NASA and Airbus collaborate on GRACE-C Mission to monitor Earth’s climate

In a significant advancement for space exploration and environmental monitoring, Airbus has secured a pivotal contract from NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) based in Pasadena, California, to design and build the GRACE-C (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment-Continuity) twin spacecraft. This marks a crucial step in the continued collaboration between the United States and Germany, fostering over two decades of partnership in observing Earth’s gravity field shifts – a project initiated with the GRACE mission in 2002 and furthered by the GRACE Follow-On in 2018.

The GRACE-C Mission, championed by NASA alongside the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), is set to embark on a five-year journey to meticulously track the variations in Earth’s groundwater, oceans, ice sheets, and land masses by measuring the planet’s gravity field changes. Alain Fauré, the Head of Space Systems at Airbus, underscored the mission’s significance, stating, “It is amazing to think that, without looking down at Earth, two satellites more than 200 km away from each other, can tell us how quickly our ice sheets are melting. In environmental monitoring, continuity is key. The valuable data provided by the previous GRACE missions is testament to their success and it is great news that Airbus continues to be part of this international mission providing the tools to measure how our climate is evolving.”

NASA and Airbus partner on GRACE-C Mission to monitor Earth’s climate. (Credit: AIRBUS)

The GRACE-C initiative will deploy two identical satellites, each measuring approximately 3 x 2 x 1 meters and weighing around 600 kg, to orbit 200 km apart at an altitude of 500 km with an inclination of 89 degrees. Set for a launch no earlier than late 2028 from the USA, these satellites will leverage a highly precise microwave ranging system to detect minuscule distance changes caused by gravity variations, facilitating the mapping of Earth’s gravity field with unparalleled accuracy.

This mission is poised to offer critical insights into the global water balance, including the monitoring of groundwater tables, ice sheets, and the effects of climate change on these vital resources. Additionally, GRACE-C will shed light on deep and surface ocean currents and contribute to the understanding of ocean height factors.

Airbus Defence and Space in Friedrichshafen is tasked with the design, construction, and delivery of the satellites to the launch site, including Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) support for NASA/JPL. The mission’s operation will be managed by the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) of DLR.

Funded by the Federal German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the mission represents a significant NASA/DLR interagency partnership. The optical bench of the LRI instrument, a key feature of GRACE-C, is being developed by SpaceTech GmbH in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute Gravitational Science (Albert Einstein Institute), highlighting the mission’s robust international cooperation.

As the GRACE-C mission prepares to take flight, its objectives resonate with the broader scientific and environmental communities, emphasizing the crucial role of continuous environmental monitoring in understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Through this collaboration, NASA and Airbus, together with their German partners, are setting the stage for a new era of environmental stewardship and scientific discovery.

The GRACE-C mission embodies a pivotal advancement in our capacity to monitor and understand Earth’s environmental changes. By leveraging cutting-edge satellite technology and international collaboration, this mission offers promising prospects for enhancing our understanding of climate change impacts. The continuity and precision of data provided by the GRACE series are invaluable for scientists and policymakers alike, informing efforts to combat environmental challenges and promote global sustainability.