AQUA > Earth Observing System, AQUAAQUA - Formerly called EOS PM-1. Launched: May 4, 2002. Instruments: AIRS, AMSU-A, HSB, AMSR-E, MODIS, and CERES. Expected End Date: May 31, 2012. Equator Crossing: 1:30 pm, ascending. Other Orbital details - Altitude: 705 km. Repeat Cycle: 16 days. Orbit: Sun-Synchronous. Semi-major axis: 7085 km. The focus for the Aqua satellite is the multidisciplinary study of the Earth's interrelated processes (atmosphere, oceans, land, ice and snow cover, and vegetation) enabling study of the interactions among the four spheres of the Earth system, the oceans, land, atmosphere, and biosphere. Aqua is a joint project of the United States, Japan, and Brazil.