Objectives and Applications
Research in steady-state ocean circulation, physics of Earth's interior and levelling systems (based on GPS). Will also provide unique data set required to formulate global and regional models of the Earth's gravity field and geoid.
Full Name
Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer
Mission Status
Mission complete
Mission Agencies
Launch Date
17 Mar 2009
Mission Links
EOL Date
21 Oct 2013
Orbit Type
Sun-synchronous
Orbit Period
90 minutes
Orbit Sense
Ascending
Orbit Inclination
96.7 deg
Orbit Altitude
270 km
Orbit Longitude
Orbit LST
18:00
Repeat Cycle
61 days
NORAD Catalog #
International Designator
EGG - 3-Axis Electrostatic Gravity Gradiometer |
| GPS (ESA) - GPS Receiver |
Laser Reflectors (ESA) - Laser Reflectors |
| LRR - Laser retro-Reflector |
| SSTI - Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Instrument |