Probing the post-newtonian physics of semi-conservative metric theories through secular tidal effects in satellite gradiometry missions

The existence of relativistic secular tidal effects along orbit motions will largely improve the measurement accuracies of relativistic gravitational gradients with orbiting gradiometers. With the continuous advances in technologies related to gradiometry and the improvements in their resolutions, it is feasible for future satellite gradiometry missions to carry out precision relativistic experiments and impose constraints on modern theories of gravity. In this work, we study the theoretical principles of measuring directly the secular post-Newtonian (PN) tidal effects in semi-conservative metric theories with satellite gradiometry missions. The isolations of the related PN parameters in the readouts of an orbiting three-axis gradiometer is discussed.