Shoebox Satellites Now Track Hurricanes Every Hour

Getting accurate hurricane predictions just became dramatically easier thanks to satellites you could hold in your hands.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory has transformed weather forecasting by shrinking microwave sounders to fit inside shoebox-sized satellites called CubeSats. These instruments measure atmospheric temperature, moisture, and water vapor. They're 1/100th the size of traditional equipment that sits aboard multibillion-dollar satellites.

The breakthrough isn't just about size. When multiple CubeSats work together as a constellation, they can observe rapidly intensifying storms near-hourly. Traditional satellites might check a developing hurricane every few days, missing critical changes that happen in between.

The technology first proved itself on NASA's TROPICS mission, which wrapped up in 2025 after collecting over 11 billion observations. Scientists gained unprecedented insights into how tropical cyclones form and strengthen, watching storms evolve in near real-time during those crucial hours when they're gathering power.

Now the miniaturized sounders are heading to the commercial world. Tomorrow.io has licensed the technology and plans to launch their own constellation of satellites. The company will provide hyperlocal forecasts to customers in aviation, logistics, agriculture, and emergency management.

The Ripple Effect

Better hurricane tracking means more than just accurate weather apps. Airlines can reroute flights more efficiently, saving fuel and avoiding turbulence. Farmers can protect crops and livestock with earlier warnings. Emergency managers gain precious extra hours to evacuate communities in a storm's path.

The technology also levels the playing field globally. Smaller satellites cost far less to build and launch than traditional weather satellites. This means countries with limited budgets can access advanced weather intelligence to protect their citizens.

John Springman, Tomorrow.io's head of space and sensing, sees the bigger picture. "Our overall goal is to fundamentally improve weather forecasts, and that'll improve our downstream products like our weather intelligence," he says.

The shift from massive satellites to shoebox-sized observers represents more than miniaturization. It's a complete reimagining of how we monitor Earth's most dangerous weather, making life-saving data available when and where it's needed most.

Soon, forecasters worldwide will have an army of tiny satellites watching over us, turning hours of uncertainty into actionable intelligence.