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GRACE-FO Instruments

The GRACE-FO satellites are nearly identical. The Microwave Interferometer (MWI) will measure the minute variations in distance between the spacecraft.

The GRACE-FO satellites are nearly identical. The Microwave Interferometer (MWI) will measure the minute variations in distance between the spacecraft. Accelerometers will record forces on the spacecraft other than gravity, such as atmospheric drag and solar radiation. GPS will keep track of the spacecraft position relative to Earth's surface.

Credit

Airbus-DS, GmbH

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Illustration of GRACE-FO gravity data over Africa.
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Illustration of GRACE-FO gravity data over Africa.
GRACE-FO Gravity Data Over Africa
Illustration of GRACE-FO in orbit (view 5).
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Illustration of GRACE-FO in orbit over Earth.
GRACE-FO in Orbit (View 5)
Illustration of GRACE-FO above Antarctica.
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Illustration of GRACE-FO above Antarctica.
GRACE-FO Above Antarctica
GRACE-FO arriving at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, from Germany. 
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GRACE-FO arriving at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, from Germany.
GRACE-FO Arrives at Vandenberg
GRACE Flight Trajectory
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GRACE Flight Trajectory Illustration
GRACE Flight Trajectory
Many of today’s most pressing climate science challenges hinge on knowing how and where water is moving on Earth. GRACE-FO will continue the successful partnership between NASA and the German Resea...
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Image of the spacecraft in orbit over Earth, with the black of space.
GRACE-FO Launch Press Kit
This map from September 2015 shows deep drought in California, Nevada and Texas. 
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While the GRACE mission was active, scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center generated groundwater and soil moisture drought indicators like this every week from GRACE data on terrestrial water storage and other observations, using a numerical model of land surface water and energy processes.
Groundwater Drought Indicator
The two GRACE-FO satellites are seen from GFZ’s Satellite Laser Ranging Station in Potsdam, Germany, on May 23, 2018 at 22:16 UTC and 22:17 UTC, respectively.
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The bright lights of the spacecraft are seen against the dark black of space.
GRACE-FO Satellites From Potsdam
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen with the NASA/German Research Centre for Geosciences GRACE Follow-On spacecraft onboard at Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. 
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The SpaceX Falcon 9 that will carry GRACE-FO to orbit sits on the launchpad.
GRACE-FO in Falcon 9 on Launchpad
Illustration of GRACE-FO separating from Falcon 9 rocket after launch.
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Illustration of GRACE-FO separating from Falcon 9 rocket after launch.
GRACE-FO Separating from Rocket After Launch
The GRACE-FO satellites, attached to turntable fixtures, at the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. 
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The GRACE-FO satellites, attached to turntable fixtures, at the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (view 2).
GRACE-FO Satellites at Vandenberg
GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) continues the legacy of GRACE, tracking Earth’s water movement and surface mass changes across the planet. Monitoring changes in ice sheets and glaciers, near-surface and...
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GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) continues the legacy of GRACE, tracking Earth’s water movement and surface mass changes across the planet. Monitoring changes in ice sheets and glaciers, near-surface and underground water storage, the amount of water in large lakes and rivers, as well as changes in sea level and ocean currents provides an integrated global view of how Earth’s water cycle and energy balance are evolving.
GRACE-FO Mission Brochure
A simplified example of how the distance between the GRACE-FO satellites changes as they pass from the Caribbean Sea across Colombia and Peru.
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A simplified example of how the distance between the GRACE-FO satellites changes as they pass from the Caribbean Sea across Colombia and Peru (which have higher mass than the oceans) to the Pacific Ocean. Panel 1: When both spacecraft are over the ocean, the distance between them is relatively constant.
How GRACE-FO Measures Gravity
GRACE Follow-On will test a Laser Ranging Interferometer to measure intersatellite distance changes with unprecedented precision. 
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GRACE Follow-On – the future of satellite geodesy. Launching in 2017, this mission will be the first to use a Laser Ranging Interferometer to measure intersatellite distance changes with unprecedented precision.
Laser Ranging Interferometer
The signal of the December 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean in GRACE observations of Earth's gravity field. 
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The signal of the December 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean in GRACE observations of Earth's gravity field.
GRACE Sees Earthquake in Indian Ocean
Illustration of GRACE-FO in orbit (view 2).
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Twin spacecraft of GRACE-FO in orbit over Earth.
GRACE-FO in Orbit (View 2)
Changes in Australia's mass observed by GRACE in 2010 and 2011. Areas in greens and blues had the greatest increases in mass, caused by unusually high precipitation connected with a large La Niña e...
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Changes in Australia's mass observed by GRACE in 2010 and 2011. Areas in greens and blues had the greatest increases in mass, caused by unusually high precipitation connected with a large La Niña event.
Changes in Australia's Mass Observed by GRACE in 2010 and 2011
The GRACE-FO satellites were assembled by Airbus Defence and Space in Germany. The photo shows one of the satellites in the testing facility of IABG, an Airbus subcontractor, in Munich (view 2). 
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The GRACE-FO satellites were assembled by Airbus Defence and Space in Germany. The photo shows one of the satellites in the testing facility of IABG, an Airbus subcontractor, in Munich (view 2).
GRACE-FO Satellites During Testing (View 2)
GRACE-Follow On (GRACE-FO) is a satellite mission that launched in May 2018. GRACE-FO will continue the work of the GRACE satellite mission tracking Earth's water movement around the globe. These d...
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Video for the GRACE-FO mission.
Tracking Water from Space
A 3D interactive model of NASA's GRACE-FO spacecraft.
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A 3D model of NASA's GRACE-FO spacecraft.
GRACE-FO 3D Model
The GRACE-FO satellites, attached to turntable fixtures, at the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (view 1).  
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The GRACE-FO satellites, attached to turntable fixtures, at the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
GRACE-FO Satellites, Attached to Turntable Fixtures
GRACE Follow-On continues the critical mission of measuring the movements of mass within and between Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, land and ice sheets, as well as below Earth’s surface.
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GRACE Follow-On, scheduled to launch in spring 2018, will continue the critical mission of measuring the movements of mass within and between Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, land and ice sheets, as well as below Earth’s surface.
GRACE-FO Fact Sheet
Illustration of GRACE-FO in orbit (view 4)
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Illustration of GRACE-FO in orbit
Illustration of GRACE-FO (View 4)
An artist's rendering of the twin GRACE-FO spacecraft.
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An artist's rendering of the twin GRACE-FO spacecraft in orbit around Earth.
GRACE-FO Rendering
The GRACE-FO satellites were assembled by Airbus Defence and Space in Germany. The photo shows the satellites in the testing facility of IABG, an Airbus subcontractor, in Munich (view 1).
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The GRACE-FO satellites were assembled by Airbus Defence and Space in Germany.
GRACE-FO Satellites During Testing

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