Space: REAL GOCE

© ESA

As the principle of satellite gravity gradiometry will be applied the first time with the GOCE mission, the analysis concept devised so far has been based on  system specifications and simulations. This concept must therefore first be verified and its implementation optimized by assessing the true parameters of the GOCE mission and the actual information content of the data. The exact mission profile, i.e. the sequence of calibration, measurement and eclipse phases will, for instance, still depend on the launch date of the GOCE satellite. Further influences such as the actual satellite altitude, solar activity, satellite energy consumption, or the data coverage must also be taken into account by the real data analysis procedure, and could not be simulated exactly in advance. Besides such preparatory tasks, continuous scientific activities will be necessary in order to accomplish the goals of the GOCE mission. As a direct response to these needs, REAL-GOCE proposes to carry out a complete and interconnected GOCE real data processing chain. The scientific goals, intended to be realized by REAL-GOCE, belong to the following three distinct thematic domains:
1. GOCE gradient analysis and gravity field computation:
GOCE gradient analysis aims at a continuous evaluation of the information content of the GOCE data, which is necessary for an ensuing optimal computation of the desired Earth gravity field models on the basis of calibrated GOCE measurements.
2. GOCE validation:
Besides the evaluation of the GOCE data, the independent validation of the calibrated measurements and of the various gravity field products will be of crucial importance in order to guarantee their reliability and accuracy.
3. GOCE combination:
Combinations of GOCE data with available terrestrial gravity field data, altimetric:
data or GRACE data provide numerous opportunities for both improvements and further consistency assessments of the GOCE-only products.

These topics have significant interrelations and can thus not be investigated independently. Although each of the intended contributions of the REAL-GOCE partners will be considered in the context of one of these three main topics, they can then be made in reality only through strong collaborative efforts. It will therefore be essential to organize such collaborations by thematically structuring REAL-GOCE and its work packages, which is the purpose of the following section.

Co-ordination:
Prof. Dr. W.-D. Schuh
Institute oür Theoretic Geodesy
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn

Partner:
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn
Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie, Frankfurt
University Hamburg
Deutsche Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut, Munich
Technical University Munich
University Hannover
Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT)
University Stuttgart
GFZ Potsdam