NASA's INCUS Mission Prepares for Launch to Study Tropical Storms from Space
NASA's INCUS mission, aimed at studying tropical convective storms, is progressing towards its 2027 launch. The mission involves three small satellites, or SmallSats, which have completed assembly and testing. These satellites will fly in low Earth orbit to observe the dynamics of tropical storms, which are characterized by the rapid lifting of air and water. The mission, led by Sue van den Heever from Colorado State University, will utilize radar instruments developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to study the vertical motion of air and water during storm development. This research is expected to enhance storm forecasting and help mitigate risks to life and property by improving decision-making in response to severe weather events.