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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 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.).
References
Assessment of a next generation mission for monitoring the variations of Earth’s gravity. ESA Contract 22643/09/NL/AF, Final Report, Issue 2, 22 Dec 2010
Koop R, Rummel R (2007) The future of satellite gravimetry. Final report of the future gravity mission workshop, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 12–13 Apr 2007
Cesare S, Aguirre M, Allasio A, Leone B, Massotti L, Muzi D, Silvestrin P (2010) The measurement of Earth’s gravity field after the GOCE mission. Acta Astronaut 67:702–712
Bender PL, Wiese DN, Nerem RS (2008) A possible dual-GRACE mission with 90 degree and 63 degree inclination orbits. In: Proceedings of the 3rd international symposium on formation flying, missions and technologies, Noordwijk (NL), April 2008
Allasio A, Muzi D, Vinai B, Cesare S, Catastini G, Bard M, Marque JP (2009) GOCE: space technologies for the reference earth gravity field determination. In: Proceedings of the European Conference for Aerospace Sciences (EUCASS), Versailles, France
Laser interferometry high precision tracking for LEO – ESA contract 20512/06/NL/IA. Summary report, 10 Sep 2008
Feili D, Lotz B, Loeb HW, Leiter H, Boss M, Braeg R, Di Cara DM (2009) Radio frequency mini ion engines for fine attitude control and formation flying applications. In: Proceedings of the 2nd CEAS European air & space conference, Manchester, UK, 20–26 Oct 2009
Sechi G, Buonocore M, Cometto F, Saponara M, Tramutola A, Vinai B, Andrè G, Fehringer M (2011) In-flight results from the drag-free and attitude control of GOCE satellite. IFAC 2011 Congress, Milan
Canuto E (2007) Embedded model control: outline of the theory. ISA Trans 46(3):363–377
Allasio A, Anselmi A, Catastini G, Cesare S, Dumontel M, Saponara M, Sechi G, Tramutola A, Vinai B (2010) GOCE mission: design phases and in-flight experiences, AAS-10-081. In: Proceedings of the 33rd annual AAS guidance and control conference, Breckenridge, CO, 6–10 Feb 2010
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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
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 |
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
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
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4541-8_20
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4540-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4541-8
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)