Aqua (satellite)
Aqua (EOS PM-1)
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| Mission type | Earth observation |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 2002-022A |
| SATCAT no. | 27424 |
| Website | aqua.nasa.gov |
| Mission duration | 6 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | T330 (AB-1200) |
| Manufacturer | TRW |
| Launch mass | 3,117 kilograms (6,872 lb) |
| Dimensions | 4.81 m x 16.7 m x 8.04 m |
| Power | 4.444 kilowatts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | May 4, 2002, 09:54:58 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7920-10L |
| Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-2W |
| Contractor | Boeing |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | LEO |
| Semi-major axis | 7,080.6 kilometers (4,399.7 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0000979 |
| Perigee | 702 kilometers (436 mi) |
| Apogee | 703 kilometers (437 mi) |
| Inclination | 98.1987° |
| Period | 99 minutes |
| RAAN | 95.2063° |
| Argument of perigee | 120.4799° |
| Mean anomaly | 351.4268° |
| Mean motion | 14.57116559 |
| Epoch | 02 June 2016, 10:25:37 UTC |
 Logotype of the mission. |
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Aqua (EOS PM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the precipitation, evaporation, and cycling of water. It is the second major component of the Earth Observing System (EOS) preceded by Terra (launched 1999) and followed by Aura (launched 2004).
The name "Aqua" comes from the Latin word for water. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 4, 2002, aboard a Delta II rocket. Aqua is on a Sun-synchronous orbit. It flies as the second in the satellite formation called the "A Train" with several other satellites (Aura, CALIPSO, CloudSat, OCO-2, the French PARASOL, and the Japanese GCOM W1).
Aqua carries six instruments for studies of water on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere:
The Aqua spacecraft has a mass of about 2,850 kilograms (6,280 lb), plus propellant of about 230 kilograms (510 lb) (at launch). Stowed, the satellite is 2.68 m x 2.49 m x 6.49 m. Deployed, Aqua is 4.81 m x 16.70 m x 8.04 m.
An image of Arctic shrinkage from Aqua observations
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Wikipedia