Page 4 - Spec Tech Vol 1 Issue 11
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Image Credit: NASA/SpaceX
Following separation from the Falcon 9's Lafon thinks it's likely to be extended. "Our
second stage, SWOT will spend three hours system will not limit the lifetime if everything is
undergoing instrument checks as its solar OK on board," he remarked before the launch.
panels deploy and telemetry is transferred "Five years is completely reasonable, and
to satellite controllers in France. In four [perhaps] many more years, as we've been
days, SWOT will begin a multi-part doing for 30 years," Lafon added, noting that
deployment of the KaRIn antenna, which will many of NASA's satellites have far exceeded
take another four days to complete. their life expectancy over three decades of
Nominally, eight days from now, spacecraft Earth science research.
controllers will orient SWOT toward the sun SpaceX and NASA originally intended to launch
and begin powering up the remaining SWOT on Thursday morning (Dec. 15). Shortly
onboard components.
before the planned liftoff, however, technicians
SWOT will spend six months at its 532.5- noticed moisture in two of the Falcon 9's nine
mile (857 km) altitude undergoing a vehicle first-stage Merlin engines, and the
calibration phase. After that, the satellite will company pushed the liftoff back a day to
raise its orbit just over 20 miles to 554 miles investigate the issue.
(891 km) and begin its mission to survey the
planet's surface water every 21 days.
The satellite's scheduled lifespan is three
years, but SWOT project manager Thierry
Space Explorer 2022 4
