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In May 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an 85% chance of above-normal activity for the Atlantic hurricane season. This marked the fifth consecutive year with such a prediction, potentially making 2024 the eighth year in the past decade to record above-normal activity. With the increasing destructive power of these storms, timely and detailed tropical cyc by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 02, 2024
In May 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an 85% chance of above-normal activity for the Atlantic hurricane season. This marked the fifth consecutive year with such a prediction, potentially making 2024 the eighth year in the past decade to record above-normal activity. With the increasing destructive power of these storms, timely and detailed tropical cyclone data is more critical than ever.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) is leading the NASA Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) mission. This mission aims to provide NASA, NOAA, and other agencies and partners with rapid refresh microwave sounding observations, offering improved resolution, configurable coverage, flexibility, reliability, and extremely low-cost launch access compared to other storm-sensing technologies.
The data provided by TROPICS is essential for weather forecasters. When Lincoln Laboratory contacted ATLAS Space Operations in June to establish support at its Dubai ground station, the ATLAS team responded urgently.
Within four weeks of receiving MIT LL's purchase order, ATLAS completed spacecraft integration, and TROPICS was declared operational on ATLAS' Global Federated Network-a process that typically takes several months or more.
A streamlined, best-in-class customer onboarding experience is a key benefit of the ATLAS Ground Software as a Service model. The ATLAS team credited the TROPICS spacecraft operations team for their collaboration in making the expedited integration possible.
"There are few missions in space with such immediate and concrete benefits as severe weather monitoring," says ATLAS CEO John Williams. "Simply put, data from Lincoln Laboratory's TROPICS mission saves lives. ATLAS is honored to quickly, securely, and reliably deliver that data to their team."
The four-satellite TROPICS mission saw its final two satellites launch on May 26, 2023, and has since been recognized as a finalist for SpaceNews' Civil Space Achievement of the Year.
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