Aquarius Satellite & Data Pre-launch Beauty Shot

  • Released Thursday, May 5th, 2011
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:53PM
  • ID: 3830

Aquarius is a focused satellite mission to measure global Sea Surface Salinity. After its planned 09-Jun-11 launch, it will provide the global view of salinity variability needed for climate studies. The Aquarius / SAC-D mission is being developed by NASA and the Space Agency of Argentina (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE). The satellite model depicted in this animation is an artist rendition and intentionally exaggerated so as to remain visible as it flies around the globe. Had the satellite model been rendered true-to-scale, it would not be visible when we pull out to see the full earth.

This animation is an artist depiction of the Aquarius satellite in orbit around the earth as it collects data used to derive Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) measurements. This visualization was created prior to launch and uses simulated SSS measurements. The satellite orbit and data footprint is based on predicted data in preparation for launch.

Print resolution image of Aquarius collecting data over the Indian Ocean. Earth is upsidedown with the south pole at the top of the image.

Print resolution image of Aquarius collecting data over the Indian Ocean. Earth is upsidedown with the south pole at the top of the image.

Print resolution image of Aquarius collecting data over the Pacific Ocean. The night lights of the United States and Mexico can be seen towards the upper right.

Print resolution image of Aquarius collecting data over the Pacific Ocean. The night lights of the United States and Mexico can be seen towards the upper right.

Print resolution image depicting the pattern of swaths created after three days of data collection, centered over the Pacific Ocean.

Print resolution image depicting the pattern of swaths created after three days of data collection, centered over the Pacific Ocean.

Print resolution image of simulated SSS data over the Pacific Ocean.

Print resolution image of simulated SSS data over the Pacific Ocean.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Series

This visualization can be found in the following series: