Sadly the active radar sensor on the pictured SMAP satellite failed shortly after launch [0]. I've been looking for news on NASA's NIAC Phase 2 R-MXAS studies

Sadly the active radar sensor on the pictured SMAP satellite failed shortly after launch [0]. I've been looking for news on NASA's NIAC Phase 2 R-MXAS studies which, while it looks like it would require some serious material science breakthroughs, could provide near-continuous soil moisture data over an entire continent which suddenly seems even more useful [1]. [0] https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-soil-moisture-radar-ends-operations-mission-science-continues https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-soil-moisture-radar-... [1] https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2019_Phase_I_Phase_II/Rotary_Motion_Extended_Array_Synthesis/ https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/niac/2019_Phase_...