GOCE

This video provides an in-depth look at ESA's GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite to be launched in 2006. GOCE will measure Earth's gravity field with unprecedented accuracy. Over its life of about 20 months, GOCE will map variations in the gravity field with extreme detail and accuracy. This will result in a unique model of the 'geoid', which is the surface of equal gravitational potential defined by the gravity field. A geoid model is crucial for deriving accurate measurements of ocean circulation and sea-level change, both of which are affected by climate change. GOCE-derived data are also needed to understand more about processes occurring in Earth's interior and for use in practical applications such as surveying and levelling. GOCE’s main instrument is the Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer. The video includes new 3-D graphics of GOCE, location recordings of the Structural Model of the satellite during testing at ESTEC, in June 2004, and soundbites by Danilo Muzi, GOCE Project manager, and Mark Drinkwater, GOCE Project Scientist.