Thirty years of progress in absolute gravimetry: a scientific capability implemented by technological advances

The application of technological advances has dramatically improved our ability to measure the absolute value of g, the free-fall acceleration due to gravity. Over the past thirty years this improvement has been nearly three orders of magnitude! Today, the value of g can be determined with an accuracy approaching 1 muGal (10-8 m/s(2)) and measured with a precision that is at least ten times better. This paper reviews the history of and the reasons for this progress as well as taking a look to the future.