Photos: Europe's GOCE Gravity-Mapping Satellite in Pictures

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GOCE in Orbit

ESA/AOES Medialab

The sleek aerodynamic design of GOCE sets it apart from most other satellites. The unique 16 foot (five meters) long satellite had none of the usual moving parts. The whole satellite is a single composite gravity-measuring device.

Japan Tohoku Earthquake Felt by GOCE

ESA/IRAP/CNES/TU Delft/HTG/Planetary Visions

Japan's Tohoku earthquake in 2011 was felt by the GOCE satellite.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor. 

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