Skip Navigation

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
12/09/19 13:55 14:23 343 25930.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:04 - 14:10) X X
12/21/19 355 Sun at maximum beta angle of ~15.5 degrees X
12/26/19 360 Partial solar eclipse X
01/12/20 13:33 14:00 012 26427.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (13:41 - 13:48) X X
02/07/20 14:48 15:15 038 26808.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:57 - 15:03) X X
02/29/20 060 Minimum +Y to sun angle of 3.1 degrees X
03/09/20 14:06 14:34 069 27261.5 Cold Sky Calibration, 110 degrees (14:14 - 14:20) X X

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

You Might Also Like

Results of a study reveal that SMAP soil moisture retrievals are generally better than AMSR2 soil moisture data.
More
Soil moisture products acquired from passive satellite missions have been widely applied in environmental processes.
Validation Analysis of SMAP Products Using Ground-Based Measurements
NASA scientists are auditioning the radar aboard a European satellite to see how well it stands in for the radar that failed aboard the U.S. space agency’s newly launched Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite in July.
More
NASA scientists are auditioning the radar aboard a European satellite to see how well it stands in for the radar that broke down aboard the U.S. space agency’s newly launched Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite in July.
NASA Focused on Sentinel as Replacement for SMAP Radar
SMAP data provide another way to see flooding in South Carolina.
More
SMAP data provide another way to see flooding in South Carolina.
Devastating Carolina Floods Viewed by NASA's SMAP
SMAP’s radiometer, which measures temperatures on Earth’s surface, can do more than previously thought, and the spacecraft remains healthy, scientists say.
More
SMAP’s radiometer, which measures temperatures on Earth’s surface, can do more than previously thought, and the spacecraft remains healthy, scientists say.
Scientists Hopeful About SMAP After Loss of Radar
Discovery Channel features students exploring Mount Kilimanjaro. They will learn about collecting environmental data on the mountain’s six biomes and meet a NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist to discuss the SMAP Mission, a satellite that measures the Earth’s soil moisture.
More
Discovery Channel features students exploring Mount Kilimanjaro and learning about SMAP.
Students Learn About SMAP during Mount Kilimanjaro Expedition
Dara Entekhabi, the science team leader of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite, was selected by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to receive the 2015 Hydrologic Sciences Award.
More
Dara Entekhabi, the science team leader of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite, was selected by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to receive the 2015 Hydrologic Sciences Award.
Dara Entekhabi Is Recipient of 2015 Hydrologic Sciences Award
NASA's SMAP satellite observatory conducted a field experiment as part of its soil moisture data product validation program in southern Arizona.
More
NASA's SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) satellite observatory conducted a field experiment as part of its soil moisture data product validation program in southern Arizona on Aug. 2-18, 2015.
SMAPVEX 15 Field Campaign Measures Soil Moisture Over Arizona
NASA scientists are on a mission to map global soil moisture, and through SciStarter, they’re teaming up with citizen scientists to gather valuable data from the ground to complement and validate what is seen from space.
More
Known as the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite mission, the research will help scientists understand links among Earth’s water, energy and carbon cycles.
NASA and SciStarter Enlist Citizen Scientists to Examine Soil Moisture
News from the fourth Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAPEx-4) field campaign, carried out in Yanco, NSW, Australia, from May 1-23, 2015. This field experiment is part of the CalVal activities for the NASA SMAP mission.
More
Notes from the Field
Notes from the Field
NASA-funded study finds that Texas’ historic rainfall and resulting soil moisture could strengthen a storm moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico.
More
NASA-funded study finds that Texas’ historic rainfall and resulting soil moisture could strengthen a storm moving inland from the Gulf of Mexico.
'Brown Ocean' Effect May Bedevil Soggy Texas as Storm Nears
An assessment of surface soil moisture is necessary for applications such as weather forecasting, climate change modeling, monitoring of agricultural productivity, water resources management, drought prediction, flood area mapping, and ecosystem health monitoring.
More
he SMAP observatory separated from the upper stage 57 minutes after liftoff, and solar arrays opened one minute after separation.
Mission to Monitor Soil Moisture with Active-Passive Remote Sensing
“We’re entering the golden age of satellite missions for water,” says Jay Famiglietti, NASA’s senior water scientist. His research team is mapping the dwindling water supply of the drought-gripped western United States.
More
“We’re entering the golden age of satellite missions for water,” says Jay Famiglietti, NASA’s senior water scientist.
California Has No Idea How Much Water It Has Left; NASA Can Help
SMAP’s measurements will help scientists to understand the circulation of water and carbon. The carbon cycle has more branches than the water cycle; it transfers from the air, in the form of carbon dioxide, to soil, rocks, surface water and frozen surfaces.
More
SMAP’s measurements will help scientists to understand the circulation of water and carbon.
SMAP Will Help Scientists Understand Circulation of Water and Carbon
With its antenna spinning at full speed, NASA's new Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory has successfully re-tested its science instruments and generated its first global maps, a key step to beginning routine science operations.
More
With its antenna spinning at full speed, NASA's new Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory has successfully re-tested its science instruments and generated its first global maps, a key step to beginning routine science operations.
NASA Soil Moisture Mission Produces First Global Maps
Kent Kellogg will be the featured speaker May 11 when the La Cañada Flintridge Coordinating Council holds its annual Les Tupper Awards ceremony in von Karman Auditorium at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The event begins at 7 p.m.
More
SMAP Manager to Join Tupper Awards
SMAP Manager to Join Tupper Awards
The 20-foot (6-meter) "golden lasso" reflector antenna atop NASA's new Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory is now ready to wrangle up high-resolution global soil moisture data.
More
SMAP's spinning antenna sweeps out a wide swath to map soil moisture.
It's 'full spin ahead' for soil moisture mapper
Mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, have commanded the 20-foot (6-meter) reflector antenna on NASA's new Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory to begin spinning for the first time. The partial spin-up is a key step before science operations.
More
NASA's New Soil Moisture Mapper Goes for a Spin
NASA's New Soil Moisture Mapper Goes for a Spin
NASA's new Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory has successfully completed a two-day test of its science instruments. The observatory's radar and radiometer instruments were successfully operated for the first time.
More
NASA's Soil Moisture Mapper Takes First 'SMAPshots'
NASA's Soil Moisture Mapper Takes First 'SMAPshots'
Mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, today sent commands to unfurl the massive 20-foot-wide (6-meter) reflector antenna on NASA's new Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observator. The deployment of the mesh reflector antenna, which supports the collection of SMAP's radar and radiometer instrument measurements in space, marks a key milestone in commissioning the satellite. S
More
SMAP Completes Key Milestone
SMAP Completes Key Milestone
Over the past 12 months NASA has added five missions to its orbiting Earth-observing fleet – the biggest one-year increase in more than a decade. NASA scientists will discuss early observations from the new missions and their current status during a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 26.
More
NASA Briefing to Highlight Early Results from New Earth Science Missions
NASA Briefing to Highlight Early Results from New Earth Science Missions
NASA's SMAP has successfully separated from the Delta II rocket off the east coast of Africa, and engineers have successfully established communication with the spacecraft.
More
NASA Launches Groundbreaking Soil Moisture Mapper
NASA Launches Groundbreaking Soil Moisture Mapper
A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory onboard launches from Space Launch Complex 2, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. S
More
We have liftoff!
We have liftoff!
NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive mission (SMAP) now is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California at 6:20 a.m. PST (9:20 a.m. EST) Saturday, Jan. 31, on a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. NASA Television coverage of the launch will begin at 4 a.m. PST (7 a.m. EST).
More
Launch of NASA Soil Moisture Mapping Mission Set for Saturday
Launch of NASA Soil Moisture Mapping Mission Set for Saturday
This is a wonderful infographic brought to you by Space.com.
More
How NASA's Soil Moisture Satellite Works (Infographic)
How NASA's Soil Moisture Satellite Works (Infographic)
NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory is perched on the pad at Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), and is set to launch Thursday, Jan. 29, at 6:20 a.m. PST (9:20 a.m. EST) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket will carry SMAP into orbit. The launch window lasts three minutes.
More
NASA's SMAP Earth Mission Awaits Launch
NASA's SMAP Earth Mission Awaits Launch
Precipitation and temperature are part of every weather forecast. Precipitation comes from clouds, clouds are formed of airborne water vapor, and vapor comes from evaporating soil moisture -- so soil moisture governs precipitation.
More
Building a Better Weather Forecast? SMAP May Help
Building a Better Weather Forecast? SMAP May Help
NASA doesn’t study just the stars and planets; it is also concerned with the soil beneath your feet. Studying the moisture in the top two inches of the soil from space with a satellite named "SMAP" can help weather forecasters predict flash floods, farmers grow more crops, and communities plan for drought.
More
NASA's Earth Minute: Dishing the DIrt
NASA's Earth Minute: Dishing the DIrt
NASA held a media briefing at 11 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST) Thursday, Jan. 8, at NASA Headquarters in Washington to discuss the upcoming Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
Artist's Rendering of SMAP Instrument
Soil moisture mapper fueled for January launch
The Latest Images
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
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.
More
SMAP data show surface soil moisture in the Southeastern United States on Oct. 5, 2015.
Devastating Carolina Floods Viewed by NASA's SMAP