To find our where the SMAP spacecraft is, at any time in relation to my school, you can check on the SMAP Orbit Calculator Tool!
As you might have noticed in the SMAP Block Pattern Soil Moisture Protocol document, we recommend that measurements be taken and collected around 9:00am local time. This is due to the SMAP spacecraft's 6am and 6pm local time equator crossings. In order to have optimal SMAP comparison/validation data, it is vital to take your measurements as close to the 9am local time as possible.
Any questions, please contact me at Brian.A.Campbell@nasa.gov
Cheers and happy collecting,
Brian
