| Date: | 2024-02-21 13:37:31 | |
| Sender: | Christian Schwatke <christian.schwatke@tum.de> | |
| Subject: | [SLR-Mail] No.2834: Request for Stations to join the "Galileo for Science" Campaign | |
| Author: | unknown | |
| Content: | Dear Station Colleagues, The ´Galileo for Science´ Campaign will start on January 20. The campaign is being organized by the Italian Space Agency to perform measurements of the Earth´s gravitational field for several applications using the Galileo satellites. The campaign will take advantage of the accuracy of the Galileo on-board atomic clocks and, in particular, will use the Galileo 201 and 202 satellites with their high-eccentric orbits (due to a failure in their launch). This activity will last 2 years. The campaign will also require data from 12 of the remaining Galileo satellites (in circular orbits). This activity will run for 3 months starting at the beginning of the campaign. A set of the highest performing stations are asked to support this campaign. The first line stations will be Yaragadee, Mt Stromlo, Herstmonceux, Changchun, Wettzell, Grasse, Graz, Shanghai. Zimmerwald, Greenbelt, Matera, Monument Peak, Tsukuba, and Izana. Other stations are welcome to join at whatever level they can support. The project requests both NPdata and FRdata. The goals of the campaign are: - A new measurement of the gravitational redshift; - A measurement of the relativistic processions on the two satellites in eccentric orbit; - Constraints on Dark Matter in the Milky Way; - Relativistic Positioning System; - Development of new models for non-gravitational forces; - Development of a new accelerometer concept for a next generation of Galileo satellites. This campaign is ambitious, but it builds on the experience that was gained in the previous Great and Gaston campaigns. Tracking Program request to the stations: 1. Satellites in elliptical orbits (e~0.16): Galileo 0201 and 0202: Campaign Period: 2 years 3 passes per satellite per week Minimum of 2 NPs per pass, well separated across the pass 2. Satellite in nominal orbit (e~0) Campaign Period: 3 months Orbital Plane A: Galileo 210, 206, 205, and 211 Orbital Plane B: Galileo 101, 102, 221, and 203 Orbital Plane C; Galileo 209, 208, 103, and 212 12 passes per satellite over 3 months Minimum of 2 NPs per pass well, separated across the pass We will start by reviewing performance weekly and decide if changes need to be made in the campaign. The project has developed an on-line tool to alert stations to the network status as the campaign proceeds. The link to the on-line tool is: https://g4s-duepuntozero.iaps.inaf.it/ To see how stations are doing: Go to: the SLR Campaign tab Go down the list and find your station; See results for your station Observe station Total NPs and Passes Look at Show details and Show Plots. Past data has already been plotted. On the tool, see also some additional information on the experiment and the Project Team. The project expresses its appreciation for your support. Please share your comments and questions with everyone addressed here. With best regards, Best regards, Mike Pearlman Director, ILRS Central Bureau mpearlman@cfa.harvard.edu |