Aqua

Welcome back! NASA is launching its first satellite of a group dubbed the Afternoon Constellation, or A-train. Appropriately named, Aqua’s primary mission is to observe conditions on Earth and its atmosphere and collect data of Earth’s water cycle. Various aspects are being measured, including: evaporation from Earth’s oceans, the water vapor in the atmosphere, the clouds, precipitation, and water temperatures. Analysis of the data being collected will improve our understanding of Earth, including its water system and atmosphere.