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SMAP

SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) is NASA’s active Earth-observation mission launched on 31 January 2015 to map global soil moisture and detect whether soils are frozen or thawed. Its active radar and passive radiometer measurements connect the water, energy, and carbon cycles, improve weather and climate prediction, and support flood, drought, crop-yield, and natural-hazard monitoring.

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Identity

Aliases
SMAPSoil Moisture Active PassiveSoil Moisture Active-Passive MissionSMAP Mission
Name
SMAP
Status
active

Details

Astronauts
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Description
SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive) is NASA’s active Earth-observation mission launched on 31 January 2015 to map global soil moisture and detect whether soils are frozen or thawed. Its active radar and passive radiometer measurements connect the water, energy, and carbon cycles, improve weather and climate prediction, and support flood, drought, crop-yield, and natural-hazard monitoring.
Destination
Near-polar, sun-synchronous Earth orbit at approximately 685 km altitude and 98.1° inclination for mapping global soil moisture and freeze/thaw state to understand water, carbon, and energy cycles and improve weather, climate, flood, and drought prediction
Launch Site
Programs
Start Date
2015-01-31
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Creation Time
August 14, 2026 at 12:44:37 UTC
Updated Time
August 22, 2026 at 13:17:37 UTC

Other

Affiliations
Space Stations
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Vehicles
SMAP - AeroVia