Inertial sensor for the mounting and checking of an inertial reference in a satellite

摘要

An inertial sensor includes an inertial reference for determining the attitude and position of a satellite or satellite parts. A test mass is situated in a space which is essentially free of electric and magnetic fields and is enclosed by a housing, and optical measuring sections are set up between reference elements on the housing and on the test mass, for determining the attitude and/or position of the test mass relative to the reference elements on the housing. A measuring arrangement is situated outside the housing for the optical measuring sections. The optical measuring sections are constructed as optical interferometric measuring elements; and the attitude and position of the test mass can be adjusted by means of the pressures of light exerted on the optical interferometric measuring sections upon the test mass.