The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Housed at the centre of the GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite, the gradiometer contains three pairs of proof masses positioned at the outer ends of three 50 cm long orthogonal axes. All experience the gravitational acceleration of the Earth slightly differently because of their different position in the gravitational field. The common acceleration of each pair of accelerometers is proportional to non-gravitational forces such as air-drag acting on the satellite. The difference in acceleration for each pair, scaled with the length of the connecting arm, called the gravity gradient, is used for gravity field analysis.