The successful US/German satellite gravity mission GRACE comes to an end after 15 years
GFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre
The mission team made plans for one final science collection beginning in mid-October, when the satellites would be in full view of the Sun. All mission activities involving GRACE-1 will be completed by the end of the year, followed by decommissioning of GRACE-1 and atmospheric reentry in early 2018. NASA and the German Space Operations Center will jointly monitor both GRACE satellites as they deorbit and reenter the atmosphere. It is of course a great pity that the monthly observation of mass transport in system Earth has ended after 15 and a half years. JPL manages GRACE for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.