NASA Picks Two Missions to Predict Disasters From Space

NASA announced two groundbreaking satellite missions Thursday that will transform how we predict natural disasters and protect communities around the world.

The space agency selected STRIVE and EDGE as its next Earth observation missions, both designed to give scientists unprecedented views of our changing planet. Each mission tackles a different piece of the puzzle, working together to help us see trouble coming before it arrives.

STRIVE will measure Earth's atmosphere in stunning detail every single day, tracking temperature changes and air quality from ground level up to the edge of space. The mission goes far beyond anything currently orbiting Earth, collecting data at much higher resolution than previous satellites. This detailed atmospheric picture will help meteorologists make longer range weather forecasts, giving coastal communities more time to prepare for storms and extreme weather events.

Nearly half the world's population lives in coastal areas, making better advance warning a literal lifesaver. The mission will also track the recovery of Earth's ozone layer by measuring ozone and trace gases in the atmosphere.

The second mission, EDGE, will create detailed 3D maps of forests, glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice. Building on the success of NASA's current ICESat-2 and GEDI missions, EDGE will help scientists understand how these critical ecosystems are changing. The data will track melting ice, monitor forest health, and measure conditions affecting transportation routes across land and sea.

Both missions are led by university researchers. Lyatt Jaeglé at the University of Washington will head STRIVE, while Helen Amanda Fricker at UC San Diego leads EDGE.

The Ripple Effect

These missions show how space technology serves people right here on Earth every single day. The data won't just sit in research papers. It flows directly to disaster response teams, weather forecasters, and decision makers who protect communities. Better predictions mean more time to evacuate, more time to prepare, and ultimately more lives saved when extreme weather strikes.

The technology NASA develops for studying Earth also prepares astronauts for exploration beyond our planet. Understanding extreme environments here helps keep crews safe on the Moon and Mars.

Each mission will cost no more than $355 million if approved after a 2027 review, with launches planned for 2030 or later. The missions represent NASA's Earth System Explorers Program, which focuses on key science priorities identified by researchers and national needs.

From space, these satellites will watch over Earth's most critical systems, giving us the knowledge we need to protect both people and planet for generations to come.