SILVIA: Ultra-precision formation flying demonstration for space-based interferometry
Abstract
We propose SILVIA (Space Interferometer Laboratory Voyaging towards Innovative Applications), a mission concept designed to demonstrate ultra-precision formation flying between three spacecraft separated by 100 m. SILVIA aims to achieve sub-micrometer precision in relative distance control by integrating spacecraft sensors, laser interferometry, low-thrust and low-noise micro-propulsion for real-time measurement and control of distances and relative orientations between spacecraft. A 100-meter-scale mission in a near-circular low Earth orbit has been identified as an ideal, cost-effective setting for demonstrating SILVIA, as this configuration maintains a good balance between small relative perturbations and low risk for collision. This mission will fill the current technology gap towards future missions, including gravitational wave observatories such as DECIGO (DECihertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory), designed to detect the primordial gravitational wave background, and high-contrast nulling infrared interferometers like LIFE (Large Interferometer for Exoplanets), designed for direct imaging of thermal emissions from nearby terrestrial planet candidates. The mission concept and its key technologies are outlined, paving the way for the next generation of high-precision space-based observatories.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2504.05001,
title = {SILVIA: Ultra-precision formation flying demonstration for space-based interferometry},
author = {Takahiro Ito and Kiwamu Izumi and Isao Kawano and Ikkoh Funaki and Shuichi Sato and Tomotada Akutsu and Kentaro Komori and Mitsuru Musha and Yuta Michimura and Satoshi Satoh and Takuya Iwaki and Kentaro Yokota and Kenta Goto and Katsumi Furukawa and Taro Matsuo and Toshihiro Tsuzuki and Katsuhiko Yamada and Takahiro Sasaki and Taisei Nishishita and Yuki Matsumoto and Chikako Hirose and Wataru Torii and Satoshi Ikari and Koji Nagano and Masaki Ando and Seiji Kawamura and Hidehiro Kaneda and Shinsuke Takeuchi and Shinichiro Sakai},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.05001},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
10 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan