NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite has reached a major milestone, firing its 2 trillionth laser pulse while measuring cloud formations over East Antarctica on March 9, 2025. The satellite, launched in 2018, has been providing unparalleled insights into the planet’s changing ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and ocean floors.
The Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) instrument continues to operate at peak performance, potentially extending its mission well into the next decade. ICESat-2 builds a highly detailed three-dimensional record of Earth’s surface by firing 10,000 laser pulses per second.
Despite six years of continuous operation and trillions of laser pulses, the ATLAS instrument remains in excellent condition. If this trend continues, the satellite could remain operational until the 2030s. The laser technology also captures data on forests, water bodies, and parts of the ocean floor.
ICESat-2’s data has revealed significant changes in ice levels, including a six-foot drop in ice surface elevation at the Vanderford Glacier in East Antarctica. The glacier is retreating due to warmer ocean waters melting it from below. ICESat-2’s precision measurements allow scientists to monitor ice loss and predict future sea-level changes with unmatched accuracy.
The satellite’s mission extends beyond polar ice monitoring, contributing to various scientific fields such as carbon storage assessments, drought pattern monitoring, and coastal topography mapping. Its data also enhances climate models and weather forecasting.
With the 2 trillionth pulse milestone, scientists anticipate further groundbreaking discoveries about Earth’s climate and topography.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/nasas-icesat-2-fires-2-trillion-laser-pulses-to-track-earths-changing-ice