A simulation tool for the new gravity field satellite missions Original Research Article

In the new decade three important gravity missions will measure the Earthʹs gravity field: CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE. As main sensor of these three missions accelerometers are used for measuring the non-gravitational disturbance acceleration of the satellites. Moreover, in case of GOCE, the observables are acceleration differences between six accelerometers. The accelerometer is modeled by a simulation tool in which orbit dynamics, satellite control systems, accelerometer characteristics and errors are taken into account. This tool allows to verify the projected accelerometer and gradiometer accuracies. The results of the simulator are time series of ‘measured’ accelerations and their corresponding error power spectral densities.