NASA Unveils Two Cutting-Edge Satellites to Enhance Earth Observation and Forecasting Capabilities
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected two ambitious satellite missions, dubbed STRIVE and EDGE, as part of its Earth System Explorers Program. These next-generation satellites aim to significantly improve NASA's ability to study the Earth and forecast environmental events, ultimately saving lives in disaster situations.
According to Nicky Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, these satellite missions will help NASA gain a better understanding of the Earth's surface topography, ecosystems, and atmosphere. This knowledge will not only enhance weather forecasting capabilities but also inform future space exploration endeavors, ensuring the safety of astronauts and spacecraft as they venture to the Moon and beyond.
The STRIVE mission, led by Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington in Seattle, will provide near-global high-resolution measurements of temperature, atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere. These data will support longer-range weather forecasts, particularly critical for protecting coastal communities where nearly half the world's population resides.
In contrast, the EDGE mission, led by Helen Amanda Fricker at the University of California San Diego, will focus on observing the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. The data collected by EDGE will provide a more detailed understanding of conditions affecting land and sea transportation corridors, terrain, and other areas of commercial interest.
Both missions have advanced significantly in their development phase and are expected to reach the next stage of funding review in 2027. If confirmed, each mission is estimated to cost $355 million, with launch dates set no earlier than 2030.
The selected satellite missions embody NASA's commitment to advancing our understanding of the Earth and its ecosystems while paving the way for future space exploration endeavors.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected two ambitious satellite missions, dubbed STRIVE and EDGE, as part of its Earth System Explorers Program. These next-generation satellites aim to significantly improve NASA's ability to study the Earth and forecast environmental events, ultimately saving lives in disaster situations.
According to Nicky Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, these satellite missions will help NASA gain a better understanding of the Earth's surface topography, ecosystems, and atmosphere. This knowledge will not only enhance weather forecasting capabilities but also inform future space exploration endeavors, ensuring the safety of astronauts and spacecraft as they venture to the Moon and beyond.
The STRIVE mission, led by Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington in Seattle, will provide near-global high-resolution measurements of temperature, atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere. These data will support longer-range weather forecasts, particularly critical for protecting coastal communities where nearly half the world's population resides.
In contrast, the EDGE mission, led by Helen Amanda Fricker at the University of California San Diego, will focus on observing the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. The data collected by EDGE will provide a more detailed understanding of conditions affecting land and sea transportation corridors, terrain, and other areas of commercial interest.
Both missions have advanced significantly in their development phase and are expected to reach the next stage of funding review in 2027. If confirmed, each mission is estimated to cost $355 million, with launch dates set no earlier than 2030.
The selected satellite missions embody NASA's commitment to advancing our understanding of the Earth and its ecosystems while paving the way for future space exploration endeavors.
i feel like they should do more 
like a super high res sat that can see all the way to the troposphere 
and then we could literally predict weather patterns way better 
but idk if thats even feasible lol 
$355m is a pretty penny tho 
You know what they say, investing in space exploration is like planting a seed, you never really know when it'll bloom into something amazing 
. These new satellites by NASA are gonna change the game, providing us with super accurate weather forecasts and helping us save lives during disasters. It's like having a crystal ball for our planet 
, but instead of just predicting rain or sunshine, we're getting a better understanding of how all the pieces fit together – climate, ecosystems, atmosphere... it's mind-blowing stuff 
. The more we learn about our world, the more we realize how little we actually know 
!
I'm not entirely convinced about these new satellites being a game-changer. $355 million each is a lot of cash, but what are we getting in return? 
How do we know these satellites won't just collect more data and leave us with the same old problems? I need to see some concrete results before I get on board with this hype 
they're gonna make a huge difference in forecasting and studying our planet, it's like they're gonna save lives or something!!! 
STRIVE and EDGE are gonna be everything for weather prediction and understanding the earth's ecosystem... can't wait to see what data they bring back! 
the fact that these satellites are being developed with $355 million investment is insane 
... what's the point of having all this data if we're still gonna get hit by hurricanes and earthquakes? 
at least the gov't is wasting money on something that might have a chance of making a real difference, not just lining the pockets of some rich folks who are probably just gonna invest it in more fancy cars or whatever...
... think about it, we send these technological wonders into space just so we can better understand ourselves and our place in this vast universe? It's a mind-blowing concept - we're essentially creating tools to study the world we live on, knowing that it's all part of something much bigger. This whole STRIVE & EDGE thing is like a double-edged sword, right? On one hand, we get more accurate weather forecasts and better data for climate modeling; on the other, these satellites are also gonna help us better understand our own ecosystems... which means we might just uncover some uncomfortable truths about how we're treating this planet. 
It's like, totally mind-blowing how much data they'll get from these satellites to help us navigate terrain and sea ice and whatnot... 
I'm also curious about EDGE, is it gonna help us figure out more about our climate and all that jazz? 
. but what really gets me is how these missions will also help us explore space better 
!
... just kidding! But seriously, these new NASA satellites are gonna be super helpful in predicting weather and stuff. I mean, who doesn't want to know if it's gonna rain or snow before they decide what outfit to wear? 
And the best part is, these satellites will help us learn more about our planet, which is like... pretty cool, right? 
.