{"id":860,"date":"2024-06-24T15:45:54","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T15:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matterwaveoptics.eu\/FOMO2024\/?p=860"},"modified":"2024-06-24T15:50:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T15:50:13","slug":"carioqa-pmp-towards-a-pathfinder-mission-for-quantum-space-gravimetry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matterwaveoptics.eu\/FOMO2024\/carioqa-pmp-towards-a-pathfinder-mission-for-quantum-space-gravimetry\/","title":{"rendered":"CARIOQA-PMP: Towards a Pathfinder Mission for Quantum Space Gravimetry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Centre National d\u2019Etudes Spatiales, 18 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*<\/sup>for CARIOQA-PMP Consortium<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The impact of climate change is one of the most severe challenges of the 21st century. It is therefore of high importance to understand the underlying processes and causalities. A powerful tool to gain this vital knowledge on a global scale is the satellite-based observation of changes in Earth\u2019s mass distribution e.g. from melting glaciers or loss of groundwater. The required high-precision measurements are reachable with novel quantum sensors.\u00a0\u00a0Due to the extensive European heritage and a close collaboration within the European Union an independent development and operation of a quantum sensor based space mission can be realised.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atom interferometry is a powerful tool for high-precision measurements of Earth\u2019s gravitational field. It profits from the quantum properties of atoms that serve as a test mass. The sensitivity of atom interferometers with respect to gravity can be increased using long free-fall times that are available in space. In orbit, these devices can be used to observe global processes like a rise of the sea level with unrivaled sensitivity. However, their adaptation and qualification for space is challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the CARIOQA-PMP project, under the European Commission\u2019s Horizon Europe program, aims to develop a Quantum Space Gravimetry Pathfinder Mission unlocking key features of space atom interferometry and therefore prepare the ground for future high-precision gravimetry missions in space. In the core activity of this project, European industry in collaboration with European research institutions will realize and test an Engineering Model of this quantum sensors. In this contribution, we will report on the mission concept, the progress of the Engineering Model construction and the scenario building of a quantum space gravimetry mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefitting from the heritage of its research institutions, this project aims to bring Europe into a leading position for sustainable quantum technologies in space. CARIOQA-PMP brings together leading players from five EU countries. These include experts in satellite instrument development (Airbus, Exail, TELETEL, LEONARDO), in quantum sensing (LUH, SYRTE, LP2N, LCAR, ONERA, FORTH), space geodesy, Earth sciences and users of gravity field data (LUH, TUM, POLIMI, DTU), as well as in impact maximisation and assessment (G.A.C. Group). The pathfinder mission preparation is coordinated by the French and German space agencies CNES and DLR under CNES lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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