Altimetry satellites including Sentinel-6A/Michael Frelich have measured the water level at Lake Kariba—the world’s largest reservoir and a major source of electricity in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The data show that since 2022, the lake level has dropped sharply.
Observations from space show that the rate of sea level rise is increasing. Knowing where and how much rise is happening can help coastal planners prepare for future hazards. Since satellites began observing sea surface height in 1993 , the average global sea level has increased by 3.6 inches (9.1 cm), according to NASA’s Sea Level Change Team.
The latest edition of NASA’s Spinoff publication features dozens of new commercialized technologies that use the agency’s technology, research, and/or expertise to benefit people around the globe. It also includes a section highlighting technologies of tomorrow.
An agile team of computer experts at NASA Goddard helps scientists collaborate and develop Open Science projects in astrophysics, Earth science, biology, and heliophysics by creating the SMCE managed cloud environment for science.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft onboard, Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Set for a Thursday, Dec. 15 launch, the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite promises to provide an extraordinary accounting of water over much of Earth’s surface.
NASA researchers will be presenting findings on Earth and space sciences Dec.12-16 at the American Geophysical Union's 2022 Fall meeting, being held virtually and in Chicago this year.
While Alaska straddles the Arctic Circle and is covered by vast expanses of frozen land, the state also has a lot of liquid water. In fact, Alaska holds about 40% of U.S. surface water resources.
NASA delivered the first flight hardware for the Lunar Pathfinder mission to ESA (European Space Agency), which formally accepted the instrument on Nov. 4. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, developed the instrument, a laser retroreflector array, which will test new navigation techniques for lunar missions.
On Dec. 12, NASA will launch the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite into Earth orbit from The international Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission will provide high-definition data on the salt- and fresh water on Earth’s surface.
NASA released the results of its second agencywide economic impact report on Thursday, demonstrating how its Moon to Mars activities, investments in climate change research and technology, as well as other work generated more than $71.2 billion in total economic output during fiscal year 2021.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission (SWOT), a collaborative U.S.-French mission to monitor all the water on Earth’s surface, has passed major mission pre-launch tests. Now, except for a few final checks, SWOT is ready for its December launch.
On August 10th, 1992, NASA and the French Space Agency, CNES launched TOPEX/Poseidon, the first highly-accurate mission to measure sea level from space. In the 30 years since, TOPEX was followed by Jason-1, Jason-2, Jason-3 and most recently Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, all of which flew in the same orbit as TOPEX.
NASA will supply the upcoming European Space Agency (ESA) Lunar Pathfinder mission with an array of laser retroreflectors, mirrored devices that reflect light back at its source. The retroreflectors will offer new opportunities for lunar science and space geodesy.
As ICESat-2 mission receives the green light to continue operation after successfully completing its three-year primary mission, scientists highlight what it has already discovered.
A joint NASA/CNES/Canadian Space Agency/UK Space Agency mission to collect data on ocean heights to study currents and eddies up to five times smaller than have been previously detectable. It will also gather detailed information on freshwater lakes and rivers.
NASA’s space exploration continues to inspire us to be better stewards of our planet and Earth Day is a great time to celebrate what we’ve done and can do to keep Earth everyone’s favorite planet in the universe.
NASA’s GEDI mission has reached a major milestone with the release of its newest data product, which provides the first near-global estimate of above-ground plant biomass and the carbon it stores – filling a key gap in climate research.
Media are invited to meet leaders in space exploration at the 59th annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium, taking place on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, from March 23 to 25. Attendees also have the option to watch the symposium online.
Over the past year, NASA has made valuable contributions to Biden-Harris Administration’s goals – leading on the global stage, addressing the urgent issue of climate change, creating high paying jobs, and inspiring future generations.
Members of the Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) Science Team are leveraging the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) ADAPT Science Cloud to measure changes in vegetation, composition, and wildlife frequency and extent in Alaska and Northern Canada.
NASA researchers and colleagues from around the world will present the latest findings on a range of Earth and space science topics at the annual American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting, being held virtually and in New Orleans from Monday, Dec.13, through Friday, Dec. 17.
An international team of engineers and technicians has finished assembling a next-generation satellite that will make the first global survey of Earth’s surface water and study fine-scale ocean currents. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission is just a year out from launch, and the final set of tests on the spacecraft have started.