Watch the latest water satellite unfold itself in space

This illustration shows the SWOT spacecraft with its antenna mast and solar arrays fully deployed. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Engineers are working to get the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite ready to start measuring the height of water on more than 90% of the Earth's surface and provide a high-definition survey of our planet's water for the first time. The SWOT satellite was launched into Earth orbit on Friday, December 16, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in central California.

However, after successfully deploying the solar panel arrays that provide the satellite with power, it would next need to unfold its substantial mast and antenna panels (see above) before it can do that. The program uses telemetry data to monitor and control the satellite, but it also outfitted the spacecraft with four specialized commercial cameras to capture the activity.

Approximately 10 minutes after launch, the solar arrays fully expanded.

On December 22, the antennas had successfully deployed over a period of four days. The mast extending from the spacecraft and locking in place was captured by the two cameras that were trained on the KaRIn antennas, but they were unable to capture the antennas fully deployed (a milestone the team confirmed with telemetry data.)

The Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) instrument's two antennas are located at either end of the mast, 33 feet (10 meters) apart. KaRIn will observe eddies, currents, and other ocean features that are smaller than 13 miles (20 kilometers) across. It is designed to take exact measurements of the height of water in Earth's freshwater and ocean bodies. Additionally, information on rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters) and lakes and reservoirs larger than 15 acres (62,500 square meters) will be gathered.

In order to collect data along a 30-mile (50-kilometer) broad swath on either side of the satellite, KaRIn will bounce radar pulses off the Earth's surface of water and pick up the signals with both of those antennas.

The information SWOT offers will aid in communities' preparation for a warmer world and assist researchers and decision-makers in addressing some of today's most urgent climate-related challenges.