NOAA's SOS Explorer® (SOSx) is a flat screen version of Science On a Sphere® (SOS). The software takes SOS datasets, originally designed to be seen on a 6-foot sphere in large museum spaces, and makes them accessible for educators, students, and curious people everywhere. The visualizations show information provided by satellites, ground observations and computer models.
Publisher’s description
What is SOS Explorer®?
SOS Explorer® by NOAA Science On a Sphere® is proprietary Windows software in the education category.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE installers for 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 9.4 MB. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Small download (9.4 MB)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- No update for more than a year
In short: SOS Explorer® is an education tool for 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is SOS Explorer® safe to download?
- The file is served by sos-explorer-s3.noaa.gov, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
10862AB8A996DC0BD0A3F0D2C4E6D55E172298C670F55F7D40DE0CD500CF3703· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 1 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6.6Latest | June 23, 2025 | 9.4 MB | 32-bit EXE |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id NOAA.SOSx -esos_explorer_installer.exe /qnRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- NOAA Science On a Sphere®
- Category
- Education
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE
- Version
- 1.6.6
- Released
- June 23, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- December 4, 2025
- Versions listed
- 1
- Website
- sos.noaa.gov
- winget ID
- NOAA.SOSx
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to SOS Explorer®
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Frequently asked questions
Is SOS Explorer® free?
SOS Explorer® is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is SOS Explorer® safe to download?
The download comes from sos-explorer-s3.noaa.gov, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install SOS Explorer® with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can SOS Explorer® be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does SOS Explorer® run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
What are alternatives to SOS Explorer®?
Anki, Praat, OpenBoard, Timetable and Tux Paint. The alternatives page compares them.
