NASA Selects Two Earth System Explorers Missions for Further Development

The STRIVE and EDGE missions will advance to the next phase of development, with confirmation reviews scheduled for 2027.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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NASA has selected two Earth System Explorers missions, STRIVE and EDGE, for continued development. The STRIVE mission will provide high-resolution measurements of atmospheric conditions, while the EDGE mission will observe the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and surface topography. Both missions are expected to support weather forecasting, climate research, and disaster preparedness.

Why it matters

These missions will help improve our understanding of Earth's atmosphere, ecosystems, and surface topography, which is crucial for weather forecasting, climate research, and disaster preparedness. The data from these missions will also support future exploration beyond our home planet, as NASA prepares for the Artemis campaign to return to the Moon and eventually journey to Mars.

The details

The STRIVE (Stratosphere Troposphere Response using Infrared Vertically Resolved Light Explorer) mission will provide daily, near-global, high-resolution measurements of temperature, atmospheric constituents, and aerosol properties from the upper troposphere to the mesosphere. The EDGE (Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer) mission will observe the three-dimensional structure of terrestrial ecosystems and surface topography of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice, extending capabilities beyond current NASA missions.

  • The two missions were selected for continued development under NASA's Earth System Explorers Program.
  • Each mission will undergo a confirmation review in 2027 to assess technical progress and funding availability.
  • If confirmed, the total estimated cost of each mission, excluding launch, will not exceed $355 million, and launch dates will not occur earlier than 2030.

The players

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics, and space research.

Lyatt Jaeglé

The principal investigator for the STRIVE mission, based at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Helen Amanda Fricker

The principal investigator for the EDGE mission, based at the University of California, San Diego.

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What they’re saying

“NASA uses the unique vantage point of space to study our home planet to deliver life-saving data into the hands of disaster response and decision-makers every day for the benefit of all, while also informing future exploration across our solar system.”

— Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters (militaryaerospace.com)

What’s next

Each mission will undergo a confirmation review in 2027 to assess technical progress and funding availability. If confirmed, the missions are expected to launch no earlier than 2030.

The takeaway

These two Earth System Explorers missions will provide critical data to improve weather forecasting, climate research, and disaster preparedness, while also supporting future space exploration beyond Earth. The selection of these missions demonstrates NASA's commitment to using the unique vantage point of space to study our planet and deliver life-saving information to decision-makers.