News Archive / Tagged: GRACE-FO

• GRACE-FO satellite to switch to backup system

  Derek RichardsonSeptember 24th, 2018

  One of NASA's twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellites is expected to switch to a backup system for its Microwave Instrument.

• First Laser Light for GRACE Follow-On

  Press ReleaseJuly 6th, 2018

  The laser ranging interferometer (LRI) instrument has been successfully switched on aboard the recently launched twin U.S./German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellites. The LRI, which is being flown as a technology demonstration, has made its first measurements in parallel with GRACE-FO's main microwave ranging instrument, and initial comparisons of the data from the two types of instruments show that they agree as expected.

• GRACE-FO uses ‘Range Finder’ to see mountain effects

  Jim SharkeyJune 18th, 2018

  NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission has successfully completed its first mission phase and demonstrated the performance of the precise microwave ranging system that allows it to measure how mass migrates around the Earth. GRACE-FO is a successor to the original GRACE mission, which began orbiting the Earth on March 17, 2002.

• SpaceX launches 5 Iridium NEXT, 2 GRACE-FO satellites on Falcon 9 ride-share mission

  Derek RichardsonMay 22nd, 2018

  LOMPOC, Calif. — Sending the quintuple-satellite Iridium-6 mission into space for Iridium Communications along with NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) spacecraft as part of a ride-share agreement, SpaceX launched its ninth Falcon 9 of 2018.

• SpaceX set to send Iridium-6/GRACE-FO missions spaceward

  Derek RichardsonMay 21st, 2018

  LOMPOC, Calif. — SpaceX is gearing up to launch another Falcon 9 rocket, this time with another set of Iridium NEXT communications satellites as well as NASA’s two Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) spacecraft.

• GRACE mission reaches 15-year mark

  Jim SharkeyMarch 20th, 2017

  The twin satellites of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission have been collecting data about how water moves and is stored around Earth 15 years – three times longer than originally planned. GRACE, a joint effort between NASA and two German agencies, was launched on March 17, 2002.

• Iridium contracts 8th SpaceX launch, shares ride with NASA satellites

  Curt GodwinFebruary 2nd, 2017

  With the successful launch of its first set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, Iridium Communications has contracted with the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences to share a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for an early 2018 launch.

• First GRACE-FO satellite complete

  Collin SkocikNovember 18th, 2016

  Construction has been completed on the first of NASA’s new Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) satellites. The two satellites, which will take precise measurements of Earth’s mass distribution, will be launched sometime in Dec. of 2017 or Jan. of 2018 as a follow-on to the GRACE mission which has been in operation since 2002.