Funktionstests der Nutzlast für die MICROSCOPE-Mission : Freifalltests am Fallturm Bremen

The payload of the french space mission MICROSCOPE containing two differential accelerometers had to be tested in zero-g conditions before launch. By using special drop capsules at the drop tower Bremen at ZARM (University of Bremen) it was possible to test the payload successfully and to demonstrate the correct function of the system. The MICROSCOPE mission aims at testing the Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) with a new level of accuracy. The correct function of the payload was an important requirement to achieve the mission goal. Another part of the thesis is the development of a new technique for measuring the accelerometer bias by using the catapult mode of the drop tower.