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In 2010, Aquarius will begin its 3-year mission with on a Delta II rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The science instrument will be carried into a 657 km (408 mi) sun-synchronous orbit. This orbit will provide complete Earth coverage every 7 days. Argentina's Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE) will conduct operations, providing command capability and receipt of telemetry and scientific data.
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| Delta II rocket | Schematic diagram of Aquarius instrument in deploy-ready mode | Command and telemetry antenna, Cordoba, Argentina |
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| Mission operations center, Cordoba, Argentina | Area viewed by Aquarius instrument during each 7-day period |
Glossary Words
sun-synchronous orbit: An earth satellite orbit in which the orbital plane is near polar and the altitude is such that a satellite will always pass over a specific place on earth at the same local sun time and at fixed time intervals (e.g. once every 8 days).
telemetry: The capability of transmitting or retrieving data over long distance communication links, such as satellite or telephone.
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