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Originally posted by sexygeek
or it could be because the earth is moving outwards further away from the sun
Originally posted by Ulvetann
What are they trying to figure out? how much spacerubble is sucked back into atmosphere after a rocketlaunch? The timeratio of satelites droppingout of the sky?
The gravity field of the Earth is variable in both space and time, and is an integral constraint on the mean and time variable mass distribution in the Earth. The science data from GRACE mission will be used to estimate global models for the mean and time variable Earth gravity field approximately every 30 days for the 5 year lifetime of the mission. The science data from GRACE mission consists of the inter-satellite range change measurements, and the accelerometer, GPS and attitude measurements from each satellite.
GRACE stands for Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment. The mission synopsis says:
The gravity field of the Earth is variable in both space and time, and is an integral constraint on the mean and time variable mass distribution in the Earth. The science data from GRACE mission will be used to estimate global models for the mean and time variable Earth gravity field approximately every 30 days for the 5 year lifetime of the mission. The science data from GRACE mission consists of the inter-satellite range change measurements, and the accelerometer, GPS and attitude measurements from each satellite.