NASA Launches Two Cutting-Edge Missions to Transform Weather Forecasting and Climate Monitoring

Revolutionary Atmospheric and Surface Monitoring

NASA has selected two groundbreaking Earth science missions that promise to revolutionize how we monitor our planet's changing climate and improve weather forecasting capabilities. The STRIVE (Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer) mission will provide daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of temperature, atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere at unprecedented spatial density. Meanwhile, the EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer) mission will deploy the first global satellite imaging laser altimeter system to observe three-dimensional structures of terrestrial ecosystems and map surface features on glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice.

Both missions are scheduled to launch no earlier than 2030 , representing the first selections under NASA's Earth System Explorers Program. These missions were chosen based on key priorities laid out by the science community and national needs, conducting principal investigator-led Earth science missions. STRIVE is led by Lyatt Jaeglé of the University of Washington, while EDGE is headed by Helen Amanda Fricker of the University of California San Diego.

Practical Benefits for Coastal Communities and Beyond

The data collected from STRIVE would support longer-range weather forecasts, an important tool in protecting coastal communities, where nearly half the world's population lives. The mission will also measure vertical profiles of ozone and trace gases needed to understand the recovery of the ozone layer. This capability could transform disaster preparedness and response, giving communities more time to prepare for severe weather events.

EDGE will provide data relevant to land and sea transportation corridors, terrain and other areas of commercial interest, contributing to geospatial situational awareness, resource management and national security. The mission will expand the existing data-collection capabilities of NASA's ICESat-2 and GEDI missions , ensuring continuity in critical Earth observations as climate change accelerates.

Advanced Technology for Space Exploration

STRIVE will collect data using two instruments—an infrared imaging spectrometer and a near-infrared multidirectional radiometer—hosted on a Northrop Grumman LEOStar-2 satellite bus. EDGE employs a 40-beam swath-imaging lidar system, entirely developed in the United States, offering high vertical accuracy for global monitoring and persistent terrain tracking of critical areas.

According to Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, these missions will help study extreme environments beyond our home planet to ensure astronaut and spacecraft safety as NASA returns to the Moon with the Artemis campaign and journeys to Mars. NASA currently has more than two dozen Earth-observing satellites in orbit, and STRIVE and EDGE will contribute new data layers to this collective Earth observation network.

Building Tomorrow's Climate Intelligence

The Earth System Explorers Program has funded preliminary concept studies with $5 million for each selected proposal, allowing one-year mission studies prior to final selection. Each mission will be subject to a readiness review to confirm progress and the availability of funds. This rigorous development process ensures the missions will deliver on their ambitious scientific goals.

These missions represent more than just technological achievements—they're investments in humanity's ability to understand and adapt to our changing planet. As extreme weather events become more frequent and climate impacts intensify, the data from STRIVE and EDGE could prove invaluable for protecting lives and livelihoods worldwide. The marriage of cutting-edge space technology with urgent Earth science needs positions these missions to become cornerstones of 21st-century environmental monitoring.