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Soil Moisture Active Passive

SMAP

Soil Moisture Active Passive, or SMAP, is an Earth satellite mission designed to measure and map Earth's soil moisture and freeze/thaw state to better understand terrestrial water, carbon and energy cycles.

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SMAP Foreground

Mission Statistics

Time in Orbit

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Launch Date

Jan. 31, 2015

Type

Orbiter

Target

Earth

Status

Current

About the mission

Soil Moisture Active Passive, or SMAP, is an Earth satellite mission designed to measure and map Earth's soil moisture and freeze/thaw state to better understand terrestrial water, carbon and energy cycles.

Using an advanced radiometer, the satellite peers beneath clouds, vegetation and other surface features to monitor water and energy fluxes, helping improve flood predictions and drought monitoring. Data from the three-year mission will play a crucial role in understanding changes in water availability, food production and other societal impacts of climate change.

Instruments

  • Radiometer

Interactive 3D model of SMAP. View the full interactive experience at Eyes on the Solar System.

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› Mission Website
› Launch Press Kit
› Fact Sheet
› NASA Climate Change Website

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