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ESA's gravity mission GOCE
 
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The GOCE (Gravity Field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) mission is dedicated to measuring the Earth's gravity field and modelling the geoid with unprecedented accuracy and spatial resolution. Since the satellite has to be completely stable to ensure the acquisition of true gravity readings, the spacecraft has no mechanical moving parts. In order to receive the optimum gravity signal GOCE will fly in a particularly low orbit of just 250 km above the surface of the Earth. The slim, octagonal, spacecraft is about 5 m in length and 1 m across – configured to keep aerodynamic drag and torque to an absolute minimum.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab 2009
 
 
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Mapping gravity as never before
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Mapping the gravity field to advance research in Earth-interior processes, oceanography and geodesy.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab
 
 
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The GOCE gradiometer contains three pairs of proof masses positioned at the outer ends of three 50 cm long orthogonal arms. Because of their different position in the gravitational field they all experience the gravitational acceleration of the Earth slightly differently. The three axes of the gradiometer allow the simultaneous measurement of six independent but complementary components of the gravity field.

Credits: ESA - AOES Medialab
 
  Last update: 15 January 2010 
 
More information
ESA's Gravity Mission - GOCE Brochure (revised) 2006 (pdf)ESA's Schwerkraft Mission - GOCE Brochure (German) 2007 (pdf)
Poster archive
Earthnet Online - GOCE
 
 
 
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