NASA’s Innovative Technology Powers New Commercial Weather Satellites
NASA’s groundbreaking atmospheric sounder technology, originally developed for the TROPICS project, is now being integrated into Tomorrow.io‘s commercial weather satellites. This collaboration illustrates the successful transfer of innovative technology from government research to commercial application, enhancing weather forecasting capabilities worldwide.
Transforming Weather Monitoring
The TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats) mission launched in 2023, aimed to provide detailed insights into storm systems. The atmospheric sounder developed through this project is designed to collect critical data on humidity, temperature, and wind speed. Such information is essential for improving weather forecasts and ensuring safer air travel.
The technology was adapted by Tomorrow.io, a Boston-based weather technology firm. The company utilized the design of the sounder to enhance its own fleet of satellites, thereby increasing the frequency and accuracy of weather data collection. Joe Munchak, a senior atmospheric data scientist at Tomorrow.io, noted the effectiveness of the TROPICS instrument, stating, “We looked at two or three different options, and TROPICS was the most capable instrument of those we looked at.”
A Journey of Innovation
In the early 2000s, researchers faced a challenge: they needed an instrument compact enough to fit on a CubeSat while still being powerful enough to investigate storm systems. The solution came from William Blackwell and his team at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. With support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office, Blackwell’s team developed an ultra-compact microwave receiver that weighed roughly one pound and was smaller than a hockey puck.
This innovation allowed for the creation of a complete atmospheric sounder that could be mounted on a CubeSat. “The hardest part was figuring out how to make a compact back-end to this radiometer,” Blackwell explained. “Without ESTO, this would not have happened. That initial grant was critical.” By 2023, the sounder had been successfully launched aboard four TROPICS CubeSats, which began gathering extensive data on storm interiors.
As the TROPICS project neared its launch, Tomorrow.io recognized the potential of Blackwell’s technology for their satellites. They collaborated to adapt the sounder’s design into a larger CubeSat platform, allowing for enhanced capabilities. Blackwell remarked, “Now we’re using a 6-unit CubeSat, so we have room for onboard calibration,” which significantly improves data accuracy.
The first of Tomorrow.io’s atmospheric sounders, Tomorrow-S1 and Tomorrow-S2, launched in 2024. The company plans to deploy a full constellation of atmospheric sounders by the end of 2025. The increased number of CubeSats enhances data collection opportunities, allowing for rapid revisit rates of under an hour, improving short-term forecasts significantly.
The partnership between NASA and Tomorrow.io highlights the vital role of innovative technologies in commercial applications. Jennifer Splaingard, Tomorrow.io’s senior vice president for space and sensors, emphasized, “It would not have been possible to do this nearly as quickly or nearly as affordably had NASA not paved the way.”
The relationship between NASA and the private sector continues to thrive, with NASA providing essential tools and technologies that enable companies to advance their capabilities. In September 2024, Tomorrow.io was among eight firms selected by NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program to enhance weather forecasting models. “It really is a success story of technology transfer,” Splaingard noted, showcasing how collaboration can lead to significant advancements in weather science.
This synergy between public research and private innovation not only benefits commercial enterprises but also enhances the safety and efficiency of weather forecasting, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
