SMOS during testing

The SMOS MIRAS instrument during testing in 2007. Although the instrument's three arms are folded up here, some of the individual Licef antenna-receivers can be seen on the instrument hub. Each Licef measures radiation emitted from Earth at L-band. MIRAS carries a total of 69 of these small antennas positioned along the three armsand hub that together form a Y-shape. In orbit, these antennas mimic the size of a much larger single antenna that would normally be needed at this frequency to obtain the required ground coverage and resolution. SMOS provides data on soil moisture and ocean salinity for a better understanding of the water cycle.