The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch a new satellite called Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), which will help scientists predict natural disasters and also assist farmers in determining periods of droughts so that they can prepare the crops better.
The satellite is scheduled to launch on Jan. 29, and NASA scientists suggest that it will measure moisture contents in the Earth's soil with high accuracy.
The SMAP will include a radiometer, radar and rotating mesh antenna. NASA reveals that the mesh antenna is 19.7 feet across and the largest ever rotating mesh antenna to be ever sent to space.
"Making sure we don't have snags, that the mesh doesn't hang up on the supports and tear when it's deploying -- all of that requires very careful engineering. We test, and we test, and we test some more. We have a very stable and robust system now," said Wendy Edelstein of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
NASA explains that the radar on the SMAP will transmit microwaves to the Earth and will get the bounced back signals. The microwaves will penetrate a few inches in the soil before rebounding signals to the SMAP.
The radiometer on the SMAP will detect differences in the planet's natural microwave emissions, which are caused by soil and water. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is said to have designed and built one of the most sophisticated signal-processing systems that has ever been developed for such purpose.
The weather conditions in the world have become very unpredictable. Floods, droughts, landslides and other natural disasters result in the loss of life and property. If some natural disasters can be predicted, then it can help people in the affected regions prepare themselves accordingly.
"SMAP will provide global measurements of soil moisture and its freeze/thaw state. These measurements will be used to enhance understanding of processes that link the water, energy and carbon cycles, and to extend the capabilities of weather and climate prediction models," stated NASA.
The SMAP will collect data on a three-year basis, which will be used to develop better flood and drought predictions and monitoring abilities.
NASA claims that the SMAP can revolutionize the monitoring methods of ecology and agriculture. Floods and droughts affect crop yields, and the measurements of these natural disasters can alert farmers who can then attempt to use precautionary methods to minimize their loss.
Check out a short video about the SMAP released by NASA.
