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Instrument Operations

SMAP On-Orbit Events List for Instrument Data Users

Adam Freedman, Custodian

Date Time start Time end DOY Orbit # Description Instrument Power SAR TX LUT Attitude Calibration Data Quality
3/31/15 16:25 18:14 090 866.0 Instrument powered on, Tx enabled, Timing test LUT, radiometer high-rate data collection for 3 days X X X
4/3/15 16:30 approx 093 908.0 SAR transmit disabled, LUT 38 RAD test, begin RFI survey, RFI-survey Science LUT X X X
4/6/15 096 Radiometer bake out for 4 days (DOYs 096-100) X X
4/10/15 20:16 100 1013.5 Nadir bias adjustment X
4/13/15 17:10 103 1055.5 SAR transmit enabled after RFI survey X X
4/13/15 18:39 103 1056.0 ALT1 Science LUT activated, index 9 X
4/14/15 16:48 104 1069.5 ATC set point reduced from 1.0 to 0.1 degree X
4/16/15 17:10 17:35 106 1099.0 Orbit trim maneuver (OTM) #1 (17:20:00) X
4/16/15 20:39 106 1101.5 Timing Test LUT X
4/17/15 20:28 107 1116.0 Re-activated ALT1 Science LUT X
4/17/15 20:29 107 1116.0 Radiometer begins 3 days of continuous high-rate data collection X X
4/20/15 20:38 110 1159.5 Radiometer high-rate collection ends X X
4/22/15 22:25 112 1190.0 Activated Timing Test LUT X
4/23/15 16:58 113 1201.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees X X
4/23/15 19:12 113 1203.0 Nadir bias adjustment X X
4/24/15 16:26 114 1215.5 Activate ALT1 Science LUT with freq index 5 X
4/29/15 17:05 17:13 119 1289.5 Activated N&S_AMERICA LUT X
5/4/15 20:56 21:04 124 1365.0 Activated ALL_LAND LUT X
5/6/15 126 Eclipse season begins X
5/12/15 9:58 132 1475.0 SMAP enters safe mode (instruments off) X
5/14/15 16:25 18:13 134 1509.5 Instruments turned back on X X X
5/27/15 15:01 15:29 147 1697.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (15:10-15:16) X X
6/1/15 21:12:24 152 1774.5 Small LUT-sync offset of 6 seconds X
6/15/15 18:13:30 18:15:38 166 1977.5 SAR transmit disabled, SAR RF/HPA powered down for FSW upgrade X X X X
6/16/15 13:46 167 1989.0 Radiometer powered down; Radar dig/synth powered off X
6/17/15 20:17 168 2008.0 Radiometer powered on X
6/17/15 21:51:30 168 2009.0 SAR transmit enabled X X X
6/22/15 09:23 10:04 173 2074.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees (09:38-09:48) [Amazon] X X
6/22/15 173 Maximum eclipse X
6/30/15 14:36 15:04 181 2194.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:45-14:51) X X
7/7/15 16:52 17:00 188 2298.5 Activate Atlantic Hurricane LUT with rev_end and hstart/hstop corrections X
7/7/15 21:16:12 188 2301.0 HPA power-off anomaly; SAR TX ceases X X X X
7/9/15 19:48 19:55 190 2329.5 Anomaly testing (preceded by placing SAR in safe state) X X
7/13/15 15:44 17:25 194 2385.5-2386.5 Power cycle radar, radiometer in Diagnostic mode X X
7/13/15 19:48 194 2388.0 Radiometer reset to Science mode X X
7/14/15 16:21 19:36 195 2400.5-2402.5 Anomaly testing, RAD in diagnostic mode for this period X X
7/16/15 17:26 17:29 197 2430.0 Anomaly testing, RAD in diagnostic mode for this period X X
7/23/15 21:01 22:45 204 2535.0-2536.0 Anomaly testing, RAD in diagnostic mode for this period X X
7/28/15 16:35 00:04 209-210 2605.0-2609.5 Anomaly testing, RAD in diagnostic mode for this period X X
7/29/15 19:01:13 210 2621.5 Radar Receive-mode operation enabled X X
7/30/15 16:58 17:24 211 2635.0 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #2 (17:07:57) X
8/4/15 14:49 15:16 216 2706.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:58-15:04) X X
8/4/15 216 Eclipse season ends X
8/6/15 17:25 218 2737.5 Bad block table updated X
8/11/15 21:14 223 2813.0 Radiometer begins continuous hi-rate data collection X X
8/19/15 23:40 231 2931.5 Bad block table updated (2 SAR, 1 RAD BBs) X
8/20/15 17:41 17:49 232 2942.0-2942.5 New LUT with freq index 6 and constant PRI activated (LOAD_LUT_AH2NPR_G150810210248_ALTFR6.bin) X X
8/20/15 17:50 232 2942.5 SAR hi-res cross-pol set to VH X
8/24/15 17:01 23:11 236 3000.5-3004.0 ~6 hour thermal test of powered HPA, RAD in diagnostic X X
8/24/15 23:15 236 3004.0 Rad reset, WDT enabled, continuous hi-rate data collection X
9/7/15 17:23 17:51 250 3205.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:32-17:38); rad returned to LUT control of high-rate data collection X X
9/8/15 18:01 251 3220.5 Radiometer returned to high-rate data collection X
9/13/15 ~07:00 256 Partial solar eclipse X
10/7/15 17:50 18:17 280 3644.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:59-18:05). Rad remains in high-rate data collection mode. X X
10/9/15 22:15 282 3676.0 Bad block table updated (5 SAR, 1 RAD BBs) X
10/12/15 12:54 285 Sun at minimum beta angle of 3.73 degrees X
10/28/15 17:37 17:43 301 3951.5 HPA power cycling X X
11/06/15 02:50 03:17 310 4074.0 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (02:59-03:05) X X
11/24/15 328 AUTO correction of bad block table begins operation X
12/06/15 13:57 14:24 340 4519.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:06-14:12). X X
12/15/15 06:06:09 349 4646.5 SMAP enters SAFE-RWA mode due to FSW reset (instruments off) X
12/17/15 18:49 18:54 351 4683.5 Radar and Radiometer Powered on X X
12/17/15 19:36 19:39 351 4684.0 Radar placed in receive-only mode X X
01/05/16 03:45 04:13 005 4952.0 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (03:54-04:00). X X
01/07/16 18:23 18:49 007 4990.0-4990.5 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #3 (18:33:23) X
01/16/16 09:23 10:03 016 5116.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees (09:37-09:47) [Amazon] X X
02/04/16 14:48 15:15 035 5397.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:56-15:03). X X
02/29/16 060 Minimum +Y to sun angle of 2.6 degrees X
03/06/16 17:14 17:41 066 5852.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:23-17:29). X X
03/09/16 069 Total solar eclipse X
04/12/16 16:59 17:27 103 6393.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:08-17:14). X X
04/26/16 117 6589.5,6590.5 Lost X-band due to Sentinel 1b launch tracking X
04/30/16 05:03:31 121 6649.5 SMAP enters SAFE-RWA mode due to FSW reset (instruments off) X
05/02/16 18:38:18 123 6687.0 Radiometer powered on X X
05/02/16 19:26:29 123 6687.5 SAR in receive mode X X
05/07/16 128 Eclipse season begins X
05/12/16 16:03 16:31 133 6831.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (16:12-16:18). X X
05/25/16 17:45 18:11 146 7022.5-7023.0 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #4 (17:55:31) X
06/10/16 14:11 14:38 162 7254.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:20-14:26). X X
06/20/16 172 Maximum eclipse X
07/10/16 14:36 15:04 192 7693.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:45-14:51). X X
08/04/16 217 Eclipse season ends X
08/10/16 15:38 16:06 223 8147.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (15:47-15:53). X X
09/01/16 245 Annular solar eclipse X
09/05/16 16:34 249 8528.5 Science data product collection ceases as part of DP memory mitigation X
09/05/16 19:01 19:03 249 8530.0 Instruments powered off in preparation for controlled FSW reset X
09/06/16 17:05 250 8543.0 Radiometer powered on X X
09/06/16 18:49 250 8544.5 SAR in receive mode X X
09/10/16 16:21 16:48 254 8601.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (16:30-16:36). X X
09/26/16 22:05 22:08 270 8839.0 Instruments powered off in preparation for FSW R4.3.1 installation and reset X
09/28/16 16:00 272 8864.5 Radiometer powered on X X
09/28/16 17:37 272 8865.5 SAR in receive mode X X
10/12/16 286 Sun at minimum beta angle of ~3.6 degrees X
10/12/16 18:03 18:31 286 9070.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (18:12-18:18). X X
10/14/16 15:46 16:11 288 9098.0-9098.5 RMM08 CARA Maneuver (Risk Mitigation Maneuver) X
11/03/16 18:12 18:37 308 9392.0-9392.5 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #5 (thruster: 18:21:39) X
11/12/16 03:36 04:04 317 9515.0 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (03:45-03:51). X X
12/12/16 14:48 15:15 347 9960.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:57-15:03) X X
12/20/16 355 Sun at maximum beta angle of ~15.5 degrees X
01/13/17 05:42 06:10 013 10423.0 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (05:51-05:57). X X
02/12/17 06:04 06:31 043 10862.0 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (06:13-06:19). X X
02/26/17 057 Annular solar eclipse X
02/28/17 059 Minimum +Y to sun angle of 2.7 degrees (TBC) X
03/14/17 16:59 17:26 073 11307.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:08-17:14) X X
03/15/17 15:59 074 11321.5 FSW 4.3.1 burn to NOR zone 1: Instruments off X
03/15/17 18:27 074 11323.0 FSW 4.3.1 burn to NOR zone 1: Radiometer powered on X X
03/15/17 19:14 074 11323.5 FSW 4.3.1 burn to NOR zone 1: SAR in receive mode X X
04/14/17 18:01 18:29 104 11761.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (18:10-18:16) X X
04/20/17 02:59 03:39 110 11840.0-11840.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees (03:13-03:23) [Pacific] X X
05/07/17 127 Eclipse season begins X
06/08/17 18:02 18:28 159 12565.5-12566.0 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #6 (thruster:18:11:56) X
06/14/17 17:48 18:16 165 12653.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:57-18:04) X X
06/19/17 09:22 10:02 170 12721.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees (09:36-09:46) [Amazon] X X
06/20/17 171 Maximum eclipse X
07/11/17 18:01 18:28 192 13048.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (18:10-18:16) X X
07/16/17 03:40 04:41 197 13112.5-13113.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees [30 minute Ascending in eclipse] (03:54-04:25) X X
08/04/17 216 Eclipse season ends X
08/14/17 17:36 18:03 226 13545.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:44-17:51) X X
08/16/17 16:18 17:00 228 13574.0 Nadir point calibration, 35.5 degrees (16:23-16:53) X X
08/21/17 233 Total solar eclipse X
08/26/17 18:05 18:38 238 13721.0-13721.5 RMM09 CARA Risk Mitigation Maneuver (thruster: 18:20:45) X
09/08/17 17:59 18:25 251 13911.0-13911.5 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #7 (thruster:18:09:08) X
09/12/17 17:23 17:51 255 13969.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:32-17:38) X X
10/11/17 17:17 17:44 284 14393.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:26-17:32) X X
11/16/17 13:19 13:47 320 14917.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:28-13:34) X X
12/11/17 13:58 14:25 345 15283.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:06-14:12) X X
12/20/17 354 Sun at maximum beta angle of ~15.5 degrees X
12/21/17 18:45 19:11 355 15432.5-15433.0 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #8 (thruster:18:55:28) X
01/09/18 13:45 14:13 009 15707.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:54-14:00) X X
02/08/18 15:49 16:17 039 16147.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (15:58-16:04 X X
02/15/18 046 Partial solar eclipse (about 20:30) X
03/09/18 13:53 14:20 068 16570.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:01-14:08). Data lost due to downlink station issues. X X
04/08/18 17:27 17:55 098 17011.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:36-17:42) X X
05/08/18 128 Eclipse season begins X
05/18/18 17:23 17:50 138 17596.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:31-17:38) X X
06/09/18 17:48 18:16 160 17918.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:57-18:03) X X
06/22/18 09:22 10:02 173 18103.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees (09:36-09:46) [Amazon] X X
06/22/18 173 Maximum eclipse at 2018-173T18:09:36. X
06/27/18 00:00 178 18170.5 Contingency Comm entered: Science data downlink stopped (latency will suffer) X
06/28/18 03:00 179 18187.0 Science downlinks resume. Both RAD and SAR have lost data (~15 hours RAD,). RAD data downlinked first over next several passes. SAR data will be delayed for many days. X
06/30/18 181 Ephemeris update errors may result in small nadir pointing anomalies X
07/08/18 17:36 18:03 189 18342.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:45-17:51) X X
07/12/18 17:18 17:44 193 18400.5-18401.0 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #9 (thruster:17:28:15) X
08/05/18 217 Eclipse season ends X
08/10/18 18:15 18:42 222 18825.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (18:24-18:30) X X
08/11/18 223 Partial solar eclipse (about 10:00) X
09/06/18 16:47 21:26 249 19219.5-19222.0 NPM reformat: Radar powered off, Radiometer placed in Diagnostic Safe (16:50-21:22) X X X
09/12/18 15:34 16:01 255 19306.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (15:43-15:49) X X
10/08/18 13:38 14:05 281 19685.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:47-13:53) X X
11/08/18 14:38 15:06 312 20139.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:47-14:54) X X
12/08/18 13:33 14:00 342 20577.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:41-13:48) X X
12/21/18 355 Sun at maximum beta angle of ~15.5 degrees X
01/06/19 006 Total solar eclipse (about 01:43) X
01/09/19 13:33 14:00 009 21045.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:41-13:48) X X
02/08/19 13:56 14:24 039 21484.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:05-14:11) X X
02/28/19 17:32 17:58 059 21779.0-21779.5 Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) #10 (thruster:17:42:19) X
03/01/19 060 Minimum +Y to sun angle of 2.9 degrees X
03/09/19 13:40 14:07 068 21908.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:49-13:55) X X
04/11/19 17:27 17:54 101 22393.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:35-17:42) X X
05/08/19 128 Eclipse season begins X
05/11/19 17:48 18:15 131 22832.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:57-18:03) X X
06/10/19 18:13 18:40 161 23271.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (18:22-18:28) X X
06/19/19 18:55 SMAP enters SAFE-RWA mode due to FSW reset (instruments off) X
06/21/19 172 Maximum eclipse
07/23/19 21:25 21:27 204 23902.0 Radiometer powered on X X
07/23/19 22:27 204 23903.0 SAR in receive mode X X
08/05/19 217 Eclipse season ends X
08/07/19 17:48 18:15 219 24119.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:56 - 18:03) X X
08/12/19 09:22 10:01 224 24187.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 180 degrees (09:36-09:46) [Amazon] X X
08/14/19 16:18 17:00 226 24221.0 Nadir point Look Angle Calibration, 35.5 degrees (16:23-16:53) X X
09/10/19 17:23 17:50 253 24616.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (17:31 - 17:37) X X
10/10/19 17:53 18:20 283 25055.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (18:02 - 18:08) X X
11/06/19 22:41 23:09 310 25453.0-25453.5 RMM12 CARA Risk Mitigation Maneuver (thruster: 22:50:47) [In lieu of OTM #11] X
11/08/19 14:26 14:53 312 25477.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:35 - 14:41) X X
11/13/19 17:22 19:48 317 25552.5-25554.0 NPM reformat: Radar powered off, Radiometer placed in Diagnostic Safe (17:24-19:04) X X X

(c) 2015-2019 California Institute of Technology. Government sponsorship acknowledged.

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NASA Previews SMAP Launch
NASA Previews SMAP Launch
Scheduled for launch on Jan. 29, 2015, NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) instrument will measure the moisture lodged in Earth's soils with an unprecedented accuracy and resolution. The instrument's three main parts are a radar, a radiometer and the largest rotating mesh antenna ever deployed in space.
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SMAP Artist's Rendering of Instrument
Technology Innovations Spin NASA's SMAP into Space
SMAP will allow for improved weather forecasts that will upgrade predictions for heat stress and virus-spreading rates. In short, SMAP will allow policy makers to plan farther ahead into the future.
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SMAP Artist's Rendering
New NASA satellite should help scientists better predict rain, drought
SMAP will be working with the Texas Soil Observation Network to help water managers in Texas.
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How Underground Sensors In Texas Will Help NASA Predict Drought and Floods
How Underground Sensors In Texas Will Help NASA Predict Drought and Floods
NASA’s innovative soil moisture mapper, a new environmental satellite launching in January, has been fueled up for blastoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
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Artist's Rendering of SMAP Instrument
Soil moisture mapper fueled for January launch
The Latest Images
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Today's Map
Latest from SMAP
The launch of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory has been delayed to a targeted launch date of Jan. 31, pending completion of minor repairs to the United Launch Alliance Delta II launch vehicle.
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SMAP Earth Mission Launch No Earlier than Saturday
SMAP Earth Mission Launch No Earlier than Saturday
Initial data from SMAP capture the 2015 spring thaw progression over the Northern Hemisphere, with a thaw front extending from predominantly non-frozen southern latitudes to the still-frozen north.
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NASA SMAP Images Show Progression of Spring Thaw in Northern Hemisphere
NASA SMAP Images Show Progression of Spring Thaw in Northern Hemisphere
NASA celebrated the 45th annual Earth Day April 17-22 with a variety of live and online activities to engage the public in the Agency's mission to better understand and protect our home planet.
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NASA Celebrates Earth Day with Public Events, Online Activities
NASA Celebrates Earth Day with Public Events, Online Activities
NASA's SMAP and University of Texas scientists are rounding up critical soil information for managing the Lone Star State's limited water.
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NASA's SMAP and University of Texas scientists are rounding up critical soil information for managing the Lone Star State's limited water.
How Dry Is Texas? SMAP, TxSON Network Aim to Find Out
SMAP data show surface soil moisture in the Southeastern United States on Oct. 5, 2015 when large-scale flooding was experienced all over South Carolina.
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SMAP data show surface soil moisture in the Southeastern United States on Oct. 5, 2015.
Devastating Carolina Floods Viewed by NASA's SMAP