Aquarius is a focused satellite mission to measure global Sea Surface Salinity (SSS). Scientific progress is limited because conventional in situ SSS sampling is too sparse to give the global view of salinity variability that only a satellite can provide. Aquarius is planning to launch in 2010. Aquarius/SAC-D is a space mission developed by NASA and the Space Agency of Argentina (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE.)

MISSION STATUS & EVENTS

• Aquarius passed Mission Confirmation Review on September 28, 2005. Thus the project has completed formulation activities (Phase B), during which the mission requirements, design and costs have been developed and reviewed, and has begun the implementation (Phases C & D), when the flight hardware is built, tested and readied for launch.
• After a four-year development effort, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) delivered the Aquarius Radiometer to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California in January 2008. The Radiometer, built by an in-house team of scientists, engineers, and technicians at GSFC is part of the international Aquarius/SAC-D mission. The Radiometer will be integrated with the Aquarius instrument at JPL. (Click here to learn more)