Animation of the MIRAS instrument on SMOS

After the launch, the three antenna arms of the SMOS MIRAS (Microwave Imaging radiometer using Aperture Synthesis) instrument unfolded. Sixty-nine antennas are mounted on the arms. The satellite orbits at an altitude of 758 kilometres. Its field of view is hexagonal and has a surface of approximately 1000 square kilometres.

Animation: ESA.