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Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer
Also known as GOCE, Earth Explorer 1, Global Ocean Circulation Explorer
The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was the first of ESA's Living Planet Programme heavy satellites intended to map in unprecedented detail the Earth's gravity field. The spacecraft's primary instrumentation was a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer consisting of three pairs of accelerometers which measured gravitational gradients along three orthogonal axes.
Key facts
- Spaceflight.name
- Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer
- Spaceflight.image
- GOCE.jpg
- Spaceflight.image_caption
- Artist's view of GOCE. Its sleek, aerodynamic design led it to be dubbed the 'Ferrari of space'
- Spaceflight.image_size
- 285px
- Spaceflight.mission_type
- Gravitational research
- Spaceflight.operator
- ESA
- Spaceflight.COSPAR_ID
- 2009-013A
- Spaceflight.SATCAT
- 34602
- Spaceflight.website
- http://www.esa.int/GOCE
- Spaceflight.mission_duration
- Planned: 20 months Final:
- Spaceflight.manufacturer
- Thales Alenia SpaceEADS Astrium
- Spaceflight.power
Article
14 sectionsContents
- Discoveries and applications
- Mission objectives
- Gravity map and model
- Findings
- Operations
- Launch
- Operation
- End of mission and re-entry
- Design
- Payload
- Power and propulsion
- See also
- References
- External links
The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was the first of ESA's Living Planet Programme heavy satellites intended to map in unprecedented detail the Earth's gravity field. The spacecraft's primary instrumentation was a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer consisting of three pairs of accelerometers which measured gravitational gradients along three orthogonal axes.
Launched on 17 March 2009, GOCE mapped the deep structure of the Earth's mantle and probed hazardous volcanic regions. It brought new insight into ocean behaviour; this in particular, was a major driver for the mission. By combining the gravity data with information about sea surface height gathered by other satellite altimeters, scientists were able to track the direction and speed of geostrophic ocean currents. The low orbit and high accuracy of the system greatly improved the known accuracy and spatial resolution of the geoid (the theoretical surface of equal gravitational potential on the Earth).