ESA's SMOS water mission celebrates first year in orbit A year
ago today, ESA's SMOS satellite was launched to improve our
knowledge of the water cycle. We are now not only closer to
understanding more about Earth, but the novel technology
employed by SMOS is clearly demonstrating a new way of
monitoring Earth from space. The Earth Explorer Soil Moisture
and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite was lofted into space in the
early hours of 2 November 2009 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in
northern Russia. The next six months were spent commissioning
the mission. This included calibrating the instrument to ensure
that the science community receives the best-possible data on
soil moisture and ocean salinity. With everything in good
working order, the mission formally began operations at the end
of May. Despite some problems caused by interference from radar,
TV and radio transmissions, which are gradually being turned
off, the mission is now delivering a wealth of data on soil
moisture and sea-surface salinity. Speaking