Sensor · Spaceborne

K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR)

Missions → GRACE (Ended) , GRACE-FO (Operational)

Data products → JPL GRACE and GRACE-FO Mascon RL06.3Mv04 (L3)

Microwave inter-satellite ranging instrument used by the GRACE and GRACE-FO twin-satellite gravity missions.

Sensor

K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR) is the microwave inter-satellite ranging payload used by the GRACE and GRACE-FO twin-satellite gravity missions. The instrument measures changes in separation between paired spacecraft, nominally about 220 km apart, so orbit dynamics can be inverted into monthly gravity-field change ^[1]^[2]. GRACE-FO retained K/Ka-band microwave ranging as its science ranging system and added the Laser Ranging Interferometer as a technology demonstration ^[2]. On GRACE, K-band range-rate measurements were combined with GPS orbit data and accelerometer measurements to produce Level-1B inputs for gravity-field processing ^[1].

Operator pricing

Pricing not publicly listed by operator

Supply chain position

carried by GRACE

carried by GRACE-FO

feeds data product JPL GRACE and GRACE-FO Mascon RL06.3Mv04 (L3)

Methods this sensor implements

Demonstrated

Satellite gravimetryvia GRACE
KBR microwave inter-satellite ranging demonstrated on GRACE and reused on GRACE-FO for satellite gravimetry.

Capable, undemonstrated

None on record.

Topics this relates to

Glacier and ice-sheet mass Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)well suited

Groundwater and terrestrial water storage Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)well suited

Space geodesy Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)well suited

Drought Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)adequate

Sea level and ocean dynamics Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)adequate

Inland water Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)marginal

Snow water equivalent Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)marginal

Soil moisture Satellite gravimetry(demonstrated)marginal

Sources

[1]Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, PO.DAACagency doc2026-06-08
[2]GRACE-FO spacecraft and instruments, NASA JPLagency doc2026-06-08

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/kbr Markdown twin → Field definitions → Suggest a correction →

How to cite this page

Plain text

K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR). EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/kbr (CC BY 4.0)

BibTeX

@misc{eoatlas:products:sensor:kbr,
  title = {K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR)},
  author = {{EO-Atlas}},
  publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
  url = {https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/kbr}
}