NASA Applied Sciences Program Update

John A. HaynesProgram Manager, Weather

National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationApplied Sciences Program

Earth Science Division Science Mission Directorate

Washington, DC

2006 NASA Strategic Plan

NASA Strategic Goal 3Develop a balanced overall program of science, exploration, and aeronautics consistent with the redirection of human spaceflight program to focus on exploration.

NASA Sub-Goal 3A:Study Earth from space to advance scientific understanding and meet societal needs.

NASA’s partnership efforts in global modeling and data assimilation over the next decade will shorten the distance from observations to answers for important, leading-edge science questions. NASA’s Applied Sciences program will continue the Agency’s efforts in benchmarking the assimilation of NASA research results into policy and management decision-support tools that are vital for the Nation’s environment, economy, safety, and security. NASA also is working with NOAA and inter-agency forums to transition mature research capabilities to operational systems, primarily the polar and geostationary operational environmental satellites, and to utilize fully those assets for research purposes.

Earth Science Division Overview

• Overarching goal: to advance Earth System science, including climate studies, through spaceborne data acquisition, research and analysis, and predictive modeling

• Six major activities:• Building and operating Earth observing satellite missions, many with

international and interagency partners• Making high-quality data products available to the broad science

community• Conducting and sponsoring cutting-edge research in 6 thematic focus

areas– Field campaigns to complement satellite measurements– Modeling– Analyses of non-NASA mission data

• Applied Sciences • Developing technologies to improve Earth observation capabilities• Education and Public Outreach

NASA On-Orbit Research Missions

OSTM/Jason 2

Future NASA Earth Remote Sensing Observatories

Earth System Models

NASA Earth Science Applications• Earth Science goal: advance Earth System science, including climate studies,

through space borne data acquisition, research and analysis, and predictive modeling

• Applied Sciences Goal: discovering and developing useful applications and enhancing benefits to society from the nation’s investment in Earth science research.

• Demonstrate, through partnerships with decision making organizations, improvements to their ability to manage and plan natural resources and to make better environmental predictions, decisions, and policy.

• Provide the applications viewpoint in the design of new missions and research.

• Conduct applied research that provides a basis for better decision making.

*New NASA Applied Sciences Strategic Plan 2009-2014 to be released by the end of the year*

Ecological Forecasting

AgriculturalEfficiency

Air Quality

Weather

Climate

WaterResources

Disaster Management

Public Health

Applied Sciences ProgramEight Program Elements

Technology

Missions / Observations

Data andArchives

Researchand Analysis

Models /Predictions

PolicyDecisions

Forecasting

Results ofNASA Earth

Science Research

Societal Needs

Applied SciencesProgram

Response & Recovery

ManagementDecisions

NASA Applied Sciences Architecture

Focus Areas of Weather

The Weather application focuses on Earth science applications to support weather-effected economic interests, currently including aviation and space weather. The application is particularly focused on applications to support the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). As appropriate, the application may expand to support other specific weather-effected economic interests to improve the global mobility of people and material.

Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2008 (ROSES)

NASA Research Announcement (NRA) solicits basic and applied research in support of the NASA Science Mission Directorate covering aspects of basic and applied research and technology in space and Earth sciences.

NRA #NNH07ZDA001N

Amendment A.18: “Decision Support Through Earth Science Research Results”

Closing Date: August 13, 2008

Amendment A.19: “Earth Science Applications Feasibility Studies”Closing Date: August 27, 2008

Selections estimated to be made in February 2009

Website: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/

Applied Sciences – 2008 SolicitationROSES-2008

A.19 Earth ScienceApplications Feasibility Studies

Short-term, feasibility studies of

applications of Earth science research

results that will improve decision-making

activities.

Overall objective:

Generate and test preliminary ideas for

applications of Earth science products to

determine their potential value and

readiness for a more in-depth project

A.18 Decision Support through Earth Science Research Results

Results-oriented projects focused on

the integration of Earth science

research results into decision making

activities related to one or more of the

eight applications areas.

Overall objective:

Sustained use of Earth science

products in decision making activities

and an assessment of the value and

benefit of the Earth science products.

ROSES 2008 Amendment A.28: “Earth Science for Decision Making: Gulf of Mexico Region”

Total Amount of Funding $8M total

Anticipated Number of Awards 10 – 25 projects

Expected Range of Award per project $150K - $400K total *

Period of Performance up to 24 months

Expected Project Start Date circa March 2009

*These figures are total funding for the entire project; the figures are not per annum. NASA will distribute all funds at the beginning of the project. The project teams have up to 24 months to complete the project.

… to enhance the Gulf of Mexico region’s ability to recover from the devastating hurricanes of 2005 and to plan for a sustainable and prosperous future through the use of NASA Earth science observations and research.

Solicitation Closed: October 30, 2008

Applied Sciences Program

http://nasascience.nasa.gov/earth-science/applied-sciences http://aiwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/

National Aeronautics andSpace Administration

Earth Science EnterpriseApplications Plan

April 2004