NASA successfully launched its satellite that could map all of Earth's water.
(Photo : Photo by NOAA via Getty Images)
In this satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tropical Storm Florence is shown at 8:15 am EDT is shown located east of over the Northern Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Bardados September 6, 2006.
The SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) spacecraft blasted off on Friday, Dec. 16, at 3:46 a.m. PST.
SWOT is a big deal for the international space union since it is its first global survey of Earth's surface water.
The advanced satellite was built in partnership with the French space agency Center National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES).
NASA Successfully Launches SWOT Satellite
According to NASA's official press release, the SWOT satellite was carried by a SpaceX rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Teams held a delta launch readiness review and determined the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission is a “go” for launch. @NASA_LSP is targeting 6:46am ET on Dec. 16, for launch from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. pic.twitter.com/Br9EXf8dWU
— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) December 15, 2022
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The aerospace organization announced that ground controllers successfully acquired SWOT's signal after it separated from SpaceX Falcon 9's second stage.
As of writing, the SWOT spacecraft is not operational.
NASA explained that a series of calibrations and checks needed to be completed before it could start collecting data on Earth's surface water.
The international space union expects the checks and calibrations to be completed in six months.
Why NASA's SWOT Satellite is a Big Deal
NASA claimed that the new SWOT satellite could map over 90% of the Earth's surface water. These include freshwater bodies and oceans.
Bill Nelson, a NASA administrator, explained that humanity is facing the consequences of climate change, such as extreme weather, severe wildfires, and warming seas.
He added that the climate crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.
"SWOT is the realization of a long-standing international partnership that will ultimately better equip communities so that they can face these challenges," explained Nelson.
SWOT can really help NASA to make more detailed observations of the Earth's surface water. Among its goals are detecting new ocean features, assessing freshwater resources, and enabling data applicatiobs.
If you want to learn more about the new SWOT satellite of NASA, you can visit the Surface Water and Ocean Topography's official website.
The new water-mapping satellite is not the only technology that NASA is focusing on.
Recently, the NASA Artemis 1 Orion Capsule was able to land back on Earth after its moon mission.
The NASA Ingenuity helicopter also took its 36th flight on Mars.
For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space launches, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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