Aquarius Satellite Shaken By Quake, But Not Stirred

[baa...@earthlink.net]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-070

Salt-Seeking Satellite Shaken By Quake, But Not Stirred
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
March 01, 2010

NASA's Aquarius instrument, and the Argentinian spacecraft that will
carry it into space, the Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC-D),
successfully rode out one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history
Feb. 27 with no problems. The instrument and spacecraft are at the
satellite systems contractor's satellite integration facility in
Bariloche, Argentina. The city of Bariloche, located approximately 588
kilometers, or 365 miles, from the epicenter of the magnitude 8.8
earthquake, experienced light shaking, as indicated by the Modified
Mercalli Intensity Scale, which evaluates the effects of earthquakes as
experienced by people in the region. No damage was reported to the
facility or spacecraft. A separate magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Salta,
Argentina, later that day that was triggered by the Chile earthquake was
too far away (1,900 kilometers or 1,200 miles) to be felt in Bariloche.

The JPL-built Aquarius instrument is at the Bariloche facility to be
integrated with the SAC-D satellite.

Aquarius/SAC-D is an international mission between NASA and Argentina's
space agency, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. The primary
instrument on the mission, Aquarius is designed to provide monthly
global maps of how salt concentration varies on the ocean surface -- a
key indicator of ocean circulation and its role in climate change. Seven
Argentine space agency-sponsored instruments will provide environmental
data for a wide range of applications, including natural hazards, land
processes, epidemiological studies and air quality issues.

The minimum three-year mission is scheduled to launch late this year
from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Alan Buis 818-354-0474
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Alan....@jpl.nasa.gov

2010-070