About NASA’s Earth Science Division

The five elements of NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) ― Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO), Flight, Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS), Research and Analysis (R&A), and Earth Action ― work together from mission concept to conclusion to both enhance existing Earth observations and find new ways to analyze our living planet.

Division Leadership

Earth Science Leadership photos names and titles and their corresponding team labels

Earth Science Division Elements

  • Satellite data visualization of Hurricane Florence

    Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO)

    The Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) provides grants and support for cutting-edge sensors, information systems, and a variety of other projects to develop breakthrough technologies that can improve Earth observations. We believe that diverse ideas from engineers, scientists, and students nationwide will deepen our knowledge of Earth’s systems and help guide decision makers.

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  • Artist's concept of Sentinel-6A/Jason-CS mission

    Flight

    The Flight team builds and operates the satellite and airborne missions that deliver critical measurements and data to the world’s science community.

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  • A global map of aerosols showing dust, smoke, and sea salt particles in different colors moving across Earth's atmosphere, from NASA's GEOS-FP computer model.

    Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS)

    NASA’s Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program oversees the entire Earth science data life cycle and facilitates unrestricted access to the data researchers, managers, and governments need to understand and protect our planet.

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  • The Earth system, like the human body, comprises diverse components that interact in complex ways.

    Research and Analysis

    Research and Analysis advances Earth System science by supporting analysis of data from NASA satellites and aircraft, as well as those of our international partners. The Program enables surface-based and airborne observations of the Earth system that both complement and provide calibration/ validation information for NASA’s satellites. It also develops and applies modeling approaches for testing hypotheses of Earth system behavior.

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  • Woman standing in a crop field with irrigation equipment.

    Earth Action

    Earth Action promotes the use of NASA Earth science data to inform crucial decision-making, enhance quality of life, and strengthen our economy. Earth Action also listens to and works with potential data users, developing tools and resources for them to easily access Earth science data.

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