SpaceX has launched a new US satellite designed to help weather forecasters monitor large solar storms this week, according to a press release. The satellite — called GOES-U but will be renamed to GOES-19 once in orbit — will feature a coronagraph to monitor solar flares and coronal mass ejections providing continuous coverage of weather and hazardous environmental conditions across the Western Hemisphere.

Why is this important? GOES-U will provide critical data for detecting various environmental phenomena aiding in hurricane tracking, severe storm warnings, fire detection, and monitoring air quality. It will also help monitor heavy rainfall, sea surface temperatures, and provide aviation route planning data.

Not the first time NASA releases climate-related monitoring tech: NASA has patented technology that will detect and quantify on-road emissions from the tailpipes of moving vehicles using laser-based overhead detectors, the statement said. The technology will allow it to identify the vehicle’s license plate number to acquire information about the vehicle’s brand, model, fuel type and emission standards. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi tested the technology over three weeks in six locations last year.

REMEMBER- Google has also signed on for a sustainable satellite mission: Tech giant Google joined a satellite project led by France’s EDF in February to track methane output around the world. Google will leverage Google Cloud to provide the computing capabilities to process intel and use AI to zero in on fossil fuels components including oil tanks in a bid to create a comprehensive map of methane leaks globally.

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