ROSA: the adventure continues
The second instrument has been delivered and will be launched with the CONAE-NASA Aquarius/SAC-D mission by the end of the year
26 Feb 2010
The second ROSA instrument has also started its adventure following the launch of the first on board the Indian Oceansat-2 satellite on 23 September 2009. The ASI officially delivered the instrument to the Space Agency of Argentina (CONAE) in mid February: the photo on the left shows the ASI, TASI and CONAE personnel after the integration tests standing behind the instrument which is in the foreground covered by an electromagnetic shield. This small Italian made "jewel" (the whole receiver weighs just sixteen kilograms) was developed by the ASI and built by Laben (now Thales Alenia Space). The instrument will now be installed on board Aquarius/SAC-D, the multi-sensor mission that CONAE is organising with NASA that is planned to be launched by the end of the year.
The main scientific purpose of Aquarius/SAC-D is to study the movement of oceanic currents by measuring marine salinity (this will be carried out by the appropriately named NASA instrument that gives its name to the mission). Water’s incredible physical properties mean that it is the most efficient way of transporting and distributing energy (heat) from the equator to the poles and an accurate knowledge of this phenomenon is fundamental for understanding the Earth’s climate. ROSA will measure the temperature, pressure and humidity of the atmosphere at the same oceanic zones. The integration of the data from these instruments will help us understand how energy from the oceans is transmitted to the atmosphere.
Other instruments will also be fitted on board the Aquarius/SAC-D mission, including the microwave radiometer (MWR), which will provide further useful data for understanding the mechanisms governing the aquatic interactions on our planet.