What is the purpose of a GOCE satellite?

The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was the first of ESA’s Living Planet Programme satellites intended to map in unprecedented detail the Earth’s gravity field.

How does GOCE measure gravity?

GOCE Instruments The Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer (EGG) measured gravity gradients in all directions with a set of six 3-axis accelerometers. It was specifically designed for the stationary gravity field – measuring the geoid and gravity anomalies with high accuracy and high spatial resolution.

What is Goce mission?

The GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) is an ESA mission dedicated to measuring the Earth’s gravity field and modelling the geoid with extremely high accuracy and spatial resolution.

What does GOCE?

GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) Spacecraft Launch Mission Status Sensor Complement Ground Segment References. GOCE is an ESA geodynamics and geodetic mission, a combined SGG (Satellite Gravity Gradiometry) and SST (Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking) mission.

How does Goce work?

The platform and payload GOCE employs a drag-free attitude and orbit control system using an ion propulsion engine for continuous, closed-loop counteraction of the drag caused by Earth’s atmosphere. To minimise internal disturbances, the satellite does not include any moving parts.

What are the results of the GOCE satellite?

Initial results of the GOCE satellite mission were presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2010 Fall (Autumn) Meeting by Dr. Rory Bingham from Newcastle University, UK. The maps produced from the GOCE data show ocean currents in much finer detail than had been available previously.

How are star trackers used in GOCE spacecraft?

GOCE uses star trackers for navigation and magnetic torquers for attitude control and angular acceleration control. Magnetometers and coarse sun sensors are used for attitude acquisition in safe mode. Thermal control is accomplished passively with insulation material and actively with a number of heaters on the vehicle.

Who is the prime contractor for the GOCE satellite?

The GOCE satellite is being built by an industrial consortium led by TAS-I (Thales Alenia Space) of Turin, Italy (formerly Alcatel Alenia Space) as the prime contractor, EADS Astrium GmbH is responsible for the spacecraft platform. Overall, the GOCE mission has a series of peculiarities not very common amongst Earth Observation satellites: 14)

How big is the Goce-eoportal Directory satellite mission?

The S/C structure consists of a long slender (octagonal) prism, with a cross sectional area of 0.9 m 2 (featuring total symmetry to minimize disturbances, there are no deployable appendages) and a length of 5.26 m.