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Centre National D'Études Spatiales

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Published: June 19, 2015

SWOT is being jointly developed by NASA and Centre National D’Études Spatiales (CNES). Among other contributions, CNES will build the Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) Antenna and Altimeter for the SWOT Payload Module.

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Disappearing lakes in Barrow, Alaska.
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Disappearing lakes in Barrow, Alaska.
Disappearing Lakes in Barrow, Alaska
An artist’s concept of the SWOT spacecraft (February 2015).
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An artist’s concept of the SWOT spacecraft.
SWOT Spacecraft (Artist Concept)
Siberian Lakes
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Siberian Lakes
A diagram illustrating the swaths of data that SWOT will collect. 
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A diagram illustrating the swaths of data that SWOT will collect.
Diagram of SWOT Data Collection
A photograph of the Varzea Forest area of Brazil (3 of 4).
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A photograph of the Varzea Forest area of Brazil (3 of 4).
Varzea Forest, Brazil
AirSWOT is using parts of Saskatchewan as a testing ground for mapping water levels.
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The Saskatchewan River and Prairie Potholes
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Open House visitors are delighted to see how well their color-coded stickers match the "sea surface topography" model of the Gulf Stream within a wooden box.
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"SWOT in a Box" Reveal - Gulf Stream Model
"SWOT in a Box" Reveal - Gulf Stream Model
SWOT Applications Lead, Margaret Srinivasan, helps young visitors match data user types - from coastal safety officers to farmers - with pictures representing SWOT applications.
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SWOT Matching Card Game
SWOT Matching Card Game
Visiting Scout uses a color-coded, calibrated stick to determine "sea surface topography" within a wooden box while his sister records his results by placing stickers on a card.
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A Flooded Forest in the Amazon
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Part of the SWOT satellite's science instrument payload in a clean room at a Thales facility.
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SWOT Exhibit at JPL Open House
Canada is home to more than 30,000 lakes including these water bodies in Northern Alberta. The abundance of surface freshwater in Canada makes it a prime target for AirSWOT investigations.
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Northern Alberta Lakes, Canada
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SWOT Spacecraft Bus
SWOT Spacecraft Bus
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NASA's Blue Marble
An early rendering of the SWOT spacecraft (February 2011).
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An early rendering of the SWOT spacecraft (February 2011).
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Crowds flock to the Earth Sciences exhibits during the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) "Open House" event, giving volunteers (red shirts) a chance to share information about their various miss...
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Lake Calado, Amazon
Lake Calado, Amazon
Artist's impression of the future SWOT satellite making sea surface height observations, even through clouds.
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Artist's Impression of the SWOT Satellite
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Arctic
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