Pioneering European satellite burns up over Pacific

On Monday, a pioneering European satellite re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and burned up over the Pacific Ocean. The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite had served its purpose by mapping Earth’s gravitational field in unprecedented detail.

Launched in 2009, GOCE was equipped with advanced instruments to measure variations in Earth’s gravity with extreme precision. The data collected by the satellite helped scientists better understand ocean currents, sea levels, and geology.

Over its four-year mission, GOCE provided valuable insights into the dynamics of Earth’s oceans and geology. Its mission came to an end when it ran out of fuel and re-entered the atmosphere, disintegrating upon re-entry over the Pacific.

Although GOCE has met its demise, its legacy lives on in the wealth of scientific data it provided. The information gathered by the satellite has paved the way for future research and discoveries in the fields of geophysics and oceanography.