The European Space Agency (ESA) and Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract to develop Element #2 of HydRON, a laser-based satellite system designed to transform space communication. This phase focuses on establishing a satellite collector in low Earth orbit (LEO) to connect various orbital layers using advanced optical technology. HydRON aims to increase the speed and security of space-based communications while reducing costs, addressing the growing challenge of transmitting large data volumes from satellites to Earth. Element #2 will work with Element #1, a ring of ten LEO satellites developed with Kepler Communications, to create a comprehensive space communications infrastructure. This system will link satellites in LEO to geostationary orbit with ground stations via laser technology.
NASA researchers and partners tested new drone-based technology for localized forecasting in Missoula, Montana, in August 2024. The NASA FireSense project attached wind sensors to the Alta X quadcopter to provide precise meteorological data for predicting fire behavior. Wildfires are increasing globally, and wind significantly impacts fire growth. The Alta X drone was chosen because the U.S. Forest Service already uses it, facilitating sensor integration. The drone uses a radiosonde and an anemometer, familiar to meteorologists, to measure wind, humidity, temperature, and pressure. Unlike weather balloons, drones offer recurrent, pinpointed forecasts for rapidly changing wildfire environments.
The Missoula campaign involved eight data-collection flights, with student teams launching weather balloons for comparison. Data from both platforms were sent to teams from MITRE, NVIDIA, and Esri for visualization, aiding non-meteorologists in understanding changing conditions. The NASA Alta X will undergo further testing in Alabama and Florida in spring 2025, incorporating improvements from the Montana campaign.