NOAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At 0808 on Dec. 2, 1995, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA’s joint Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite launched from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fl. Among the 15 instruments aboard the spacecraft was the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). 

Today, LASCO celebrates 30 years of on-orbit expeditions that have unveiled scientific phenomena  that have extended far beyond the aspirations of the original developers and heralded a new era in space weather science. 
LASCO’s advanced engineering, special location in space, and the scientific leadership of NRL, have transformed solar observation and established the foundation for modern space weather operations. Its findings continue to inform naval and defense readiness with accurate forecasting of solar-driven disruptions across the electromagnetic spectrum. LASCO remains a testament to NRL’s role in advancing science in direct service to national security. 

What is LASCO 
LASCO provides continuous, high-fidelity observations of the solar corona – the Sun’s outer atmosphere – marking a cornerstone achievement in heliophysics. It is a three-telescope coronagraph system that blocks direct sunlight and captures the faint visible light scattered by energetic electrons and charged particles around the sun. NRL is the principal investigator institute for LASCO, leading the original proposal for the instrument and an international consortium in its construction. 

Positioned nearly one million miles from Earth, LASCO continuously observes the near-Sun environment where solar eruptions originate and start propagating through interplanetary space. Its nested telescopes image coronal structures from approximately 0.5 to 14 million miles above the solar surface, providing an unprecedented view of the dynamics that drive solar activity. 

LASCO has revealed the mechanisms behind coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar wind acceleration, large-scale magnetic disturbances, and more. These phenomena are the primary sources of space weather.  

Impact of Space Weather Forecasting 
Space weather describes the dynamic conditions in our solar system, and the primary driver of its most hazardous impacts on Earth is the “geomagnetic storm”. A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere triggered by the efficient transfer of energy from the solar wind into the planet’s surrounding space environment. The most intense storms are typically linked to CMEs. 

The repercussions can range from causing permanent damage to satellites, disrupting  communication and navigation systems, affecting missile detection sensors, and threatening ground-based power grids. In low-Earth orbit, heightened atmospheric drag can alter spacecraft trajectories and accelerate orbital decay, while high-frequency radio signals used for civilian and military purposes can experience severe interference or blackout conditions. 

“One of LASCO’s major contributions has been advancing the heliophysics community’s modeling capabilities,” said Karl Battams, Ph.D., a computational scientist in NRL’s Space Science Division and LASCO principal investigator. “By observing how fast coronal mass ejections move in LASCO images and determining their direction, researchers can estimate when these events will impact Earth.” 

This capability became possible only through the development of LASCO, which has revolutionized the continuous observation of the solar corona. Its success has demonstrated to both the scientific community and decision makers that maintaining a persistent space-based coronagraphic imaging capability is vital—much like the way meteorological satellites are essential for monitoring Earth’s weather. 

National Security Impact 
What began as a pioneering research experiment has become a cornerstone of national security infrastructure. LASCO continues to deliver near-real-time observations essential for predicting geomagnetic storms that can hinder defense operations. 

“Such disturbances can compromise situational awareness, obstruct command and control, affect precision-guided systems, and even impact the electrical power grid, directly affecting military readiness and operational effectiveness,” Battams said. 

Observations from LASCO are paramount for operational space weather monitoring, allowing forecasters to predict the timing of the event’s arrival at Earth and the potential geomagnetic storm it could induce. While precisely predicting the severity, exact timing, and duration of a geomagnetic storm remains challenging, these advance warnings are vital for enabling the Department of War (DoW) and other agencies to prepare. 

The potential impacts of severe geomagnetic storms on DoW and Department of the Navy missions are significant and far-reaching. These events can disrupt or degrade critical systems and capabilities, including satellite communications, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and timing, and various remote sensing systems. 

“LASCO demonstrated that continuous, operational observations of the Sun are not just scientifically interesting—they are essential,” Battams said. “Space weather impacts can cause direct consequences to our national security. That importance has since been recognized at the highest levels of policy, including legislation aimed at strengthening our nation’s space weather resilience. LASCO didn’t just contribute to heliophysics—it launched a new era of space weather monitoring and preparedness.” 

Impact on Science 
LASCO is on board the joint NASA/https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/SOHO_overview2 spacecraft, which was designed to study the sun from its interior to its dynamic atmosphere and corona and its interaction with the entire solar system. LASCO remains a vital asset for heliophysics researchers and solar physics. It has unveiled a plethora of advances in our understanding of the Sun and its dynamic corona, now spanning almost three complete 11-year solar cycles. 

“NRL’s history in space science, space weather, and heliophysics is unparalleled,” Battams added. “While LASCO is known for its big, headline achievements, it’s also a foundational piece of a much larger system. It’s a crucial ingredient in how NRL’s Space Science Division strives to observe, understand, and predict space weather on a global scale by understanding the fundamental processes of the Sun itself.” 

From the launch of the SOHO mission to LASCO’s first images of the Sun’s corona, LASCO became the catalyst for a new era in solar physics and space weather research. 

“When LASCO was launched, no one had any idea its data would become one of the most scientifically prolific archives in history,” Battams said. “The sheer volume and impact of discoveries that have come from this instrument have exceeded even our most ambitious expectations.” 

The SOHO project was nominally a two-year mission and has now stretched to nearly 30 years. This unprecedented spacecraft lifetime was driven substantially, particularly in the past decade, by the reliance of the research and operations communities on LASCO’s data stream. Accordingly, LASCO has set the stage for the next advancements in space weather monitoring technologies, which have begun their operations in space. 

“LASCO opened the door to an entirely new way of studying the Sun and space weather,” Battams said. “Once scientists could see solar eruptions in real time, they could finally begin to develop accurate models and determine what instruments were needed next. LASCO has helped reveal the questions—and the tools—we needed to answer them and has directly driven the development of next-generation instruments.” 

In 2024 the NOAA GOES-19 satellite was launched into a geostationary Earth orbit, carrying the first ever purely operational compact coronagraph, known as CCOR-1. This instrument was designed and built by NRL and supplied to NOAA as a demonstration of the technology to design a more compact coronagraph telescope. This was followed in 2025 by the launch of the NRL-built CCOR-2 coronagraph, flying on the SWFO-1 mission, which will take up permanent residence at the L1 Lagrange point in space, and provide uninterrupted images of the solar corona, starting in March 2026. 

CCOR is a spaceborne solar imaging sensor that continuously searches for massive, large scale, and fast-moving concentrations of Earth-directed solar plasma. Analysis of CCOR image plasma concentration content is used to predict geomagnetic storm severity and onset times. 

Historical background 
“NRL has been a pioneer in heliophysics and space weather research since the very inception of the field, dating back to the first discovery of CMEs through NRL space-based observations in 1971,” Battams said. “Since then, NRL has consistently maintained its position at the forefront of coronal imaging with a portfolio of groundbreaking instrumentation that has driven heliospheric and space weather studies.” 

Prior to LASCO, studies of the Sun and its connection to space weather were disjointed.

“Scientists knew the Sun was doing something, and then—hours or days later—something would happen at Earth,” Battams explained. “The two were clearly connected, but we didn’t have the means to observe that process in real time. LASCO provided that first clear view. It gave us the baseline understanding that allowed this entire field of space weather modeling and forecasting to develop.” 

LASCO’s design was built on NRL’s decades-long heritage of studying the Sun, from the V-2 rocket experiments in the late 1940’s that first linked solar emission to the state of Earth’s ionosphere; to the first ever observations of large solar eruptions, or CMEs, in the early 1970s; to the first rudimentary catalog of CMEs from NRL’s P78-1/SOLWIND telescope. These pivotal milestones laid a foundation for an instrument package that would become the global benchmark for studying solar storms. 

Notable Achievements 
In 1997 the LASCO team received the NRL Group Achievement Award, recognizing the exceptional technical and scientific accomplishments.  

Over its lifetime, LASCO has achieved a series of transformative scientific breakthroughs that have defined the modern field of heliophysics and space weather forecasting. Among the most significant milestones are: 

1.    Definitive demonstration of the significance of CMEs. LASCO provided the first comprehensive and continuous observations confirming that CMEs are the dominant drivers of large-scale space weather disturbances. 
2.    Revelation of the three-dimensional structure of CMEs. LASCO’s multi-scale imaging enabled the first realistic models of CME geometry, dynamics, and evolution in three dimensions. 
3.    Identification of the halo CME and its geoeffectiveness. LASCO was the first instrument to definitively demonstrate that “halo” CMEs, observed when directed toward Earth, are key causes of geomagnetic storms and can directly impact orbiting spacecraft and ground-based systems. 
4.    Quantitative characterization of CME occurrence and energetics. The LASCO dataset provided the first statistically robust measurements of CME frequency, velocity, kinetic energy, and mass over multiple solar cycles. 
5.    Discovery of the streamer-blowout CME phenomenon. LASCO identified a distinct class of coronal ejections associated with large-scale restructuring of the solar corona, improving understanding of long-term solar magnetic field evolution. 
6.    Unprecedented discovery of near-Sun comets. LASCO has become the most prolific comet-finding instrument in history, identifying thousands of sungrazing and near-Sun comets that are otherwise invisible from Earth-based observatories. 

The Future 
“LASCO truly set the stage, and demonstrated the necessity, for a permanent presence of an operational coronagraph,” said Arnaud Thernisien, Ph.D., a research physicist from the Advanced Sensor Technology Section within NRL’s Space Science Division. “It is the perfect demonstration of the effectiveness of NRL’s research-to-operations chain and our world-leading capability at designing and building these optically complex instruments.”  
From its foundational basic scientific principles to the design, testing, and data analysis, and subsequent operational replacement, LASCO has cemented its place as a landmark of heliophysics that epitomizes the value and success of NRL’s research-to-operations pipeline. The impact of LASCO, both from the perspective of heliophysics science as well as protecting critical Navy and DoW assets and operations, will continue to reverberate for decades to come.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.  –  The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) highlighted its latest advancements in defense technology at the Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exposition, held April 7-9, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. As the premier maritime exposition in the United States, Sea-Air-Space provided an ideal platform for NRL to demonstrate its innovative contributions to national defense.

 
NRL’s exhibit featured a range of pioneering technologies aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
 
The OmniGlobe is a large, illuminated spherical display that visualizes Earth’s environmental data—atmosphere, oceans, and geophysics— and shows natural interconnections. NRL’s Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Branch, developed software to convert our system images into the specific format required for the globe. NRL developed the software that created the content being shown.

An expert on NRL’s Maritime Domain Awareness tool, PROTEUS, provided demonstrations for attendees. PROTEUS provides near real-time global tracking and analysis of maritime vessels using multiple data sources.

“We’re working with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement on a project at Flower Garden Banks to help identify Illegal fishing activity,” said Jeff Harris, Senior Software Test Engineer, and member of NRL PROTEUS team. “Our role is to integrate data from multiple sources and visualize it for operations in real time.”

NRL’s Scientific Development Squadron ONE, or VXS-1, was on site to talk with attendees about global airborne science missions to support Navy research and tech development with customized aircraft platforms.

“If someone wants to test equipment and it fits on the plane our project specialists can reconfigure the aircraft for just about any mission,” said Lt. Sean Carpenter, a naval flight officer with VXS-1. “A great example of that is a project we worked on with the NOPP Hurricane Coastal Impacts, where we deployed sensor buoys to improve hurricane forecasting. We flew low to the water and launched buoys out of the main cabin door to gather real-time data that can help save lives.”

Several models of coronagraphs were on display with experts to talk about solar imaging sensors that detect solar plasma and forecast space weather impacts on Earth.

“NRL has been building coronagraphs since the mid-1960s,” said Damien Chua, physicist with NRL’s Space Science Division. “In fact, in 1971, our instrument made the first optical detection of a coronal mass ejection.”

“As we deploy more systems in space and the air, space weather will increasingly impact performance and reliability—so raising awareness is critical,” Chua added.

“Now NRL has our nation’s first solar coronagraph for operations—dedicated to providing real-time data for NOAA’s space weather forecasts, supporting both civil and military operations,” he said.

Other exhibits included:

• NRL’s Skyfish Sonar, a synthetic aperture sonar system designed to detect and classify underwater objects, including those buried in the seafloor.
• Quantum Inertial Navigation, a next-gen self-contained navigation system using quantum technology to vastly improve accuracy over traditional inertial methods.
• Variable Speed Wind Tunnel, a wind tunnel used to test aerodynamic designs at altitudes up to 30 km and speeds from Mach 1.5 to 5+.
• LARADO, a space-based laser system designed to detect small pieces of orbital debris too small to track from Earth.
• NRL’s Naval Center for Space Technology Spaceflight Instruments: NCSTdesigns and builds space systems and instruments, from components to full spacecraft for national security missions.
• Space Robotics including a robotic satellite servicing systems to inspect, repair, and upgrade spacecraft in orbit.
• Space Solar Power Beaming which uses microwaves to wirelessly transfer solar energy from space to Earth for efficient, point-to-point power.

NRL’s participation underscored its commitment to advancing defense technologies across multiple domains. The event facilitated valuable discussions and collaborations with industry leaders and military decision-makers, reinforcing NRL’s role in shaping the future of maritime operations.

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
 
NRL offers several mechanisms for collaborating with the broader scientific community, within and outside of the Federal government. These include Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), LP-CRADAs, Educational Partnership Agreements, agreements under the authority of 10 USC 4892, licensing agreements, FAR contracts, and other applicable agreements.
 
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at mailto:[email protected].

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended Nov. 30, closing another demanding chapter for the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.

The “Hurricane Hunters” flew 927.9 hours this year across the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and central Pacific basins, collecting critical data that improved forecasts, saved lives and once again demonstrated the squadron’s no-fail mission in action.

From their first flight into Hurricane Erick on June 18 to their final mission into Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 30, 53rd WRS crews faced one of the most intense storm seasons in recent memory. This year’s taskings included three Category 5 hurricanes and the second sub-900 millibar storm the squadron had flown in as many years.

The Hurricane Hunters kicked off the season when a WC-130J Super Hercules and aircrew departed Keesler Air Force Base for Hurricane Erick in the eastern Pacific. That sortie marked the first operational flight of the 2025 season and the start of what forecasters predicted would be an active year for tropical systems.

“Our job is to fly directly into the storm and collect vital information such as wind speeds, pressure, temperature and humidity,” said 1st Lt. Mark McCoy, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer. “While satellites provide a significant amount of information, the data we gather within the storm is unique and cannot be captured from space. That information helps the National Hurricane Center refine forecasts and gives people more time to prepare.”

The 53rd WRS, assigned to the 403rd Wing, is the only Department of Defense unit that flies into tropical systems to gather real-time atmospheric data. Using a fleet of 10 WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft, the squadron operates year-round and is prepared to support 24-hour operations during the peak of hurricane season. Data from their flights is transmitted in real-time to the National Hurricane Center and shared with NOAA, the U.S. Navy and other domestic and international forecasting agencies.

“Every time we fly into a storm, we’re collecting data that can directly impact how communities prepare and respond,” said Lt. Col. Steve Burton, 53rd WRS director of operations and the deployed detachment commander. “We train all year for this. What we do helps save lives and property.”

According to Warren Madden with the National Hurricane Center’s Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes, the squadron’s 2025 missions were defined not by quantity, but by intensity. In the Atlantic basin, the squadron flew into Hurricanes Barry, Chantal, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry and Melissa, as well as an early August invest in the northern Gulf of Mexico and another in late August near the Windward Islands. In the eastern Pacific, crews flew into Hurricanes Erick and Lorena, and in the central Pacific they supported missions into Hurricane Kiko.

“What was unusual this year was the overall lack of activity in both the Gulf and in the Caribbean,” Madden said. “We only flew one named storm in the Gulf—Barry—along with two northern Gulf invests. Chantal was the only system that produced direct wind impacts to the continental U.S., and Melissa was the only storm we flew in the Caribbean.”

What did stand out was the strength of several storms.

 “Three of the systems—Erin, Humberto and Melissa—reached Category 5 strength, and Melissa became the second sub-900 millibar storm we’ve flown in as many seasons,” Madden said, referencing 2024’s Hurricane Milton. “That level of intensity in consecutive years is rare.”

The Hurricane Hunters’ most demanding mission of 2025 came late in the season when Tropical Storm Melissa rapidly intensified over the Caribbean. On Oct. 21, the 53rd WRS deployed aircrews and aircraft to a Forward Operating Location in Curaçao, positioning closer to the system as it strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane. Over a seven-day period, the squadron flew 17 missions and 170 flight hours into Melissa, conducting around-the-clock operations to support National Hurricane Center forecasts.

Flying WC-130Js at roughly 10,000 feet, the crews penetrated Melissa’s eye two to four times per mission, releasing dropsondes that measured temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure from the aircraft down to the ocean surface.

“That information was delivered directly to the National Hurricane Center to improve forecast accuracy as Melissa intensified,” said Burton.

The deployment took place during a federal government shutdown, which complicated travel, funding and coordination.

“Despite the administrative hurdles, our Hurricane Hunters continued operations uninterrupted, ensuring forecasters received the critical data needed to protect lives,” said Col. Jaret Fish, 403rd Wing commander. “Our Airmen demonstrated the flexibility and dedication that make the Reserve force vital to the nation’s readiness.”
Burton said the shutdown only underscored the team’s professionalism and focus.
 
“Even with the challenges, our crews stayed focused,” said Burton. “We knew communities were already feeling Melissa’s impact. Every data point we gathered fed into forecasts that helped officials make life-saving decisions. That’s why we do this mission.”

Hurricane Melissa devastated the Caribbean with 185 mph winds, torrential rain and flooding, with Jamaica hardest hit and suffering widespread destruction and infrastructure failures. The UN and U.S. State Department estimate $6–7 billion in damage to Jamaica, deadly flooding and landslides in Haiti, coastal flooding in Cuba, and at least 90 deaths across the region, including 45 in Jamaica where Melissa made landfall near New Hope Oct. 28.
By staging out of Curaçao, the Hurricane Hunters reduced flight time to the storm’s center, enabling more frequent eye penetrations and higher-density dropsonde coverage during Melissa’s peak intensity. That increased cadence provided near-real-time data that helped forecasters and emergency managers issue more accurate warnings and evacuation guidance.

With the last scheduled hurricane mission completed Oct. 30, the Hurricane Hunters spent November transitioning to winter storm reconnaissance operations in support of the National Winter Season Operations Plan. These atmospheric river missions collect data over the Pacific Ocean to help predict heavy rainfall and flooding events that affect the western United States.

“The hurricane season may be over, but our mission never really stops,” Fish said. “Whether it’s tropical cyclones or atmospheric rivers, our Airmen deliver data that directly supports national preparedness and disaster response.”

From the first flight into Erick to the last eye-wall penetration of Melissa, the 53rd WRS’s 2025 season reaffirmed the critical role of manned reconnaissance in weather forecasting.

“Our crews flew nearly 850 hours this season through some of the most intense storms on record,” Fish said. “Their work saves lives, protects property and provides the science that forecasters rely on every day. We’re proud of what they accomplished.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NASA is set to launch the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory mission in September 2025, honoring the late Dr. George R. Carruthers, whose groundbreaking work at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) transformed how we observe Earth and space.

The observatory will launch on board a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA – Kennedy Space Center, sharing its flight with NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite.

Previously named the Global Lyman-alpha Imager of the Dynamic Exosphere (GLIDE), the mission was renamed to honor Carruthers’ visionary science. The observatory will investigate Earth’s geocorona, the delicate halo of hydrogen atoms extending far beyond the planet’s visible atmosphere, to reveal how it evolves under the influence of the Sun and space weather. These insights will have direct applications for satellites, communications, navigation, and human space exploration.

“Dr. George Carruthers not only expanded the frontiers of space science, he also inspired generations of scientists and engineers through mentorship and education,” said former Head of NRL’s Upper Atmospheric Physics Section, Robert Meier, Ph.D. “Naming this mission in his honor ensures his remarkable contributions will continue to guide discovery for decades to come.”

A Legacy of Space Innovation

Carruthers developed a lifelong passion for space science during the height of the space race. As a youth, he designed and built telescopes and model rockets, supplementing his curiosity with extensive reading at local libraries. This early commitment to scientific exploration led him to earn degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois.

In 1964, following a National Science Foundation fellowship in Rocket Astronomy, Carruthers joined NRL’s Space Science Division. There, he focused on far-ultraviolet (FUV) observations of Earth’s upper atmosphere and distant astronomical phenomena, producing a 1969 patent for an “Image Converter for Detecting Electromagnetic Radiation, Especially in Short Wavelengths,” which expanded the ability to detect ultraviolet light.

During Carruthers’ 38-year-long career at NRL, he made many contributions to high-profile human space-flight missions. Carruthers’ most notable achievement came in 1972, when his Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph became the first lunar-based space observatory during NASA’s Apollo 16 mission. Its observations provided humanity with its first photos of Earth from the lunar surface in ultraviolet light — revealing the geocorona, the polar auroras, and what Dr. Carruthers called the “tropical airglow belt.”

The 50-pound, gold-plated camera enabled scientists to conduct groundbreaking studies of stars, nebulae, and other celestial objects beyond the reach of the naked eye. The instrument remains on the Moon today as a testament to his contributions.

Carruthers applied his groundbreaking technologies to a range of defense initiatives, including studies of missile exhaust plumes that provided critical insights for surveillance and related systems. Throughout his distinguished career, Carruthers served as principal investigator for numerous NASA and Department of War (DoW) [formerly known as Department of Defense] missions. His momentous projects include a 1986 rocket-borne ultraviolet imaging system that captured rare images of Comet Halley, as well as an experiment aboard the DoW’s Advanced Research and Global Observation Satellite (ARGOS), which produced the first far-ultraviolet image of a Leonid meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere from space.

In recognition of his groundbreaking research and lasting impact on space science, Carruthers received the 2012 National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the Nation’s highest honor for technological achievement. During the award presentation ceremony at the White House, President Barack Obama praised the awardees.

“I am proud to honor these inspiring American innovators,” Obama said. “They represent the ingenuity and imagination that have long made this Nation great—and they remind us of the enormous impact a few good ideas can have when these creative qualities are unleashed in an entrepreneurial environment.”

The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory Mission

The mission will investigate Earth’s geocorona, the outermost layer of the atmosphere, composed largely of hydrogen atoms. Positioned at the Sun–Earth Lagrange Point 1, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, the spacecraft will have an uninterrupted view of the geocorona. From this vantage point, its ultraviolet imaging instruments will track changes in response to the solar wind and other space-weather disturbances, revealing how storms from the Sun reshape the boundary between Earth and space.

Most of the hydrogen surrounding Earth is thought to originate from water vapor in the lower atmosphere, which is broken apart by sunlight and transported to extreme altitudes, however the details of this process remain limited. Carruthers’ data will reveal how hydrogen migrates upward and escapes into space, offering critical insight into physics that oversees atmospheric loss on Earth.

Carruthers is the first mission dedicated to continuously charting changes in Earth’s geocorona and exosphere. By mapping how the region between Earth’s atmosphere and the vacuum of space responds to solar energy, the observatory will advance space-weather forecasting and improve our understanding of how atmospheres evolve, from our own planet to beyond.

By delivering continuous, high-resolution observations of this boundary between Earth and space, the mission will improve scientific models of how our atmosphere interacts with the solar wind. Those insights will inform efforts to safeguard satellites, communications networks, navigation systems, and human explorers operating beyond low Earth orbit.

Launching as a secondary payload alongside NASA’s IMAP and NOAA’s SWFO-L1, the spacecraft will embark on a four-month trip to its operational orbit at L1, followed by about a month of checkout. The mission’s 24-month prime science phase is set to begin in March 2026, with enough fuel onboard to continue observations for up to a decade.

NRL’s Compact Coronagraph-2 (CCOR-2) is the primary instrument aboard the SWFO-L1 satellite. CCOR-2 represents a major advance in coronagraph technology, providing continuous, reliable observations of the Sun’s corona. Once operational, SWFO-L1 will be renamed SOLAR-1, reflecting its critical role in solar monitoring. Data from CCOR-2 will improve forecasting capabilities and advance understanding of space-weather dynamics, directly complementing Carruthers’ observations of how the geocorona responds to solar activity.

Continuing Carruthers’ Legacy

“Personally working with George Carruthers over the years was a richly rewarding experience for me,” Meier said. “His approach was one of unselfish cooperation in the pursuit of scientific excellence, freely sharing his knowledge, expertise, and equipment with all. Despite his truly impressive number of accomplishments and awards, George remained a humble, quiet, and approachable person with a delightful sense of humor.”

The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory reflects the enduring impact of NRL’s research in ultraviolet astronomy and atmospheric science. The renaming of this mission by NASA honors Carruthers’ extraordinary scientific achievements and lifelong dedication to education and mentorship.

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. —
The 2023 Atlantic and Eastern Pacific hurricane season concluded Nov. 30, marking the end of another above-average hurricane season for the 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which closed shop at their forward operating location at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Known as the “Roll Up,” 403rd Wing reservists spent this week packing up aircraft parts, tools, and communications and test equipment that aircrews and maintenance members positioned at the airport in May to facilitate a quick response when the 53rd WRS, better known as the Hurricane Hunters, is tasked with a storm mission.

The unit stages operations there because for Atlantic storm taskings as their area of operation is huge, extending to just past the Hawaiian Islands to the middle of the Atlantic. While operating in the Atlantic, they need at least 16 hours’ notice from the National Hurricane Center, plus flight time to the forward operation location to deploy for a storm taskings.

The unit typically flies more storm taskings in the Atlantic since there is a greater likelihood of these weather events affecting land, whereas the storms in the Pacific often go westward out to sea, said Lt. Col. Kait McLaughlin, 53rd WRS aerial weather reconnaissance officer. If tasked to fly storms impacting the Hawaiian Islands, the unit typically operates from Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii.

El Nino, a recurrent weather pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, typically suppresses the formations of hurricanes in the Atlantic and increases storm formation in the Eastern Pacific. However, it was an active season in both basins because of increased ocean temperatures in the Eastern Pacific and the Atlantic, said McLaughlin. The two basins had 37 storms, 13 of which rapidly intensified, some jumping multiple hurricane categories in a day.

The Hurricane Hunters flew 93 missions totaling 990.5 flight hours and deployed 928 dropsondes to collect data critical to hurricane forecasting. Of the 20 named storms in the Atlantic, the unit flew 10 of those systems as well as six of the 17 named storms in the Pacific. The 53rd’s first flight was June 1 into AL 91 and their final flight of the season was AL 98 Nov. 17.

“The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season is ranked as the fourth busiest in history,” said McLaughlin. “Fortunately, the majority of the public remained unaware of the heightened activity, as only one major hurricane, Idalia, made landfall in the United States. This year, we were incredibly fortunate due to the synoptic system in the atmosphere guiding most of the 20 named Atlantic storms away from the continental United States.”

In the Atlantic, seven of the storms were hurricanes and three intensified into major hurricanes. Hurricane Idalia made land fall as a category three storm Aug. 30 near Keaton Beach. Florida, causing storm surge of 7-12 feet and flooding. Hurricane Lee, which was a category five at one point, made landfall as a post-tropical cyclone in Nova Scotia, Canada, Sept. 16, causing power outages in Maine and parts of Canda. Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall on the Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Sept. 23, causing heavy rainfall and river and storm surge flooding in eastern North Carolina.

“The Eastern Pacific season, where we also conduct tropical weather reconnaissance, was also highly active,” said McLaughlin. “Typically, storms in this area don’t make landfall, so we focus only on those with the potential to do so. The 53rd WRS flew into five storms off the coast of Western Mexico, with two causing significant impacts. Hilary brought up to 600% more rainfall than average to areas of California, and Otis rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 just before making landfall in Acapulco.”

Hilary, a Category 4 hurricane at its peak, made landfall Aug. 20. It was the first tropical storm to move into southern California since 1997 and was the rainiest system in Nevada’s history, nearly doubling the state’s 116-year-old record, according to preliminary data from NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. Hurricane Otis, a category five, struck Acapulco, Mexico with 165 mph winds Oct. 25, holding the record as the strongest landfalling hurricane in the eastern Pacific.

During a tropical storm or hurricane, a 53rd WRS crew can fly through the eye of a storm four to six times. During each pass through the eye, they release a dropsonde, which collects temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and surface pressure data. This information is transmitted by satellite to the National Hurricane Center to assist them with their storm warnings and hurricane forecast models.

“Our data collected is used three-fold,” said McLaughlin. “It directly helps the forecasters provide accurate path and intensity information to the public and government officials, and it also increases the model data generated to guide the forecasters in their final decision processes. Lastly, it is used for years to come by researchers who are still trying to understand the physical dynamics of how these storms develop.”

McLaughlin, who joined the 53rd WRS in 2005, said her peers at that time told her that advancements in satellite technology might render their services unnecessary.

“With the significant leap in computer processing and atmospheric modeling, I have found the opposite true,” she said. “The demand for in-situ data from major weather-producing systems is higher than ever. My entire unit takes tremendous pride in providing this data to assist National Hurricane Center forecasters and tropical weather researchers.”

Although aircrew, aerial porters, and maintenance personnel, who left Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Monday and are scheduled to return Sunday, prepared the Hurricane Hunter’s Detachment One facility in St. Croix for next year’s hurricane season operations, their job doesn’t end there as the unit provides weather reconnaissance year-round. Before the hurricane season ended, the 53rd WRS began supporting the National Winter Season Operations Plan. They fly atmospheric rivers, North Easters and major winter storms on the East and West U.S. Coasts from Nov. 1 to April 30.

“Crews plan and coordinate winter storm tracks with collaborating agencies to ensure that they are sampling the atmosphere in the areas with the most uncertainties in the models as well as the most impactful data sets,” said McLaughlin. “This data has been proven to greatly increase the accuracy of the National Weather Service computer models for their five- and six-day forecasts.”

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. —
In the ever-changing landscape of weather forecasting, some things remain the same—the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is busy; but rather than flying into tropical weather they are now collecting critical data from atmospheric rivers over the Pacific Ocean in support of the National Winter Season Operations Plan.

During the winter months, the 53rd WRS, commonly known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” shifts their focus to these narrow corridors of concentrated moisture that can bring intense rainfall and cause significant flooding in the western United States.

Crews, with the assistance of maintenance and support personnel, have flown 10 missions from Mather Airfield, Calif., four missions from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and one from their home station at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., to gather vital, real-time atmospheric data to improve forecasts for atmospheric rivers impacting the western United States and significant winter weather events in the southeast.

“This year is the first time we’ve operated out of Yokota,” said Lt. Col. Steven Burton, 403rd Operations Group deputy commander and 53rd WRS navigator. “We did this for logistical reasons. The base has a C-130J mission, and it is closer to the systems we need to fly.”

The unit began flying the atmospheric rivers missions in 2016, 2018 and 2019 out of Mather, Calif., Joint Base Lewis—McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, as part of a research-based project, with flights added each year, until it became integrated into the NSWOP in 2020.

These missions are especially vital in understanding the behavior of atmospheric rivers, said Lt. Col. Ryan Rickert, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer.

“The data we collect is important for forecasters at the National Weather Service and researchers to track atmospheric rivers, which are large amounts of water vapor in the earth’s atmosphere,” said Rickert. “Our data is invaluable in improving the accuracy of weather models, especially in predicting the timing, intensity, and impact of these events. Officials then use this information to make decisions in managing resources for watersheds and reservoirs in California and nearby western states.”

The squadron’s missions involved flying aircraft from 24,000 to 32,000 feet to collect crucial horizontal and vertical profiles of the winds, temperature, humidity, dewpoint and pressure across areas of sensitivity for the forecast models. Equipped with advanced weather sensors and devices like dropsondes—small parachute-equipped sensors that are dropped into the storm—crews obtain data that could not be accessed by traditional ground-based weather stations or satellites, said Rickert.

“We drop about 25 to 30 dropsondes during a 9-to-10-hour flight,” said Burton.

In addition to data collected from AR flights, support for these reconnaissance missions begins as early as November with the release of buoys across the eastern Pacific which are funded by the NOAA Global Drifter Program and built by Langrangian Drifter Laboratory at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, said Lt. Col. Mark Withee, 53rd WRS navigator.

“These buoys gather data on sea conditions, are then combined with information from atmospheric river reconnaissance missions,” he said.

This atmospheric and sea-state data is then transmitted directly to the National Center for Environmental Prediction, a key division of the National Weather Service. The NCEP uses this information to improve weather forecasting models that predict everything from short-term weather changes to long-term patterns, including atmospheric rivers, said Rickert.

One of the key benefits of this information is its ability to help local authorities prepare for floods, said Burton.

“When atmospheric rivers bring heavy rainfall, it can quickly lead to overflowing rivers and reservoirs, threatening communities downstream,” he said. “The data we collect can provide advance warning, allowing for better management of reservoir levels and the timely issuance of flood warnings.”

As the 53rd WRS continues to fly their high-altitude missions from both Mather and Yokota until late March, their work remains a crucial element in a larger system designed to protect people, property, and resources nationwide.

(Tech. Sgt. Shelton Sherrill contributed to this article)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. — While WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron fly directly into the eye of tropical storms, a critical piece of the storm missions unfold behind the scenes far from the storm inside the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes Unit, better known as CARCAH, serves as the link between NOAA forecasters and the two operational flying squadrons that collect airborne weather data: the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center.

“CARCAH’s job is to coordinate with forecasters to determine what missions are needed, assign them to the squadrons, and track all of the data in real time,” said Warren Madden, senior meteorologist and section chief at CARCAH, a three-person team at the geographically separated sub-unit of the 53rd WRS embedded at the NHC. “We ensure the mission gets done safely and that the data gets to those who need it.”

The 53d WRS, an Air Force Reserve unit with the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., has a fleet of 10 WC-130J aircraft. The unit conducts both low-level investigations, flying between 500 and 1,500 feet to determine if a storm is forming, and “fix” missions at up to 10,000 feet to track the strength and motion of a storm. NOAA AOC at Lakeland Linder International Airport in Lakeland, Fla. operates the high-flying Gulfstream IV for collecting data in the upper atmosphere surrounding hurricanes and two WP-3D Orion aircraft for low-level intensity measurements, high-fidelity radar scans, and research. The data collected by these units is transmitted to the NHC and assimilated into multiple computer models that predict a storm’s track and intensity, which assists government officials and emergency managers in making timely decisions about evacuations and preparations.

According to Madden, CARCAH’s responsibilities start with daily consultations with forecasters at NHC or the Central Pacific Hurricane Center to determine when, where, and how flights should be flown.

“CARCAH will task missions to the appropriate flying unit, and we publish a daily Plan of the Day, outlining all scheduled reconnaissance flights within a 24-hour window,” said Madden. “We often coordinate the need and timing for aircraft to deploy to forward operating locations such as St. Croix for Caribbean and Atlantic storms or Hawaii for Pacific storms, so they can reach storms not in range from the squadrons’ home bases.”

During missions, CARCAH maintains constant satellite communication with aircraft in flight, receiving a stream of meteorological data from aerial reconnaissance weather officers and flight directors. This data, which includes readings on wind speed, pressure, temperature, and humidity, is subject to quality control checks before being fed into weather models. The information becomes available to forecasters and the public worldwide, influencing forecasts, warnings, and life-saving decisions.

“CARCAH acts as the middleman,” Madden explained. “We’re the bridge between the scientists on the ground and the crews flying into storms. If an aircraft loses radio contact, we’re also the backup to relay critical instructions from air traffic controllers to keep the crews safe.”

From the flight deck, that coordination is essential.

“Flying into a hurricane isn’t something you do without a clear plan,” said Maj. Alex Boykin, 53rd WRS pilot. “CARCAH gives us the initial plan and as a crew we tailor and finalize that plan to maximize the data we can safely obtain for the forecasters.”

Boykin also said that CARCAH tracks the mission in real time and is able to assist with communications and updates the plan as the mission progresses in the storm, which adds a layer of confidence and helps guarantee mission success.

That support is especially important for the weather officers onboard, who are responsible for collecting and transmitting atmospheric data mid-flight.

“CARCAH helps us stay focused on the science while they handle the coordination,” said Lt. Col. Tobi Baker, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer. “From updating us on storm intensity to helping relay flight plan changes, their real-time communication ensures our data gets out quickly and accurately. That’s what makes the mission effective.”

Beyond day-of-mission support, CARCAH is deeply involved in the strategic planning of reconnaissance operations. It continuously monitors meteorological developments, squadron readiness, and aircraft availability to anticipate future mission needs. In times of overlapping storm systems or extended operations, CARCAH identifies windows to pause flying for crew swaps, aircraft maintenance, and redeployments to ensure safe and sustainable operations.

CARCAH’s role doesn’t end when the flight does. Whether it’s a Category 4 hurricane or tracking atmospheric rivers slamming into the West Coast, CARCAH collects mission statistics, assesses the success of each operation, and contributes to long-term evaluations that influence how missions are planned in future seasons.

“We’re constantly adapting to the weather and the operational environment,” said Madden. “Our goal is to maximize how many missions we can fly for the forecasters, without ever compromising the safety of our crews.”

The 2024 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons ended Nov. 30, marking the end of another active season for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.

Better known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, the unit, which flies WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to collect weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts, flew 107 missions into 12 of the 18 named storms in the Atlantic and two of the 13 tropical cyclones in the Pacific.

“The 2024 hurricane season was an interesting roller coaster ride with very strong storms early and late in the season,” said Lt. Col. Mark Withee, 53rd WRS navigator. “Beryl was a rare June Category 5 hurricane and Rafael, a Category 3, was a Gulf oddity for November. The takeaway for this season, is it’s important to be prepared throughout hurricane season, and not just on the coast but inland as well as we saw Helene’s impact to the Appalachians.”

Hurricane seasons are each unique, added Lt. Col. Jeff Mitchell, 53rd WRS director of operations. “It is always busy for the 53rd, it is just a matter of where it is going to be busy. For instance, is it going to be busy in the Gulf or in the Atlantic?”

Through an interagency agreement, tropical weather reconnaissance is governed by the National Hurricane Operations Plan, which requires the squadron to support 24-hour-a-day continuous operations, with the ability to fly up to three storms simultaneously with response times of 16 hours. The unit’s operations area is immense spanning from the mid-Atlantic to Hawaii. To get closer to the storms the unit deploys aircraft and personnel to locations such as Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Barbers Point Kapolei Airport, Hawaii. This year, the unit deployed five times, one of which was a relocation of aircraft to Kelly Field, Texas, to get out of the path of Francine, which impacted Louisiana as a Category 2.

The 53rd works in conjunction with the NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center, which has a fleet of two WP-3D Orion, and one Gulfstream GIV-SP. NOAA uses the WP-3D similarly to how the 53rd WRS uses their fleet of 10 WC-130J aircraft while the Gulfstream flies as high as 45,000 feet to collect data in the upper atmosphere surrounding developing hurricanes. The information they gather is used for track forecasting and research purposes.

Of the 1,609 tropical cyclone reconnaissance hours flown this season by both organizations, the 53d flew 1,130.6 of those hours.

“This season was certainly unique,” said Mitchell. “Starting off the bat with a Cat 5 was certainly an eye opener as well as seeing one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in October. One thing is for sure though; our job is very much needed, because as accurate as a season forecast is what it doesn’t tell you is where it’s going to be. Storm models are great at predicting the future path of storms once they form however, they remain reliant on one crucial element, the data from our aircraft.”

The 53rd started the season flying Tropical Storm Alberto in June followed by Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record, and Tropical Storm Chris, which formed the last of day of June made landfall in Veracruz in July.

According to the NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, even though temperatures were warm in the North Atlantic, the equatorial Atlantic cooled rapidly into an Atlantic Nina which caused three weeks of inactivity until Hurricane Francine formed Sept. 9.

Activity dramatically increased in late September with strong storms such as Hurricane Helene, said Mitchell. Helene developed over the western Caribbean before moving toward the Big Ben region of Florida, making landfall Sept. 26 as a Category 4, and then made its way inland causing catastrophic damage over central Appalachia. The unit stayed busy the remainder of the season flying three storms in October, with Hurricane Milton being the strongest forming in the Gulf of Mexico and rapidly intensifying into the second Category 5 hurricane of the season before making landfall Oct. 9 as a Category 3, said Mitchell. The 53rd WRS’ last storm mission of the season was Rafael, which made landfall in western Cuba as a Category 3 before it weakened into a remnant over the Gulf.

Although hurricane season is at an end, there is no off season for this group of reservists who are now preparing for their winter season operations support of atmospheric rivers and winter storm reconnaissance.