Abstract
After the successful experience of the gravity missions GRACE and GOCE, several activities are on going in preparation of a “Next Generation Gravity Mission” (NGGM) aimed at measuring the temporal variations of the Earth’s gravity field over a long time span (up to ~11 years) with high spatial resolution (comparable to that provided by GOCE) and high temporal resolution (weekly or better). Its data will find wide application in geodesy, geophysics, hydrology, ocean circulation and many other disciplines. The most appropriate measurement technique identified for such mission is Low-Low Satellite-Satellite Tracking in which two (or more) satellites flying in “loose” formation in a low Earth orbit act as proof masses immersed in the Earth gravity field. The distance variation between the satellites (measured by a laser interferometer) and the non-gravitational accelerations of each satellite (measured by ultra-sensitive accelerometers) are the fundamental observables from which the gravity field is obtained. Suitable satellite formations for this mission include the “In-line” (the simplest one), the “Cartwheel” and the “Pendulum” (more complex but also scientifically more fruitful), with an inter-satellite distance up to 100 km. Polar, circular orbits with altitudes between ~340 and ~420 km are suitable candidates for the NGGM, providing all-latitude coverage, short repeat cycles/sub-cycles and a still excellent gravity signal compatibly with a long lifetime. Each satellite shall be endowed with a complex control system capable of carrying out several tasks in close coordination: orbit maintenance, formation keeping, provision of a “drag-free” environment to the accelerometers, laser beam pointing and attitude control.
Keywords
- Global Navigation Satellite System
- Global Navigation Satellite System
- Gravity Field
- Linear Acceleration
- Proof Mass
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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- 1.
The Geoid is the equipotential surface of the Earth gravity field that best fits (in least squares sense) the surface of the oceans and the seas at rest (i.e. assuming no currents, waves, etc.).
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Acknowledgments
The material utilised to write this chapter derives from the preparatory studies for the NGGM promoted and funded by the European Space Agency and performed by Thales Alenia Space Italia (team leader) with the contribution of the following sub-contractors/consultants:
• Deimos Space, Spain.
• Delft University of Technology, Delft Institute of Earth Observation and Space Systems (DEOS), The Netherlands.
• Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (National Institute of Metrology Research, INRIM), Italy.
• ONERA, France.
• Polytechnic of Milan, Department of Earth Sciences, Italy.
• Polytechnic of Turin, Department of Automatics and Informatics, Italy.
• Technical University Munich, Institute of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy (IAPG), Germany.
• University of Luxemburg.
• University of Milan, DIIAR, Satellite Geodesy Group, Italy.
• University of Pisa, Department of Mathematics, Italy.
• Universität Stuttgart, Institute of Geodesy (GIS), Germany.
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Appendix
Appendix
1.1 List of Abbreviations
CGE | Cumulative Geoid Error |
CHAMP | CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload |
COM | Centre Of Mass |
E2E | End-To-End |
ESA | European Space Agency |
GNSS | Global Navigation Satellite System |
GOCE | Gravity field and Ocean Circulation Explorer |
GRACE | Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment |
HCW | Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire |
INRIM | Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica |
LL-SST | Low-Low Satellite-Satellite Tracking |
LORF | Local Orbital Reference Frame |
MBW | Measurement BandWidth (from 1 to 100 mHz) |
NGGM | Next Generation Gravity Mission |
RAAN | Right Ascension of the Ascending Node |
RIT | Radio-frequency Ion Thruster |
TAS-I | Thales Alenia Space Italia |
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Cesare, S., Sechi, G. (2013). Next Generation Gravity Mission. In: D'Errico, M. (eds) Distributed Space Missions for Earth System Monitoring. Space Technology Library, vol 31. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4541-8_20
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