MICROSCOPE satellite and its drag-free and attitude control system

Abstract This paper focuses on the description of design and performance MICROSCOPE satellite its drag-free attitude control system. The is derived from CNES’ Myriade platform family, albeit with significant upgrades dictated by unprecedented MICROSCOPE’s mission requirements. 300 kg microsatellite has completed 2 years flight higher-than-expected performances. Its passive thermal concept allowed for temperature variations smaller than 1 ? K at frequency equivalence principle test f EP . propulsion system provided a six-axis continuous very low noise thrust zero to some hundreds micronewtons. Finally, DFACS (aimed compensating disturbing forces torques applied satellite) finest ever achieved in Earth orbit, residual accelerations along three axes lower 10 ?12 m s ?2 over 8 days.