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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
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder 2002 - present

2378 infrared channels in the 3.74 to 15.4 micron spectral range

Sounder
Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer EOS

6 bands: 6.9 to 89 GHz with 0.3 to 1.1 K radiometric sensitivity

Spectrometers/ Radiometers
Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A

15 channel microwave sounder with a frequency range of 15-90 GHz

Profilers/Sounders
Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System

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

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

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 Spectrometers/Radiometers
Humidity Sounder for Brazil

Four channels: 1 at 150 GHz, 3 at 183 GHz

Profiler/Sounder
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

36 spectral bands ranging in wavelength from 0.4 µm to 14.4 µm

Spectrometers/Radiometers

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