Measurements of the Earth’s gravitational field produced an image of the Earth that resembles a potato. Image: GFZ

A fiery end after a successful mission

The end came after 58,277 trips around the Earth: the CHAMP georesearch satellite burned up in the Earth’s atmosphere at noon on 19 September. Exactly ten years, two months and four days after its launch, the small satellite completed its mission over the Sea of Okhotsk. It had been in operation more than twice as long as originally planned.

The Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for the Geosciences, deployed the satellite – which was just 8.33 metres long – to measure the Earth’s gravitational and magnetic fields and to sound the atmosphere.

CHAMP has proved to be one of the most successful Earth observation satellite missions worldwide. As Professor Reinhard Hüttl, chairman of the GFZ board, emphasizes: “Satellite missions are crucial for GFZ’s future. TanDEM-X, En-Map, SWARM and GRACE-C reflect our research focus on the gravitational and magnetic fields of the Earth and the observation of its surface.”

The CHAMP mission was initiated by Professor Christoph Reigber, former director of the geodesy and remote sensing department of the GFZ. In November the French Air and Space Academy will honour Reigber with the Grand Prix for his contributions to the CHAMP and GRACE missions.

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