SpaceX and NASA send a satellite into space to observe the world's oceans from an altitude of 891 kilometers

The number of satellites in low Earth orbit has increased by one. SpaceX has sent a vehicle there to monitor the world's oceans.

Here's What We Know

The satellite is called Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT). It was developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Center for Space Research in France, as well as the space agencies of the United Kingdom and Canada.

SWOT was launched into low Earth orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket from the U.S. Space Force's Vandenberg, California, facility. The first stage returned to the pad less than 8 minutes after launch, 0.5 km from the launch point.

The satellite was in orbit 52 minutes after launch. It spent three hours checking equipment and will begin deploying the antenna from early next week. It will take scientists six months to calibrate the instruments. All this time the satellite will be at an altitude of 857 km, after which the orbit will be raised to 891 km above the surface of our planet.

SWOT will monitor water levels in oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. Thanks to this data, experts will be able to study changes in the world's oceans under the influence of various factors, including climate and human activity.

Source: space