Multiphysics simulations of a gravimeter instrument using COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB

Abstract

Up to date, no dedicated gravimeter instrument has been included on any probe to a small planetary body. The aim of the GRASS (Gravimeter for Small Solar System bodies) project at the Royal Observatory of Belgium is to fill this gap by developing an instrument capable of precise gravity vector measurement from the surface, in small gravity fields of 10^-3 - 10^-5 m/s^2. In the near future, the GRASS gravimeter is proposed to be a part of the HERA mission to the binary asteroid system Didymos. This work addresses the development of a model aiming to simulate the measurement of the gravimeter after landing on Didymos' secondary body, and an initial evaluation of the measurement feasibility and accuracy using the developed model.