NASA Sets Coverage for SWOT Water Survey Mission Launch
Targeting a Dec. 15 launch, SWOT will survey nearly all water on Earth’s surface for the first time, helping track how fresh and saltwater bodies change over time.
NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for the international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission.The mission is targeted for liftoff at 6:46 a.m. EST (3:46 a.m. PST) Friday, Dec. 16, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.Live launch coverage will begin at 6 a.m. EST (3 a.m. PST) on NASA Television,YouTube,Twitter, theNASA app, and the agency’swebsite, with prelaunch and science briefings beginning Tuesday, Dec. 13.Watch coverage on the agency’s website at:https://www.nasa.gov/liveSWOT willsurvey nearly all wateron Earth’s surface for the first time, measuring the height of the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes, helping scientists track how fresh and saltwater bodies change over time. The satellite will help scientists investigate how the oceans absorb atmospheric heat and carbon, moderating global temperatures and climate change.Using SWOT’sstate-of the-art technology, scientists will observe ocean features with 10 times the resolution of current technologies along with providing high-definition views of freshwater bodies. It can observe the entire length of nearly all rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters), as well as collect data on more than a million lakes larger than 15 acres (62,500 square meters).A global inventory of water resources will help scientists better understand where the water is, where it’s coming from, and where it’s going. The observations will benefit people on Earth by helping improve flood forecasts, improving the models used to monitor droughts and improving predictions for sea level rise. The observations also will benefit industries, like shipping, by providing measurements of water levels along rivers, as well as information about tides, currents, and storm surges in the ocean.The mission is a collaborative effort by NASA and the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency.Get the Latest JPL NewsSUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTERFull mission coverage is as follows:Tuesday, Dec. 133 p.m. EST (12 p.m. PST) – SWOT Science Briefing on NASA TV andYouTubewith the following participants:Katherine Calvin, chief scientist and senior climate advisor, NASANadya Vinogradova Shiffer, SWOT program scientist, NASATamlin Pavelsky, SWOT hydrology science lead, University of North CarolinaBenjamin Hamlington, research scientist, Sea Level and Ice Group, NASA’s Jet Propulsion LaboratorySelma Cherchali, Earth observation program head, CNESAccredited news media planning to attend the briefing should confirm their participation with Tech Sgt. Patrick Harrower, 30th Space Wing public affairs officer, at patrick.harrower@us.af.mil no later than 9 a.m. PST Dec. 13.The public may ask questions during the event using #AskNASA.Wednesday, Dec. 143 p.m. EST (12 p.m. PST) – SWOT Prelaunch News Conference on NASA TV andYouTubewith the following participants:Karen St. Germain, Earth Science Division director, NASAThierry Lafon, SWOT project manager, CNESTim Dunn, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services ProgramJulianna Scheiman, civil satellite missions director, SpaceXParag Vaze, SWOT project manager, NASA’s Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCapt. Zack Zounes, launch weather officer, U.S. Space ForceAccredited news media planning to attend the briefing should confirm their participation with Tech Sgt. Patrick Harrower, 30th Space Wing public affairs officer, at patrick.harrower@us.af.mil no later than 9 a.m. PST Dec. 14.The public may ask questions during the event using #AskNASA.2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) –NASA Edgewill host the SWOT Rollout Show that will air live onNASA TVandYouTube.NASA TV Launch CoverageNASA TV live coverage will begin at 6 a.m. EST (3 a.m. PST) Thursday, Dec. 15. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit:https://www.nasa.gov/liveAudio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, or 7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135.Follow countdown coverage on the SWOT launch blog at:https://blogs.nasa.gov/swot/Public ParticipationMembers of the publiccan registerto attend the SWOT launch virtually. The virtual guest program for this mission includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the virtual guest passport following a successful launch.Watch, Engage OnlineStay connected with the mission on social media, and let people know you're following it on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtags #TrackingWorldWater and #SWOTmission. Go behind the scenes and hear from scientists, engineers, and NASA leadership with exclusive SWOT videos onNASA’s JPL YouTube Channel. Also follow online at:Twitter:@NASA,@CNES,@NASAJPL,@NASA_LSP,@NASAKennedy,@NASAEarth,@NASAClimate,@CSA_ASC,@SpaceGovUK,@SLDelta30Facebook:NASA,CNES,NASA LSP,NASA JPL,NASA Kennedy,NASA Earth,NASA Climate Change,Canadian Space Agency,UK Space AgencyInstagram:NASA,CNES,NASA Kennedy,NASAEarth,NASA JPL,NASA Climate Change,Canadian Space Agency,UK Space AgencyFor more information about SWOT, visit:https://swot.jpl.nasa.gov/SWOT media reelSWOT press kitSWOT lessons for students and educatorsPlay SWOT launch bingo