Argentina’s SAC-D fails in orbit taking NASA Aquarius instrument with it

by David Todd | Jun 18, 2015 | NASA, Satellites, Science | 0 comments

NASA has announced that the Argentinian SAC-D spacecraft failed in orbit on 8 June 2015, one year before the end of its five year design life. SAC-D was launched on 10 June 2011. The cause of the failure was due to the failure of a remote terminal unit which effected the power regulation of the spacecraft and prevented proper spacecraft stabilisation via its attitude control system. Owned and operated by CONAE – Argentina’s space agency in conjunction with NASA, the 1,350kg spacecraft was built by Argentina’s INVAP organisation. It was carrying the Aquarius instrument for NASA which was remotely measuring salinity in oceans and soil moisture on land. The sensor had a three year design life so achieved its mission objectives.

About Seradata

Seradata produces the renowned Seradata database. Trusted by over 100 of the world’s leading Space organisations, Seradata is a fully queryable database used for market analysis, failure/risk assessment, spectrum analysis and space situational awareness (SSA).

For more information go to https://www.seradata.com/product/

Related Articles

<img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" />

Satellite and Launch Orders – September 2025

Here are the latest launch and spacecraft orders which were announced in September 2025: Construction Orders Galaxia has secured a Read more

Human spaceflights on the horizon

Several human spaceflights were announced during September, alongside other updates relating to astronaut activities. Women outnumber men in NASA astronaut Read more

Starship’s triumphant 10th test flight comes just in time for SpaceX

After three consecutive flight failures plus an on-land test explosion, there was a lot riding on the 10th suborbital test Read more

The Great Space Race 2025: cutbacks, confusion, and dismay at NASA sees the US fall away in human lunar return race

Every year, Seradata reviews the ‘runners and riders’ in the Great Space Race, or rather the two races: to return Read more

<img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" />

Satellite and Launch Orders – August 2025

Here are the latest launch and spacecraft orders which were announced in August 2025: Construction Orders Echostar makes initial US$1.3 Read more

Graphene: the supermaterial and space

“Stronger than steel” “Stiffer than diamonds” “Capable of sitting on the surface on the sun” No, it’s not superman: It’s Read more

<img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" />

Satellite and Launch Orders – July 2025

Here are the latest launch and spacecraft orders which were announced or became revealed in July 2025: Construction Orders Boeing Read more

Gilmour Space’s Eris rocket succumbs to the curse of maiden flights

Eris, a 25m tall rocket, slowly lifted itself into the air on its maiden flight from Bowen, Abbot Point, in Read more

<img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" alt="" loading="lazy" data-srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" data-src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" data-sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" /><noscript><img width="428" height="899" src="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow.jpg 428w, https://www.seradata.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/launch-orders-receipt-image-narrow-143x300.jpg 143w" sizes="(max-width: 428px) 100vw, 428px" />

Satellite and Launch Orders – June 2025

The following construction and launch orders for the space industry were announced in June 2025: Construction Orders: Despite a regulatory Read more

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Tags

Stay Informed with Seradata

Stay informed on the latest news, insights, and more from Seradata by signing up for our newsletter.