How a Squad of Small Satellites Will Help NASA Study Storms

Hurricanes are some of the most powerful and destructive weather events on Earth. To help study these powerful storms, NASA is launching TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats), a collection of six small satellites designed to measure storm strength by detecting the thermal radiation naturally emitted by the oxygen and water vapor in the air. In June 2021, NASA launched a test version of the satellite, called a pathfinder, ahead of the constellation of six weather satellites planned for launch in 2022. When launched, the TROPICS satellites will work together to provide near-hourly microwave observations of a storm’s precipitation, temperature, and humidity. The mission is expected to help scientists understand the factors driving tropical cyclone intensification and to improve forecasting models. Universal Production Music: Patisserie Pressure by Benjamin James Parsons [PRS] Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio Katie Jepson (KBRwyle): Producer Ellen T. Gray (ADNET): Writer William Blackwell (MIT): Scientist Jonathan North (KBRwyle): Animator Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA): Animator Katie Jepson (KBRwyle): Animator Taylor Johnson: Narration This video can be freely shared and downloaded. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, some individual imagery is provided by and is obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on stock footage may be found here. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center · Instagram · Twitter · Twitter · Facebook: · Flickr