SMAP

The SMAP project was selected as there has been a rise in concerns about climate change, and how we can help slow the process. As the data collected by SMAP will be available for public usage, governments can keep track of areas with lower or

 Out of the dozens of projects that astrophysicists and scientists propose at NASA, directors chose SMAP.

            I believe that SMAP will be a crucial tool in weather prediction. It seems as if SMAP will make it much easier to track dangerous weather patterns and that it will help all nations in prepping for major disasters. This, however, is a mere speculation and it may not help with that at all.

            I found the spinning aspect of SMAP to be the most interesting. SMAP spins at 14rpm in order to increase the special reading coverage of the device. Without the spinning mechanism, SMAP's swath would significantly decrease. I also found the fact that the satellite can only work within a certain signal bandwidth to be interesting because one would think that as a government agency, the group would be able to use the optimum bandwidth for data collection. With weather being the driving force of agricultural production, being able to track it in a more efficient and detailed manner will greatly increaae the ability for us to make the best decisions when it comes to planning for the future, as water resources continue to dwindle. 

Shrinking the space between our borders and viewing the planet as a (universal) shared space aids in important realizations about our environment. I believe that SMAP has the potential to unite all global citizens under the notion that we need to work collaboratively in order to continue to survive on this planet. Although that may be an overly optimistic idea, I know that SMAP can only aid in the process. Although it is not the most overwhelmingly fascinating mission, SMAP addresses very real concerns about our planet and will hopefully force us to reexamine our choices when it comes to water usage.