MG13 - Talk detail

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Precise orbitography of planetary probes provided important contributions to the experimental foundation of general relativity (GR). In 2002 a determination of the parameter γ with the spacecraft Cassini while in cruise to Saturn confined deviations from general relativity to a level smaller than 20 ppm. As a further contribution of Cassini to gravity science, data acquired during the spacecraft’s Saturn tour did not support the existence of anomalous accelerations acting on deep space probes. Between 2017 and 2022, classical tests of GR will be repeated with improved accuracy with the spacecraft BepiColombo, a Mercury orbiter of the European Space Agency. The Juno spacecraft, a Jovian orbiter launched by NASA in 2011, will be very sensitive to the Lense-Thirring precession in its low altitude, fast passages at the pericenter of its orbit around the giant, rapidly spinning planet. In the planned experiment, the repeated measurements of the Lense-Thirring acceleration will provide a very accurate determination of Jupiter’s angular momentum, a very important quantity to model the interior of the planet. It is a remarkable case where GR is used to infer quantities of geophysical interest.

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