SMOS

Satellite information

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Satellite Type and Status

PAYLOADIN ORBIT

Key statistics

Satellite SMOS at a glance.

Uptime

5886

Days in orbit

Revolutions

≈ 14.4

Per day

Orbit

SSO

Sun Synchronous Orbit

Inclination

98.4

Latest

Satellite identification and parameters

Extended collection of information and parameters for SMOS.

Object identification

Identified? True

Debris? False

Object name: SMOS

International designator: 2009-059A

Object number (NORAD): 36036

Object ID (CCSDS): 36036

Country: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESA)

Current information (Y/N): Y

RCS size: LARGE

Orbital parameters

Period: 100.018 minutes

Inclination: 98.438 deg

SMA: 7137.487 km

Apoapsis: 760.137 km

Periapsis: 758.567 km

RAAN: 172.5329 deg

Eccentricy: 0.00010996

Argument of periapsis: 84.3394 deg

Mean anomaly: 275.7919 deg

Mean motion: 14.39742268 rev/day

Mean motion (dot): 0.00000596 rev/day2

B* drag term: 0.00020408765 1/REarth

Two-line elements (TLE)

Creation date: Dec. 14, 2025, 3:07 a.m.

Reference frame: TEME

Reference center: EARTH

Epoch: Dec. 13, 2025, 11:53 a.m. UTC

TLE line 0: 0 SMOS

TLE line 1: 1 36036U 09059A 25347.49561059 .00000596 00000-0 20409-3 0 9999

TLE line 2: 2 36036 98.4380 172.5329 0001100 84.3394 275.7919 14.39742268846738

Live tracking on map

Real-time ground track for satellite SMOS.

In-orbit conjunctions

There are no conjunctions computed for SMOS, at the moment. Check back to stay up to date, as we update our databases every day.

Go to all conjunctions

Associated space launch

SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) is a earth observation satellite operated by ESA. It is intented to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate.

SMOS was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Rokot / Briz-KM | SMOS’, on board a Rokot/Briz-KM space rocket.

The launch took place on Nov. 2, 2009, 1:50 a.m. from 133/3 (133L).

For more information about the launch, click the button.

Launch to space Rokot / Briz-KM | SMOS
Rokot / Briz-KM | SMOS

Agency: N/A

Status: Launch Successful

Launch date: Nov. 2, 2009, 1:50 a.m. UTC

Rocket: Rokot/Briz-KM

Launch pad: 133/3 (133L)

Location: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

...

Latest news about this satellite

News about space launch
SMOS adds long-term view on carbon stored in forests

Data from ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission can be used to estimate how much carbon is stored in forests – and a study has improved our understanding of how reliable this proxy is and how long-term datasets from SMOS can help us to mon...

News about space launch
Proba-2’s glimpse of home

Proba-2’s glimpse of home


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