Latest News and Updates

 

Nov. 23, 2022: NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. to provide the launch service for the agency’s TROPICS mission.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-task-order-for-tropics-cubesats-mission

https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-to-launch-remaining-nasa-tropics-satellites/

 

Sep. 28, 2022: TROPICS mission moves to Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) IDIQ contract targeting the 2023 hurricane season.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-maintains-contractual-relationship-with-astra-presses-forward-with-tropics-mission

https://spacenews.com/nasa-and-astra-modify-tropics-launch-contract/

 

Aug. 22, 2022: The TROPICS Pathfinder satellite is a 2022 R&D 100 winner in the Prototyping Category

https://www.ll.mit.edu/news/six-lincoln-laboratory-inventions-win-rd-100-awards

https://www.rdworldonline.com/rd-100-winners-for-2022-are-announced

 

Aug. 4, 2022: Astra cancels Rocket 3 to focus on larger vehicle

https://spacenews.com/astra-cancels-rocket-3-to-focus-on-larger-vehicle/

 

June 10, 2022: Astra cleared for TROPICS launches by FAA

https://astra.com/news/tropics-mission-observation/

Astra video discussing mission

 

June 9, 2022 Spacenews: Astra ready for first of three NASA TROPICS launches

https://spacenews.com/astra-ready-for-first-of-three-nasa-tropics-launches/

 

June 8, 2022: Astra TROPICS-1 Website (Space Vehicles TROPICS-02 & TROPICS-04)

https://astra.com/missions/tropics-1/

 

May 10, 2022: Astra Space's Launch Readiness

https://astra.com/news/how-we-launch-what-it-takes-to-prepare/

 

Mar. 31, 2022: The TROPICS Mission successfully passed the Key Decision Point for Phase E (KDP-E)

KDP-E provides permission to move forward with the launches and start operations.

In February 2022, TROPICS completed the Operational Readiness Review and Mission Readiness Review.

 

Mar. 15, 2022: Astra Space's Astra-1 launch

https://astra.com/news/spaceflight-astra-1-mission/

Spaceflight's Astra-1 Mission Full Recap (YouTube)

 

Dec. 13, 2021: TROPICS featured in "Tour 2022: NASA's Upcoming Earth Missions"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPvwwELRNis&t=88s/

 

Nov. 22, 2021: Astra Rocket 3.3 reaches orbit

https://astra.com/news/astra-reaches-orbit/

 

Sept. 26, 2021: UW-M SSEC CIMSS Satellite Blog: TROPICS Pathfinder view of super typhoon Mindulle

https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/satellite-blog/archives/42909

 

Sept. 13, 2021: NASA’s TROPICS Pathfinder Satellite Produces Global First Light Images and Captures Hurricane Ida

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/esnt/goddard/2021/nasa-s-tropics-pathfinder-satellite-produces-global-first-light-images-and-captures

 

Sept. 3, 2021: NASA Test Satellite Provides Insight into Hurricane Ida

https://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/our-impact/news/nasa-test-satellite-provides-insight-hurricane-ida

 

August 30, 2021: TROPICS Pathfinder measures Hurricane Ida (Cat 4).


Images from the 205-GHz channel just before and after Ida makes landfall. This channel is the highest frequency, and therefore is the most sensitive to scattering off of precipitation. The Tropical Cyclone's rainbands are clearly visible, which would be obfuscated under the clouds in VIS/IR images.


 

August 17, 2021: UW-M SSEC has started the TROPICS Data Processing Center commissioning.

 

July 29, 2021: KXAN: How tiny satellites could help warn the next big hurricane

https://www.kxan.com/weather/weather-blog/how-tiny-satellites-could-help-warn-the-next-big-hurricane/

 

July 23, 2021: BCT has successfully completed their TROPICS Pathfinder bus commissioning. Payload commissioning begins on 26-July-2021.

 

July 16, 2021: TROPICS Pathfinder has been successfully identified as Object Y from the Transporter 2 launch of 88 satellites (NORAD ID: 48901)

Track Pathfinder

 

July 1, 2021: KSAT and BCT make initial contact with Pathfinder

 

June 30, 2021 at 19:31 UTC: SpaceX Transporter 2 (Falcon 9) launch with TROPICS Pathfinder (TROPICS-01) onboard

Link to launch video

Link to Stage-1 landing burn and second engine cut-off

Link to deployment of TROPICS Pathfinder satellite

 

June 30, 2021: Pathfinder Satellite Paves Way for Constellation of Tropical-storm Observers

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/esnt/2021/pathfinder-satellite-paves-way-for-constellation-of-tropical-storm-observers

 

June 30, 2021: Small Satellites to Study Big Storms – NASA Prepares for the TROPICS Mission

https://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/our-impact/news/small-satellites-study-big-storms-nasa-prepares-tropics-mission

 

June 28, 2021: How a Squad of Small Satellites Will Help NASA Study Storms Observers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USOAVQL1TIA

 

June 25, 2021: WIRED: Tiny Satellites Could Help Warn of the Next Big Hurricane

https://www.wired.com/story/tiny-satellites-could-help-warn-of-the-next-big-hurricane/

 

June 24, 2021: Sneak preview of TROPICS mission with rare pathfinder launch

https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/news/articles/13720

 

Feb. 26, 2021: NASA selects Astra Space Inc. for TROPICS constellation Launch Provider

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-service-contract-for-tropics-mission-to-study-storm-processes

 

Dec. 8, 2017: NASA Policy Provides New Approach To Space Science And Technology Missions

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-policy-provides-new-approach-to-space-science-and-technology-missions

 

March 10, 2016: NASA selects TROPICS in the Earth Venture Instrument 3 Competition

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-instruments-to-study-air-pollution-tropical-cyclones