Science

Sceye Partners with NASA and USGS to Address Climate Change from the Stratosphere

Published

5 months ago

November 4, 2024

Strategic collaborations above 60,000 feet unlocks new potential for traffic and climate management, earth observation and imaging, methane, storm, and wildfire detection, and more

ROSWELL, N.M. /PRNewswire/ — Sceye, a leading U.S. aerospace company specializing in High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), announced a cooperating research and development agreement with United States Geological Survey (USGS) and a Space Act agreement with NASA. The purpose of these agreements is to enhance climate and environmental imaging, monitoring, and data collection from the stratosphere. This partnership builds on Sceye’s successful 2024 flight program, which concluded with a milestone launch on October 24, 2024, demonstrating the platform’s readiness for commercialization and long-duration missions in 2025.

This collaboration positions Sceye’s HAPS technology as a critical partner in providing precise earth observation and lifting multi-mission payloads. Using advanced hyperspectral imaging, Sceye will help NASA and USGS detect methane “super emitters,” monitor wildfire activity, storms, earthquakes, and other extreme weather events. The partnership will help track essential environmental data and metrics in real-time and also positions Sceye to support NASA and USGS in expanding the range of climate data collection and in strengthening forecasting models.

“Our partnership with NASA and USGS is built on the potential of HAPS to stay over an area of operation for long periods of time. In contrast to satellites, HAPS can do that below orbital altitude, thereby offering a unique vantage point to address climate change and better prepare for extreme weather events,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO and Founder of Sceye. “We are unlocking the stratosphere as the next frontier to make important scientific advancements that will help communities across the world.”

With climate change accelerating and methane emissions at record levels, Sceye’s HAPS technology offers a solution to precisely detect emissions down to the pixel. Sceye is also collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Mexico Environmental Department on a five-year program to detect methane emissions across the state. Sceye’s last flight of the year demonstrates the platform’s operational readiness by capturing essential data through onboard infrared cameras.

Sceye’s HAPS are powered by solar energy captured during daylight and stored in batteries to operate throughout the night. This enables continuous flight above 60,000 feet, where few technologies can operate effectively.

“HAPS are a gamechanger for the scientific community because they can linger over events, take high resolution data continuously in real time, and give a more accurate understanding of what may happen before, during, and after an event,” said Jonathan Stock, Director, USGS National Innovation Center.

The final launch of Sceye’s 2024 flight program completed a successful flight year and the full characterization of the vehicle, including achieving the important milestones of controlled relocation, full diurnal flight, and the ability to stay over an area of operation for long periods of time.

With a focus on commercialization and endurance in 2025, Sceye will transition to testing the platform’s capacity to sustain long-duration “seasonal flights.” These missions will enable continuous monitoring during critical periods like wildfire season, supporting rapid response efforts with near real-time data on evolving threats.

Following a successful Series C round that raised the company’s pre-money valuation to $525 million, Sceye is advancing its mission to create world-changing solutions.

About Sceye

Founded in 2014, Sceye is an aerospace company dedicated to advancing stratospheric technology to connect people and protect the planet. Sceye leads the High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) industry, focusing on universal connectivity, climate monitoring, natural resource management, and disaster prevention.

SOURCE Sceye

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

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News

NASA Provides Live Coverage of Crew-9 Return and Splashdown

Published

1 week ago

March 17, 2025

Rod Washington

NASA Crew-9 — NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the vestibule between the International Space Station and the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Clockwise from left, are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Suni Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
NASA

NASA is set to offer live coverage of the much-anticipated return of its SpaceX Crew-9 mission from the International Space Station (ISS). The event will commence with preparations for the Dragon spacecraft’s hatch closure at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17.

In a proactive move, NASA and SpaceX convened on Sunday to evaluate the weather and splashdown conditions off Florida’s coast in preparation for the Crew-9 mission return. Thanks to favorable weather forecasts for Tuesday evening, March 18, mission managers are targeting an earlier return opportunity. This adjustment serves to allow the onboard crew ample time to complete their handover duties while also providing operational flexibility in anticipation of less favorable weather later in the week.

The Crew-9 mission features NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. These skilled astronauts have been conducting a long-duration science expedition aboard the ISS and will bring back critical time-sensitive research to Earth.

As the launch nears, mission managers will continue to monitor weather conditions, which will play a pivotal role in the undocking process. Factors such as spacecraft readiness, recovery team preparedness, and sea states will all influence the timing and location of the splashdown. NASA and SpaceX will finalize and communicate the specific splashdown site as the Crew-9 return approaches.

For those interested in following along, you can watch the Crew-9 return activities live on NASA+. Additional viewing options, including various social media platforms, are also available. Schedule information can be found at NASA Live.

Here’s a timeline of the upcoming live coverage (all times EDT and subject to change):

Monday, March 17

10:45 p.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+

Tuesday, March 18

12:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+
1:05 a.m. – Undocking

Following the undocking coverage, there will be an audio-only feed. Assuming favorable weather conditions at the splashdown sites, continuous coverage will resume on NASA+ before the deorbit burn.

4:45 p.m. – Return coverage begins on NASA+
5:11 p.m. – Deorbit burn (approximate time)
5:57 p.m. – Splashdown (approximate time)

Following the splashdown, there will be a Return-to-Earth media conference at 7:30 p.m. on NASA+, featuring key participants, including:

Joel Montalbano, Deputy Associate Administrator, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate
Steve Stich, Manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
Jeff Arend, Manager for Systems Engineering and Integration, NASA’s International Space Station Office
Sarah Walker, Director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX

Mark your calendars and prepare to witness this exciting milestone in space exploration as NASA’s Crew-9 mission returns home!

Find full mission coverage, NASA’s commercial crew blog, and more information about the Crew-9 mission at:

https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

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Science

Touchdown! Firefly’s Blue Ghost Successfully Lands on the Moon

Published

3 weeks ago

March 2, 2025

Rod Washington

Moon Landing

In a significant milestone for space exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 made a successful landing on the Moon at 3:34 a.m. EST on Sunday. Positioned near the volcanic feature of Mons Latreille within Mare Crisium, a vast basin exceeding 300 miles in diameter, this event marks a pivotal moment in NASA’s initiatives concerning lunar exploration.

This successful moon landing represents the first delivery under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative for Firefly Aerospace, and it adds another achievement to the Artemis campaign aimed at returning humans to the Moon. The Blue Ghost lander now rests upright and stable on the lunar surface, ready to begin its suite of scientific operations.

The Blue Ghost craft is carrying ten cutting-edge NASA science and technology instruments designed to perform a variety of functions over approximately one lunar day, which translates to about 14 Earth days. Acting Administrator Janet Petro highlighted the importance of this mission, stating, “This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all.” The lessons learned from this mission will enhance future safety protocols for scientific exploration on the Moon and beyond.

Following its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 15, the Blue Ghost traveled over 2.8 million miles. During this journey, it downlinked more than 27 gigabytes of data while conducting several critical science operations. One notable achievement included signal tracking from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) at a record distance of 246,000 miles, validating the potential for similar positioning systems to be used effectively on the Moon.

Nicky Fox, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters, emphasized the significance of this mission in laying the groundwork for future human presence on the Moon: “The science and technology we send to the Moon now helps prepare the way for future NASA exploration and long-term human presence to inspire the world for generations to come.”

The instruments aboard the Blue Ghost will perform a variety of tasks during their lunar surface operations, including testing advanced drilling technology, collecting regolith samples, and developing lunar dust mitigation strategies. The insights gained from these experiments will contribute to our understanding of how space weather and cosmic forces interact with Earth.

As operations continue, the team intends to capture stunning imagery of the lunar sunset and investigate the behaviors of lunar dust during dusk conditions—an occurrence previously documented by Apollo 17 astronaut Eugene Cernan. Following the lunar sunset, the lander will remain functional for several hours into the lunar night.

Firefly Aerospace’s CEO, Jason Kim, expressed gratitude to NASA for the partnership and outlined the significance of this mission. “Blue Ghost’s successful Moon landing has laid the groundwork for the future of commercial exploration across cislunar space,” he stated, adding, “We’re now looking forward to more than 14 days of surface operations to unlock even more science data that will have a substantial impact on future missions to the Moon and Mars.”

In total, five companies have been awarded 11 lunar deliveries under the CLPS initiative, propelling the lunar economy forward with over 50 instruments being sent to various lunar locations, including the lunar South Pole. With a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028, the CLPS initiative is set to revolutionize how we explore and utilize the Moon’s resources.

As we celebrate this monumental achievement, it is clear that the collaboration between NASA and companies like Firefly Aerospace is paving the way for a new era of exploration, promising exciting discoveries that will benefit our understanding of the cosmos and our own planet for generations to come.

Learn more about NASA’s CLPS initiative at:

https://www.nasa.gov/clps

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The Bridge

Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Patricia Era Bath: A Trailblazer in Ophthalmology and Beyond

Published

4 weeks ago

March 1, 2025

Lynette Young, Rod Washington

In a world where innovation often shapes the future, few have left as profound a mark as Dr. Patricia Era Bath. Born on November 4, 1942, Dr. Bath transcended boundaries, redefining what it means to be a pioneer in medicine and a champion for the underserved. Her journey is not just a testament to her incredible intellect and skill as an ophthalmologist, but also to her unwavering commitment to humanitarianism and social justice.

Patricia Bath — Changing the face of Medicine (Wikipedia)

A Visionary in Ophthalmology

Dr. Bath was not only a skilled surgeon; she was a revolutionary. As one of the early pioneers of laser cataract surgery, her work has changed the lives of countless individuals worldwide. The development of this innovative technique not only improved patient outcomes but also symbolized a turning point in ophthalmic surgery. With her groundbreaking achievements, Dr. Bath illustrated that the intersection of science and compassion could embody the essence of healthcare.

Her trailblazing career included being the first woman inducted as a member of the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute and the first woman to lead a post-graduate training program in ophthalmology. Moreover, her remarkable journey culminated in her becoming the first African-American woman on the staff at the UCLA Medical Center, where she pushed boundaries in a field historically dominated by men.

A Legacy of Firsts

Dr. Bath’s legacy is marked by her groundbreaking “firsts.” She was the first African-American person to complete residency in ophthalmology at New York University and the first African-American woman to serve as a surgeon at UCLA Medical Center. Even more impressive is her achievement of becoming the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention, holding five patents in total.

Among her most notable contributions is the founding of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness in Washington, D.C., where she tirelessly worked to raise awareness and address disparities in access to eye care. Dr. Bath’s pioneering spirit extended beyond her profession; she propelled an entire generation toward a future where access to quality medical treatment is a right, not a privilege.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Dr. Bath’s humanitarian work extended to advocacy as she sought to illuminate the challenges faced by marginalized communities in achieving equitable healthcare. In 2009, she was honored to stand beside President Barack Obama, recognizing her contributions in ophthalmology and serving on his commission for digital accessibility to blind children. Her efforts highlighted the pressing need for inclusivity in healthcare, technology, and education—echoing her steadfast belief that everyone deserves access to the tools that enhance sight and learning.

In April 2019, just weeks before her passing, Dr. Bath shared her insights during a Senate hearing titled “Trailblazers and Lost Einsteins: Women Inventors and the Future of American Innovation.” Her testimony shed light on the gender disparities in STEM fields and the crucial need for recognition and support of female inventors. Even in her final days, she was a beacon of hope and progress.

Remembering Dr. Patricia Bath

Dr. Patricia Era Bath passed away on May 30, 2019, due to cancer-related complications, leaving behind an inspiring legacy of resilience, empathy, and innovation. At age 76, she had changed the very fabric of medicine while reminding us of the vital importance of diversity in healthcare.

As we celebrate Dr. Bath’s life, let us remember her not only for her remarkable achievements but also for the path she has paved for future generations. Her legacy lives on, reminding us that the fight for equity in healthcare is far from over and that the spirit of innovation fuels our collective journey toward progress.

In honor of Dr. Bath, let us continue her mission to advance healthcare for all, celebrate diversity in all its forms, and strive to make the world a more equitable place—for sight, for education, and for justice. Rest in peace, Dr. Patricia Era Bath. Your vision changed the world, and you will forever be remembered as a true trailblazer.

Patricia Bath (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Bath

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