Energy News  
SOLAR SCIENCE
Air Force awards contract for spaceborne weather data
by K. Houston Waters | 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
Hanscom AFB MA (SPX) Feb 08, 2022

illustration only

A Hanscom team recently awarded a $19.3 million contract to support a constellation of high-tech weather satellites capable of observing precipitation and storm structures from space. As part of the agreement, Boston-based meteorological intelligence company Tomorrow.io will provide the Aerospace Management Systems Division, headquartered here, with three-dimensional global weather and ocean data. This data can be used to enhance numerical weather modeling, machine learning programs, and near-term forecast capabilities.

"Global environmental data is essential to effective mission planning and execution of air and ground operations," said John Dreher, materiel leader, Weather Systems Branch. "This satellite constellation partnership with Tomorrow.io will give Air Force weather operators a vastly improved awareness of current and forecasted weather conditions."

According to Lt. Col. Andrew Travis, chief of staff meteorology, Weather Systems Branch, a number of Next-Generation Radar, or NEXRAD, systems are providing weather coverage in the United States and select locations overseas. These systems currently provide updates on precipitation type, intensity, storm dynamics, freezing levels, and severe weather indication, which is critical for weather forecasters, air traffic controllers, and pilots to ensure aviation safety, he said.

"Despite some radar coverage in Europe and parts of Asia, large swaths of the globe, including over oceans and polar regions, lack weather-sensing capabilities," he said. "This new constellation can help close the sensing gap in those areas."

Currently, NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement satellite is the only spaceborne radar to measure precipitation from space. With one satellite, hourly global precipitation coverage is impossible, as it takes numerous orbits around the Earth to sample the entire globe, said Travis. However, with a constellation of satellites, global sampling can be completed in regular time intervals.

"Not only can this global precipitation coverage improve Air Force weather forecasts, but it can also enhance climate monitoring capabilities, like extreme rainfall and disaster area identification," he said. "It can also be used to monitor a number of other conditions, like ground and terrain environments, which could be useful to other government agencies. There are truly a wide range of applications for this new capability."

The team awarded the contract utilizing a Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, award through the AFVentures Strategic Funding Increase, or STRATFI, pilot program. STRATFI is a Department of Defense initiative focused on securing large-scale, strategic capabilities.

"It was challenging and rewarding to execute PEO Digital's first-ever STRATFI SBIR award with a tight deadline," said Capt. Scott Campbell, contracting officer, Weather Systems Branch. "Our mission-focused business leaders worked swiftly and innovatively to get the job done. I was fortunate and very happy to be a part of this exciting and successful experience."

The division is also working with personnel from the Commercial Weather Data Pilot program to explore if other commercial data can supplement or even replace existing government sources. It is also performing space weather impact analyses, as well as researching the affect the data has on existing terrestrial numerical weather modeling capabilities.

Since 2017, Congress has appropriated funding to the Commercial Weather Data Pilot program in an effort to build the commercial weather industry's support to the DOD and Department of Commerce with a focus on space-based environment monitoring.

Following the contract, division personnel are working with other Air Force organizations to develop a plan for integrating the data into the Air Force Weather Virtual Private Cloud.

Tomorrow.io expects to begin launching satellites in their weather intelligence platform by the end of 2022.


Related Links
Tomorrow.io
Solar Science News at SpaceDaily


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SOLAR SCIENCE
China's solar research to get boost from satellite
Beijing (XNA) Feb 02, 2022
China's solar observation satellite has achieved some scientific and technological feats during its ongoing in-orbit trial operation, according to a space official. Zhao Jian, head of the China National Space Administration's Earth Observation System and Data Center, said at a news conference in Beijing on Friday that the satellite Xihe, named after the sun goddess in ancient Chinese mythology, has carried out more than 40 technological tests and over 290 imaging operations and has verified its eq ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SOLAR SCIENCE
US household air conditioning use could exceed electric capacity in next decade due to climate change

Vietnam arrests green activist on tax charges

Researchers propose new fix for Texas power vulnerabilities

Risk appetite of banks for small merchant renewable energy plants remains low

SOLAR SCIENCE
Scientists in Britain smash fusion energy record

Superconductivity on the edge

High-strength and high energy storage capacity

Portugal wants to hunt for lithium deposits

SOLAR SCIENCE
Jet stream models help inform US offshore wind development

Wind powers change in England's industrial heartland

Owl wing design reduces aircraft, wind turbine noise pollution

Earth, wind and reindeer: Lapland herders see red over turbines

SOLAR SCIENCE
Making metal-halide perovskites useful in planar devices through a new hybrid structure

Historic buildings could be protected from rising energy bills by solar panels

Rosendin powers up Nevada's newest solar facility

Solvent additives improve efficiency of polymer solar cells

SOLAR SCIENCE
France's nuclear ambitions take shape with turbine deal

Atlanta to host key SMR and Advanced Reactor event in May

Finland nuclear reactor runs into new delay

Brussels weathers backlash over calling gas and nuclear sustainable

SOLAR SCIENCE
Reducing methane emissions at landfills

The path to renewable fuel just got easier

LSU chemists unlock the key to improving biofuel and biomaterial production

Getting hydrogen out of banana peels

SOLAR SCIENCE
Japan offers gas to Europe over Ukraine fears

'Denial and delay': Big Oil rebuked in US Congress

BP swings into profit, accelerates carbon reduction

US envoy Kerry presses Mexico on climate, energy

SOLAR SCIENCE
Climate change threatens Hadrian's Wall treasures in England

13 million face hunger as Horn of Africa drought worsens: UN

Germany taps Greenpeace chief Morgan as first climate envoy

Human-induced climate change impacts the highest reaches of the planet - Mount Everest









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.