ESA - SMOS - Introducing a novel use of technology

SMOS at a glance

An Earth Explorer Mapping soil moisture and ocean salinity Improving our understanding of the water cycle

Introducing a novel use of technology

About the satellite

About the launch

SMOS in orbit

Meet the team

Achim Hahne, Project Manager Susanne Mecklenburg, Mission Manager Matthias Drusch, Mission Scientist Jordi Font, Co-Lead Investigator Yann Kerr, Co-Lead Investigator Manuel Martin-Neira, Instrument Principal Engineer Guillermo Buenadicha, Payload Operations Engineer Andrés Borges, EADS CASA Espacio Payload Project Manager Roger Jegou, Launch Campaign Manager Norrie Wright, Payload Data Ground Segment Manager

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Introducing a novel use of technology

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SMOS Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis (MIRAS) consists of a central structure and three arms that carry 69 antenna receivers. The instrument employs a new measuring technique in space by operating at frequencies around 1.4 GHz (L-band) to capture images of microwave radiation emitted from Earth.

From an altitude of 758 km and data obtained from a swath width of about 1000 km, SMOS achieves global coverage every three days.

Credits: ESA/AOES Medialab

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The Very Large Array (VLA) is a collection of 27 radio antennas located in Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna in the array measures 25 m in diameter and weighs about 230 tons.

Credits: NRAO / AUI / NSF

From a technological perspective

Technology leaps let SMOS follow Earth’s water