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Aqua (satellite)

Aqua
Aqua satellite simulation.jpg
Aqua (EOS PM-1)
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 (2002-05-04UTC09:54:58Z) 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
Aqua logo 72dpi.jpg
Logotype of the mission.

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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