Greenland flyover by GRACE

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 contribution to atmospheric studies explained.

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

Between 2002 and 2016, Antarctica shed approximately 125 gigatons of ice per year, causing global sea level to rise by 0.35 millimeters per year.

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...

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

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

Research based on GRACE observations indicates that between 2002 and 2016, Greenland shed approximately 280 gigatons of ice per year.

Twin GRACE spacecraft being deployed from Breeze

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

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

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

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.

GRACE being readied for launch - 2

GRACE being readied for launch - 1

GRACE on orbit - 1

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

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

The original GRACE satellites in a clean room in Germany.

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