An Atlas Space Operations ground antenna. Photo: Business Wire

Atlas Space Operations onboarded the NASA TROPICS mission to its ground segment network to improve data collection for the mission within a rapid timeline of four weeks, the company announced Aug. 1. 

The TROPICS constellation of four satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) provides data with space-based storm-sensing technology to inform weather forecasting. The satellites provide rapid-refresh microwave measurements over the tropics that can be used to observe the thermodynamics of the troposphere and precipitation structure for storm systems. The second two satellites of the constellation launched in May of 2023. 

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL), which leads the mission, contracted Atlas Space Operations to support TROPICS at its Dubai ground station. Atlas reported that it established coverage within four weeks, a process that can take several months. 

“There are few missions in space with such immediate and concrete benefits as severe weather monitoring,” Atlas CEO John Williams commented. “Simply put, data from Lincoln Laboratory’s TROPICS mission saves lives. Atlas is honored to quickly, securely, and reliably deliver that data to their team.”