description GRACE-C Overview
GRACE-C is a planned satellite mission developed by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to continue monitoring Earth's gravitational field. Intended as the successor to the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, it will consist of two identical satellites flying in formation to measure variations in gravity caused by the movement of mass within the Earth. These precise measurements track shifts in groundwater, ice sheets, and ocean currents. The mission aims to provide uninterrupted data crucial for long-term climate and hydrological studies.
help GRACE-C FAQ
What will GRACE-C measure?
GRACE-C will track month-to-month changes in Earth's gravity field by measuring tiny variations in the distance between two satellites. Those changes reveal movements of water, ice, and mass across the planet.
How is GRACE-C related to GRACE and GRACE-FO?
It is designed to continue the measurement record begun by GRACE in 2002 and extended by GRACE Follow-On in 2018. Maintaining that record matters for studying groundwater loss, melting ice sheets, and sea-level change.
Why does GRACE-C need two satellites?
The spacecraft will follow one another in the same orbit while a precision ranging system monitors changes in their separation. A region with slightly stronger gravity pulls first on the leading satellite and then on the trailing one.
Which organizations are developing GRACE-C?
GRACE-C is a collaboration between NASA and the German space program, continuing the US-German partnership behind earlier GRACE missions. The mission is planned for launch in the late 2020s.
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