NASA Selects STRIVE and EDGE Missions for Earth System Explorers Program
NASA has chosen two groundbreaking satellite missions, STRIVE and EDGE, for development under its Earth System Explorers Program. These new missions are designed to significantly enhance our understanding of Earth systems and improve capabilities for forecasting environmental events and mitigating disasters.
Both missions are slated for a crucial confirmation review in 2027, with an estimated cost not exceeding $355 million each (excluding launch), and a projected launch date no earlier than 2030.
Program Context: Advancing Earth Science Priorities
The selection of STRIVE and EDGE falls under NASA’s Earth System Explorers Program, a key initiative focused on principal investigator-led Earth science investigations. This program directly addresses the scientific community's priorities and national needs, aligning with recommendations from the influential 2017 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space.
The STRIVE Mission: Unveiling Atmospheric Dynamics
The Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically-resolved light Explorer (STRIVE) mission is spearheaded by Lyatt Jaeglé, a professor of atmospheric and climate science at the University of Washington.
STRIVE's primary objective is to deliver daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of the atmosphere.
How STRIVE Will Observe
This mission will provide unprecedented spatial density in its atmospheric observations. STRIVE will meticulously measure temperature, atmospheric elements, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere all the way to the mesosphere. It will also precisely track vertical profiles of crucial elements like ozone and various trace gases.
Innovative Methodology
Utilizing compact instruments, STRIVE is designed to angle sideways toward Earth's surface, allowing for detailed atmospheric capture. This innovative approach aims to collect an impressive over 400,000 observations daily.
Expected Impact and Applications
The data generated by STRIVE is poised to significantly enhance longer-range weather forecasts, potentially extending prediction windows beyond 10 days and offering critical benefits to coastal communities.
Beyond weather, STRIVE will offer vital insights into aviation, the long-range transport of volcanic smoke, and air pollution. The mission will contribute to a deeper understanding of ozone layer recovery and the complex circulation of air pollution following major events like wildfires or volcanic eruptions.
Leadership Team
The STRIVE team features Jun Wang from the University of Iowa as Deputy Principal Investigator and Luke Oman from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center as Project Scientist. The mission also involves a robust network of academic, industry, and federal laboratory partners.
The EDGE Mission: Mapping Earth's Changing Surfaces
The Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer (EDGE) mission is led by Helen Amanda Fricker from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego.
EDGE will focus on precisely observing the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and the surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice.
Pioneering Global Laser Altimetry
EDGE will mark a significant milestone as the first global satellite imaging laser altimeter system. It will use advanced lasers to meticulously observe Earth's surface and track its dynamic changes across crucial features like forests, glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice.
Precision Measurement Methodology
The system's methodology involves firing laser pulses at Earth and accurately recording their return times. This allows EDGE to perform over 150,000 measurements per second, generating high-resolution data essential for precisely tracking surface elevation changes over time.
Broad-Reaching Applications
EDGE is designed to build upon and advance the capabilities of existing NASA missions like ICESat-2 and GEDI. Its data will be crucial for revealing how ice sheets and glaciers respond to climate change across various timescales.
The mission's applications extend to measuring conditions vital for land and sea transportation corridors, terrain analysis, and other commercial interests. EDGE holds significant implications for understanding sea level rise, enhancing natural hazard monitoring, improving water resource and forest management, and bolstering wildfire response efforts. Its focus will be particularly on polar regions, forests, and coastlines.
Key Team Members
The EDGE team includes Benjamin Smith, a Senior Principal Physicist, and Tyler Sutterly, a Senior Research Scientist, both from the UW Applied Physics Laboratory. Also on the team is David Shean, a UW Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Development Timeline and Future Steps
Both the STRIVE and EDGE missions are scheduled for a crucial confirmation review in 2027. This review will rigorously assess their developmental progress and confirm the availability of necessary funding.
Should they be confirmed, the estimated cost for each mission, excluding launch expenses, is set not to exceed $355 million. The earliest projected launch date for these vital Earth-observing missions is 2030.