Earth ID: 13875

How a Squad of Small Satellites Will Help NASA Study Storms

Released on July 1, 2021

Universal Production Music: Patisserie Pressure by Benjamin James Parsons [PRS]

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Hurricanes are some of the most powerful and destructive weather events on Earth. To help study these powerful storms, NASA is launching TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats), a collection of 6 small satellites designed to measure storm strength by detecting the thermal radiation naturally emitted by the oxygen and water vapor in the air. In June 2021, NASA launched a test version of the satellite, called a pathfinder, ahead of the constellation of six weather satellites planned for launch in 2022. When launched, the TROPICS satellites will work together to provide near-hourly microwave observations of a storm's precipitation, temperature, and humidity. The mission is expected to help scientists understand the factors driving tropical cyclone intensification and to improve forecasting models.

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Katie Jepson (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Lead Producer
Ellen T. Gray (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Lead Writer
William J. Blackwell (MIT Lincoln Laboratory): Lead Scientist
Jonathan North (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Lead Animator
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Lead Animator
Katie Jepson (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Animator
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support

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Keywords:
DLESE >> Atmospheric science
DLESE >> Natural hazards
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Atmospheric Phenomena >> Hurricanes
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> CubeSat

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0