Development of the European IMU for Space Applications

This paper presents an analysis of the needs for a European Inertial Measurement Unit for space applications. Accelerometer precision re quirements for various applications are described, with an emphasis on Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) missions. A technology survey identifies the most promising technologies a nd describes their respective merits. Next, a preliminary design for a lightweight Inertial Mea surement Unit based on a Micro-ElectroMechanical System (MEMS) rate sensor is proposed and its expected performance for an EDL mission is investigated with high-fidelity simu lations.