Science From Above

SATELLITE FOCUS O SPACE O EARTH O BOTH エ MISSION STATE X SATELLITE NAME Satellite mission LAUNCH ACTIVE DECOMMISIONED END N N "Some craft continue to collect data after end of initial mission. SCALE 1 meter O SMAP - Soil moisture 2015 2018 O NUSTAR - Collapsed stars, • JASON 2 - Sea surface height: 2011 O LANDSAT 8 - Earth-science observations O MAGNETOSPHERIC MULTI- SCALE - Magnetic reconnection 2017 • VAN ALLEN PROBES A EB The sun's influence on our planet 2012 black holes 2008 2014 2012 2014 2013 2018 2015 O SORCE - Solar irradiance 2008 O HINODE - Solar magnetism O AIM - Polar mesospheric clouds 2009 2003 2006 2009 2007 O GOES-15 - Weather O SWIFT - Gamma-ray bursts 2006 2010 2020 2004 • oco-2 - Atmospheric CO, 2014 O SAC-C - Earth's atmosphere, ionosphere, and geomagnetic field 2000 2016 2004 O SPITZER SPACE TELESCOPE - Deep space GPM CORE OBSERVATORY Precipitation 2003 2006 2014 2017 O FIREBIRD-U1, -U2, -U3 E-U4 Radiation belts and space weather 2015 2013 GOES-14- Weather O CINEMA 1- Space weather 2015 O THEMIS A, DEE-Auroras 2009 2012 2009 2019 O IRIS - Solar atmosphere 2007 2013 2015 O GEOTAIL - Earth's magnetotail 1996 O NOAA-19 - Weather 2009 • TERRA - Flagship satellite of Earth-observing systems 2011 1992 2005 1999 O FERMI GAMMA-RAY SPACE TELESCOPE - Dark matter, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts 2008 O INTEGRAL - Gamma rays 2018 2013 O NOAA-18 - With NOAA-19, observes every part of Earth at least twice every 12 hours; supports search-and-rescue 2005 2002 O CINEMA 2 & 3- Space weather O LANDSAT 7 - Earth-science observations 1999 2013 2014 2005 2007 O IBEX - Solar-system boundary 2008 2010 GOES-13 - Weather over the Atlantic Ocean O CORIOLIS - Ocean winds and solar mass ejections 2006 2016 O FORTE - Lightning from space; O 0/OREOS- A test for nanosat astrobiology experiments 2010 nuclear event detection 2003 2006 1997 1998 2011 • CALIPSO - Clouds and aerosols 2009 •E0-1 - Tests instruments; provides images and data 2000 O NOAA-15 - A backup to other NOAA satellites 2006 O AQUA - Water cycle 2001 1998 2000 2002 2008 O GCOM-W1 - Water circulation • CLOUDSAT - Clouds and • GRACE-1 E -2 - Earth's gravity field 2002 systems • TRMM - Tropical and subtropical rainfall aerosols O WIND - Solar wind 2012 2017 1999 2006 2008 1994 2007 1997 2000 O SDO - Impact of solar activity on space weather 2010 O SUZAKU - Hot plasmas and the evolution of the universe O FIREFLY - Lightning and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes 2013 O SAC-D - Ocean salinity 2011 2015 2005 2016 2014 2016 O CxO - Deep space 1999 2004 SCIENCE FROM ABOVE O RHESSI - Particle acceleration; energy release in solar flares O TIMED - The mesosphere and lower thermosphere/ionosphere 2001 • SUOMI NPP - Climate change 2016 A visual guide to US research satellites. 2003 2004 2002 2011 Rain. Ocean waves. Dark matter, blackholes, gamma-ray bursts, and other mysteries. To study these things it helps to have a satellite. We're lucky that the US has plenty–nearly 60 research birds up in the ether, peeping down at the ground or scanning as far as the edge of the universe. And the star fleet is only get- ting more interesting: In March, NASA launches the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission-four identical satellites that will orbit in a pyramid formation to take measurements of a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection, which causes (gak!) giant space explosions. From the granddaddy Hubble telescope to itty bitty cutie-pie CubeSats, the science space armadais shaping up to be a powerful force.-GRACE DOBUSH O ACRIMSAT - Solar irradiance 2004 1999 O HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE Deep space 1990 2017 2 7 L FRANCESCO MUZZI LL