The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan have joined to create the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The goal of this mission is to "monitor and study tropical rainfall and the associated release of energy that helps to power the global atmospheric circulation shaping both weather and climate around the globe." Sections included at the Website are Spacecraft, Background, Validation, Data, Image Archive, and related Links. An interesting feature of this site is the Background section entitled Why do we need TRMM. A brief, illustrated synopsis is provided for all ages, ranging from the elementary school level to the post graduate level.