ESA - Observing the Earth - GOCE prepares for shipment to Russia

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GOCE prepares for shipment to Russia

24 July 2008

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Solar panel inspection during final testing at ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands

Credits: ESA

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Around three minutes after launch the two half shells of the fairing, which encapsulate the GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite, are opened and released.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab

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In orbit, the same side of the GOCE satellite remains facing the Sun. The spacecraft is equipped with four body-mounted and two wing-mounted solar panels. Due to the configuration in orbit, the solar panels will experience extreme temperature variations so it was necessary to use materials that will tolerate temperatures as high as 160ºC and as low as -170ºC.

Credits: ESA–AOES-Medialab

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The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission is designed to measure high-accuracy gravity gradients and provide a global model of Earth's gravity field andgeoid.

The geoid (the surface of equal gravitational potential of a hypothetical ocean at rest) serves as the classical reference for all topographical features. The accuracy of its determination is important for surveying and geodesy, and in studies of Earth interior processes, ocean circulation, ice motion and sea-level change.

Credits: ESA