Nov 24, 2016 08:09 AM EST By Shunie Pearl Dela Cruz, UniversityHerald Reporter

NASA and SpaceX have joint project when the latter has won the contract for the manufacturing of Ocean-Surveying satellite to be launch in April 2021. Could this partnership lead to a joint exploration in Mars? Read more details here!

NASA and SpaceX partnership for Ocean Surveying Satellite

SpaceX has reportedly won a contract from NASA for the launching of the space agency's Earth monitoring satellite to be installed in five years. According to The Verge, SpaceX will design the so-called SWOT or Surface Water and Ocean Topography to conduct a global survey of Earth surface water for the very first time in the history of Science.

Furthermore, SWOT Satellite will collect details from space on how time is taking its toll to Earth's 90 percent bodies of water according to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The data gathered using the scientific instruments such as Nadir altimeter and KA-band radar interferometer will be interpreted that can be further use for future studies and actions to provide solution to climate change.

SpaceX has targeted April 2021 as the official date of launching of SWOT in space through riding the SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. The launching is estimated to cost around $112 million including the Falcon 9 rocket ride and other additional support which NASA chose not to disclose.

Why SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket?

There is an apparent concern over the riding of SWOT to SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket on its launching and it has something to do with the reported explosion of the rocket. For this reason, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX has clarified that the explosion was an "anomaly" and the company is facing difficulties for identifying the culprit but he assured to complete the investigation, Recode reported.

On the other hand, SpaceX is said to be grateful on the recent development of their partnership with NASA. Meanwhile, the company is still looking forward to the colonization of Mars in 2018 but says nothing about their plans of joint exploration with NASA. 

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