PETER: A torsion pendulum facility to study small forces/torques on free falling instrumented masses

We describe here the realization and tests of a two stage torsion pendulum facility (nicknamed PETER, from Italian PEndolo Traslazionale E Rotazionale, namely translational and Rotational Pendulum) for the measurement of the Gravitational Reference Sensor (GRS) actuation Cross Talks (CT) for LISA-Pathfinder and its possible evolution. This project started within the ground testing activities for the characterization, before flight, of the GRS of LISA-Pathfinder, where it showed results consistent with what observed in flight. The apparatus could easily evolve into a facility to test small forces/torques on free falling instrumented masses, for future next generation space missions. Here, we will discuss the principle of operation of the double torsion pendulum and the initial goal of the activity, the description of the PETER apparatus, cross -talk measurement technique and results and possible extension to more than 2 DoF