25 years ago, with the launch of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE, 2002-2017) mission, a new era of satellite gravimetry began, enabling a wide variety of studies related to climate research as well as other geophysical or geodetic applications. Currently, the GRACE Follow-on (GRACE-FO, launched in 2018) mission continues this successful US-German partnership, providing this invaluable data record to monitor global gravity variations from space. Yet another US-German mission, GRACE Continuity (GRACE-C, planned launch end of 2028), is already in its implementation phase and will ensure that the GRACE data record becomes even longer. At the same time, ESA's Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM) is approved and planned for a launch in 2033. With its low altitude (~400 km) and controlled inclined (70 degrees) orbit, NGGM offers higher spatial and temporal resolution compared to the presently available near-polar orbit missions, in particular when combined with GRACE-C. This planned concept consisting of two satellite pairs is referred as MAss Change and Geosciences International Constellation (MAGIC).

Apart from the above-mentioned GRACE-like missions, observations of other satellite missions can be used to compute high-resolution static gravity field models (GOCE mission) and to bridge gaps in the GRACE/-FO time series or to enhance gravity field models and scientific results derived thereof (e.g., Swarm, satellite laser ranging).

The important role of satellite gravimetry in monitoring the Earth from space has led to various ongoing initiatives preparing for future gravity missions (beyond NGGM/MAGIC), including simulation studies, the definition of user and mission requirements and the investigation of potential measurement equipment and orbit scenarios.

This session solicits contributions about:
(1) Results from satellite gravimetry missions as well as from non-dedicated satellite missions in terms of
- data analyses to retrieve time-variable and static global gravity field models,
- combination synergies, and
- Earth science applications.
(2) The status and study results for future gravity field missions.