Odyssey: a Solar System Mission

Abstract

The Solar System Odyssey mission uses modern-day high-precision experimental techniques to test the laws of fundamental physics which determine dynamics in the solar system. It could lead to major discoveries by using demonstrated technologies. The mission proposes to perform a set of precision gravitation experiments from the vicinity of Earth to the outer Solar System. Its scientific objectives can be summarized as follows: i) test of the gravity force law in the Solar System up to and beyond the orbit of Saturn; ii) precise investigation of navigation anomalies at the fly-bys; iii) measurement of Eddington's parameter at occultations; iv) mapping of gravity field in the outer solar system and study of the Kuiper belt. To this aim, the Odyssey mission is built up on a main spacecraft, designed to fly up to 13 AU, with the following components: a) a high-precision accelerometer, with bias-rejection system, measuring the deviation of the trajectory from the geodesics; b) Ka-band transponders, as for Cassini, for a precise range and Doppler measurement up to 13 AU, with additional VLBI equipment; c) optional laser equipment, which would allow one to improve the range and Doppler measurement. In this baseline concept, the main spacecraft is designed to operate beyond the Saturn orbit, up to 13 AU. It experiences multiple planetary fly-bys at Earth, Mars or Venus, and Jupiter. The cruise and fly-by phases allow the mission to achieve its baseline scientific objectives (i) to iii) in the above list). In addition to this baseline concept, the Odyssey mission proposes the release of the Enigma radio-beacon at Saturn, allowing one to extend the deep space gravity test up to at least 50 AU, while achieving the scientific objective of a mapping of gravity field in the outer Solar System.

revision with Experimental Astronomy Referee comments, correction of typographic errors, add of bibliographic reference, modification of authors list,

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• The local dark sector. Probing gravitation's low-acceleration frontier and dark matter in the Solar System neighborhood
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• Time delay in the quadrupole field of a body at rest in 2PN approximation
• The Effect of Light Deflection by Solar System Objects on High-Precision SKA Astrometry
• Unbiased acceleration measurements with an electrostatic accelerometer on a rotating platform
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• Antimatter, the SME, and Gravity
• Gravitational wave effects on astrometric observables
• Total light deflection in the gravitational field of an axisymmetric body at rest with full mass and spin multipole structure
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• Frame-dragging effects in a gravitational quantum field theory
• The Standard-Model Extension and Gravitational Tests
• The Spirit of Unification: The Wei of Physics