NASA CloudSat and CALIPSO Satellite Missions Partner with the GLOBE Program for Successful Scientist-Student Collaborations

NASA places strong emphasis on education and involvement of students and teachers in their missions. CloudSat and CALIPSO are two satellite-based research missions launched together on the same Delta II rocket in fall, 2005. They form the center of the "A-Train" satellite formation. The A-Train consists of five missions flying in close proximity, providing combined detailed observations about the Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere and radiation budget that will allow scientists to make better predictions related to climate change. CloudSat will use radar and provide a global survey of cloud properties to aid with improving cloud models and the accuracy of weather forecasts (http://cloudsat.atmos.colostate.edu). CALIPSO will use lidar to detect size and distribution of aerosols to aid in improving our understanding of the role aerosols and clouds play in Earth's climate system (http://www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov/). Each of the A-Train missions has a unique education and outreach program for students and teachers. Included in the CloudSat and CALIPSO outreach is a partnership with the GLOBE Program aimed at involving students worldwide in data collection and research (http://www.globe.gov). Students will use the existing GLOBE protocols on aerosols, clouds and precipitation to collect data as the satellites pass over their schools. CALIPSO and CloudSat will provide students with an opportunity to not only participate in data collection on a global level, but also to do research with near-real time data from the satellite instruments and their own observations. In addition to participation in GLOBE, students will be able to utilize educational resources created by the CloudSat and CALIPSO outreach teams. These include a NASA CONNECT video on the two missions, problem-based learning modules that allow the students to use inquiry to research and answer questions involving real-life situations, educational interactive websites, information packets, and master teacher workshops.