SPACE Dominique Palanque, responsible for the assembly, integration and testing satellite mission, described how his Einstein’s theory will be put to the test …
Let go of a bowling ball or a sweet similar height they hit the ground simultaneously. It’s a little disconcerting, certainly, but it is stupid as cabbage. This principle has already been proven by Galileo from the top of the Tower of Pisa in his time, and Einstein that has made a cornerstone of
his theory of relativity. To check with unmatched precision to this theory, a satellite designed by
Alten will be launched Friday night into space from Kourou, French Guiana. Dominique Palanque, responsible for the assembly, integration and testing of the satellite, the book issues
the mission called “Microscope”.
What exactly is this mission?
The satellite was chosen to test the equivalence principle. He said that two bodies of different nature, subject to the same gravitational field will fall at the same speed and in the same path. An experiment of this type was conducted during the
Apollo 15. Astronaut David Scott dropped on the lunar surface a feather and a hammer. They fell at the same time. Bodies fall at the same speed.
Einstein took these principles to his theories of relativity. It makes sense for scientists. On Earth, it’s more complex. There is the air resistance and to be in the best conditions, we would have to have a very high vacuum column to release the body. In Bremen (Germany), there is a more than 100 m, but the fall will last less than 10 seconds. That’s good, but not enough. The longer the term is, the better the measure. You can have a much better measure with a satellite. It is in orbit around the Earth and its fall is continuous. All the time.
We can gain precision by observing a longer fall.
One should gain a factor of 100. Today the factor that governs this accuracy is 10 power minus 12 (accurate to 12 decimal places). There is expected to reach 10 power minus 15. It seems small, but it’s a real scientific progress.
What?
Imagine that a violation of the equivalence principle , it could open a new path on the theory of relativity. The challenge. And it can also bring the best knowledge about the nature of dark matter in the universe.
Specifically how do you test the free fall of the satellite?
In fact, a satellite is continuously falling. It revolves around the Earth. As there is no friction in space, it is not closer to the Earth. His fall is endless, it can be a measure that lasts longer. To return to the hammer and pen, in one second they fell. But the measure was not accurate. There, the measure will last several weeks. The error is smallest. For the experiment, using an instrument called T-Wise. It is composed of two sensory units in which there are two cylinders in each case. On one side are the two cylinders of the same kind in platinum. This will be the reference measurement. They should fall at the same speed. In the other sensory unit, there are two concentric cylinders, but of a different nature. One platinum, the other titanium. Those are supposed to fall to the same speed as even if there is a three or four times heavier than the other
in reality, this experience should confirm Einstein’s theory, more accurately. Not the reverse …
Yes, it should demonstrate that the equivalence principle is not violated. To challenge Einstein’s theory, it is better to be absolutely certain.
Why is this gain in accuracy so important?
Because we arrived on dark matter concepts and constitutions of the universe. Other theories explain the composition of the universe. The more valid the principle of equivalence, better known the constitution of different bodies. This applies to the constitution of theories of atoms, energy, interaction between atoms.
When will you have the results?
We will not have immediate results. This instrument is so precise that there will be a calibration phase of the instrument. Even if one is to 707 km altitude, there still has minimal friction, called “drag”. It must compensate. On board this satellite was a propulsion device that compensates for this trail. It will make extensive to reverse the drop is as pure as possible. They are pushed equivalent to a baby’s breath. The experience will last at least a year. The instruments can last two years
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