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Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE)

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment, SAGE, is a series of instruments designed by NASA to observe stratospheric ozone, aerosols, and water vapor from space. In the mid-1980s, scientists realized there was a problem with Earth’s protective coat of ozone...it was thinning. The SAGE family of instruments was pivotal in making accurate measurements of the amount of ozone loss in Earth’s atmosphere and helped leaders around the world institute an international treaty banning products containing harmful chemicals that destroy stratospheric ozone. SAGE is a key part of NASA’s mission to provide crucial, long-term measurements that will help humans better understand and care for Earth’s atmosphere.

Check out all the ways you can be involved during our upcoming launch!

Want to watch SAGE III/ISS launch live later this year? Want to host a launch celebration at your local school, museum, library, or even at home? Check out our launch kit below and join in the excitement as we get ready to launch soon!

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Plan your own launch celebration with these resources and watch live on NASA TV as SAGE III soars to its place on the International Space Station.

Host an Event! 

  • Plan your event using easy-to-follow steps

  • Join the online conversation

  • Educate with hands-on activities

  • Promote your launch celebration

There are activities in the launch kit to make your event fun for all ages. Be creative with your celebration and invite your friends or people from your community. Watch the launch and launch events live, including talks from NASA scientists and engineers. You don’t need to be at launch to have a great time. Everything you need to host a great event and join in the launch fun is here at your fingertips.

Watch the SAGE III/ISS Launch

Tune in to NASA TV to watch the launch and press conferences. The launch is currently scheduled for November 11th, 2016, but please continue to check this website and social media for potential updates as the launch draws closer.

Join the Online Discussion

Stay up to date on the latest SAGE III/ISS news and connect with us by following us on Facebook

Give a Talk About SAGE III/ISS

Use the resources below, and other resources on this website, to educate people about the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment mission and its goals.

  • A ready-to-go PowerPoint presentation that includes photos, videos, and talking points: Download Here

  • Videos can be found here

Engage Participants in Hands-On Activities

Elementary

  • UV Bracelet Activity: The Earth’s ozone layer is one thing that helps protect humans from UV rays and SAGE III/ISS will be checking up on it. This activity explores radiation from the Sun and ways we can protect ourselves from these potentially harmful UV rays.

  • Elementary GLOBE: SAGE III/ISS looks at how aerosols, or tiny particles, affect the air we breathe. The students in the Elementary GLOBE story, “What’s Up in the Atmosphere? Exploring Colors in the Sky” want to learn more about aerosols. In this activity, participants read the story and complete a series of four activities that explain there are particles in the air we breathe and they can impact sky color. 

Middle

  • Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby: This lesson addresses the difference between good and bad ozone. During the activity, paricipants experience how difficult it is to accurately measure objects that are very small, like ozone molecules. SAGE III/ISS monitors “good” ozone in the stratosphere.

  • Engineering Art in Science: Participants build a model of SAGE out of available materials and then conduct follow-on mission planning and news coverage.

    • Have participants build a model SAGE III instrument (in cooperative pairs prior to launch) from available materials

      • Materials: Foil, cardboard, glue, markers, scissors, tape, rulers, temper paint (optional)

      • Ask participants to:

        • Design a mission consisting of scientist, purpose, duration, and detailed budget

        • Write a story as to what data was collected by their instrument

        • Design a news segment to highlight the SAGE III mission to be videotaped and shared

High

  • Exploring Diffraction with a Spectroscope: Participants build their own spectroscope from cardboard and will be able to see what happens to light when it passes through a spectroscope. The SAGE III/ISS instrument is a grating spectrometer that measures ultraviolet/visible energy.

  • Careers in STEM – Engineering: In this activity STEM careers are explored through writing exercises using the diverse SAGE III/ISS team as an example.

    • Writing Task: Visit the link below and pick three team members. Research the essential skills needed to qualify for their careers (high school math, science, university credits, masters, doctorate, internship, etc..). Write a brief abstract about each of them
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Learn More

Watch Videos

Invite Local Speakers

  • Earth Scientists: Contact your local university atmospheric science departments

  • Climate Scientists: Contact your local university’s natural resource department

  • Educators/Teachers: Contact science teachers at your local school