Boston-based Tomorrow.io, initially a software company known for its precise street-level weather forecasting, is now venturing into space.
The company recently launched Tomorrow-R1, which it claims is the first commercially built weather-radar satellite, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Currently, atmospheric radars in orbit are limited and government-operated, with NASA’s being the only U.S. example.
Tomorrow.io’s proprietary software not only predicts severe weather but also helps companies prepare for it. This software integrates data from various sources including government radars, satellites, weather stations, cellular signals, and connected vehicles. CEO Shimon Elkabetz refers to this as the “weather of things.”
With plans to deploy over two dozen satellites, Tomorrow.io aims to offer near-real-time weather data, enhancing forecasting accuracy for airlines, insurers, and meteorologists worldwide.The new satellite aims to revolutionize weather forecasting and climate modeling. Elkabetz envisions it enhancing hurricane forecasts for the National Hurricane Center, aiding insurance companies in India and Brazil, and optimizing flight routes to reduce fuel consumption.
Unlike the NASA satellite, which has a three-day information lag, Tomorrow.io’s radar will offer more timely data. Local ground radar, common in the U.S., is absent in many parts of the world, including Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and India. Additionally, it doesn’t cover certain U.S. mountainous regions or extend over oceans, limiting accurate storm predictions for coastal areas.
Tomorrow.io plans to deploy over two dozen satellites in the next two years, creating a ‘constellation’ of weather-monitoring systems. This network, combined with sensor microwave technology, aims to provide global, near-real-time precipitation data.
Major clients include Delta, United, JetBlue, Fox Sports, Uber, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and the U.S. Air Force. The company has secured over $20 million in U.S. Defense Department contracts and is collaborating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.