Freshwater is essential to life on Earth, but its distribution, patterns of precipitation and origins are still only partially understood. Technologies that allow us to observe water from space help offer new insight into this critical resource.
NASA Launches New Satellite to Help Measure Soil Moisture
On Saturday, January 20 NASA successfully launched its Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite. The SMAP mission will provide data that can help to improve weather forecasts, flood planning, and more.
Why We Should Start Thinking About Soil Moisture
What is the importance of the moisture beneath our feet- and we’re not talking about
sweat? Earthzine offers a quick look at why soil moisture matters.
The International Space Station Beams Benefits to Earth
The International Space Station houses astronauts from around the world — and the potential to change life on Earth. With new missions launching this year, the station plans to add two new Earth observing instruments that will provide valuable insights about our planet.
Introduction to the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission
The Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission planned to launch in January 2015 will provide a global map of soil moisture measurements in an accessible, user-friendly data format. The intention is to reach a broad community of end-users and decision-makers with varying plans of application.
A Hitchhiker’s Guide to CubeSats
CubeSats, once viewed with skepticism, are changing the way we think about space exploration and Earth observation.
Tracking Snow: The Cryosphere in an Era of Climate Change
A new generation of weather satellites is helping researchers gain insights into the complex relationship between the cryosphere ÛÒ the planet’s cold regions ÛÒ and the climate. With drinking water supplies dwindling around the world, understanding the cryosphere is becoming a front-burner issue.
A Winner and Honorable Mentions: NASA DEVELOP Summer 2014 Virtual Poster Session
A grand-prize winner and honorable mentions have been selected for the summer 2014 Virtual Poster Session (VPS) contributed by NASA’s DEVELOP National Program. The contest included 34 projects conducted by 155 participants across 13 DEVELOP locations.
OGC and FAA Harmonization Initiative: Connecting Airplanes to Updated Infrastructure
Transporting people and goods from point A to point B requires technological standards that reduce risk, streamline communications and improve efficiencies. The FAA, in partnership with agencies like the Open Geospatial Consortium, is working to upgrade and implement new technologies to make air travel safer, cleaner and faster.
To the Moon and Back: A Father and Daughter Find Hope Writing About Space Exploration
Looking back at a groundbreaking Apollo mission offers hope for what we can achieve together in the future.