Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity

Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) is a satellite which forms part of ESA's Living Planet Programme. It is intended to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate. In addition, it is intended to provide improved weather forecasting and monitoring of snow and ice accumulation.

SMOS
Artist's view of SMOS
Mission typeEarth observation
OperatorESA
COSPAR ID2009-059A
SATCAT no.36036
Websitewww.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/SMOS
Mission durationPlanned: 3 years
Elapsed: 14 years, 2 months, 23 days
Spacecraft properties
BusProteus
ManufacturerThales Alenia Space
CNES
Launch mass658 kilograms (1,451 lb)
Dry mass630 kilograms (1,390 lb)
Dimensions2.4 by 2.3 metres (7.9 ft × 7.5 ft) (diameter)
Powerup to 1065 watts
Start of mission
Launch date2 November 2009, 14:21:00 (2009-11-02UTC14:21Z) UTC
RocketRokot/Briz-KM
Launch sitePlesetsk 133/3
ContractorEurockot
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeSun-synchronous
Perigee altitude765 kilometres (475 mi)
Apogee altitude766 kilometres (476 mi)
Inclination98.44 degrees
Period100.02 minutes
Repeat interval23 days
Epoch25 January 2015, 00:45:13 UTC
Transponders
BandS Band (TT&C support)
X Band (science data acquisition)
Bandwidthup to 722kbit/s download (S Band)
up to 18.4Mbit/s download (X Band)
up to 4kbit /s upload (S Band)
Instruments
MIRAS: Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis
 
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