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When Aqua was launched in 2002, its planned lifespan was six years. More than two decades later, it is still providing essential data about Earth's water cycle. Its six instruments collect information about everything from clouds to soil moisture to sea ice.
Type
Earth Observation Satellite
Data Center
ASDC
GES DISC
LP DAAC
NSIDC DAAC
OB.DAAC
LAADS DAAC
Launch
May 4, 2002
Objective
Study Earth's water cycle
Instruments Aboard Aqua
| Instrument Name | Operational Date(s) | Spectral Resolution | Type of Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer EOS (AMSR-E) | 6 bands: 6.9 to 89 GHz with 0.3 to 1.1 K radiometric sensitivity |
Spectrometers/ Radiometers | |
| Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) | 15 channel microwave sounder with a frequency range of 15-90 GHz |
Profilers/Sounders | |
| Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) | 2002 - present | 2378 infrared channels in the 3.74 to 15.4 micron spectral range |
Sounder |
| Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) | 0.3-5 µm (SW), 0.3-200 µm (TOT) and 8-12 µm (WN) channels |
Spectrometers/Radiometers | |
| Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Flight Model 1 (CERES FM1) | 0.3-5 µm (SW), 0.3-200 µm (TOT) and 8-12 µm (WN) channels |
Spectrometers/Radiometers | |
| Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Flight Model 2 (CERES FM2) | 0.3-5 µm (SW), 0.3-200 µm (TOT) and 8-12 µm (WN) channels |
Spectrometers/Radiometers | |
| Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Prototype Flight Model (CERES PFM) | Spectrometers/Radiometers | ||
| Humidity Sounder for Brazil (HSB) | Four channels: 1 at 150 GHz, 3 at 183 GHz |
Profiler/Sounder | |
| Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) | 36 spectral bands ranging in wavelength from 0.4 µm to 14.4 µm |
Spectrometers/Radiometers |
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