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.
The Delta II rocket lifted off with three solid rocket motors ignited. These burned for just over a minute, and separated 30 seconds later. Main engine cut off occurred four and a half minutes into flight, when the RS-27A engine was shut down. Fairing separation then followed, and second stage ignited. The six minute burn put the vehicle in a 185 by 709 kilometer orbit. A 40 minute coast phase followed, before the AJ-10 engine reignited for its second burn. Lasting just 12 seconds, it raised the orbit’s perigee to circularize the orbit and satellite separation shortly followed.
The Delta II rocket lifted off with three solid rocket motors ignited. These burned for just over a minute, and separated 30 seconds later. Main engine cut off occurred four and a half minutes into flight, when the RS-27A engine was shut down. Fairing separation then followed, and second stage ignited. The six minute burn put the vehicle in a 185 by 709 kilometer orbit. A 40 minute coast phase followed, before the AJ-10 engine reignited for its second burn. Lasting just 12 seconds, it raised the orbit’s perigee to circularize the orbit and satellite separation shortly followed.
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.
The $916 million mission is one part of a large program of Earth science projects that aim to discover how our planet works.
“SMAP will be joining our 18 operational missions that study the Earth’s systems. These issues that are addressed by this are climate change, things like sea level and fresh water resources. Our on-orbit satellites, along with air and ground observations, monitor the Earth’s vital signs,” said SMAP program executive Christine Bonniksen.
Following the deployment of the SMAP satellite, the vehicle lowered the orbital altitude and deployed four cubesats. These were ExoCube (a space weather satellite), GRIFEX (technology demonstration mission developed by the University of Michigan), and two FIREBIRD-II satellites (also space weather satellite). Status updates of those cubesats will come in the next few days.
The $916 million mission is one part of a large program of Earth science projects that aim to discover how our planet works.
“SMAP will be joining our 18 operational missions that study the Earth’s systems. These issues that are addressed by this are climate change, things like sea level and fresh water resources. Our on-orbit satellites, along with air and ground observations, monitor the Earth’s vital signs,” said SMAP program executive Christine Bonniksen.
Following the deployment of the SMAP satellite, the vehicle lowered the orbital altitude and deployed four cubesats. These were ExoCube (a space weather satellite), GRIFEX (technology demonstration mission developed by the University of Michigan), and two FIREBIRD-II satellites (also space weather satellite). Status updates of those cubesats will come in the next few days.