Gravity pulls gravity probe
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November 19, 2012 |
What goes up must come down… eventually.
Europe’s GOCE satellite measures how strong gravity is at different points on Earth. This data is really useful for modelling the oceans and forecasting climate change.
It was already a low flyer, orbiting at about 255 km, a third of the distance that most Earth-watching satellites orbit at. But mission manager Rune Floberghagen wants to bring it down to 235 km. This lower orbit should help it ‘see’ gravity with the greatest precision ever.
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Data from GOCE produces wobbly globes like this, which exaggerate how strong gravity is from place to place.
Image: ESA
