Skip to main content

Error Analysis of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Mission

  • Conference paper
Gravity, Geoid and Geodynamics 2000

Part of the book series: International Association of Geodesy Symposia ((IAG SYMPOSIA,volume 123))

Abstract

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is a dedicated spaceborne mission to map the gravity field with unprecedented accuracy. It consists of two satellites co-orbiting in a nearly polar orbit, at approximately 300–500 km altitude, separated by 100–500 km along track. The satellites are to launch in 2001 with a lifetime of approximately 5 years. Primary measurements are the range change between the two satellites using a dual one-way microwave ranging system. These measurements are combined with accelerometer and GPS measurements. Accelerometer measurements are for estimating the non-gravitational acceleration effect on the range changes. The GPS measurements are used for providing satellite orbit and time-tag information.

For certain important error sources in these measurements, we describe the error simulation models. Effects of these error sources on gravity estimation are analyzed through a series of numerical simulations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • DGFI, “Study of a Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Gravity Mission”, European Space Agency Contract Report, Munich, March 1987

    Google Scholar 

  • GRACE Meeting Presentation, “GRACE Mission and Science Engineering Team (MSET) Kick-Off Meeting”, October 1997

    Google Scholar 

  • GRACE Team, “GRACE Science and Mission Requirements Document (SMRD)”, GRACE 327–200, JPL D-15928, July 1998a

    Google Scholar 

  • GRACE Meeting Presentation, “GRACE Preliminary Design Review”, August 1998b

    Google Scholar 

  • GRACE Team, “Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) Specification and Description”, GRACE 327–440, Draft v.4.0, July 1999a

    Google Scholar 

  • GRACE Team at LaRC/AMA Inc. 1999b

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaula, W.M., Theory of Satellite Geodesy, Blaisdell Publishing Company, Waltham, Massachusetts, 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Keating, T.P. et al, “Geopotential Research Mission, Science, Engineering, and Program Summary”, NASA TM-86240, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J.R., et al, “Simulations of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Mission”, Proceedings of the AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, AAS 99–144, Breckenridge, Colorado, February 7–10, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosaka, M., “Evaluation Method of Polynomial Models’ Prediction Performance for Random Clock Error”, Journal of Guidance, Vol.10, No.6, pp523–527, November-December, 1987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leick, A., GPS Satellite Surveying, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1995

    Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur, J.L. and Posner, A.S., “Satellite-to-Satellite Range-Rate Measurement”, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol.GE-23, No.4, pp 517–523, July 1985

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackenzie, R.A. and Moore, P., “A Geopotential Error Analysis for a Non Planar Satellite to Satellite Tracking Mission”, Journal of Geodesy, Vol.71, pp 262–272, 1997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meditch, J.S., “Clock Error Models for Simulation and Estimation”, Aerospace Report TOR-0076(6474-Dl)-2, The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California, July 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council, “Satellite Gravity and the Geosphere: Contributions to the Study of the Solid Earth and Its Fluid Envelope”, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1997

    Google Scholar 

  • Piscane, V.L. et al, “Description of the Dedicated Gravitational Satellite Mission (GRAVSAT)”, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. GE-20, No. 3, pp315–321, July 1982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, J., “Precise Determination of the Geopotential with a Low-Low Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Mission”, Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Texas at Austin, December 1995

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J.B., “An Analysis of Gravity-Field Estimation Based on Intersatellite Dual-1-Way Biased Ranging”, JPL Publication 98–15, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, May 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakker, K.F., Ambrosius, B.A.C., and Leenman, H., “Satellite Orbit Determination and Gravity Field Recovery from Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking”, Delft University of Technology, Report LR-605, The Netherlands, July 1989

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, M., “Direct Measurements of the Earth’s Gravitational Potential Using a Satellite Pair”, Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 74, No.22, pp 5295–5300, October 15, 1969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yionoulis, S.M. and Pisacane, V.L., “Geopotential Research Mission: Status Report”, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol.GE-23, No.4, pp 511–516, July 1985

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Kim, J.R., Roesset, P.J., Bettadpur, S.V., Tapley, B.D., Watkins, M.M. (2001). Error Analysis of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Mission. In: Sideris, M.G. (eds) Gravity, Geoid and Geodynamics 2000. International Association of Geodesy Symposia, vol 123. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04827-6_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04827-6_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-07634-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-04827-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics