Sunday, 24 Aug 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > Satellite launched to map the world’s oceans, lakes, rivers
World

Satellite launched to map the world’s oceans, lakes, rivers

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
Satellite launched to map the world’s oceans, lakes, rivers
SHARE

A U.S.-French satellite that will map almost all of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers rocketed into orbit Friday.

The predawn launch aboard a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California capped a highly successful year for NASA.

Nicknamed SWOT — short for Surface Water and Ocean Topography — the satellite is needed more than ever as climate change worsens droughts, flooding and coastal erosion, according to scientists.

“We’re going to be able to see things that we could just not see before … and really understand where water is at any given time,” said Benjamin Hamlington at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

About the size of an SUV, the satellite will measure the height of water on more than 90% of Earth’s surface, allowing scientists to track the flow and identify potential high-risk areas. It will also survey millions of lakes as well as 1.3 million miles (2.1 million kilometers) of rivers, from headwater to mouth.

The satellite will shoot radar pulses at Earth, with the signals bouncing back to be received by a pair of antennas, one on each end of a 33-foot (10-meter) boom.

It should be able to make out currents and eddies less than 13 miles (21 kilometers) across, as well as areas of the ocean where water masses of varying temperatures merge.

NASA’s current fleet of nearly 30 Earth-observing satellites cannot make out such slight features. And while these older satellites can map the extent of lakes and rivers, their measurements are not as detailed, said the University of North Carolina’s Tamlin Pavelsky, who is part of the mission.

Perhaps most importantly, the satellite will reveal the location and speed of rising sea levels and the shift of coastlines, key to saving lives and property. It will cover the globe between the Arctic and Antarctica at least once every three weeks, as it orbits more than 550 miles (890 kilometers) high. The mission is expected to last three years.

NASA and the French Space Agency collaborated on the $1.2 billion project, with Britain and Canada chipping in.

“What a spectacular, truly spectacular, launch,” said NASA program manager Nadya Vinogradova-Shiffer. “It is a pivotal moment, and I’m very excited about it.”

Already recycled, the first-stage booster returned to Vandenberg eight minutes after liftoff to fly again one day.

It’s the latest milestone this year for NASA. Among the other highlights: glamour shots of the universe from the new Webb Space Telescope; the Dart spacecraft’s dead-on slam into an asteroid in the first planetary defense test; and the Orion capsule’s recent return from the moon following a test flight.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article A Biden admin official recently told members of Congress Ukraine has the military capability to take back Crimea A Biden admin official recently told members of Congress Ukraine has the military capability to take back Crimea
Next Article Pakistan seeks UN help as flood aid for survivors drains Pakistan seeks UN help as flood aid for survivors drains

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

‘Fresh’ Stars Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones on Finding the ‘Fun’ in Filming a Bloody Cannibal Love Story

Daisy Edgar-Jones may have become a bona fide star two years ago when she starred…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

‘Mario Kart World’ Nintendo Direct: 3 large takeaways from the stream

For the final couple of weeks, a lot of the web has been abuzz about…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Serbia to reduce number of flights to Moscow after criticism

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — AirSerbia will go back to one flight a day to Moscow,…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. Says ‘Not Like Us’ Diss Eligible For Grammys

Play video content material TMZ.com Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" is without doubt one of…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

UN-backed specialists declare famine in and round Gaza Metropolis
World

UN-backed specialists declare famine in and round Gaza Metropolis

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Putin needs to ‘wriggle out’ of assembly, Zelenskyy claims, and says Russia doesn’t need to finish conflict – Europe stay
World

Putin needs to ‘wriggle out’ of assembly, Zelenskyy claims, and says Russia doesn’t need to finish conflict – Europe stay

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Australian medical doctors subjected to vexatious complaints over social media posts on Gaza, GP peak physique says
World

Australian medical doctors subjected to vexatious complaints over social media posts on Gaza, GP peak physique says

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Information stay: Australia says Israel’s West Financial institution settlement plan is ‘unacceptable’ and calls for press entry to Gaza
World

Information stay: Australia says Israel’s West Financial institution settlement plan is ‘unacceptable’ and calls for press entry to Gaza

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?