NASA will soon launch a new satellite that would help in monitoring the Earth's different bodies of water, one that would add to its current watchdog satellites that help in surveying the home planet. This new satellite is called the "SWOT" (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission, which would look into the lakes, rivers, and more.
It will help give NASA an overview of the bodies of water on the planet, helping give detailed information for researchers to access, and in turn, assist them in their quest to improve it or look for any signs of problems.
NASA SWOT to Monitor the Earth's Bodies of Water
(Photo : CNES)
The SWOT satellite is the "scientific heart" of the planet's mission towards its monitoring of the bodies of water that cover the home. The agency's work on this satellite centers on an intricate design that would deliver a high-definition view from the satellite's place in the low-Earth orbit, featuring an instrument called "Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn)."
NASA and JPL spent years developing the SWOT mission's satellite, and finally, it will launch by Friday, December 16 after a long wait for its preparations.
The SWOT will center on detecting new ocean features, enabling data applications of the information it will gather from above, and assessing the world's freshwater resources available.
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NASA to Launch SWOT with SpaceX on Dec. 16
The SWOT mission was recently delayed from its initial launch with SpaceX for Thursday, December 15, but the good thing is that it will resume operations 24 hours later for its awaited liftoff.
NASA has yet again partnered with SpaceX to deliver the satellite to low-Earth orbit, aboard its reusable rocket, the Falcon 9.
NASA and its Earth-Watching Satellites
The national space agency is not entirely focused on space and the venture towards it, as it is also of massive importance to them in protecting and preserving the home planet. One of the renowned satellites dedicated to watching the planet from afar is the Landsat series, which launched the Landsat 9 in 2021 to replace its predecessor.
The goal of this satellite is to help the planet learn more about the Earth's climate and help monitor the ongoing crisis that humans and the entire ecosystem are experiencing now.
There were also initial plans from NASA to develop a greenhouse gas-detecting satellite that would further help in the planet's battle against Climate Change, known to be one of its most significant contributors. However, due to the agency's lack of budget, the project was scrapped and it is looking for an alternative to do this.
Protecting one's home is still the most ideal thing to do for government agencies and massive corporations, to continue having humans propagate on Earth. NASA's SWOT aims to contribute to making the Earth's future possible, especially with the many crisis and problems the country is experiencing with its water supply and its present deterioration.
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