Studying human health from orbit

The Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) investigation is the first time NASA has partnered with epidemiologists and health organizations on a satellite mission to study human health and improve lives. MAIA’s observations of small, atmospheric aerosols will be combined with ground-based pollution monitors and computer models, to create daily maps of particulate amounts in 12 Primary Target Areas in large metropolitan areas around the world. Epidemiologists will then compare the data with health records to provide information about which types of particulate matter air pollution are most harmful to human health. MAIA is expected to launch on a commercial satellite no earlier than 2023.

Learn more about NASA’s MAIA mission.