MEMS Rate Sensors in Space Becomes a Reality

§With ongoing European developments demonstrating the viability of MEMS based rate sensor units for space applications the application of this technology to planned missions is becoming a reality. It is therefore opportune to address the key benefits of the MEMS technology to space missions. This paper provides a user view of the MEMS Rate Sensor currently under development (SiREUS), with emphasis on the key features and performance (ie. what is such a unit good for and what does it not address). Based on this characteristics definition case studies are presented discussing the application of the SiREUS to three classes of real-world applications. These cover initial acquisition and fault monitoring/management, fault-monitoring/management of a planetary mission, and a geostationary station keeping application.