NASA Selects UC San Diego-Led Satellite Mission

EDGE satellite will map global changes in sea level, ice sheets, and vegetation

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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NASA has selected a UC San Diego-led satellite mission called EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer) to launch in 2030. The EDGE satellite, led by glaciologist Dr. Helen Amanda Fricker, will use a network of lasers to make highly detailed 3D observations of changes in sea level, ice sheet loss, and vegetation around the world.

Why it matters

The EDGE satellite mission will provide critical data to help scientists and policymakers better understand and respond to the impacts of climate change. By precisely measuring changes in the Earth's surface over time, EDGE will improve our resilience and ability to navigate the challenges posed by global warming.

The details

The EDGE satellite will be equipped with five lasers, each with eight beams, that will map the globe and make 3D observations of the planet. This data will allow researchers to track changes in sea level, ice sheet loss, and vegetation over time. Dr. Fricker says the satellite is like "a big laser pointer in space" that will provide highly detailed measurements, similar to how parents measure the growth of their children.

  • In June 2025, a nearly 1,000-page proposal for the EDGE mission was submitted to NASA.
  • In September 2025, NASA conducted a site visit to Goddard Space Flight Center to evaluate the EDGE proposal.
  • In early February 2026, NASA informed Dr. Fricker that the EDGE mission had been selected for funding.
  • The EDGE satellite is expected to launch in 2030.

The players

Dr. Helen Amanda Fricker

A glaciologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and the principal investigator leading the EDGE satellite mission.

EDGE

The Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer, a NASA-funded satellite mission led by UC San Diego that will use lasers to make highly detailed 3D observations of changes in sea level, ice sheets, and vegetation.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which has selected the EDGE satellite mission for funding through its Earth Systems Explorer program.

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What they’re saying

“Basically, it's a big laser pointer in space, and it is measuring the height of the Earth at very high spatial resolution, so very high detail.”

— Dr. Helen Amanda Fricker, Principal Investigator, EDGE Satellite Mission (nbcsandiego.com)

“It improves our resilience, and information is what we need to navigate these next steps.”

— Dr. Helen Amanda Fricker, Principal Investigator, EDGE Satellite Mission (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

The EDGE satellite mission team will now focus on staffing up and getting key personnel into position as they prepare for the satellite's launch in 2030.

The takeaway

The selection of the EDGE satellite mission, led by a researcher from UC San Diego, demonstrates the university's leadership in climate science and its ability to contribute cutting-edge technology to help monitor and address the impacts of global warming.