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arXiv · 1501.01644

Status of MICROSCOPE, a mission to test the Equivalence Principle in space

Joel Bergé·Pierre Touboul·Manuel Rodrigues
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Abstract

MICROSCOPE is a French Space Agency mission that aims to test the Weak Equivalence Principle in space down to an accuracy of $10^{-15}$. This is two orders of magnitude better than the current constraints, which will allow us to test General Relativity as well as theories beyond General Relativity which predict a possible Weak Equivalence Principle violation below $10^{-13}$. In this communication, we describe the MICROSCOPE mission, its measurement principle and instrument, and we give an update on its status. After a successful instrument's commissioning, MICROSCOPE is on track for on-schedule launch, expected in 2016.

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Joel Bergé, Pierre Touboul, Manuel Rodrigues. 2015-01-07. Status of MICROSCOPE, a mission to test the Equivalence Principle in space. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596%2F610%2F1%2F012009

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