HR: 1340h
AN: G33A-0894    [Abstracts]
TI: In-flight GOCE Gradiometer Calibration And Validation
AU: * Kern, M
EM: michael.kern@esa.int
AF: ESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO box 299, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands
AU: Haagmans, R
EM: roger.haagmans@esa.int
AF: ESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO box 299, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands
AU: Plank, G
EM: gernot.plank@esa.int
AF: ESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO box 299, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands
AU: Lamarre, D
EM: daniel.lamarre@esa.int
AF: ESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO box 299, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands
AU: Floberghagen, R
EM: rune.floberghagen@esa.int
AF: ESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO box 299, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands
AU: Drinkwater, M
EM: mark.drinkwater@esa.int
AF: ESA-ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, PO box 299, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands
AB: One of the key observables of the European Space Agency's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) Mission will be the gradiometer measurements. The GOCE gradiometer consists of three pairs of identical ultra-sensitive accelerometers, mounted on three mutually orthogonal arms. To meet the mission goals - determine the Earth's gravity field and its anomalies with an accuracy exceeding 1 mGal, and the global geoid with an accuracy of 1-2 cm at a spatial resolution of 100 km - the calibration and validation of the gradiometer is of utmost importance. The instrument will undergo a series of calibration procedures before launch. In flight, the gradiometer will be calibrated prior to the scientific measurement phases by employing a unique satellite operating mode comprising satellite and proof mass shaking and calibration techniques. Ultimately, the gradiometric measurements are externally calibrated using external gravity information over well- surveyed areas and global gravity field models. In this paper, the calibration schemes and methods are described in detail. It highlights the benefits of using a series of calibration and validation steps. Specific focus will be put on the description of the in-flight calibration and validation part and numerical results using data from the GOCE End-to-End simulator will be presented. The paper concludes with an outlook and a discussion on possible future developments.
DE: 1241 Satellite geodesy: technical issues (6994, 7969)
SC: Geodesy [G]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting