NASA Mission Update- CALIPSO

The Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) is a joint mission between NASA and the French space agency CNES. Launched in April 2006, CALIPSO is designed to study the Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with clouds and aerosols (tiny airborne particles). It carries a lidar instrument that uses lasers to measure the vertical distribution of clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. By providing detailed data on these components, CALIPSO contributes to our understanding of Earth's climate, weather patterns, and the impact of aerosols on air quality and radiation balance. The mission has also been valuable for improving climate models and predicting environmental changes.