Building Coral x SEN: Connecting Space and Sea for Coral Reef Restoration

This World Oceans Month, we were excited to launch a new partnership between Building Coral and Space Exploration Network (SEN), bringing coral reef restoration to audiences around the world in an entirely new way.

SEN provides the world's first 4K livestream from space, delivering stunning real-time views from aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Through this partnership, viewers can now learn about coral reef restoration while watching Earth from orbit, highlighting the powerful connection between our blue planet and ocean health.

As the International Space Station passes over Building Coral restoration sites, audiences receive information about Mars Sustainable Solutions, our restoration work around the world, and opportunities to find out more. This initiative offers a unique perspective on the importance of coral reefs and the global efforts underway to restore them.

Our Building Coral Ambassador, NASA Astronaut and Aquanaut, Nicole Stott also joined SEN's Space TV livestream during World Oceans Week to discuss her experience living in orbit, seeing Earth from space and the critical role healthy oceans play in supporting life on Earth. Watch Here!

While coral reef restoration happens beneath the surface, many of the tools that can help us understand and protect these ecosystems come from above.

Satellite imagery and space-based monitoring allow scientists to observe ocean conditions from a new perspective. From tracking sea surface temperatures to monitoring ocean currents, space technology can provide valuable insights and data into the environmental factors that influence reef health and resilience.

One area for exploration is the mapping of ocean currents and pathways. Through this, scientists can identify 'source reefs' - healthy reefs that supply coral larvae to surrounding ecosystems during spawning events. Identifying, protecting and restoring these source reefs has benefits that extend far beyond a single site. Coral larvae are transported via ocean currents, thus through the directed caretaking of these source reefs, we can naturally support additional reef systems located down current.

The ability to combine ocean science, restoration methods, and space-based data is helping the global reef restoration community to make more informed decisions about where and how to focus restoration efforts for maximum impact.

The Building Coral Program is built on collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to scaling coral reef restoration globally. Through partnerships like this one, we can continue raising awareness about the importance of coral reefs while connecting people with the science and solutions that can help to restore them.

As viewers tune into SEN's livestreams and watch the Earth pass beneath the International Space Station, they can also discover the restoration sites, communities, and partners working every day to build stronger and more resilient reefs.

Watch SEN's recent feature highlighting International Space Station passes over Building Coral restoration sites Here 

You can also tune in to SEN's live space feed  Here

To learn more about the Building Coral Program and our global impact, explore the 2025 Impact Report.