NASA Selects Two Earth System Explorers Missions

Unveiling the Next Generation of Earth System Explorers: NASA's Bold New Missions

In a groundbreaking announcement, NASA has selected two cutting-edge satellite missions to join its Earth System Explorers Program, a pioneering initiative aimed at advancing our understanding of the Earth's complex systems and mitigating the impacts of environmental disasters. The two missions, STRIVE (Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer) and EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer), will revolutionize our ability to study the Earth's atmosphere, ecosystems, and surface topography, ultimately informing future exploration and ensuring the safety of astronauts and spacecraft.

The Benefits of Earth System Explorers

The Earth System Explorers Program is a vital component of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, which uses the unique vantage point of space to study our home planet and deliver life-saving data to disaster response and decision-makers. By understanding the Earth's surface topography, ecosystems, and atmosphere, these missions will help us better study the extreme environments beyond our home planet, ensuring the safety of astronauts and spacecraft as we return to the Moon with the Artemis campaign and journey onward to Mars and beyond.

STRIVE: Unveiling the Secrets of the Atmosphere

The STRIVE mission, led by Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington in Seattle, will provide daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of temperature, atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere. This will enable longer-range weather forecasting, an essential 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, crucial for understanding the recovery of the ozone layer.

EDGE: Mapping the Earth's Surface Topography

The EDGE mission, led by Helen Amanda Fricker at the University of California San Diego, will observe the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. This will provide an advancement beyond the measurements currently recorded from space by NASA's ICESat-2 and GEDI, enabling a more accurate understanding of conditions affecting land and sea transportation corridors, terrain, and other areas of commercial interest.

The Road Ahead: Confirmation Review and Launch

The selected missions will advance to the next phase of development, with each mission subject to confirmation review in 2027. This review will assess the progress of the missions and the availability of funds. If confirmed, the total estimated cost of each mission, not including launch, will not exceed $355 million, with a mission launch date of no earlier than 2030.

Implications and Applications

The STRIVE and EDGE missions will have far-reaching implications for various fields, including:

• Weather forecasting: Improved understanding of atmospheric conditions will enable more accurate and longer-range weather forecasting, saving lives and reducing economic losses.
• Climate change: Studying the Earth's surface topography and ecosystems will provide valuable insights into the impacts of climate change and inform strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
• Disaster response: Data from these missions will be crucial in responding to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods.
• Space exploration: Understanding the Earth's systems will inform future exploration and ensure the safety of astronauts and spacecraft.

Conclusion

The selection of the STRIVE and EDGE missions marks a significant milestone in NASA's Earth System Explorers Program, which will revolutionize our understanding of the Earth's complex systems and mitigate the impacts of environmental disasters. As we embark on this new era of exploration, we must continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, ensuring that our discoveries inform and improve the lives of people around the world.

Source: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-two-earth-system-explorers-missions/