BackForward Satellite Programme: INvestigation of Convective Updrafts 

Programme details
Programme description
  • INCUS is a mission supported by many US Universities.
  • INCUS consists of three satellites flying in close formation with Ka rain radars and on the middle satellite a MW radiometer.
  • The three satellites are flown in close succession (30, and 90, and 120 seconds apart) 
  • The primary goals of the INCUS mission are to determine:
    • The predominant environmental properties controlling convective mass flux in tropical convective storms
    • The relationship between convective mass flux and high anvil clouds
    • The relationship between convective mass flux and the type and intensity of the extreme weather produced
  • More information here.
Data circulation
Agencies NASA
Programme lifetime 2026 - 2028
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned