Aquarius (satellite)
Encyclopedia
Aquarius is a NASA
instrument aboard the Argentine
SAC-D
spacecraft. Its mission is to measure global sea surface salinity
to better predict future climate
conditions. The observatory was successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on June 10, 2011.
The science instruments include a set of three radiometers that are sensitive to salinity (1.413 GHz; L-band) and a scatterometer
that corrects for the ocean's surface roughness. The SAC-D spacecraft is operated by Argentina
's Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales
(CONAE).
After its launch aboard a Delta II
from Vandenberg Air Force Base
in California
, SAC-D was carried into a 657 km (408 mi) sun-synchronous orbit
to begin its 3-year mission.
Aquarius was shipped to Argentina on June 1, 2009 to be mounted in the INVAP
built SAC-D satellite. It came back to Vandenberg Air Force Base on March 31, 2011.
For the joint mission, Argentina provided the SAC-D spacecraft and additional science instruments, while NASA provided the Aquarius salinity sensor and the rocket launch. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
in Pasadena, California, managed the Aquarius Mission development for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise based in Washington, D.C., and NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is managing the mission after launch.
After less than one month in operation, Aquarius produced the first map showing the varying degrees of salinity across the ocean's surface. Previous satellites enabled measurement of ocean currents, sea surface temperature and winds, and ocean color. Aquarius adds the ability to measure another ocean variable – the salt content. Measuring sea surface salinity (SSS) will supplement other satellite observations of the global water cycle
: precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture, atmospheric water vapor, and sea ice extent.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
instrument aboard the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
SAC-D
SAC-D
SAC-D , also known as Aquarius after its primary instrument, is an Argentine Earth science satellite built by INVAP and launched on June 10, 2011. It carries seven instruments to study the environment, and a technology demonstration experiment. Its primary instrument, Aquarius, was built by and...
spacecraft. Its mission is to measure global sea surface salinity
Salinity
Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. It is a general term used to describe the levels of different salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium and calcium sulfates, and bicarbonates...
to better predict future climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
conditions. The observatory was successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on June 10, 2011.
The science instruments include a set of three radiometers that are sensitive to salinity (1.413 GHz; L-band) and a scatterometer
Scatterometer
A radar scatterometer is designed to determine the normalized radar cross section of the surface. Scatterometers operate by transmitting a pulse of microwave energy towards the Earth's surface and measuring the reflected energy. A separate measurement of the noise-only power is made and...
that corrects for the ocean's surface roughness. The SAC-D spacecraft is operated by Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
's Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales
Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales
Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales is the civilian agency of the government of Argentina in charge of the national space program.- History :...
(CONAE).
After its launch aboard a Delta II
Delta II
Delta II was an American space launch system, originally designed and built by McDonnell Douglas. Delta II is part of the Delta rocket family and was in service from 1989 until November 1, 2011...
from Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, SAC-D was carried into a 657 km (408 mi) sun-synchronous orbit
Sun-synchronous orbit
A Sun-synchronous orbit is a geocentric orbit which combines altitude and inclination in such a way that an object on that orbit ascends or descends over any given point of the Earth's surface at the same local mean solar time. The surface illumination angle will be nearly the same every time...
to begin its 3-year mission.
Aquarius was shipped to Argentina on June 1, 2009 to be mounted in the INVAP
INVAP
INVAP S.E. is an Argentine high-technology company dedicated to the design, integration, construction and delivery of high complexity equipment, plants and devices.-Background:...
built SAC-D satellite. It came back to Vandenberg Air Force Base on March 31, 2011.
For the joint mission, Argentina provided the SAC-D spacecraft and additional science instruments, while NASA provided the Aquarius salinity sensor and the rocket launch. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
in Pasadena, California, managed the Aquarius Mission development for NASA's Earth Science Enterprise based in Washington, D.C., and NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is managing the mission after launch.
After less than one month in operation, Aquarius produced the first map showing the varying degrees of salinity across the ocean's surface. Previous satellites enabled measurement of ocean currents, sea surface temperature and winds, and ocean color. Aquarius adds the ability to measure another ocean variable – the salt content. Measuring sea surface salinity (SSS) will supplement other satellite observations of the global water cycle
Water cycle
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or H2O cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. Water can change states among liquid, vapor, and solid at various places in the water cycle...
: precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture, atmospheric water vapor, and sea ice extent.