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Time variable gravity measurements using a satellite constellation

Completed TRL 1 (started at 1, targeting 3)

Description

Improvements in the spatiotemporal resolution of time variable gravity (TVG) modeling are of primary importance for many science applications.   Our goal is to demonstrate that small satellite constellations coupled with precise laser ranging can provide a low-cost path for improving measurements of the Earth's TVG field.

Our goal is to demonstrate that small satellite constellations coupled with precise laser ranging can provide an improvement in the recovery of the large-scale components of the earth’s time variable gravity field as a scalable, low-cost and complimentary addition to future dedicated gravity missions.  

Benefits

Provide observations of the Earth's time variable gravity field to benefit future dedicated gravity missions.

Details

Technology areaHuman Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems > Human Health and Performance > Decompression Sickness Mitigation
ProgramCenter Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organizationGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date2014-10-01
End date2015-09-01

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