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September launch for ESA's water mission

The SMOS Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) consists of a central structure and three deployable arms that carry 69 antenna receivers. From an altitude of 758 km, the SMOS will view an area almost 3000 km in diameter. Due to the interferometry measurement principle and the Y-shaped antenna, the field of view is limited to a hexagon-like shape about 1000 km across. The orbit will result in global coverage every three days (c) ESA - AOES Medialab

Tags: circulation, launch, mission, ocean, satellite, space, water

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September launch for ESA's water mission
— 27 April 2009 16:28 GMT | Environment

Following confirmation from Eurockot Launch Services that they will launch ESA's SMOS mission on 9 September this year, the satellite has just been taken out of storage - providing an opportunity for the media to view the satellite before it is prepared for shipment to the launch site in Russia…