GRACE-C Implementation Status - Update

Abstract

GRACE-Continuity (GRACE-C) is a joint NASA (US) & DLR (Germany) mission, scheduled for launch in Dec-2028. It will continue the essential data record of Earth system gravity and mass change initiated by the original GRACE mission (2002-2017) and currently enabled by the GRACE-FO mission (2018 – present). The GRACE-series provides foundational observations of monthly to decadal global mass changes and transports in the Earth system derived from temporal variations in the Earth’s gravity field. These data are  indispensable for accurately measuring the evolving global water cycle, including ocean dynamics, polar ice mass changes, and near-surface and global ground water changes. Mass Change data enable the monitoring of flood potentials as well as droughts by tracking freshwater availability, groundwater and aquifer volume changes. These observations and integrated tools built around them have become indispensable for 'water intelligence' to inform data-driven water-management.We will present an update on the implementation status of GRACE-C: the mission is well into its assembly, integration and testing phase. Key science instruments like the laser ranging interferometers, accelerometers, GNSS-receivers and star cameras are undergoing testing, and are being integrated on the two GRACE-C satellites. The GRACE-C SDS team is continuously assessing and verifying the measurement system performance throughout the flight system integration phase. The mission is on schedule to launch in late 2028. We will provide an assessment of the expected science performance, as well as plans for low- and high-level data products and algorithms to support optimal science and application mission return.