STELLA-1.2 Official Launch:
Earth Science Workforce Development
NASA scientists and engineers at Goddard Space Flight Center, led by Paul Mirel and Mike Taylor, have officially launched STELLA-1.2 (Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment), a modular remote sensing platform that makes Earth observation science more approachable while building the next generation of mission-literate professionals. STELLA is a force multiplier for NASA missions and programs—it amplifies their impact by breaking down barriers that make satellite remote sensing seem inaccessible, transforming mission data from abstract numbers into tangible participatory science that develops the technical workforce Earth observation systems depend upon while creating thousands of mission-literate professionals who understand why NASA investments matter.
The STELLA-1.2 base platform represents a breakthrough in accessible Earth science instrumentation. This modular foundation features GPS positioning for precise location tracking, onboard SD card data logging, a real-time display, and a versatile computing core that accepts interchangeable sensor module plugins. Users can configure instruments for different applications by simply swapping sensor packages in and out, enabling measurements across multiple Earth system spheres—biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The platform’s lightweight, field-portable design weighs between 33 and 450 grams depending on configuration, and all files and instructions for instrument construction, data acquisition, processing, and initial analyses are freely available online at https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/stella/. Following extensive beta testing and user feedback, the official STELLA-1.2 features redesigned 3D-printed housing with improved manufacturing tolerances, enhanced structural integrity, and superior environmental protection for field deployments.
The flagship Remote Sensing Plugin is now available, featuring 18-channel spectral sensing from 410 to 940 nanometers with sensor bands that overlap with Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 Operational Land Imager instruments. This spectral alignment allows for comparison of measurements across different accuracy and precision levels, spatial scales, and temporal scales. The module includes thermal infrared temperature measurement plus temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors for comprehensive atmospheric monitoring. While STELLA cannot match the high-precision, high-accuracy instruments in NASA’s Earth Observing fleet which cannot be duplicated with inexpensive, off-the-shelf components, this spectral overlap enables users to understand what satellites observe from space through direct ground-based measurements. The enhanced official RS module features soldered connections instead of connector-only assembly, significantly reducing field failures and improving long-term measurement stability. Additional sensor modules in development include the Expansion Module for extended sensor connectivity and the Lab_Spec Module for advanced spectroscopy applications, each maintaining the same plug-and-play architecture for multiple sensor combinations.
STELLA directly addresses critical workforce development needs by making hands-on remote sensing accessible to those who lack advanced training or expensive equipment. Users build career-ready skills in engineering, remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and geospatial technology through authentic data collection experiences across multiple Earth system spheres. By constructing their own instruments using through-hole electronics assembly, learners gain practical experience with sensor systems, embedded programming, mechanical design, and statistical analysis—all while developing familiarity with NASA data products and Earth observation workflows. STELLA allows users to collect their own data, which creates a deeper understanding of the meaning of the resulting data and the emotional attachment and technical knowledge needed to defend or refute that data, impossible to achieve with pre-existing datasets. Through direct experience with measurement limitations and capabilities, users develop deep appreciation for the precision instrumentation and rigorous calibration required for NASA’s Earth observation missions.
The modular platform transforms training across multiple sectors: workforce development programs teaching geospatial technology, agricultural training in precision farming, technical colleges building remote sensing labs, NASA partnerships creating mission-literate professionals, and environmental organizations building community-based monitoring capacity. Due to low cost and modular design, STELLA instruments can be deployed in large groups to make multipoint surveys at times and spatial scales chosen to meet specific needs—acting as a force multiplier that extends observation capabilities beyond what high-precision instruments alone can achieve. The ability to collect data over many locations in short intervals is especially important for ecosystems where land cover changes occur rapidly. STELLA’s spectral sensing capabilities enable quantification of plant productivity using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and near-infrared reflectance, monitoring of leaf reflectance and temperature to assess water stress, and estimation of both energy and carbon fluxes across plant surfaces—providing critical data for agricultural optimization and ecological research across the biosphere.
Join the STELLA Community Forum! Let's Build, Share, and Innovate Together!
As a crowdsourced, community-driven project, STELLA provides free access to complete build documentation, video tutorials, programming guides, 3D printable files, and CircuitPython libraries. The accessible drag-and-drop programming makes instruments approachable for users without extensive technical backgrounds while offering sophisticated capabilities for advanced applications. This open approach creates opportunities for new directions in workforce development and scientific research by enabling educators, researchers, and training programs worldwide to adopt and adapt STELLA for measurements across atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Due to modern capabilities, low cost, and design simplicity, STELLA brings once futuristic instrumentation into the hands of both amateur and career scientists, creating new pathways to Earth science careers and building a workforce that understands NASA’s Earth observation capabilities from the ground up.
