Earth ID: 3830

Aquarius Satellite & Data Pre-launch Beauty Shot

Visualizations by Alex Kekesi and Ernie Wright Released on May 5, 2011

Aquarius is a focused satellite mission to measure global Sea Surface Salinity. After its planned 09-Jun-11 launch, it will provide the global view of salinity variability needed for climate studies. The Aquarius / SAC-D mission is being developed by NASA and the Space Agency of Argentina (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE). The satellite model depicted in this animation is an artist rendition and intentionally exaggerated so as to remain visible as it flies around the globe. Had the satellite model been rendered true-to-scale, it would not be visible when we pull out to see the full earth.

This animation is an artist depiction of the Aquarius satellite in orbit around the earth as it collects data used to derive Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) measurements. This visualization was created prior to launch and uses simulated SSS measurements. The satellite orbit and data footprint is based on predicted data in preparation for launch.

Print resolution image of Aquarius collecting data over the Indian Ocean. Earth is upsidedown with the south pole at the top of the image.

Print resolution image of Aquarius collecting data over the Pacific Ocean. The night lights of the United States and Mexico can be seen towards the upper right.

Print resolution image depicting the pattern of swaths created after three days of data collection, centered over the Pacific Ocean.

Visualization Credits

Alex Kekesi (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Lead Animator
Ernie Wright (UMBC): Lead Animator
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Animator
Chris Meaney (HTSI): Animator
Walt Feimer (HTSI): Animator
Brooke Harris (UMBC): Producer
Gene Feldman (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Norman Kuring (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Fred Patt (SAIC): Scientist
David Levine (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Gary Lagerloef (ESR): Scientist
Shiloh Heurich (GST): Project Support
James W. Williams (GST): Project Support

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3830

This item is part of this series:
Aquarius Pre-Launch

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Satellite dynamics
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Salinity/Density
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Salinity/Density >> Salinity
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Solid Earth >> Geodetics/Gravity >> Satellite Orbits
GCMD >> Location >> Sea Surface
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0