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MICRO-Satellite a traînee Compensee pour l'Observation du Principe d'Equivalence
CHARACTERISTICS 
Micro-satellite of the CNES Myriade series equiped with field emission electric thrusters.
Instruments:
Two differential accelerometers.
Equivalence Principle Test
Sun synchronous polar orbit at 700 km
Lifetime 1 year

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The Project main steps

Timeline

 
MICROSCOPE (MICRO-Satellite à traînée Compensée pour l'Observation du Principe d'Equivalence) is the third microsatellite of the CNES Myriade series. It is dedicated to a fundamental physics experiment.
 
The objectives:
 
    The main scientific objective is the test of the Equivalence Principle with an accuracy of one hundred times better than the one obtained with experiments realised on Earth.
    The secondary objectives are:
      The realisation of an attitude control and drag free system using electrical propulsion.
      The measurement of the accelerations on board the satellite with an accuracy better than 10-¹² ms-².
    The secondary objectives constitute a preliminary condition to the realisation of the measurement of the Equivalence Principle.
 

Latest update 09/03/2009
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NEWS
06-2008
T-SAGE instrument conception Key Point
The project has been authorized to go on with T-SAGE qualification in phase C2/D		  
05-2008
Technological consolidation
The Microscope project Steering Committee has authorised the project to start a new preliminary conception phase (phase B) with cold gas micro thrusters instead of FEEPs		  
01-2007
Interview of Serge Reynaud president of the expert group in fundamental physics for CNES (only in french)		  
02-2006
Satellite and system Preliminary Definition Review		  
Podcast Ciel&Espace
Pharao and Microscope: time and gravitation put to the test
1st part - 2nd part
(in french)