CryoSat was designed to measure Arctic sea-ice thickness, but high-resolution mapping of ocean-floor topography now is being added to the ice mission's repertoire.
Russians Launch Film-Based EO Satellite
Nearly a quarter century after the United States abandoned film-based Earth observation satellites for digital sensors, why are the Russians still using film in some satellites?
Pentagon Eyes Universal Remote Control
DreamHammer is developing a central operating system to control a futuristic army of robotic devices, including Earth observation satellites and drones.
Landsat Mission not Going Smoothly
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission, often called Landsat 8, experienced a technical failure during testing, while its contractors prepare to wrangle in court over project cost overruns.
Surveillance Drone Targets Italian Polluters
Environmental dumping, a major problem in Italy, often is tied to organized crime. An unmanned aerial vehicle is being tested to catch polluters in the act and track pollution back to its source.
Warming Hole Keeps Region Cooler
In the U.S. central and eastern regions, a giant warming hole has created cooler areas that haven't kept pace with the warming of other parts of the world during much of the last century.
Black Sea Is Blooming
Scientists are working to stem the flow of nutrients into the Black Sea and restore water quality, which can suffer due to an overabundance of phytoplankton.
It's Official: Envisat Mission Over
After a month of attempting to regain control of Envisat, the European Space Agency has declared an end to the satellite's mission, culminating 10 years of spectacular scientific discovery.
Spain's Wheat Crop Threatened
Already struggling with sovereign debt issues and high unemployment, drought conditions could force Spain to import more than 11 million metric tons of grain.
China Launches Optical Science Satellite
On May 10, 2012, China launched a new optical Earth observation satellite it says will be used for science applications, but western analysts say it's designed for military purposes.
