NASA Small Satellites Will Take a Fresh Look at Earth
NASA is launching six next-generation, Earth-observing small satellite missions to demonstrate innovative approaches for studying our changing planet.
Beginning this  month, NASA is launching a suite of six next-generation, Earth-observing small  satellite missions to demonstrate innovative new approaches for studying our  changing planet.These small  satellites range in size from a loaf of bread to a small washing machine and  weigh from a few to 400 pounds (180 kilograms). Their small size keeps development  and launch costs down as they often hitch a ride to space as a "secondary  payload" on another mission's rocket -- providing an economical avenue for testing  new technologies and conducting science."NASA is  increasingly using small satellites to tackle important science problems across  our mission portfolio," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of  NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "They also give us the  opportunity to test new technological innovations in space and broaden the  involvement of students and researchers to get hands-on experience with space  systems."Small-satellite  technology has led to innovations in how scientists approach Earth observations  from space. These new missions, five of which are scheduled to launch during  the next several months, will debut new methods to measure hurricanes, Earth's  energy budget, aerosols and weather."NASA is  expanding small satellite technologies and using low-cost, small satellites,  miniaturized instruments, and robust constellations to advance Earth science  and provide societal benefit through applications," said Michael Freilich,  director of NASA's Earth Science Division in Washington.Four CubeSats in Three LaunchesScheduled to launch  this month, RAVAN, the Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes,  is aCubeSatthat will demonstrate new technology for detecting slight changes in Earth's  energy budget at the top of the atmosphere - essential measurements for  understanding greenhouse gas effects on climate. RAVAN is led by Bill Swartz at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics  Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.In spring 2017, two  CubeSats are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station for a  detailed look at clouds. Data from the satellites will help improve scientists'  ability to study and understand clouds and their role in climate and weather.IceCube, developed  by Dong Wu at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, will  use a new, miniature, high-frequency microwave radiometer to measure cloud ice.  HARP, the Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter, developed by Vanderlei Martins at  the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore, will measure airborne  particles and the distribution of cloud droplet sizes with a new method that  looks at a target from multiple perspectives.In early 2017,  MiRaTA -- the Microwave Radiometer Technology Acceleration mission -- is  scheduled to launch into space with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration's Joint Polar Satellite System-1. MiRaTA packs many of the  capabilities of a large weather satellite into a spacecraft the size of a shoebox,  according to Principal Investigator Kerri Cahoy from the Massachusetts  Institute of Technology in Cambridge. MiRaTA's miniature sensors will collect  data on temperature, water vapor and cloud ice that can be used in weather  forecasting and storm tracking.The RAVAN, HARP,  IceCube and MiRaTA CubeSat missions are funded and managed by NASA'sEarth Science Technology Office(ESTO) in  the Earth Science Division. ESTO supports technologists at NASA centers,  industry and academia to develop and refine new methods for observing Earth  from space, from information systems to new components and instruments."The  affordability and rapid build times of these CubeSat projects allow for more  risk to be taken, and the more risk we take now the more capable and reliable  the instruments will be in the future," said Pamela Millar, ESTO flight validation  lead. "These small  satellites are changing the way we think about making instruments and  measurements. The cube has inspired us to think more outside the box."Two Small-Satelite ConstellationsNASA's early investment in these new Earth-observing technologies has  matured to produce two robust science missions, the first of which is set to  launch in December.CYGNSS-- the Cyclone, Global Navigation  Satellite System -- will be NASA's first Earth science small satellite  constellation. Eight identical satellites will fly in formation to measure wind  intensity over the ocean, providing new insights into tropical cyclones. Its  novel approach uses reflections from GPS signals off the ocean surface to monitor  surface winds and air-sea interactions in rapidly evolving cyclones, hurricanes  and typhoons throughout the tropics. CYGNSS, led by Chris Ruf at the University  of Michigan, Ann Arbor, is targeted to launch on Dec. 12 from Cape Canaveral  Air Force Station in Florida. Derek Posselt of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,  Pasadena, California, is the deputy principal investigator.Earlier this yearNASA announcedthe start of a new mission to study the insides of hurricanes with  a constellation of 12 CubeSats. TROPICS -- the Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure  and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats -- will use radiometer  instruments based on the MiRaTA CubeSat that will make frequent measurements of  temperature and water vapor profiles throughout the life cycle of individual  storms. William Blackwell at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln  Laboratory in Lexington leads the mission.CYGNSS and TROPICS both  benefited from early ESTO technology investments. These Earth Venture missions  are small, targeted science investigations that complement NASA's larger Earth  research missions. The rapidly developed, cost-constrained Earth Venture  projects are competitively selected and funded by NASA's Earth System Science  Pathfinder program within the Earth Science Division.Small spacecraft and  satellites are helping NASA advance scientific and human exploration, reduce  the cost of new space missions, and expand access to space. Through  technological innovation, small satellites enable entirely new architectures  for a wide range of activities in space with the potential for exponential  jumps in transformative science.For video and animations of NASA small satellite projects, visit:http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12411For more information about NASA's small satellite projects, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/smallsats