SMAP
First-ever Earth science decadal survey was a call to action
To gauge the impact of the National Academies’ first Earth science decadal survey, it’s important to look beyond its list of 15 recommended missions and consider the warning the panel began conveying in its 2005 interim report: The U.S. Earth-observing program was in danger of collapse.
NASA Focused on Sentinel as Replacement for SMAP Radar
NASA scientists are auditioning the radar aboard a European satellite to see how well it stands in for the radar that broke down aboard the U.S. space agency’s newly launched Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite in July.
Editorial | A Loss for the Earth Science Community
NASA and the scientific community are trying to stay upbeat and positive following the failure of one of the two main instruments on the agency’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite, saying the mission will soldier on and conduct meaningful science with its remaining sensor.
Scientists Hopeful of Salvaging SMAP Following Loss of Radar
Despite the July failure of the radar on NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite, scientists hope to salvage the $1 billion mission by enhancing data from its other sensor and perhaps by coordinating its measurements with those taken by other spacecraft.
NASA Could Reboot Balky SMAP Radar In ‘Late August’
One of the two main science instruments on NASA’s $915 million Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) spacecraft remains out of action more than a month after abruptly switching off, but engineers believe they are getting closer to diagnosing the problem.
NASA’s SMAP Mission Launches
After weather and equipment delays earlier in the week, NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) successfully launched Jan. 31 aboard one of the last remaining United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rockets. SMAP launched at 9:22 a.m. from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base and separated from Delta 2's upper stage about an hour after liftoff.
