Sloshsat flevo motion sensing subsystem

Within a small satellite project, Sloshsat FLEVO, a dedicated Motion Sensing Subsystem (MSS) is developed for a micro-gravity space experiment. Sloshsat FLEVO is a small free flying spacecraft designed for the investigation of forces exerted upon a partially filled tank by a liquid sloshing. The MSS will monitor the motion of the spacecraft in flight. The MSS uses two types of specially selected sensors for micro-gravity measurements, the Allied Signal QA-3000-010 accelerometer, and a LITEF |i-FORS fibre optic gyroscope. These sensors respectively measure the linear ^ acceleration and angular velocity in a certain'point in the spacecraft, from which the motion of the whole experiment is determined. The Motion Sensing Subsystem will be manufactured within the project of the Sloshsat FLEVO satellite, scheduled to be launched with Space Shuttle in March 2000. The MSS concept has extensively been tested and verified using dedicated motion sensing simulators. The MSS development will be tested and verified pre-flight, and will be submitted to an in-flight validation. The outcome of the sloshing experiments, including MSS measurements, is input for future AOCS design and development, when liquid to rigid mass ratios become larger and larger.