Space Coast Daily

NASA-Developed AI Could Help Track Harmful Algae

NASA — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:46:11 +0000

Your No. 1 Source for NASA & Space News

Green swirls of microscopic algae (phytoplankton) are visible off the U.S. Gulf Coast in this image captured Oct. 21, 2024, by the Ocean Color Instrument on NASA’s PACE satellite. The sensor also observed autumn leaf colors, visible as a reddish streak, to the northeast. (NASA Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – NASA scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool to take on a longstanding challenge in ocean waters.

In a study recently published in AGU Earth and Space Science, researchers reported the tool was able to fuse data from multiple satellites and detect harmful algal blooms that occurred in western Florida and Southern California.

Severe blooms can pose health risks and cost coastal economies in the United States tens of millions of dollars every year. Areas in Florida such as Tampa Bay and Sarasota have wrestled with the problem for decades.

A species called Karenia brevis can thrive in Gulf of America waters, spawning harmful algal blooms that kill wildlife, foul beaches, and sicken swimmers.

On the West Coast, blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia have poisoned hundreds of dolphins, California sea lions, and other marine animals in recent years. Toxins from algaecan even enter the air and cause respiratory illness in humans.

To manage the risk, health agencies regularly test waters and issue warnings or beach closures when necessary.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) works with states and other local partners to issue harmful algal bloom forecasts, like weather forecasts, during bloom seasons.

On-site testing requires hours in a boat to manually collect water samples that must be sent to a lab for analysis, taking a day or more and requiring multiple tests. It’s even more challenging to know where to test before a bloom starts spreading.

NASA’s Earth-orbiting satellites already track harmful algal blooms with their unique global view. By bringing together diverse datasets, the new AI tool could serve as a force multiplier to help communities determine where to focus their efforts.

“At the very least, a tool like this can help us know where and when to collect water samples as an algal bloom is starting,” said one of the paper’s coauthors, Michelle Gierach, a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. “It can also drive collaboration between specialists, fostering new ways to conduct the science and deliver decision-support products.”

Today, satellites can detect a variety of clues that signal an algal bloom. A hyperspectral sensor aboard NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, for example, can identify algal communities by their size, shape, and pigment. Other instruments like TROPOMI (Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument) pick up on the faint red glow emitted by species such as K. brevis as they photosynthesize.

The study team, consisting of Gierach, Kelly Luis of NASA JPL, and research data scientist Nick LaHaye of Spatial Informatics Group, brought together findings from five space missions or instruments, including PACE and TROPOMI.

The challenge for them was the quantity of raw data involved. How would AI distinguish between deep water and a coastline? Could it recognize a bloom across different data streams? Would it ever be able to handle inputs from both satellites and sensors in the water?

The team developed a self-supervised machine learning system, designed to learn patterns from multiple kinds of satellite data and compare them with field observations. This approach enables AI to recognize relationships between different data sources without needing any labeling in advance.

The system was trained on satellite data collected in 2018 and 2019. Field and lab measurements were then used to add real-world context to the patterns that the system was recognizing. The scientists evaluated the tool’s performance across later time periods in the same geographic areas. Initial results indicate that it can correctly identify and map harmful blooms, including specific species like K. brevis, performing well even in complex coastal waters swirling with sediment, plants, and runoff.

“Applying self-supervised AI to massive streams of satellite data is rapidly becoming a powerful tool for generating actionable ocean intelligence,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, lead program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The team is now improving the tool with more data from more coastlines and expanding tests to other kinds of water bodies, including lakes, with the goal of making it accessible to decision-makers in coming years.

“The aim of this work is to start to bridge technologies to better serve end users and their needs, from aquaculture to tourism,” Luis said. “To do that, we’re going to bring all our NASA assets to the table.”

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Pool at Dr. Joe Lee Smith Park Closed Until Further Notice for Maintenance Repairs

Space Coast Daily — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:41:25 +0000

The pool at Dr. Joe Lee Smith Park (located at 415 Stone St., Cocoa) is temporarily closed to the public until further notice due to maintenance repairs.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – The pool at Dr. Joe Lee Smith Park (located at 415 Stone St., Cocoa) is temporarily closed to the public until further notice due to maintenance repairs.

During this time, all open swim and lap swim sessions scheduled at the Dr. Joe Lee Smith pool will now be held at the McLarty Park pool (located at 790 Barton Boulevard, Rockledge), aside from those on Saturday, May 23, due to a private rental.

You can view our Aquatics Activities webpage for hours updates.

Any questions regarding swim hours or closure status can be directed to the Brevard Parks and Recreation Aquatics Coordinator at 321-302-1658.

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SpaceX Set for Early Thursday Morning Rocket Launch Carrying Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral

Space Coast Daily — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:37:54 +0000

Coverage of the launch can be seen on Space Coast Daily TV

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is targeting the launch of 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit for Thursday from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Launch window opens at 5:26 a.m. ET.

This will be the 28th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, TD7, and 20 Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Coverage of the launch can be seen on Space Coast Daily TV.

The post SpaceX Set for Early Thursday Morning Rocket Launch Carrying Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

WATCH LIVE: Astronaut High School to Hold Graduation Ceremony Wednesday for Class of 2026

Space Coast Daily — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:26:19 +0000

ceremony starts at 7 p.m.

ABOVE VIDEO: Astronaut High School Class Of 2026 Graduation Ceremony Held in the Storey – Taylor Stadium starting at 7 p.m.

WATCH LIVE ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV, SPONSORED BY EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Astronaut High School’s Class of 2026 will celebrate graduation Wednesday night at Storey-Taylor Stadium as seniors prepare to mark a major milestone surrounded by family and friends.

The graduation ceremony will honor the hard work, achievements and memories of the graduating class as students officially close out their high school journey and prepare for the next chapter of their lives.

Graduates are expected to walk across the stage in front of a packed crowd at Storey-Taylor Stadium, with school leaders and faculty members recognizing the accomplishments of the Class of 2026.

The ceremony will celebrate students heading to colleges, careers, military service and other opportunities following graduation as the Astronaut High School community comes together to honor the senior class.

Brevard County area high school graduation ceremony dates, times, and venues:

Astronaut High School
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
7:00 PM at Viera Regional Park Stadium

Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
6:00 PM at the King Center

Brevard Virtual School
Thursday, May 21, 2026
6:00 PM at Clearlake Education Center Gym

Space Coast Jr./Sr. High School
Thursday, May 21, 2026
7:00 PM at Viera Regional Park Stadium

Eau Gallie High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at the King Center

Bayside High School
Thursday, May 21, 2026
7:00 PM at Palm Bay Stadium

Rockledge High School
Thursday, May 21, 2026
6:00 PM at McLarty Stadium

Titusville High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at Eastern Florida State College

Cocoa High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at Richard “Dick” Blake Stadium

Merritt Island High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at Merritt Island High School Stadium

Satellite High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at Satellite High School Stadium

West Shore Jr./Sr. High School
Thursday, May 21, 2026
7:00 PM at the King Center

Heritage High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at Heritage High School Stadium

Melbourne High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
7:00 PM at Florida Tech Panther Stadium

Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
6:00 PM at Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School Commons

Viera High School
Friday, May 22, 2026
6:00 PM at Viera High School Stadium

Gardendale Separate Day School
Friday, May 22, 2026
1:30 PM at Gardendale Separate Day School

Palm Bay Magnet High School
Saturday, May 23, 2026
9:00 AM at Palm Bay Stadium

Adult & Community Education
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
6:00 PM at Brevard Adult & Community Education CDL Range

The post WATCH LIVE: Astronaut High School to Hold Graduation Ceremony Wednesday for Class of 2026 appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

Death Investigation Underway After Body Found on Roof of Sarno Road Building in Melbourne

Space Coast Daily — Wed, 20 May 2026 18:56:40 +0000

The Melbourne Police Department is investigating after a deceased individual was found Tuesday afternoon on the roof of a building along Sarno Road.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne Police Department is investigating after a deceased individual was found Tuesday afternoon on the roof of a building along Sarno Road.

According to police, officers responded around 3:22 p.m. on May 19 to 2261 Sarno Rd. after receiving a report of a body located on the roof of the building.

Officers with the Melbourne Police Department and personnel from the Melbourne Fire Department arrived at the scene and confirmed the presence of a deceased person on the roof.

Investigators said the person has not yet been positively identified, and the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Detectives are working alongside the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office to gather additional information and develop investigative leads.

Based on the information currently available, investigators have not released any additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the death.

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

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WATCH LIVE: Edgewood Jr./High School to Hold Graduation Ceremony Wednesday for Class of 2026

Space Coast Daily — Wed, 20 May 2026 04:52:09 +0000

graduation ceremony set for 6 PM at the King Center

WATCH LIVE ON SPACE COAST DAILY TV, SPONSORED BY EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard Public Schools officials have announced the graduation ceremony schedule for the Class of 2026 and you can watch the ceremonies live on Space Coast Daily TV, sponsored by Eastern Florida State College.

Brevard County area high school graduation ceremony dates, times, and venues: