[dakr]

A wonderful example of the useful, sometimes unintentional secondary effects of doing science. SMAP as a mission is firmly in the Earth science category, so very much in the crosshairs of the current administration. The data is used for Earth science and climate research and has many agricultural and water management applications.

For example, water management districts can tell if the local soil can accommodate the water from an upcoming storm or if the water will stay on the surface and cause flooding.