Photonics may provide solutions to NASA's pressing challenges in future spaceflight, including improved space communications and reducing mission payloads. Laser communications have the potential to increase data rates at least 10 to 100 times better than RF systems.
NASA's CloudSat and Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellites tracked Hurricane Matthew's powerful winds and clouds. The storm maintained Category 3 status with maximum sustained winds near 115 mph, affecting Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Hurricane Matthew made landfall in western Haiti on October 4, with NASA tracking its movements and intensity. The storm's maximum sustained winds reached near 145 mph, making it a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Post-Tropical Storm Hermine's center shifts east-southeast of Cape Cod, MA, as it moves into open North Atlantic waters. The storm's maximum sustained winds decrease to near 50 mph with higher gusts.
Post-Tropical Cyclone Hermine continues to linger south of Long Island, New York, with strong winds affecting surf from the Mid-Atlantic to Cape Cod. The storm is moving westward at a slow pace, with a potential weakening trend in the next few days.
Hurricane Newton is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rains to Baja California Sur, Mexico, with total rain accumulations of 8-12 inches. The storm's trajectory suggests it will pass over the Gulf of California late this afternoon or evening.
Hurricane Hermine made landfall near Saint Marks, Florida with 80 mph winds, and then moved into Georgia where it weakened to a tropical storm. The NASA/NOAA GOES Project created an animation showing the development of Hermine into a hurricane during the afternoon of Sept. 1.
A joint NASA-JAXA mission observed two persistent hot towers south and east of Hermine's center, influencing its strengthening. Repeated cloud-top height measurements suggested these towers, lasting 9-12 hours, could eject energy into the atmosphere.
NASA analyzed Tropical Depression 8 using infrared and visible light, finding cloud top temperatures exceeding minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit. The depression is moving northeast at 15 mph with a possible strengthening into a tropical storm later today.
Satellites show Hurricane Madeline has weakened from a Category 4 storm to a Category 1 storm as it approaches Hawaii. The storm is expected to bring tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall, and storm surge to the islands, with the potential for dangerous flash floods and mudslides.
Tropical Storm Madeline in the Central Pacific Ocean has strengthened into a hurricane, according to NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite imagery. The storm is showing signs of organization, with a well-formed eyewall and little vertical wind shear deformation.
Typhoon Lionrock is weakening as it approaches Japan, with maximum sustained winds of 80.5 mph and waves up to 26 feet high.
Tropical Depression 6 formed in the far eastern North Atlantic Ocean on August 16, 2016, with NASA and NOAA satellites providing key data. The depression showed signs of organization, with strong rainfall bands and intense showers dropping rain at a rate of over 155 mm/h.
The BARREL team launches miniature balloons to measure X-rays in Earth's atmosphere, helping protect satellites from radiation. Undergraduate students develop instruments to study ionosphere and low-frequency electromagnetic waves.
RIT students design and deploy telescope and camera to orient rocket payload based on star images, testing new CMOS detector technology operable at cryogenic temperatures. The Cryogenic Star Tracking Attitude Regulation System will launch in December on a suborbital sounding rocket.
Tropical Storm Omais is weakening due to its elongation and moving northwards, posing a threat to northern Japan. NASA's satellite images reveal the storm's strongest thunderstorms are located over northern Japan, with coldest cloud tops detected.
Tropical Storm Howard is moving west through the Eastern Pacific Ocean with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph and higher gusts. NASA's Aqua satellite provided forecasters with visible and infrared imagery of the storm on August 1-2, capturing its bulk thunderstorms east of the center.
NASA satellites monitored Typhoon Nida's intense rainfall, reaching rates of over 3.5 inches per hour, as it approached southeastern China. The storm's height reached over 10.5 miles in some areas, posing a threat to Hong Kong.
Tropical Storm Frank weakened to a tropical storm on July 28, 2016, with winds decreasing from hurricane strength. NASA's RapidScat instrument observed sustained winds of near 30 meters per second north of the center.
Tropical Storm Darby brought extremely heavy rainfall to northern Oahu, with estimated totals reaching up to 480 mm. The storm's track led to flash flooding and lightning damage on the island of Oahu.
A new tool is being developed by NASA to assure picometer-level stability, a feat not yet accomplished. The instrument will measure tiny changes in mirror segments and other supporting telescope structure during environmental testing.
NASA's RapidScat instrument revealed a cloud-filled eye in Hurricane Darby, with sustained winds exceeding 67 mph. The storm is expected to weaken further over the next 48 hours, becoming a tropical storm later today.
A team of NASA scientists is developing a compact, low-cost telescope for CubeSats that will utilize a mirror made of carbon nanotubes in an epoxy resin. The technology aims to provide a sensitive instrument for quick exploratory missions or as part of a constellation of similar CubeSats.
A NASA camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite captured a view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth for the second time in a year. The images were taken using NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and show the moon crossing over the Indian and Pacific oceans.
NASA satellites are gathering data on wind, temperature, rainfall, and cloud extent of Super Typhoon Nepartak as it approaches Taiwan. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 140 knots (161.1 mph/259.3 kph) with a weakening trend expected.
NASA's GPM core satellite analyzed rainfall rates, while RapidScat measured wind speeds near or above 30 meters per second around the center of the storm. The typhoon intensified over warm sea surface temperatures with minimal wind shear and good outflow, eventually reaching Category 5 hurricane status.
Reduced rainfall during El Niño events leads to severe drought conditions, increasing the risk of fires during the dry season. The Amazon fire forecast uses climate and active fire detection data to predict fire severity.
Tropical Cyclone 02A is consolidating in the Arabian Sea, with cold cloud tops indicating strong uplift and heavy rain potential. The system is forecasted to reach peak intensity of 50 knots within a day or so before dissipating around June 30.
NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) data revealed extreme rainfall in West Virginia during June 20-26, 2016, with 12.6 inches reported in affected areas., The IMERG analysis also showed heavy rain producing thunderstorms, causing flash flooding in the region.
Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Colin led to widespread flooding in Florida and Georgia, with over 250 mm of rain recorded in some areas. NASA's IMERG data analysis showed Colin's heaviest precipitation occurred over central Florida, with extreme amounts exceeding 280 mm.
Tropical Depression Bonnie has redeveloped into a tropical depression, threatening eastern North Carolina with heavy rain. The storm's movement and intensity are expected to change, with slight strengthening possible in the next 24 hours.
NASA's RapidScat instrument measured surface wind speeds near 46.9 mph/75.6 kph northeast of the system's center in System 91L. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that the system has a high chance, 90 percent, of becoming a tropical depression.
A new study by NASA scientist Alexander Kashlinsky proposes that primordial black holes, formed in the universe's first second, could make up dark matter. If correct, this would mean all galaxies are embedded within a vast sphere of black holes with masses similar to the sun.
The SPB is testing and validating its technology for long-duration flights at mid-latitudes, with the goal of 100+ days. The balloon is carrying a gamma-ray telescope and infrasound instrument to study galactic positrons and black holes.
Tropical Cyclone 20P formed in the Southern Pacific Ocean, with NASA's RapidScat instrument detecting tropical-storm-force winds on April 18. The storm is expected to affect American Samoa by the weekend, posing a threat of high surf and flash flooding.
The NASA Twins Study uses omics to compare identical twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly, shedding light on the effects of spaceflight on human health. By analyzing biomolecules, researchers hope to develop personalized countermeasures for astronauts, leading to longer and healthier lives.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala reached Category Five intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 knots (173 mph), making it one of the strongest storms in the South Indian Ocean. NASA satellites tracked the storm's intense rainfall and powerful thunderstorms, providing critical data on its size and wind patterns.
The James Webb Space Telescope has completed critical cryogenic testing on its science instruments, a crucial step towards launch. The observatory will capture faint light from the universe's first objects after the Big Bang once launched into space.
NASA captured infrared temperature data of Tropical Cyclone Emeraude's clouds and measured its surface wind speed, revealing strong storms with potential to generate heavy rain. The storm intensified rapidly from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane on March 17.
The new system, VGOS, enables precise measurements of the Earth's shape with improved sensitivity and data rates. The system uses broadband antennas to conduct observations in four bands, reducing interference and increasing data rates.
The mission aims to observe the emission of soft X-rays from solar particles colliding with Earth's upper atmosphere and neutral gases in interplanetary space. The data will help scientists understand charge exchange processes, atmospheric loss on Mars, and radiation effects on near-Earth space.
NASA's RapidScat instrument detected tropical-storm-force winds in a weather system affecting the Pacific Northwestern U.S. and southwestern Canada, bringing rain and snow to the region. Heavy rainfall totals of over 8 inches were estimated in some areas, with potential to alleviate California's long-lasting drought.
Heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides in northern Peru, with NASA's Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) measuring extreme rainfall totals of over 700 mm. The strong El Niño was partially blamed for the abnormally high rainfall.
The MAVEN mission collected data from a close approach to Martian moon Phobos, providing spectral images of the moon's surface. The observations will help scientists understand the moon's origin, comparing it to asteroids and meteorites.
Researchers are collecting measurements of plant mass, tree distribution and diversity of species from Gabon's rainforest, wetlands and savanna. The data will help prepare for upcoming spaceborne missions to better gauge the role of forests in Earth's carbon cycle.
The James Webb Space Telescope is being assembled over the next two years, with recent installations of primary mirror segments and upcoming tests at NASA Goddard and Johnson Space Center. The telescope will undergo end-to-end optical testing in a simulated cryo-temperature environment before final assembly and launch preparation.
The mission extends studies initiated by JAXA's Suzaku mission, enabling investigations into black hole motion, element abundances, and galaxy evolution. The SXS instrument features a 36-pixel microcalorimeter array, three-stage adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator, and stronger filters to collect X-ray photons.
Tropical Cyclone Uriah's surface winds reached 30 meters per second near its southwestern quadrant, with tropical-storm-force winds extending up to 230 nautical miles from the center. NASA's RapidScat and AIRS instruments showed wind shear's effect on cloud top temperatures, indicating the potential for heavy rain generation.
Tropical Cyclone Uriah strengthened into a hurricane due to weakening wind shear, according to NASA's Aqua satellite imagery. The storm's cloud top temperatures reached -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating high rainfall potential.
Tropical Storm 11P has developed with powerful storms and cold cloud top temperatures, indicating potential for heavy rain. The storm is forecast to reach hurricane strength on Feb. 12 before weakening.
ICESat-2 will employ a novel technique to determine ice sheet topography and sea ice thickness, leveraging a 3D-printed PEKK bracket that offers electrostatic dissipation and minimal outgassing. The satellite's Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) will utilize photon counting for precise surface elevation measurements.
NASA engineers have developed a groundbreaking integrated-photonics modem that will enable high-speed, laser-based communications at unprecedented rates. The modem is expected to transform industries such as telecommunications, medical imaging, advanced manufacturing, and national defense.
RapidScat satellite revealed sustained winds of 45 meters per second along the coast of southern New Jersey, causing flooding. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible-light image showing a blanket of snow stretching from Massachusetts to Missouri.
Tropical Cyclone Victor's eye was almost due east of the Cook Islands on Jan. 18, and by Jan. 19, it had moved southeast, appearing more open with a wider diameter
Tropical Storm Alex formed in January 2016, becoming the earliest hurricane to do so since 1938. NASA analyzed storm data using AIRS, RapidScat, GPM, and Suomi NPP satellites, revealing strongest winds at 30 meters per second and rainfall rates decreasing significantly after declaration as a hurricane.
Tropical Depression Pali has weakened to a depression with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, moving southwest towards Hawaii and expected to dissipate on January 15. The storm's proximity to the equator and south-southwesterly vertical shear are contributing factors to its demise.
NASA's RapidScat instrument and Aqua satellite captured data on the storm, which formed from a low-pressure area. It became the first hurricane to form in January since 1938 and is expected to maintain hurricane status until January 16.
NASA estimated rainfall over a 7-day period while analyzing satellite data from the Eastern Pacific Ocean, revealing extreme rain events affecting southern California. The analysis showed highest rainfall totals of over 4.5 inches in the eastern Pacific and 4 inches near Lake Tahoe.
The NASA GPM mission analyzed extreme weather in the US from December 2015, detecting heavy rainfall, tornado outbreaks, and record-breaking flooding. The analysis revealed a line of tornadic thunderstorms moving through the Midwest, generating two tornadoes and 14 deaths.
A rare full moon will occur on December's Full Cold Moon, marking the first time since 1977. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been studying the lunar surface since 2009 and is currently orbiting Earth's moon.