To study the water below, we’re going up 💧🚀⁣ ⁣ ⁣ At 6:46 a.m. EST (11:46 UTC), the newest @NASAEarth science satellite lifted off to low-Earth orbit atop a @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from @Vandenberg_SFB in California. Led by NASA and @CNES_France, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission will help scientists track changes in nearly all of Earth’s surface water. The spacecraft also has contributions from @CanadianSpaceAgency and @SpaceGovUK.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ The satellite will measure the height of water in freshwater bodies and the ocean on more than 90% of Earth’s surface. This information will provide insights into how the ocean influences climate change; how a warming world affects lakes, rivers, and reservoirs; and how communities can better prepare for disasters, such as floods. By providing information on where the water is – where it’s coming from and where it’s going – researchers can improve flood projections for rivers and monitor drought effects on lakes and reservoirs.⁣ ⁣ ...