3 minute read

Because if you stare at the sky long enough, eventually NASA will give you a clipboard.

Civil Air Patrol is teaming up with NASA for the third year in a row, this time for the 2025 Aviation Weather Mission — a bold initiative to study humidity, clouds, and mysterious white streaks in the sky (no, not alien crop dusters — just contrails).

After successfully pointing at the sun during the 2023 and 2024 eclipse missions without burning their retinas, CAP is now moving on to even more advanced tasks: watching clouds and writing things down.

What’s the Mission?

NASA wants to improve weather models and make aviation safer by understanding how humidity affects things like:

  • Aircraft icing
  • Contrail persistence
  • And the pilot’s ability to see anything while muttering, “this is fine.”

Meanwhile, CAP members on the ground will observe, measure, photograph, and probably squint a lot — contributing “ground truth” data while satellites handle the actual science from space.

“This is an incredible opportunity for CAP members to contribute to real-world research,” said Capt. Shannon Babb, mission director and unofficial Queen of Clouds. “Also, it’s a chance for us to say we’re working with NASA, which sounds way cooler than ‘we’re standing in a field staring at the sky.’”

Team Structure (Because NASA Loves Structure)

This isn’t your average “go outside and guess the weather” gig. The mission requires coordination at every level of CAP command, because organization = science.

Squadron Level:

  • CAP team leaders wrangle 6 to 18 volunteers.
  • Everyone gets trained in how to not confuse a plane with a bird.
  • Teams collect data and glamorous cloud photos on at least two of four official Sky-Watching Days™.

Wing and Region Level:

  • Coordinators promote the mission.
  • Multi-unit training events happen.
  • NASA people might even show up in person, wearing very smart jackets.

National Level:

  • CAP staff work directly with NASA to plan everything.
  • Training materials are created, possibly involving PowerPoint.
  • Recognition is promised, probably in patch form.

Global Level:

  • NASA scientists compare CAP’s cloud notes with satellite imagery.
  • They try to figure out why your notes say “very fluffy” instead of “cirrus stratocumulus with 74% persistence.”

The Important Jobs

Every CAP participant gets an official-sounding role to make standing in a field seem cooler:

  • Weather Officer – The person who says “yep, still humid.”
  • Flight Tracker – Watches planes and mumbles “that one’s Delta.”
  • Photographer – Takes artsy shots of clouds and posts them to the team group chat.
  • Orienteer – Points in the correct direction with confidence.
  • Data Manager – Tries to make sense of everyone’s notes and probably cries a little.

When Does This Sky-Watching Extravaganza Happen?

  • Primary Observation Dates:
    • April 12
    • May 10
  • Backup Dates (In Case the Sky is Broken):
    • June 14
    • July 12

All observations must happen between 8 a.m. and noon, which is when the clouds are at their most photogenic and least likely to sass you.

There’s a Patch, Obviously

CAP cadets designed the official 2025 mission patch, which was revealed in December. It features symbols of:

  • STEM education
  • Aerospace research
  • And possibly a confused cloud with sunglasses

Because nothing says “serious science” like commemorative embroidery.

Final Thoughts

This mission isn’t just about humidity or streaky clouds. It’s about CAP helping NASA, inspiring future scientists, and giving members a great excuse to say, “Sorry, I can’t. I have to go measure the sky.”

Whether you’re a cadet with a camera or a senior member with a weather app and a dream, the 2025 Aviation Weather Mission is your moment.

So grab your clipboard, tilt your head upward, and get ready to measure moisture — for science.

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