Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer
hideThe Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) is an ESA satellite that was launched on March 17, 2009. It is a satellite carrying a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer which detects fine density differences in the crust and oceans of the Earth.
GOCE data will have many uses, probing hazardous volcanic regions and bringing new insight into ocean behaviour. The latter, in particular, is a major driver for the mission. By combining the gravity data with information about sea surface height gathered by other satellite altimeters, scientists will be able to track the direction and speed of geostrophic ocean currents. The low orbit and high accuracy of the system will greatly improve the known accuracy and spatial resolution of the geoid (the theoretical surface of equal gravitational potential on the Earth).
The satellite's arrow shape and fins help keep the GOCE stable as it flies through the wisps of air still present at an altitude of 260 km. In addition, an ion propulsion system will continuously compensate for the deceleration of air-drag without the vibration of a conventional chemically-powered rocket engine, thus restoring the path of the craft as closely as possible to a purely inertial trajectory. The craft's primary instrument is three pairs of highly sensitive accelerometers which will measure gravitational gradients in three different axes.
For more information about Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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News tagged with goce
GOCE delivering data for best gravity map ever (w/ Video)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 30, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (10) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Following the launch and in-orbit testing of the most sophisticated gravity mission ever built, ESA’s GOCE satellite is now in ‘measurement mode’, mapping tiny variations in Earth’s gravity ...
GOCE satellite achieves drag-free perfection (w/Videos)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
May 26, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (19) |
11
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA's gravity mission GOCE has achieved a first in the history of satellite technology. The sophisticated electric propulsion system has shown that it is able to keep the satellite completely ...
GOCE's 'heart' starts beating
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 08, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
GOCE's highly sensitive gradiometer instrument has been switched on and is producing data. Forming the heart of GOCE, the gradiometer is specifically designed to measure Earth's gravity field with unprecedented ...
GOCE's electric ion propulsion engine switched on
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 06, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (8) |
2
(PhysOrg.com) -- GOCE's sophisticated electric ion propulsion system has been switched on and confirmed to be operating normally, marking another crucial milestone in the satellite's post-launch commissioning ...
GOCE successfully completes early orbit phase
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 20, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
ESA's GOCE satellite was formally declared ready for work at 01:00 CET on 20 March. During the critical Launch and Early Orbit Phase beginning with separation from its booster on 17 March, GOCE was checked ...
GOCE satellite: Critical operations ongoing
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 19, 2009 |
not rated yet |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- After liftoff 17 March, ESA's GOCE spacecraft is performing very well, having achieved an extremely accurate injection altitude of 283.5 km, just 1.5 km lower than planned. The Mission Control ...
Earth Explorer mission GOCE launches
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
This afternoon, the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) was lofted into a near-Sun-synchronous, low Earth orbit by a Rockot ...
Launch of European gravity probe delayed
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 16, 2009 |
2.3 / 5 (3) |
0
The launch of a pioneering European satellite designed to map Earth's gravity field was delayed due to technical problems and will take place Tuesday, Russia's Khrunichev Space Centre said.
GOCE gravity satellite moves to launch pad
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 11, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- With liftoff just five days away, ESA's GOCE spacecraft - encased in the protective half-shells of the launcher fairing - has been transported from the cleanroom and installed in the launch ...
GOCE launch: Mapping the Earth’s gravity as never before
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 09, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA is about to launch the most sophisticated of Earth Observation satellites to investigate the Earth’s gravitational field with unprecedented resolution and accuracy.
SMOS water mission on track for launch
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Feb 12, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Following word from Eurockot that launch of the Earth Explorer SMOS satellite can take place between July and October this year, ESA, CNES and the prime contractor Thales Alenia Space are now making detailed preparations ...
March launch planned for GOCE gravity mission (Video)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Feb 04, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- ESA is now gearing up to return to Russia to oversee preparations for the launch of its GOCE satellite - now envisaged for launch on 16 March 2009. This follows implementation of the corrective ...
