The QSG4EMT project was kicked off in September 2022 and completed in 2024. The project was funded by ESA and was led by TUM (the Technical University of Munich).

Next Generation Gravity Missions (NGGM) are expected to enhance our knowledge of mass transport processes in the Earth system, establishing products applicable to new scientific fields and serving societal needs. In fact, compared to the current knowledge from previous missions, a significant step forward in increasing spatial and temporal resolution can be achieved by new mission concepts such as the joint NASA/ESA mission Mass Change and Geosciences International Constellation (MAGIC). MAGIC will comprise two pairs of satellites, the first pair to be launched by NASA and the second one to be launched by ESA.

In its framework, project partners from three European countries have developed user requirements and listed needs for quantum space gravimetry missions and sustained observations of the gravity field for the detection of signals from climate change. The project has analyzed the error budget of current gravity satellite missions to identify the largest error contributors, and discussed potential future improvements in instrumentation, satellite constellations, and processing techniques to meet these requirements, with a focus on low-low inter-satellite tracking mission constellations, quantum gradiometry, and combined concepts. 

The SATGEO team has contributed to the design of the mission architecture and to the optimization of regional solutions and their geophysical products.

More details can be found on the site: https://www.asg.ed.tum.de/en/iapg/qsg4emt/