Aquarius Satellite & Data Pre-launch Beauty Shot
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- Visualizations by:
- Alex Kekesi and
- Ernie Wright
- View full credits
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.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
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Animators
- Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.) [Lead]
- Ernie Wright (USRA) [Lead]
- Chris Meaney (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
- Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC)
- Walt Feimer (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
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Scientists
- David Levine (NASA/GSFC)
- Fred Patt (SAIC)
- Gary Lagerloef (ESR)
- Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC)
- Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC)
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Producer
- Brooke Harris (USRA)
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Project support
- James W. Williams (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)
- Shiloh Heurich (Global Science and Technology, Inc.)