[IGSMAIL-3787]: GRACE -- Successful Launch!
Ruth E. Neilan
ruth.neilan at jpl.nasa.gov
Mon Mar 18 10:20:55 PST 2002
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IGS Electronic Mail 18 Mar 10:20:48 PST 2002 Message Number 3787
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Author: Ruth Neilan, IGS Central Bureau
Dear colleagues,
Congratulations to the GRACE team for a beautiful launch of the two
satellites yesterday!
The coming weeks will see the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
mission (GRACE) unfold as it begins to observe data for determining
the Earth's gravity field. Each satellite carries a GPS Blackjack
receiver, and a communications link between the two satellites will
permit precise measurements of their relative positions.
The GRACE satellites were launched from Plesetsk, Russia, on March 17
at 10 CET. The launch, originally schedule for Saturday 16 March, was
delayed one day due to weather conditions at the launch site (high
winds). March 17, also observed in some places as St. Patrick's Day,
will now be remembered not only for the luck it brings but for the
birth of this exciting mission.
See:
http://www.dlr.de
for more information and a video clip of the launch (in German) -
the launch takes place at ~ 20 minutes into the clip.
To view the current orbit data and other mission information:
http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/
For the IGS LEO Pilot Project, this will bring a wealth of data and
add to the exploration of incorporating LEO GPS data into the IGS
processes.
with very best regards to the GRACE team on behalf of the IGS!
Ruth Neilan
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