NASA launches $500,000 challenge to improve space weather predictions
NASA has launched the $500,000 Orbital Clarity Challenge to develop affordable technologies for measuring atmospheric density in the thermosphere. Improved data on this region will help satellite operators better predict orbital drag caused by solar activity.
Why it matters
As the number of satellites in low Earth orbit grows, managing space weather impacts is critical for preventing collisions and maintaining orbital stability.
Earth's atmosphere does not simply end where airplanes stop flying. Far above the planet, in a region known as the thermosphere, an extremely thin layer of gas continues to interact with satellites orbiting Earth. Changes in this region may seem insignificant, but they can alter atmospheric drag and gradually affect the paths of spacecraft. These changes become particularly important when activity from the Sun causes the upper atmosphere to heat up and expand. As the number of satellites operating in low Earth orbit continues to increase, predicting these changes has become an increasingly important challenge. NASA is now looking for new, affordable technologies that could help provide a clearer picture of this difficult-to-measure region.
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