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slide 1 - SWOT Mission Now Targeting Dec. 5

SWOT Mission Now Targeting Dec. 5

NASA, the French space agency Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), and SpaceX are now targeting Monday, Dec. 5, for the launch of the Surface Water and Ocean Topography, or SWOT, satellite.

slide 2 - US-European Satellite Will Make World's First Global Freshwater Survey

US-European Satellite Will Make World's First Global Freshwater Survey

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission will make measurements of over 95% of Earth’s lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.

slide 3 - International Satellite to Track Impacts of Small Ocean Currents

International Satellite to Track Impacts of Small Ocean Currents

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission will explore how the ocean absorbs atmospheric heat and carbon, moderating global temperatures and climate change. Read More ›

slide 4 - Keeping a Satellite Eye on GERD

Keeping a Satellite Eye on GERD

NASA-funded researchers are developing satellite-based tools and techniques to make it easier to monitor and manage the new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Their goal is to help minimize ecological impacts and maximize economic benefits to the countries and people across the watershed. Satellites offer one of the best ways to assess what is happening in real time. Read More ›

slide 5 - NASA to Launch 4 Earth Science Missions in 2022

NASA to Launch 4 Earth Science Missions in 2022

The missions, including two led by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will help monitor our changing planet. Scientists will discuss them at the American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting. Read More ›

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Why SWOT Matters

Detecting New Ocean Features

Detecting New Ocean Features

Enabling Data Applications

Enabling Data Applications

Assessing Freshwater Resources

Assessing Freshwater Resources

Detecting New Ocean Features

Enabling Data Applications

Assessing Freshwater Resources

Features

On World Water Day, to celebrate this precious and finite resource, we spoke with experts and learned about the importance of groundwater, how our ocean affects us and how one of our upcoming Earth missions will give us a unique perspective on water.

Oceanographer Dr. Matt Archer and Hydrologist Dr. Cedric David talk about how SWOT will change our perspective on water.

Oceanographer Dr. Matt Archer and Hydrologist Dr. Cedric David talk about how SWOT will change our perspective on water.

One of the things the SWOT mission will do is help scientists track the amount of fresh water in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, and monitor how they change over time.

Hydrologist Dr. Cedric David explains how SWOT will study rivers and lakes

Hydrologist Dr. Cedric David explains how SWOT will study rivers and lakes

Sascha Burton and her work on SWOT were featured by NASA Earth on International Women's Day

SWOT Mechanical Integration Lead Sascha Burton featured on International Women's Day

SWOT Mechanical Integration Lead Sascha Burton featured on International Women's Day

Missions studying climate systems & processes such as surface water and oceans, extreme storms, and atmospheric dust will be launching this year, with SWOT among them.

Several Earth Missions Launching in 2022

Several Earth Missions Launching in 2022

NASA has funded 11 new projects as part of the agency’s Earth Science Data Systems’ Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth Systems Science (ACCESS) program. Proposals submitted in 2019 and funded in 2020 focused on three areas: machine learning, science in the cloud, and open source tools.

A surface water map of the Ohio River

NASA Funds Projects to Make Geosciences Data More Accessible

How much do you know about SWOT? Take the quiz and learn about how and where SWOT will provide us with new and detailed information on one of our most important resources– water.

screenshot from the Where's Water Quiz

"Where's Water?" Quiz

The SWOT Science Team is made up of researchers from across the globe, with expertise in ocean and hydrologic sciences. Learn more about what will make SWOT a transformational satellite mission by visiting the Science Team page.

large group of smiling people standing on steps of building

Scroll through these e-brochures to learn what SWOT will measure –and why the very first comprehensive view of Earth's freshwater bodies from space will be so important for both research and society.

title slide of SWOT e-brochure

View e-Brochures

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News & Announcements

Partners

Partners

SWOT is being jointly developed by NASA and Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and United Kingdom Space Agency.