The 2025 Aviation Weather Mission brings together Civil Air Patrol cadets (ages 12–20) and senior members across the country to contribute meaningful aviation weather data as part of a national collaboration with NASA Earth Science. Participants record real-time airport conditions, GLOBE Cloud observations, and aircraft details, supporting satellite collocations provided by the NASA GLOBE Clouds team at NASA Langley Research Center. These observations help validate satellite data and provide insights into weather and climate patterns relevant to aviation safety.
Author: Cadet First Lieutenant Ava Firnkoess, CAP California Wing, 45th Composite Squadron
I had the opportunity to work with Squadron 29 on the Aviation weather mission on July 12th, with the photo data collection. This was an exciting mission that provided NASA with important information, which included collecting data on contrails for research.
The event went smoothly, thanks to Commander Willis of Squadron 29 for her organization and planning. We worked through initial challenges (weather and clouds) but as soon as we were able to get into the tracking, it went very well , thanks to the great leadership and teamwork. It was exciting to be able to track data properly in order to collaborate with CAP and NASA.
The most challenging for me was making sure I stayed in the precise spot to take accurate photos during the duration of the tracking and collection of data. With the team working together, everyone was diligent in helping to maintain stance and location for continued consistency in tracking.
I hope CAP continues to collaborate and work with NASA.
Author: Cadet First Lieutenant Kevin Reyes, CAP Puerto Rico Wing, Ponce Cadet Squadron
Taking part in the Aviation Weather Mission with the Civil Air Patrol was an experience I’ll never forget, one of those rare opportunities where passion, purpose, and service all come together. With the GLOBE Observer app, I was able to use something as familiar as my phone and turn it into a scientific instrument, spending hours scanning the skies for aircraft and capturing them in motion. I had to observe closely, track flight paths, and time my shots precisely to catch the aircraft and their contrails in clear detail.
The work required patience and focus. Sometimes clouds would obscure the view, or a plane would vanish into the distance just before I was ready. But when everything aligned, it felt like catching a perfect moment that could make a real difference. Each image and observation was submitted to help NASA study atmospheric conditions, contrail formation, and how these patterns affect weather and climate.
What made the mission truly special was knowing that my passion for aviation and photography wasn’t just a hobby in this context. My efforts, combined with those of volunteers across the country, became part of a much bigger picture, contributing to scientific understanding that could have a global impact. It was a reminder that even small, individual contributions, when combined, can fuel discoveries that reach far beyond the scope of our own view of the sky.
Cadets from the Oklahoma Wing - Southwest Region
