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://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://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
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
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)
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 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
June 30, 2021: Small Satellites to Study Big Storms – NASA Prepares for the 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
Dec. 8, 2017: 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
