GOCE gravity mission is set to launch on March 16

[sheeny]

Goce Gravity mission from ESA is set to launch on March 16. It has been delayed from last September due to problems with the upper stage navigation system.

More from nature:
http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090310/full/458133a.html

Al.

[glenc]

Al I just read about Goce at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7935621.stm.
It is very impressive. "Goce's accelerometers measure accelerations that are as small as 1 part in 10,000,000,000,000 of the gravity experienced on Earth"
See http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=22522&highlight=goce

[Astro78]

"This is the most beautiful satellite that has ever been built - and for good reason,"

That's some nice kit alright

[glenc]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7945170.stm
"The European Space Agency has launched its Goce gravity mapping satellite.
Goce left Earth at 1421GMT on a modified intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in north-west Russia.
The mission will give scientists new insights into how the interior of the planet is structured and provide key information on how the oceans move.
The satellite is part of an armada of European spacecraft being sent up to study the planet.
"We have 24 satellites funded and ready to be launched over the next decade; something over a billion [euros] in expenditure per year," said Stephen Briggs, the head of Earth observation science at Esa.
"This allows us to take a major role worldwide in providing a global system for the observation of the Earth and for a better understanding of the processes which survive thereon," he told BBC News..."

[glenc]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7986406.stm

[astroron]

Glen, see this post.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=431024#post431024