Qinetiq completes space thruster testing

Qinetiq has completed final testing of the ion thrusters that will enable a European space mission to measure and map the Earth's gravity field in far greater detail than ever previously achieved.

Qinetiq's T5 ion thrusters will provide high precision drag compensation for the European Space Agency (ESA) GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) spacecraft, due for launch later this year. The data captured by GOCE will contribute significantly to our understanding of the Earth's structure, climate and the impacts of climate change.

GOCE will measure the Earth’s gravity field and model the geoid, or average sea level, with extremely high accuracy and spatial resolution. A precise model of the Earth’s geoid is crucial for deriving accurate measurements of ocean circulation, sea-level change and terrestrial ice dynamics, all of which are affected by climate change. The geoid is also used as a reference surface from which to map all topographical features on the planet.