Gary Lagerloef, Aquarius Principal Investigator, Earth / Space Research (ESR), speaks during the Aquarius/SAC-D mission science briefing on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at the NASA Resident Office at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The joint U.S./Argentinian Aquarius/Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC)-D mission, set to launch June 9, will map the salinity at the ocean surface, information critical to improving our understanding of two major components of Earth's climate system: the water cycle and ocean circulation. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls) NASA Identifier: 5809597809_b61f5936ca_o