How a single satellite mission tracks global rain and snow every three hours

Space · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Discover how NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement mission uses a specialized orbit to monitor changing weather systems and storm patterns from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

The GPM Core Observatory orbits 253 miles (407 kilometers) above Earth at a 65-degree inclination. This specific path allows the mission to observe precipitation across the entire range between the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, capturing how weather systems behave differently during day and night.

The mission aims to advance our understanding of global water and energy cycles. Data is processed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, before being distributed via the Internet.

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