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→ PerformAnCe enhAnCemenTS for TrACe GAS moniTorinG: AniTA2 The atmosphere of manned spacecraft needs to be continuously monitored for harmful trace gases, for crew safety and health. In case of accidental release of harmful gaseous contaminants (large or small amounts), extreme off-gassing of materials or malfunctions in the air revitalization system, fast response by the astronauts is mandatory. The longer the mission duration, the more compulsory is the monitoring implementation. AniTA (Analysing interferometer for Ambient Air) was an optical based FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared ) monitoring system funded by GSTP with the participation of DE and NO, which was originally designed for a 10 days experiment on the Shuttle. ANITA was actually operated on ISS from September 2007 to August 2008. In 2009 with the participation of DE and NO, AniTA2 initial study-Phase 0 started, with the objective to critically review the complete ANITA system, draw the lessons learnt and initiate development of the second generation instrument. With the aim of improving the robustness and stability of ANITA, critical issues were identified and, modifications to hardware design and calibration models were proposed. A new design of the modulator drive for ANITA 2, able to cope with micro-vibrations was designed, developed and tested at breadboard level. I n a d d i t i o n t o i m p r o v i n g t h e r o b u s t n e s s a n d t h e s t a b i l i t yo f t h e instrument, the configuration of ANITA was critically reviewed and an updated configuration has been proposed. > Modulator Drive > ANITA 2 modulator drive 14 | GSTP Annual Report 2011 > ANITA 2 overall instrument concept The gas cell is set as an optical bench and the overall optical design is modified. A separate fan system is used for air exchange in the gas cell. This updated configuration allows a 50% reduction of volume (1 Middeck Locker for ANITA2 vs. 2 Middeck Lockers for ANITA) and mass of the ANITA instrument, as well as reduced power consumption without loss of performance. A methodology to increase the robustness of the ANITA calibration models was identified and validated on some of the gases contained in the ANITA2 target gases. In addition, transfer of calibration models from one instrument to another has been addressed. AniTA2 Development The initial study-Phase 0 was completed in 2011. A new development phase, Phase A, will be issued in the coming months. During this phase models and techniques for handling spectral line shape changes and variations will be optimized. A breadboard of the complete instrument will be produced and tested in terms of function and performance. Phase A will be followed by Phase B/C/D and Phase E. > Breadboard for ANITA2 including blower for excitation with microvibrations > In addition to the modulator drive, a dedicated front-end-electronics (including basic control algorithms) was developed and manufactured in order to obtain a fully functional FTIR instrument at breadboard level.
→ Core TeChnoloGiCAl elemenTS for oPTiCAl ATomiC CloCkS ESA is enhancing its support to scientific and technological developments in key aspects of Optical Frequency Metrology and Optical Atomic Frequency Standards. This is with a view to applying these developments to meet future requirements of Space Missions, where the required levels of stability and accuracy exceed the theoretical limits of the highest performance microwave atomic clocks. Atomic Clocks in the optical domain have today already experimentally surpassed microwave clock performance both in fractional frequency instability and inaccuracy. The overall goal of the activity is the developmental support for the preparation of sub-system elements of an Optical Atomic Frequency Standard (OAFS), flight demonstrator, meeting a predefined specification and flight envelope in Space in the coming decade. The activity was formulated to be conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1 was initiated in 2011 with two parallel contracts with the participation of DE, UK, IE, FR, AT and CH. Each contractor proposed a different implementation approach leading to a different frequency standard. The possibilities that are being considered are broadly divided into: (a) A laser cooled neutral atom (“Lattice Clocks”) (b) A single laser cooled trapped ion (“Ion Clocks”) Lattice Clocks offer the prospect of high frequency stability, as a consequence of their superior Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), over Ion Clocks at short timescales (1 second) whilst the single trapped ion, being essentially isolated from the surrounding environment represents, in principle and in practice, the most accurate optical frequency standard. The architecture and operation of a single ion lattice Clocks Approach > Neutral Strontium Lattice development > Compact Sr + Trap standard is the least complex of (a) and (b) above and, consequently, offers the prospect of the development of a more compact optical atomic frequency standard for space operation. It also offers the possibility to be even further simplified, and even scaled down from its current system dimensions, with the implementation of micro integration technology which has been developed in the micro-electronics industry. There are several sub-system elements that, in total, comprise a complete OAFS or clock technology and the exact description of these elements depends entirely on the clock (system) chosen. The key sub-systems of an Optical Atomic Clock include three principal elements: 1. A Physics Package (PP) which will provide the trapped Ion/ Atom source (and isotope) and will thus define the interrogation wavelength After and the spectral successful conditions. flight qualification 2. Cooling of & PLs auxiliary and manufacturing lasers, which will of the be developed with clear goals for the vehicle achievement subsystems, of an 2010 appropriate was spectral performance with optimization mainly for devoted the space to the environment. vehicle 3. Ultra narrow integration linewidth, and equipment frequency stabilized Local Oscillator. In terms testing. of the probe laser development/Optical Local Oscillator (OLO), the principal challenges to be addressed are the achievement of ultra-narrow laser linewidth
Page 1 and 2: → GSTP ANNUAL REPORT 2011
Page 3 and 4: • The best way to predict the fut
Page 5 and 6: A GSTP Production A. Tobías U. Bec
Page 7 and 8: The past year 2011 has seen a conti
Page 9 and 10: → SummArY of AChievemenTS & ChAll
Page 11 and 12: memS rate Sensor Phase 2 The develo
Page 13 and 14: non-Conventional Carbon nanotube Sk
Page 15: Ao activities initiated in 2011 Dev
Page 19: Europe seen by André Kuipers onboa
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Page 24 and 25: → Annex 3: ComPleTe liST of GSTP
Page 26 and 27: ProG. referenCe ACTiviTY TiTle •
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Page 30: GSTP Participating States Austria B

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