Zero-g positioning for the BepiColombo ISA accelerometer

One of the most relevant topic was the zero-g positioning, i.e. the measure of the sensing mass rest position when the sensor is in free-fall conditions (named briefly zero-g), condition that would be observed in orbit. The sensor offers the best performance when the sensing mass operates around this equilibrium position. Therefore this position needs to be identified and the mass has to be located there to guarantee the requirements imposed by the measurement of the non-gravitational accelerations. The group of Experimental Gravitation at IAPS/INAF in Rome developed an experimental procedure and a set-up to measure the zero-g position, carrying out a measurement campaign. This procedure will be applied to measure the zero-g positioning of ISA flight models.