NASA's Plans

Michael Watkins
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA

In this talk we will discuss NASA's current and future plans for the measurement of the Earth's mean and time varying gravity field. This strategy consists largely of 4 elements: 1) the maintenance of GRACE in extended mission for as long as possible 2) a robust Research and Analysis program for the analysis of both GRACE data and any and all related studies, including satellite altimetry, GPS, GOCE, and many others 3) Analysis and technology development related to both short and long term future gravity missions, including both science requirement and engineering development such as sub-nanometer laser interferometry, and 4) specific implementation of follow-on missions to GRACE, per the decadal survey and as part of multi-national efforts. This is focused currently on a fairly short term continuation of the critical climate-related data being provided by GRACE, per the recommendation of several NASA study teams, but also includes analysis of complex concepts for later implementation.