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For this sixth Iridium mission, five Iridium NEXT satellites will be launched as part of the company’s campaign to rep...

For this sixth Iridium mission, five Iridium NEXT satellites will be launched as part of the company’s campaign to replace the world's largest commercial satellite network. Along with Iridium, NASA/German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission will continue GRACE’s 15-year legacy of tracking the movement of Earth’s mass. As its twin satellites fly over areas of higher and lower mass, the distance between them changes slightly due to gravitational forces. By precisely measuring these changes, the distribution of Earth’s mass can be mapped monthly and tracked over time. This data can be used to monitor changes in ice sheets and glaciers, underground water storage, water in large lakes and rivers, and sea level, providing a unique view of Earth’s evolving climate and its water and energy cycles, with far-reaching societal benefits.