Aqua (EOS PM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the precipitation, evaporation, and cycling of water. It is the second major component of the Earth Observing System (EOS) following on Terra (launched 1999) and followed by Aura (launched 2004). Aqua spacecraft. ... NASA Logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). ... In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes, around another object, whilst under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity. ... Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... Evaporation is the process whereby atoms or molecules in a liquid state (or solid state if the substance sublimes) gain sufficient energy to enter the gaseous state. ... The water cycle—technically known as the hydrologic cycle—is the circulation of water within the earths hydrosphere, involving changes in the physical state of water between liquid, solid, and gas phases. ... Water (from the Old English word wæter; c. ... The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a program of NASA comprising a series of artificial satellite missions and scientific instruments in Earth orbit designed for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans of the Earth. ... Terra (EOS AM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) is a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Aura spacecraft Aura is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the Earths ozone, air quality and climate. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The name "Aqua" comes from the Latin word for water. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 4, 2002 aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket. Aqua is on a Sun-synchronous orbit. Aqua is a Danish pop-dance band which consisted of Lene Grawford Nystr m (born 2 October 1973, T nsberg, Norway), Ren Dif (born 17 October 1967, Copenhagen, Denmark), Claus Norr en (born 5 June 1970, Charlottenlund, Denmark) and S ren Rasted (born 13 June 1969, Blovstr d, Denmark). ... Latin is an Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Vandenberg Air Force Base is a base with a spaceport, located in Santa Barbara County, California. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Boeing Company NYSE: BA is the leading American aircraft and aerospace manufacturer, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with its largest production facilities in Everett, Washington, about 30 miles north of Seattle, Washington. ... A Delta II rocket launches from Cape Canaveral carrying a GPS satellite The Boeing IDS Delta II family of launch vehicles has been in service since 1989. ... By analogy with the geosynchronous orbit, a heliosynchronous orbit is a heliocentric orbit of radius 24. ...

Aqua carries 6 instruments for studies of water on the earth's surface and in the atmosphere: Layers of Atmosphere (NOAA) The Earths atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retained by the Earths gravity. ...

• AMSR-E - Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS - measures cloud properties, sea surface temperature, near-surface wind speed, radiative energy flux, surface water, ice and snow. Furnished by the National Space Development Agency of Japan.
• MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, also measures cloud properties & radiative energy flux, also aerosol properties; land cover and land use change, fires and volcanos.
• AMSU-A -Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit - measures atmospheric temperature and humidity.
• AIRS - Atmospheric Infrared Sounder - measures atmospheric temperature and humidity, land and sea surface temperatures.
• HSB - Humidity Sounder for Brazil - VHF band equipment measuring atmospheric humidity. Furnished by Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais of Brazil.
• CERES - Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System - measures radiative energy flux

The Aqua spacecraft has a mass of about 2,850 kg, plus propellant of about 230 kg(at launch). Stowed, the satellite is 2.68 m x 2.49 m x 6.49m. Deployed, Aqua is 4.81 m x 16.70 m x 8.04 m. This page is about the radiation; for the appliance, see microwave oven. ... Cumulus of fair weather A cloud is a visible mass of condensation droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body. ... Visualisation of the SST of the ocean just before Hurricane Bob (August 14, 1991) Sea surface temperature (SST) is the water temperature at 1 meter below the sea surface. ... Wind speed is the speed of movement of air relative to a fixed point on the earth. ... As the temperature decreases, the peak of the black body radiation curve moves to lower intensities and longer wavelengths. ... A natural, 4 tonne, block of ice on a beach in Iceland Icicles Ice is the solid form of water. ... A fresh snowfall in Colorados (USA) high forests. ... NASDA was the National Space Development Agency of Japan. ... Ash plumes on Kamchatka Peninsula, eastern Russia MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board the Terra (EOS AM) Satellite, and in 2002 on board the Aqua (EOS PM) satellite. ... http://visibleearth. ... Eruption redirects here. ... Temperature is the physical property of a system which underlies the common notions of hot and cold; the material with the higher temperature is said to be hotter. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Very high frequency (VHF) is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz (wavelength 10 m) to 300 MHz (wavelength 1 m). ... The letters INPE may refer to the: the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais) located in São José dos Campos, Brazil. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ...

External link

• NASA site

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