Although other missions have used passive methods to gather data, this mission called CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations), will actively measure aerosols and clouds 24 hours a day. Passive instruments take measurements without probing the area being measured, while active instruments penetrate the space they are measuring like a flash on a camera. CALIPSO will fly in formation with AQUA and CloudSat composing a train of satellites traveling above us and collecting data. CALIPSO will carry its own light source as part of an instrument called LIDAR (light detection and ranging). The data collected will help us discover more about climate change and our environment than ever known before.

CALIPSO and CloudSat aboard a Delta II Rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 28, 2006 at 6:02 AM EDT. There was only a one minute launch window since both CALIPSO and CloudSat will be orbiting in a tight "A-Trian" formation with other satellites. This was the 50th launch for the Launch Services Program at VAFB. Dr. Pat McCormick, HU Professor, is a Co-Principal Investigator for the CALIPSO mission. Photo Credit: NASA TV.

NASA's CALIPSO and CloudSat Launch Site . . . . . . . . . NASA's CALIPSO and CloudSat Launch Video