missions

GRACE-FO

GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) is a NASA and GFZ twin-satellite gravity mission launched on 22 May 2018 ^[1]. It extends the GRACE mass-change record by measuring month-to-month variations in Earth's gravity field with paired spacecraft ^[1]. Each spacecraft carries microwave K-band ranging, accelerometers, GPS receivers, and the Laser Ranging Interferometer technology demonstration ^[1]^[2]. GFZ's German contributions included scientific analysis, mission operations support, Laser Ranging Interferometer development, data products, and laser retroreflectors; the launch was a NASA-contracted SpaceX Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg ^[1]^[3].

Supply chain position

carries instrument K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR)

carries instrument SuperSTAR Accelerometer

carries instrument GRACE-FO Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI)

operated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration

launched on Spacex Falcon 9

produces data product JPL GRACE and GRACE-FO Mascon RL06.3Mv04

Satellite gravimetry → demonstrated K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR)

Satellite gravimetry → demonstrated SuperSTAR Accelerometer

Satellite gravimetry → demonstrated GRACE-FO Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI)

Sources

[1]GRACE-FO mission, NASA JPLagency doc2026-06-08
[2]GRACE-FO spacecraft and instruments, NASA JPLagency doc2026-06-08
[3]GRACE-FO project, GFZagency doc2026-06-08

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/missions/grace-fo Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →

How to cite this page

Plain text

GRACE-FO. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/missions/grace-fo (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:missions:grace-fo,
  title = {GRACE-FO},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/missions/grace-fo}
}