectations of the future gravitational field measurement from low Earth orbit satellites.