NASA Hosts Media Briefing to Announce New Earth-Observing Role for International Space Station

September 4, 2014

Image Credit: The first in a series of NASA Earth-observing instruments to be mounted on the exterior of the International Space Station is scheduled for launch this month. ISS-RapidScat will monitor ocean winds for climate research, weather predictions and hurricane monitoring. Credit: NASA

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ NASA opens a new era this month in its exploration of our home planet with the launch of the first in a series of Earth science instruments to the International Space Station. A media briefing on this addition to NASAs Earth-observing program will air at 1 p.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 8, on NASA Television and the agencys website.

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The first Earth-observing instrument to be mounted on the exterior of the space station will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on the next SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services flight. ISS-RapidScat will monitor ocean winds for climate research, weather predictions and hurricane monitoring from the space stations unique vantage point.

The second instrument is the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS), a laser instrument that will measure clouds and the location and distribution of pollution, dust, smoke, and other particulates in the atmosphere. CATS will follow ISS-RapidScat on the fifth SpaceX space station resupply flight.

The briefing will take place in the NASA TV studio at the agencys Headquarters, located at 300 E Street SW in Washington. The briefing panelists are:

Julie Robinson, ISS Program chief scientist, NASAs Johnson Space Center, Houston

Steve Volz, associate director for flight programs in the Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington

Melanie Miller, lead SpaceX-4 robotics officer, Johnson

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NASA Hosts Media Briefing to Announce New Earth-Observing Role for International Space Station