The European Space Agency's Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission had the objective of collecting the necessary data to map the Earth's gravity field with unprecedented accuracy. To achieve its mission, the spacecraft was operated at the exceptionally low altitude of 260 km during its nominal mission. To counteract the high drag levels, GOCE was designed with an aerodynamic body and a Drag-Free Attitude and orbit Control System (DFACS). After three years of routine operations, it was decided to lower the mean altitude of the orbit from 260 to 229 km to maximize the scientific return of the mission. After a period of successful low orbit operations, the Xenon fuel was depleted and the satellite safely re-entered the atmosphere. This paper will present the in-orbit experience with the DFACS, during low orbit operations and de-orbiting.
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