Earth's gravity from space

GRACE on orbit - 1

This animation shows the annual water storage changes over the U.S. from GRACE from 2003 - 2013.

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

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

GRACE logo

The GRACE satellites are seen 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.

This image shows the mean annual amplitude of total water storage on Earth in 2007 as measured by GRACE.

The amount of water stored in the Amazon basin varies from month to month, and can be monitored from space by looking at how it alters Earth's gravity field.

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

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

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

GRACE on orbit

This visualization of a gravity model was created with data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and shows variations in Earth’s gravity field.

GRACE mission pre-launch poster

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 ou...

The original GRACE satellites in a clean room in Germany.

Twin GRACE spacecraft being deployed from Breeze

GRACE being readied for launch - 1

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.

Measuring Earth's Gravity from Space exhibit

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

GRACE being readied for launch - 2

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