NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California has granted Airbus a contract to build the GRACE-C twin spacecraft in partnership with the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR). This mission builds on the long-standing partnership between the United States and Germany to continually study the Earth's gravitational field.
GRACE-C, which stands for Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment-Continuity, will monitor changes in the Earth's groundwater, oceans, ice sheets, and land over a five-year mission. Each satellite will be around 3 x 2 x 1 metres in size and weigh around 600 kilogrammes, flying 200 km apart at a 500-kilometer altitude. The launch is expected for late 2028 from the United States.
The satellites will utilise advanced technology to precisely measure distance changes induced by gravity variations, allowing for unparalleled accuracy in charting the Earth's gravity field. Scientists will use this data to estimate global water balance, ice sheet dynamics, ocean currents, and the effects of climate change.
The GRACE-C mission builds on its predecessors, including better avionics and a cooperative US-German Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI) for improved ranging capabilities. German contributions to the project are sponsored by several government ministries, with Airbus in charge of satellite manufacturing and transportation to the launch site.
The mission will be operated by DLR's German Space Operations Centre (GSOC), showcasing the multinational teamwork that is driving this crucial Earth monitoring endeavour.
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