Technology
The Earth Science Technology Program is designed to foster the creation and infusion of new technologies into Earth Science activities, to enable new science observations, or reduce the cost of current observations.
The Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) runs the program and implementation is performed through open-competition solicitations (available at NSPIRES http://nspires.nasaprs.com/) in three distinct, but related, elements:
- Advanced Technology Initiatives (ATI) -- Concept studies and component and subsystem technologies serving as the building blocks for instruments, platforms, and information systems;
- Instrument Incubator Program (IIP) - Instrument technology investments include passive and active sensing techniques, such as radar systems, large lightweight antennas, and active optical sensors using lasers;
- Advanced Information Systems Technologies (AIST) - Technology developments include onboard processing, space communications, mission automation for self-tending spacecraft and instruments, and information synthesis to derive information from extremely large, complex data sets.
Remote sensing, computing, and communications technologies play a crucial role for the Science Focus Areas. Sustained technology developments are needed to provide future remote-sensing improvements and new capabilities that support advanced Earth-science research activities.
For more information about NASA’s Earth Science Technology program and activities, please visit The Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) at: http://esto.nasa.gov/
