A Month at Sea: Scientists Prepare to Set Sail for NASA’s S-MODE Mission


  • Released Monday, November 14, 2022
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In early October, the research vessel Bold Horizon set sail from Newport, Oregon, and joined a small fleet of planes, drones, and other high-tech craft chasing the ocean’s shapeshifting physics. NASA’s Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE) looks at whirlpools, currents, and other dynamics at the air-sea boundary. The goal is to understand how these dynamics drive the give-and-take of nutrients and energy between the ocean and atmosphere and, ultimately, help shape Earth’s climate.

Music credit: “Blue Switch” “The Journey Begins” “Sunbeams” from Universal Production Music
Drone Footage Credit: Leon Delwiche of NewFields

Crew and scientists on board the Bold Horizon work together to streamline the ship's mobilzation.

Crew and scientists on board the Bold Horizon work together to streamline the ship's mobilzation.


The S-MODE team organizes their scientific instruments before setting sail.

The S-MODE team organizes their scientific instruments before setting sail.


Scientists spend the better part of a week retrofitting the ship for their instruments.

Scientists spend the better part of a week retrofitting the ship for their instruments.


An S-MODE scientist sets up her team's gear in preparation for their month at sea.

An S-MODE scientist sets up her team's gear in preparation for their month at sea.


Scientists continue mobilizing the ship to take part in the S-MODE mission.

Scientists continue mobilizing the ship to take part in the S-MODE mission.


A Bold Horizon crew member works in his cabin.

A Bold Horizon crew member works in his cabin.


The ship's crew works in conjuction with the scientists to prepare the ship for S-MODE.

The ship's crew works in conjuction with the scientists to prepare the ship for S-MODE.

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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This page was originally published on Monday, November 14, 2022.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 11:43 AM EDT.