Like orbiting sentinels, NASA’s Earth-observing satellites vigilantly monitor our planet’s ever-changing pulse from their unique vantage points in orbit. This animation shows the orbits of all of the current satellite missions. The flight paths are based on actual orbital elements. These missions—many joint with other nations and/or agencies—are able to collect global measurements of rainfall, solar irradiance, clouds, sea surface height, ocean salinity, and other aspects of the environment. Together, these measurements help scientists better diagnose the “health” of the Earth system.This animation will be regularly updated to show the orbits of the current earth observing fleet. This most recent version, published in March 2017, includes the CYGNSS constellation and DSCOVR at L1. Visit the original page here.Previous versions from recent years include:entry 4274 a February 2015 version including SMAPentry 3996 a spring 2014 version including GPM entry 4070 a May 2013 version which added Landsat-8entry 3892 a Dec 2011 version which added Suomi NPP and Aquariusentry 3725 a version from June 2010 ||

SMAP applications infographic || smap_inforgraphic_title_slide_print.jpg (1024x576) [234.1 KB] || smap_inforgraphic_title_slide_web.jpg (320x180) [70.5 KB] || smap_inforgraphic_title_slide_searchweb.png (320x180) [115.9 KB] || smap_inforgraphic_title_slide_thm.png (80x40) [24.6 KB] || smap_inforgraphic_title_slide.tif (5760x3240) [11.0 MB] || smap_inforgraphic_title_slide.hwshow [163 bytes] ||

An abridged version of "Monsoons: Wet, Dry, Repeat..."Complete transcript available.Music: Letting Go by Mario Lauer, 24 Dimensions by Christian Telford, David Travis Edwards, Matthew St. Laurent, and Robert Anthony Navarro || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg_youtube_hq.00190_print.jpg (1024x576) [73.1 KB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg_youtube_hq.00190_searchweb.png (320x180) [39.8 KB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg_youtube_hq.00190_thm.png (80x40) [3.6 KB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg.webm (960x540) [43.2 MB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [19.1 MB] || GSFC_20160516_GPM_m12252_Monsoon.en_US.srt [1.8 KB] || GSFC_20160516_GPM_m12252_Monsoon.en_US.vtt [1.8 KB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg.mov (1920x1080) [2.9 GB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg.mpeg (1280x720) [358.5 MB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [1.3 GB] || 12252_Monsoon_narr_abrg_large.mp4 (1920x1080) [108.2 MB] ||

SMAP radiometer image. || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057_print.jpg (1024x574) [154.9 KB] || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057.png (4104x2304) [5.3 MB] || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057_web.jpg (319x179) [20.4 KB] || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057_searchweb.png (320x180) [65.2 KB] || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057.pptx [2.6 MB] || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057.key [8.7 MB] || SMAP_brightness_temperature_PIA18057.hwshow [121 bytes] ||

Feeze/Thaw state for two days in April 2015 || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_pia11399_print.jpg (1024x574) [171.9 KB] || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_pia11399.png (4104x2304) [1022.1 KB] || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_pia11399_searchweb.png (320x180) [72.3 KB] || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_pia11399_thm.png (80x40) [6.8 KB] || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_30598.key [3.9 MB] || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_30598.pptx [1.3 MB] || smap_freeze_thaw_2015_pia11399.hwshow [228 bytes] ||

A series of images shows soil moisture and flooding in Australia. || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015_print.jpg (1024x574) [129.9 KB] || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015.png (4104x2304) [1.6 MB] || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015_searchweb.png (180x320) [62.4 KB] || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015_thm.png (80x40) [6.9 KB] || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015_30599.key [4.6 MB] || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015_30599.pptx [2.0 MB] || smap_rainfall_australia_april_2015.hwshow [236 bytes] ||

A global map of soil moisture || smap_global_moisture_20150504-20150511_PIA19337_print.jpg (1024x576) [113.1 KB] || smap_global_moisture_20150504-20150511_PIA19337.png (5760x3240) [5.3 MB] || smap_global_moisture_20150504-20150511_PIA19337_searchweb.png (320x180) [43.4 KB] || smap_global_moisture_20150504-20150511_PIA19337_thm.png (80x40) [4.7 KB] || smap_global_moisture_30601.pptx [5.8 MB] || smap_global_moisture_30601.key [8.5 MB] || smap_global_moisture_20150504-20150511_PIA19337.hwshow [262 bytes] ||

A movie showing launch, deploy and scan pattern. || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_still_print.jpg (1024x576) [88.7 KB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_still_searchweb.png (320x180) [60.5 KB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_still_web.png (320x180) [60.5 KB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_still_thm.png (80x40) [10.7 KB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_720p_59.97.mp4 (1280x720) [57.9 MB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_still.tif (1280x720) [508.6 KB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_720p_59.97.webm (1280x720) [24.2 MB] || SMAP_launch_deploy_scan_720p_59.97.hwshow [228 bytes] ||

SMAP prepared for shipping at JPL || smap20141015_load_at_jpl_print.jpg (1024x722) [285.8 KB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl.jpg (5396x3807) [10.0 MB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl_web.jpg (319x225) [62.5 KB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl_searchweb.png (320x180) [125.3 KB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl_thm.png (80x40) [29.7 KB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl_30581.pptx [10.1 MB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl_30581.key [12.7 MB] || smap20141015_load_at_jpl.hwshow [97 bytes] ||

Flooding around Houston, Tx after Hurricane Harvey || SMAP_Harvey_PIA21930_print.jpg (1024x574) [84.0 KB] || SMAP_Harvey_PIA21930.png (4104x2304) [1.9 MB] || SMAP_Harvey_PIA21930_searchweb.png (320x180) [59.1 KB] || SMAP_Harvey_PIA21930_thm.png (80x40) [6.0 KB] || SMAP_Harvey_PIA21930.hwshow [208 bytes] ||