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Keel-laying ceremony held for new oceanographic research ship Discoverer

NOAA, the U.S. Navy and Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors (TMC), LLC., held a keel-laying ceremony today in Houma, Louisiana, for Discoverer, a new oceanographic research vessel being built for NOAA. The keel-laying ceremony marks the beginning of a ship’s construction. Second Gentleman Douglas C. Emhoff was named the ship’s sponsor.
A welder working on a metal plate while a group of people look on

NOAA divers assess contamination in the Great Lakes

In 2022, NOAA divers with the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science's (NCCOS) Mussel Watch Program supported a seven-week sampling mission to determine the amount of contamination in the Great Lakes and its potential to damage ecosystem health. Learn more about the project in this NCCOS story.

A scuba diver taking a sample from the bottom of a lake

NOAA deploys new Altius drone into the eye of Hurricane Ian

On September 28, 2022, the crew of a NOAA WP-3D Orion hurricane hunter aircraft launched a 27-pound uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) into Hurricane Ian. The drone, an Area-I Altius-600, completed a two-hour mission. This was the first time an Altius-600 had been deployed into a hurricane.

NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft with model of a small gray uncrewed aircraft

NOAA aircraft survey areas affected by Hurricane Ian

On September 29, NOAA began collecting aerial damage assessment images in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Imagery is being collected in specific areas by NOAA aircraft, identified by NOAA in coordination with FEMA and other state and federal partners. Collected images are available to view online. NOAA's aerial imagery aids safe navigation and captures damage to coastal areas caused by a storm.

A small blue and white turboprop on the tarmac on sunny day