The Laser Astrometric Test of Relativity (LATOR) experiment is designed to explore the general theory of relativity in close proximity to the Sun — the most intense gravitational environment in the solar system. Using independent time series of highly accurate measurements of the Shapiro time delay (interplanetary laser ranging accurate to 3 mm at ~2 AU) and interferometric astrometry (accurate to 0.01 picoradian), LATOR will measure gravitational deflection of light by the solar gravity with an accuracy of one part in a billion — a factor of ~30,000 better than what is currently available. LATOR will perform a series of highly accurate tests in its search for cosmological remnants of the scalar field in the solar system. We present the science, technology and mission design for the LATOR mission.
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Turyshev et al. (2007) studied this question.
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