Aqua (satellite)

Last updated
Aqua
Aqua spacecraft model.png
Artist's rendering of the Aqua satellite
NamesEOS PM-1
Mission typeEarth observation
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 2002-022A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 27424
Website aqua.nasa.gov
Mission duration6 years (planned)
Elapsed: 22 years, 7 months and 5 days
Spacecraft properties
Bus T330 (AB-1200)
Manufacturer TRW
Launch mass3,117 kilograms (6,872 lb)
Dimensions4.81 m × 16.7 m × 8.04 m (15.8 ft × 54.8 ft × 26.4 ft)
Power4.444 kilowatts
Start of mission
Launch dateMay 4, 2002, 09:54:58 (2002-05-04UTC09:54:58Z) UTC
Rocket Delta II 7920-10L
D-291
Launch site Vandenberg SLC-2W
Contractor Boeing
End of mission
Last contact2026-2027 (planned)
Decay date2046 (planned)
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Semi-major axis 7,080.6 kilometers (4,399.7 mi)
Eccentricity 0.0000979
Perigee altitude 702 kilometers (436 mi)
Apogee altitude 703 kilometers (437 mi)
Inclination 98.1987°
Period 99 minutes
RAAN 95.2063°
Argument of perigee 120.4799°
Mean anomaly 351.4268°
Mean motion 14.57116559
Epoch 02 June 2016, 10:25:37 UTC
Revolution no.74897
Aqua logo 72dpi.jpg
Logotype of the mission.
Large Strategic Science Missions
Earth Science Division
←  Terra
ICESat  →

Aqua (EOS PM-1) is a NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the precipitation, evaporation, and cycling of water. It is the second major component of the Earth Observing System (EOS) preceded by Terra (launched 1999) and followed by Aura (launched 2004).

Contents

The name "Aqua" comes from the Latin word for water. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 4, 2002, aboard a Delta II rocket. Aqua operated in a Sun-synchronous orbit as the third in the satellite formation called the "A Train" with several other satellites (OCO-2, the Japanese GCOM W1, PARASOL, CALIPSO, CloudSat, and Aura) for most of its first 20 years; but in January 2022 Aqua left the A-Train (as Cloud Sat, CALIPSO and PARASOL had already done) when, due to its fuel limitations, it transitioned to a free-drift mode, wherein its equatorial crossing time is slowly drifting to later times, from its tightly controlled orbit. [1]

Mission

Aqua is one of NASA's missions for Earth science operating in the A-Train constellation. It has demonstrated a very high level of precision in making the primary long-term measurements of the mission. These highly calibrated climate quality measurements of radiance, reflectance, and backscatter have been used to cross-calibrate past and present sensors launched by NASA, as well as a variety of sensors launched from other agencies and the international community. Thousands of scientists and operational users from around the world have made use of the Aqua data to address NASA's 6 interdisciplinary Earth science focus areas: Atmospheric Composition, Weather, Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems, Water and Energy Cycle, Climate Variability and Change, and Earth Surface and Interior.

Aqua has experienced some minor, non-mission ending anomalies.

Because of a 2007 anomaly with the Solid State Recorder (SSR) it can only hold two orbits worth of data. A series of solar array and array regulator electronics anomalies starting in 2010 has led to the loss of 23 strings of solar cells out of a total of 132 strings. [2] A 2005 short circuit within a battery cell led to a partial loss of cell capacity. In 2009, a solar panel thermistor failed and an error in the Solar Array offset was detected. The offset issue has been corrected periodically since then. On September 8, 2007, the Dual Thruster Module (DTM-2) Heater experienced an anomaly. [3] On August 16, 2020, The Formatter Multiplexer Unit (FMU) experienced an anomaly, corrupting some data in the SSR and stopping all data streams until it was recovered on September 2, 2020. [4]

The current end of mission plan is to let Aqua's orbit decay naturally at least until June 2024 and continue data collection into 2026 or even 2027, dependent on such items as budget, fuel, hardware, power, and end-of mission requirements. [2] Aqua's life could be extended with a possible re-fueling mission. A worst-case scenario would result in a re-entry by 2046. [5]

Instruments

Aqua carries six instruments for studies of water on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere, of which four are still operating:

The Aqua spacecraft has a mass of about 2,850 kilograms (6,280 lb), plus propellant of about 230 kilograms (510 lb) at launch. Stowed for launch, the satellite fit in a volume of 2.68 m x 2.49 m x 6.49 m. Deployed, Aqua is 4.81 m x 16.70 m x 8.04 m.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terra (satellite)</span> NASA climate research satellite (1999–Present)

Terra is a multi-national scientific research satellite operated by NASA in a Sun-synchronous orbit around the Earth. It takes simultaneous measurements of Earth's atmosphere, land, and water to understand how Earth is changing and to identify the consequences for life on Earth. It is the flagship of the Earth Observing System (EOS) and the first satellite of the system which was followed by Aqua and Aura. Terra was launched in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System</span> NASA satellite climate data instruments

Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) is an on-going NASA climatological experiment from Earth orbit. The CERES are scientific satellite instruments, part of the NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS), designed to measure both solar-reflected and Earth-emitted radiation from the top of the atmosphere (TOA) to the Earth's surface. Cloud properties are determined using simultaneous measurements by other EOS instruments such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Results from the CERES and other NASA missions, such as the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), could enable nearer to real-time tracking of Earth's energy imbalance (EEI) and better understanding of the role of clouds in global climate change.

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a program of NASA comprising a series of artificial satellite missions and scientific instruments in Earth orbit designed for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans. Since the early 1970s, NASA has been developing its Earth Observing System, launching a series of Landsat satellites in the decade. Some of the first included passive microwave imaging in 1972 through the Nimbus 5 satellite. Following the launch of various satellite missions, the conception of the program began in the late 1980s and expanded rapidly through the 1990s. Since the inception of the program, it has continued to develop, including; land, sea, radiation and atmosphere. Collected in a system known as EOSDIS, NASA uses this data in order to study the progression and changes in the biosphere of Earth. The main focus of this data collection surrounds climatic science. The program is the centrepiece of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aura (satellite)</span> NASA Earth observation satellite (2004–Present)

Aura is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the Earth's ozone layer, air quality and climate. It is the third major component of the Earth Observing System (EOS) following on Terra and Aqua. Aura follows on from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Aura is a joint mission between NASA, the Netherlands, Finland, and the U.K. The Aura spacecraft is healthy and is expected to operate until at least 2023, likely beyond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GRACE and GRACE-FO</span> Joint American-German space mission to map Earths gravitational field

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) was a joint mission of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Twin satellites took detailed measurements of Earth's gravity field anomalies from its launch in March 2002 to the end of its science mission in October 2017. The two satellites were sometimes called Tom and Jerry, a nod to the famous cartoon. The GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) is a continuation of the mission on near-identical hardware, launched in May 2018. On March 19, 2024, NASA announced that the successor to GRACE-FO would be Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-Continuity (GRACE-C), to be launched in or after 2028.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced microwave sounding unit</span> Instrument installed on meteorological satellites

The advanced microwave sounding unit (AMSU) is a multi-channel microwave radiometer installed on meteorological satellites. The instrument examines several bands of microwave radiation from the atmosphere to perform atmospheric sounding of temperature and moisture levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission</span> Joint space mission between NASA and JAXA

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) was a joint space mission between NASA and JAXA designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall. The term refers to both the mission itself and the satellite that the mission used to collect data. TRMM was part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, a long-term, coordinated research effort to study the Earth as a global system. The satellite was launched on 27 November 1997 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima, Japan. TRMM operated for 17 years, including several mission extensions, before being decommissioned on 15 April 2015. TRMM re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 16 June 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOAA-19</span> Weather satellite

NOAA-19, known as NOAA-N' before launch, is the last of the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series of weather satellites. NOAA-19 was launched on 6 February 2009. NOAA-19 is in an afternoon Sun-synchronous orbit and is intended to replace NOAA-18 as the prime afternoon spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Change Observation Mission</span> JAXA project of long-term observation of Earth

GCOM, is a JAXA project of long-term observation of Earth environmental changes. As a part of Japan's contributions to GEOSS, GCOM will be continued for 10 to 15 years with observation and utilization of global geophysical data such as precipitation, snow, water vapor, aerosol, for climate change prediction, water management, and food security. On May 18, 2012, the first satellite "GCOM-W" was launched. On December 23, 2017, the second satellite "GCOM-C1" was launched.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOAA-16</span>

NOAA-16, also known as NOAA-L before launch, was an operational, polar orbiting, weather satellite series operated by the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA-16 continued the series of Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) spacecraft that began with the launch of NOAA-8 (NOAA-E) in 1983; but it had additional new and improved instrumentation over the NOAA A-K series and a new launch vehicle. It was launched on 21 September 2000 and, following an unknown anomaly, it was decommissioned on 9 June 2014. In November 2015 it broke up in orbit, creating more than 200 pieces of debris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOAA-18</span>

NOAA-18, also known as NOAA-N before launch, is an operational, polar orbiting, weather satellite series operated by the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA-18 also continued the series of Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) spacecraft begun with the launch of NOAA-8 (NOAA-E) in 1983 but with additional new and improved instrumentation over the NOAA A-M series and a new launch vehicle. NOAA-18 is in an afternoon equator-crossing orbit and replaced NOAA-17 as the prime afternoon spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOAA-15</span> Longest Operating Weather Satellite

NOAA-15, also known as NOAA-K before launch, is an operational, polar-orbiting of the NASA-provided Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) series of weather forecasting satellite operated by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA-15 was the latest in the Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) series. It provided support to environmental monitoring by complementing the NOAA/NESS Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program (GOES).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmospheric infrared sounder</span> Science instrument on NASAs Aqua satellite

The atmospheric infrared sounder (AIRS) is one of six instruments flying on board NASA's Aqua satellite, launched on May 4, 2002. The instrument is designed to support climate research and improve weather forecasting.

The Humidity Sounder for Brazil (HSB) was an instrument launched on NASA's Earth Observing System satellite Aqua launched in May 2002. It was a four-channel passive microwave radiometer, with one channel at 150 GHz and three channels at 183 GHz. It was very similar in design to the AMSU-B instrument, except it lacked the 89 GHz surface sounding channel. It was intended to study profiles of atmospheric water vapor and provide improved input data to the cloud-clearing algorithms in the Unified AIRS Retrieval Suite, but the scan mirror motor failed on February 5, 2003. It worked with the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and AMSU-A to form the AIRS Sounding Suite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-train (satellite constellation)</span> Satellite constellation of four Earth observation satellites

The A-train is a satellite constellation of four Earth observation satellites of varied nationality in Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude that is slightly variable for each satellite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ADEOS II</span> Derelict Japanese Earth observation satellite

ADEOS II was an Earth observation satellite (EOS) launched by NASDA, with contributions from NASA and CNES, in December 2002. and it was the successor to the 1996 mission ADEOS I. The mission ended in October 2003 after the satellite's solar panels failed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Polar Satellite System</span> Constellation of American meteorology satellites

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the latest generation of U.S. polar-orbiting, non-geosynchronous, environmental satellites. JPSS will provide the global environmental data used in numerical weather prediction models for forecasts, and scientific data used for climate monitoring. JPSS will aid in fulfilling the mission of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the Department of Commerce. Data and imagery obtained from the JPSS will increase timeliness and accuracy of public warnings and forecasts of climate and weather events, thus reducing the potential loss of human life and property and advancing the national economy. The JPSS is developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who is responsible for operation of JPSS. Three to five satellites are planned for the JPSS constellation of satellites. JPSS satellites will be flown, and the scientific data from JPSS will be processed, by the JPSS – Common Ground System (JPSS-CGS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suomi NPP</span> NASA/NOAA Earth weather satellite (2011–Present)

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, previously known as the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) and NPP-Bridge, is a weather satellite operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was launched in 2011 and is currently in operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOAA-21</span> NASA/NOAA weather satellite (2022–Present)

NOAA-21, designated JPSS-2 prior to launch, is the second satellite in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s latest series of U.S. polar-orbiting, non-geosynchronous, environmental satellites, known as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Launched on November 10, 2022, along with LOFTID, NOAA-21 now operates in the same orbit as NOAA-20 and Suomi NPP. It travels in a polar orbit, crossing the equator approximately 14 times a daily, and provides complete global coverage twice a day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NOAA-20</span> NASA/NOAA weather satellite (2017–Present)

NOAA-20, designated JPSS-1 prior to launch, is the first of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest generation of U.S. polar-orbiting, non-geosynchronous, environmental satellites called the Joint Polar Satellite System. NOAA-20 was launched on 18 November 2017 and joined the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite in the same orbit. NOAA-20 operates about 50 minutes behind Suomi NPP, allowing important overlap in observational coverage. Circling the Earth from pole-to-pole, it crosses the equator about 14 times daily, providing full global coverage twice a day. This gives meteorologists information on "atmospheric temperature and moisture, clouds, sea-surface temperature, ocean color, sea ice cover, volcanic ash, and fire detection" so as to enhance weather forecasting including hurricane tracking, post-hurricane recovery by detailing storm damage and mapping of power outages.

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Joseph M. (4 May 2022). "Aqua Turns 20" . Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Parkinson, Claire. "Aqua Status, Ac+vi+es in the Past 12 Months, and Future Plans" (PDF). Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 Guit, Bill (13 June 2017). "EOS Aqua Mission Status at the Earth Science Constellation Mission Operations Working Group (MOWG) Meeting at GSFC" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Case PM_MYD_20229_NRT" . Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Guit, Bill. "EOS Aqua Mission Status at the Earth Science Constellation (ESC) Mission Operations Working Group (MOWG) Meeting In Toulouse, France" (PDF). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Spencer, Roy W. "AMSR-E Ends 9+ Years of Global Observations". drroyspencer.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  7. ↑ Guit, Bill. "AMSR-E Recovery" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  8. ↑ MIURA, Satoko Horiyama. "AMSR-E Spun Down on Dec. 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  9. ↑ Vandemark, Douglas. "NASA Earth Science Senior Review Subcommittee Report — 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Liu, Guosheng (22 June 2015). NASA Earth Science Senior Review 2015 (PDF) (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Aqua Summary August 31, 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 Parkinson, Claire. "2015 Aqua Update" (PDF). Retrieved 16 October 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.