First data from SMOS

This image is the first data sent to Earth by the MIRAS instrument on ESA's SMOS satellite, launched on 2 November 2009. It was acquired as part of the initial functional verification test since the instrument was switched on on 17 November. The image depicts non-calibrated brightness temperature values colour coded from blue (low) to red (high). Although the image content cannot be interpreted at this time, it proves that the instrument is in good shape and the data reception and processing chain are working.