But the way the science will be accomplished may be of even greater note. Cluster's four orbiting spacecraft, launched in pairs in July and August, fly in a tetrahedral formation. Such precision paves the way for future missions that, for example, require craft to work together to image distant planets. The key to the longer range is a new powerplant being developed by General Electric. The GE90-115B, delivering 115,000 pounds of thrust, will be the most powerful aircraft engine ever made.
Small airplanes can be difficult to handle if one engine goes out.
The M-309's two engines are positioned in the front and rear, instead of one on each side. Sometimes it's important to look inward. In that spirit, and with the most advanced Earth sensors ever launched, the satellite Terra is advancing our understanding of the complex processes that govern our climate. The first images were released in April, with many more now available at terra.nasa.gov. Five instruments American, Japanese, and Canadian aboard the NASA satellite are studying a wide variety of vital signs, several for the first time.