* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: SMOS mission

Blobrana · L

A European satellite is set to provide major new insights into how water is cycled around the Earth.
The Smos spacecraft will make the first global maps of the amount of moisture held in soils and of the quantity of salts dissolved in the oceans.

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Blobrana · L

The Russian State Commission has given the go-ahead to fuel the Rockot launcher that will take ESA's SMOS and Proba-2 satellites into orbit. This formal authorisation confirms that launch can take place on 2 November at 02:50 CET (01:50 UT).

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Blobrana · L

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Europe's new Earth observation satellite was some kind of "space helicopter".
Satellites have a reputation for being dull, functional boxes. However, the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (Smos) spacecraft is anything but routine.
Its looks, of course, are a consequence of the job it has been asked to do.
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Blobrana · L

A European satellite is set to provide major new insights into how water is cycled around the Earth.

Read more

Blobrana · L

A new European Earth observation satellite will be launched in the early hours of Monday morning (2 November 2009) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.
The European Space Agency (ESA) Soil Moisture & Ocean Salinity (SMOS - pronounced SMOSS) satellite aims to measure both moisture levels in the Earth's soils and the saltiness (salinity) of the surface waters of the world's oceans from space for the very first time. British scientists and engineers have been involved in the mission from the start.

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Blobrana · L

SMOS satellite

Blobrana · L

RE: SMOS mission

Blobrana · L

Final look at ESAs SMOS and Proba-2 satellites
As preparations for the launch of SMOS and Proba-2 continue on schedule, the engineers and technicians at the Russian launch site say goodbye as both satellites are encapsulated within the half-shells of the Rockot fairing.

"Today, with the encapsulation of the SMOS satellite in the launcher fairing, we have made an important step towards the launch of this key environmental mission, which will investigate two parameters of the complex climate system. I am looking forward to the launch in a few days!" - Volker Liebig, ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes

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Blobrana · L

SMOS launch nearing: Media Day at ESA/ESRIN
On Wednesday 21 October, media representatives will have the opportunity to attend an in-depth briefing at ESA's ESRIN establishment in Frascati near Rome on the upcoming mission of SMOS, ESA's Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satellite scheduled for a Rockot launch from Plesetsk, Russia on 2 November at 02:50 CET.

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