NASA successfully launched a satellite on a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force base on Saturday to observe moisture levels in the earth’s soil.br br NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite will monitor moisture levels in the top 5 cm of soil everywhere on Earth’s surface over its three-year lifespan to produce global maps of soil moisture levels. br br Its 6-metre antenna, which spins at 14 revolution every minute, is the largest rotating antenna ever built for a spacecraft that could be stowed in a space of 30 cm by 120 cm, NASA said.br br NASA says the data will be used to improve our understanding of water and carbon cycles, as well as to improve the prediction and monitoring of floods and droughts.br br ----------------------------------------­---------------------br br Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.