Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer
ESA’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mapped the near-stationary structure of Earth’s gravity field and a high-precision geoid for ocean-circulation, sea-level and solid-Earth studies. Launched on March 17, 2009, the spacecraft used six accelerometers in three orthogonal gradiometer arms to measure gravity gradients. GPS tracking and laser ranging constrained its orbit, while continuously adjusted ion propulsion counteracted atmospheric drag at its very low orbital altitude. Its focus on fine spatial structure complements missions that emphasize time-varying mass redistribution. GOCE reentered the atmosphere on November 11, 2013.
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Identity
- Aliases
- GOCEGravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation ExplorerGOCE mission
- Name
- Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- ESA’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mapped the near-stationary structure of Earth’s gravity field and a high-precision geoid for ocean-circulation, sea-level and solid-Earth studies. Launched on March 17, 2009, the spacecraft used six accelerometers in three orthogonal gradiometer arms to measure gravity gradients. GPS tracking and laser ranging constrained its orbit, while continuously adjusted ion propulsion counteracted atmospheric drag at its very low orbital altitude. Its focus on fine spatial structure complements missions that emphasize time-varying mass redistribution. GOCE reentered the atmosphere on November 11, 2013.
- Destination
- Polar, Sun-synchronous dawn-dusk orbit at approximately 260 km for high-precision gravity-field and geoid mapping supporting ocean-circulation and sea-level studies
- End Date
- 2013-11-11
- Outcome
- Successful and extended. GOCE launched on 17 March 2009 and operated for 4 years and 8 months, nearly tripling its planned lifetime. It produced the most accurate global geoid to date, revealing Earth’s gravity variations and supporting research on ocean circulation, sea level, Earth’s interior, and upper-atmosphere dynamics before reentering on 11 November 2013.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 2009-03-17
- Vehicle Families
- -
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 13:46:27 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:48:06 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles
- -