Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31590: Tracking Earth from Orbit: How NanoRacks-LEMUR-2 Expands Our Planetary Perspective

Orbiting Earth in a constellation of small satellites, LEMUR-2 is an experiment with a mission: to monitor and improve life on Earth through data collection from space. Spearheaded by Kier Fortier of Spire Global, Inc., and launched on multiple ISS missions, the NanoRacks-LEMUR-2 project is a stellar example of technology in service of humanity.

Each LEMUR-2 satellite collects real-time weather data and maritime tracking information, offering insights into climate systems, ship movements, and atmospheric dynamics. These cube satellites (or CubeSats) operate as compact observatories, proving that big things can come in small packages.

For Expeditions 47 through 63, Spire’s LEMUR-2 units were deployed from the ISS via NanoRacks, enabling flexible and repeatable deployment. These satellites use GPS radio occultation, a technique that measures signal bending as it passes through Earth’s atmosphere, yielding valuable data for weather forecasting and environmental monitoring.

Technology development missions like this help us better understand Earth while refining the engineering that supports satellite miniaturization, autonomy, and resilience in space.

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