NASA has selected two proposed satellite missions for further development under its Earth System Explorers programme. STRIVE would measure temperature, ozone, aerosols and other atmospheric elements across much of the planet each day. Its detailed vertical profiles could improve longer-range weather forecasts and help coastal communities prepare for hazardous conditions. Together, these measurements would reveal how conditions change at different heights, rather than treating the atmosphere as a single layer.
EDGE would examine the three-dimensional structure of land ecosystems and map the height of glaciers, ice sheets and sea ice. Its observations could support research on environmental change while informing decisions about transport corridors and terrain. Both concepts must pass a confirmation review in 2027 before becoming approved missions, so selection does not yet guarantee a launch. NASA expects each confirmed project to cost no more than $355 million before launch expenses.