1. NASA Aqua

2. Basics Launched May 4th 2002 Sun-synchronous Orbit
Near Polar low-Earth orbit
FOV +/- 55 degrees off Nadir
Allows for 2330 KM Swath Width
Whiskbroom Scanning
12 Bit
Collects Data in 36 Bands
Resolution ranges from 250 meter to 1 KM

3. Primary Function Collect data about Earth’s water cycle
Evaporation from Oceans
Water Vapor in Atmosphere
Clouds
Precipitation
Soil moisture
Sea/land ice
Snow cover on land and ice

4. Instruments Aboard
AMSR-E — Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS — measures cloud properties, sea surface temperature, near-surface wind speed, radiative energy flux, surface water, ice and snow. Furnished by the National Space Development Agency of Japan.
MODIS — Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, also measures cloud properties and radiative energy flux, also aerosol properties; land cover and land use change, fires and volcanos. This instrument is also aboard Terra.
AMSU-A — Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit — measures atmospheric temperature and humidity.
AIRS — Atmospheric Infrared Sounder — measures atmospheric temperature and humidity, land and sea surface temperatures.
HSB — Humidity Sounder for Brazil — VHF band equipment measuring atmospheric humidity. Furnished by Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais of Brazil. The HSB instrument has been in survival mode since 2/5/2003.
CERES — Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System, Flying Models 3 and 4, measure broadband radiative energy flux.
Courtesy of Wikipedia

5. Hurricane Katrina Ocean Temperature