Science-enabling Technology
Achieving the Science Mission Directorate’s groundbreaking science goals often requires significant technological innovation—e.g., new instruments or cutting-edge capabilities. Each SMD science division—Astrophysics, Biological and Physical Sciences, Earth Science, Heliophysics, and Planetary Science—develops new technologies targeted to enable SMD science. Often, these efforts are accomplished via division-sponsored technology development or mission programs. The directorate also sponsors collaborative workshops where stakeholders examine how innovative technologies can enable Agency missions. In addition, SMD coordinates with other NASA directorates, government agencies, industry, and academia to ensure its research programs and missions have the technology they need to accomplish revolutionary science.
Technology Highlights
NASA-developed Technology Supports Ocean Wind Speed Measurements from Commercial Satellite
A science antenna developed with support from NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) is now in low-Earth orbit aboard MuSat2,…
New NASA Instrument for Studying Snowpack Completes Airborne Testing
Summer heat has significant effects in the mountainous regions of the western United States. Melted snow washes from snowy peaks…
Revealing the Hidden Universe with Full-shell X-ray Optics at NASA MSFC
The study of X-ray emission from astronomical objects reveals secrets about the Universe at the largest and smallest spatial scales.…
Accelerating Informatics for Earth Science 2024
Fostering the development of productive partnerships between commercial data product developers and the science community, and exploring innovative ways to improve processing archived and real-time satellite data.
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