NASA Backs New Stratospheric System to Track Climate Threats in Real Time
NASA has awarded nearly $850,000 to Spectral Sciences and Sceye to develop a first-of-its-kind monitoring system capable of tracking environmental events directly from the stratosphere.
The new system will combine Sceye’s high-altitude platform with Spectral Sciences’ hyperspectral sensors to deliver continuous, high-resolution data for scientists, emergency services, and policymakers.
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A Breakthrough in Real-Time Earth Observation
Unlike satellites that revisit areas on a fixed schedule, Sceye’s solar-powered high-altitude platform can hover above one region for weeks at a time. From that vantage point, the system will monitor vast areas of land and ocean, capturing pixel-level details of wildfires, methane leaks, vegetation changes, and even volcanic activity.
Dr. Marsha J. Fox, Vice President of Operations and Principal Scientist at Spectral Sciences, Inc., said, “Access to continuous, high-quality data from the stratosphere will transform how we understand and safeguard our environment.”
She added that earlier warnings and more accurate tracking of crops, natural resources, and atmospheric changes could have real-world benefits for communities, ecosystems, and economies.
Building Tools for Early Action
The technology aims to give emergency responders and researchers instant access to environmental data, cutting response times and improving climate resilience.
Jonathan Stock, Chief Scientist for Innovation at NASA’s Intelligent Systems Division, said, “Continuous, high-resolution, real-time imaging of Earth will help first-responders provide timely disaster mitigation and dramatically improve the data we use to test forecast models.”
Sceye’s founder and CEO, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, described the collaboration as a way to help governments and industries act before crises escalate. “By combining Sceye’s platform with Spectral Sciences’ advanced sensors, we are building a system that gives decision-makers the early warnings and detailed insights needed to take action when it matters most,” he said.
Expanding NASA’s Climate Toolkit
The funding comes through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme, which supports new technologies that strengthen climate and environmental monitoring.
Sceye, based in New Mexico, has already completed several methane detection flights from the stratosphere and continues to work with NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey on advancing real-time environmental data collection.
With growing private investment and proven stratospheric flight capability, the company says this project marks another step toward making continuous, high-altitude climate monitoring a practical reality.
Kerry’s been writing professionally for over 14 years, after graduating with a First Class Honours Degree in Multimedia Journalism from Canterbury Christ Church University. She joined Orbital Today in 2022. She covers everything from UK launch updates to how the wider space ecosystem is evolving. She enjoys digging into the detail and explaining complex topics in a way that feels straightforward. Before writing about space, Kerry spent years working with cybersecurity companies. She’s written a lot about threat intelligence, data protection, and how cyber and space are increasingly overlapping, whether that’s satellite security or national defence. With a strong background in tech writing, she’s used to making tricky, technical subjects more approachable. That mix of innovation, complexity, and real-world impact is what keeps her interested in the space sector.
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