At 14:22 UTC on the 31 January, the Delta II rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, taking the NASA’s SMAP satellite to orbit.
SMAP, which stands for Soil Moisture Active Passive, is designed to measure soil moisture over a three-year period, every two to three days. SMAP will measure how much water is in the top layer (5cm) of soil, and using the data produce global maps of soil moisture. Scientists will use these to help improve our understanding of how water and carbon, in its various forms, circulate.
SMAP, which stands for Soil Moisture Active Passive, is designed to measure soil moisture over a three-year period, every two to three days. SMAP will measure how much water is in the top layer (5cm) of soil, and using the data produce global maps of soil moisture. Scientists will use these to help improve our understanding of how water and carbon, in its various forms, circulate.