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Europe’s GOCE satellite reentered on Nov. 10, 2013, after four years mapping Earth’s gravity field

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The European satellite spent four years in orbit measuring Earth’s gravity field before falling back to Earth on Nov. 10, 2013. Its mission made gravity mapping the central purpose of a dedicated spacecraft, earning GOCE the nickname “Ferrari of space.”

Discovered 2026-11-10T14:19:15.604191-08:00 | 2026-11-10T14:19:15.604191-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • GOCE’s four-year mission shows how a dedicated satellite can provide sustained measurements of a fundamental Earth system: its gravity field.
  • Its reentry on Nov. 10, 2013, marked the end of an orbital science mission; the cluster highlights the value of mission-specific satellite capabilities.

Reported By

Space.com
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First Seen
2026-11-10T14:19:15.604191-08:00
Latest Update
2026-11-10T14:19:15.604191-08:00
Coverage
Space

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