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The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, set to launch on December 15th, will provide an unprecedented view of Earth’s water, helping researchers tackle pressing climate questions and communities prepare for a warming world. At the heart of this mission is the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), a scientific instrument designed to capture highly precise measurements of water height in freshwater bodies and the ocean. The data collected by KaRIn will enable researchers to see features such as currents, eddies, lakes, and rivers with exceptional detail.

The KaRIn instrument, developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in collaboration with the French space agency CNES, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the UK Space Agency, offers a significant advancement in studying water bodies compared to previous instruments. Unlike traditional methods that rely on gauges or space-based measurements along narrow tracks, KaRIn utilizes microwave radar pulses at the Ka-band frequency to penetrate cloud cover and collect data regardless of weather or time of day.

Featuring two antennas positioned on a 33-foot boom, KaRIn will measure water height along a swath 30 miles wide on either side of the satellite. The return signals received by the antennas allow researchers to calculate the height of the water accurately. The introduction of KaRIn will multiply the amount of available water data, significantly improving our understanding of freshwater bodies.

Overcoming numerous technical challenges, the team behind KaRIn ensured stability and precise positioning of the satellite. Engineers included a high-performance gyroscope to account for shifts in SWOT’s position, and specific designs and materials were used to handle the high-power and high-voltage requirements of the instrument.

The SWOT satellite, developed jointly by NASA and CNES, with contributions from CSA and the UK Space Agency, is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Central California. In addition to KaRIn, the mission incorporates other instruments to collect essential data about Earth’s water resources.

The launch of SWOT and the deployment of KaRIn will bring new insights into Earth’s water, providing vital information for climate research, resource management, and disaster preparedness.

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