[Satellite TODAY 04-28-10] GE Satellite was chosen by NASA to provide Ku-band satellite connectivity for a NASA science mission to study atmospheric and environmental conditions across in the Pacific from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), GE Satellite announced April 27.
    The NASA campaign is the first Earth Science mission to use the UAV for atmospheric and environmental research. GE supplied the mission with mobile broadband application support for the UAV’s 14-hour maiden voyage.
    NASA’s Global Hawk UAV was fitted with 11 science instruments for observing and measuring atmospheric conditions. The Global Hawk payload includes an antenna that will allow it to continuously transmit data and images via the GE-23 satellite.
    NASA has future observations missions planned in the program from the equator to the Arctic Circle and west of Hawaii.