NASA revives next-generation flagship Earth-observing missions: "Falcon" and "Eagle" will monitor changing clouds and map critical minerals.

The article focuses on NASA’s development of two new Earth-observing satellite missions, Falcon (Fleet for the Atmosphere Linking Commercial Observations with NASA) and Eagle (Explorer for Artemis Geology Lunar and Earth), designed to study changing clouds, pollution interactions, and Earth's surface composition. Eagle will consist of two satellites equipped with a high-resolution imaging spectrometer and a thermal radiometer to map vegetation, minerals, and surface heat, while Falcon will include satellites carrying a laser probe and cloud-sensing radar to monitor atmospheric particles and clouds. These missions aim to improve understanding of cloud dynamics and their impact on climate, with NASA implementing fixed three-year development contracts to control costs and accelerate deployment. The satellites are expected to launch before the end of the decade, contributing to a broader constellation of cloud-focused instruments. [Extracted from the article]