AI Insight
NASA's INCUS mission is preparing for a 2027 launch to conduct the first space-based survey of tropical convective storm dynamics. Two of the mission's three small satellites have completed assembly and testing, with the third satellite's testing scheduled to finish no earlier than September. INCUS will study convective updrafts in tropical storms from space using multiple SmallSats working in coordination.
Why it matters
Understanding the dynamics of tropical convective storms could improve weather forecasting and climate models, particularly for severe weather events that can impact millions of people. The mission's data on storm updrafts will help scientists better predict storm intensity and development patterns.
Teams working on NASA’s INCUS (Investigation of Convective Updrafts) mission, the first space-based survey of the dynamics of tropical convective storms, have completed assembly and tested two of the mission’s small satellites, or SmallSats. Testing continues on the third SmallSat and is scheduled for completion no earlier than September ahead of a 2027 launch.
Source: NASA's INCUS mission on road to launch, study storms from space