Greenland flyover by GRACE

This animation illustrates the highs and lows of the Earth's gravity field as water in the basins of the U.S. changes over time.

For 15 years, the GRACE mission has unlocked mysteries of how water moves around our planet. It gave us the first view of underground aquifers from space, and shows how fast polar ice sheets and mo...

GRACE being readied for launch - 1

The GRACE satellites are seen at an IABG testing facility in Germany.

The twin GRACE satellites are seen in a clean room in Germany in 2002.

The original GRACE satellites in a clean room in Germany.

One of the GRACE satellites undergoes thermal testing at IABG in Germany.

NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has measured significant groundwater depletion around the world in recent years. These animations show trends in total water storage from Jan....

One of the twin GRACE satellites, Flight Model 1, is seen on a trolley during construction in Germany.

GRACE satellites are mounted belly to belly at an IABG testing facility in Germany.

Research based on GRACE observations indicates that between 2002 and 2020, Greenland shed approximately 280 gigatons of ice per year.

The force of gravity not only keeps us from floating away, it also lets NASA study Earth’s water and ice from space. Using a pair of twin satellites named "GRACE," we can monitor our planet’s water.

GRACE being readied for launch - 2

The GRACE satellites during component integration in a German clean room.

Global ocean conveyor belt of warm and cold water is explained.

Between 2002 and 2020, Antarctica shed approximately 150 gigatons of ice per year, causing global sea level to rise by 0.4 millimeters per year.

One of the twin GRACE spacecraft is seen during construction in Germany.

GPS signal occultation by the atmosphere, and the resulting useful data is explained.

GRACE contribution to atmospheric studies explained.

GRACE on orbit - 1

Twin GRACE spacecraft being deployed from Breeze