Joint Workshop Applied Sciences Objectives

Ed Sheffner Applied Sciences Program

NASA HQ

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Presentation Topics

• Where and how the Applied Sciences Program fits in NASA’s mandate and strategic plan.

• Programmatic objectives and approach of Applied Sciences.

• Objectives of the agricultural efficiency, carbon management and invasive species program elements in this workshop.

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NASA is a research and development agency formed in 1958 with responsibility for all US government, non-military aeronautic and space activities. Agency objectives (from 1958):

• Expansion of knowledge of atmospheric phenomena;

• Development and operation of vehicles carrying instruments in space;

• Establishment of long range studies of the potential benefits accrued through the utilization of space for scientific purposes;

• Assurance of US leadership in space science and technology and the application of that technology in peaceful activities “within and outside the atmosphere”; and,

• Cooperation with other nations in the pursuit of peaceful application of NASA developed technology.

NASA and Applied Sciences

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NASA Strategic Goals*

1. Fly the Shuttle as safely as possible until its retirement, not later than 2010.

2. Complete the International Space Station in a manner consistent with NASA’s international partner commitments and the need of human exploration.

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

4. Bring a Crew Exploration Vehicle into service as soon as possible after Shuttle retirement.

5. Encourage the pursuit of appropriate partnerships with the emerging commercial space sector.

6. Establish a lunar return program having the maximum possible utility for later missions to Mars and other destinations.

*NASA 2006 Strategic Plan

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Strategic Goal #3

A. Study Earth from space to advance scientific understanding and meet societal needs.

B. Understand the Sun and its effects on Earth and the solar system.

C. Advance scientific knowledge of the origin and history of the solar system, the potential for life elsewhere, and the hazards and resources present as humans explore space.

D. Discover the origin, structure, evolution and destiny of the universe, and search for Earth-like planets.

E. Advance knowledge in the fundamental disciplines of aeronautics, and develop technologies for safer aircraft and higher capacity airspace systems.

F. Understand the effects of the space environment on human performance, and test new technologies and countermeasures for long duration space exploration.

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NASA Organization

Four Mission Directorates• Aeronautics• Exploration Systems• Space Operations

• Science (four divisions)1. Astrophysics2.Earth Science

– Flight/missions– Research– Applied Sciences

3. Heliophysics4. Planetary Science

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Goals of the Applied Sciences Program

Extend NASA Earth science capabilities and results to maximize return-on-investment by addressing issues with substantial social and economic benefits.

Enhance the decision making process of operational agencies through the incorporation of NASA capabilities - observations, m,easurements, predictive models and Earth sciecne research results.

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Applied Sciences ProgramGuidelines

Select projects through open, competitive solicitations.

Use existing infrastructure for data archiving, distribution and product generation.

Define projects, and identify decision support tools, through partnerships with organizations with operational responsibilities.

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Applied Sciences ProgramProcesses

• Solutions networks (identification)

• Rapid prototyping (evaluation)

• Integrated systems solutions

(implementation)

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Solutions Networks

Consider the results from NASA funded research in the six science focus areas of the Earth Science Division:

- Atmospheric composition- Carbon cycle and ecosystems - Climate variability and change- Earth surface and interior- Water and energy cycle- Weather

Identify potential improvements in the decision support tools within the portfolio of projects in the Applied Sciences Program.

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Rapid Prototyping

Use specific research results in simulated operational environments to evaluate components and/or configurations for integrated systems solutions with the specific decision support tools within the portfolio of projects in the Applied Sciences Program.

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Integrated System Solution

A rigorous systems engineering process that:

• describes (evaluates) the state of a decision support tool/system,

• verifies and validates new data products and other enhancements in the decision making process, and, • benchmarks the performance of the assimilation of NASA research results and capabilities in the decision making process.

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Integrated System SolutionExample

Earth Observation SystemsSPOT VEG/HRVTRMMJason-1 & Topex/PoseidonMODISVIIRSLandsatALI/HyperionGPM

Earth System ModelsSoil moisture (Modified Palmer, Penman-Monteith) Crop yield/stage (Robertson BMTS, EPIC, Hanway, and others)Hazard models (Winter kill and others)US Air Force weather (AGRMET)

Predictions/Forecasts

National and sub-national yield forecast (grains, oil seeds, cotton and rice) Condition forecasts

Observations, Parameters

and Products

NDVI Rainfall Land use Reservoir height Soil moisture Weather Crop condition

Decision Support Tools

PECAD/CADRE Famine Early Warning

Societal Benefit Areas

Global Commodity Forecast, Mitigate climate change, Disaster response

NASA/FAS partnership

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What the Applied Sciences Program Prefers Not to Do

Develop new algorithms

Create new decision support tools

Provide long term support for infrastructure

Provide support for operational activities

Fund the research of other agencies

The Program may participate in projects in which these activities occur, but those tasks will be supported by someone other than NASA, e.g., the user/partner.

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Current NASAEarth Observing Systems

Aqua* AuraCALIPSO CloudsatCHAMP Cluster (with ESA)EO-1* FASTGeotail (with Japan GOES-M*GRACE* ICESat*JASON-1* Landsat-7*NOAA-M(POES) PolarQuickSCAT SAGE III (with Russia)SeaWinds* (with Japan) SORCETERRA* TIMEDTRMM* (with Japan)

*Land observations

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Planned NASAEarth Observing Systems

Aquarius (2009)

GPM* (2010)

LDCM* (under review)

NPP* (under review)

NPOESS* (under review)

OSTM (2008)

OCO (2008)

*Land observations

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Applications Areas Defined byNASA, NRC and GEOSS

NASA ASP NRC Decadal Survey GEOSSAgricultural Agriculture AgricultureAir Quality Aviation Safety BiodiversityAviation Climate ClimateCarbon Management Ecological AssessmentsDisastersCoastal Management Forestry EcosystemsDisaster Management Homeland Security EnergyEcological Forecasting Infrastructure Planning HealthEnergy Management Natural Resources MgmtWaterHomeland Security Weather WeatherInvasive SpeciesPublic HealthWater Management

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Workshop Objectives

• Foster communication between the research and applied sciences communities

• For agricultural efficiency, carbon management and invasive species:

- Consider the program element objectives as described in the current “Roadmap.”

- Consider the goals for the next 5 years for the program element in light of

community requirements and NASA Earth science capabilities and research results.

- Provide comments and recommendations to NASA.

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Workshop Objectives (cont.)

• Communication- Presentations- Poster sessions- Break-out group discussions- Special sessions- Person-to-person- Written notes- On-line comments: The success of the workshop is dependent on the capture of the comments and recommendations.

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Contact Information

Ed Sheffneredwin.j.sheffner@nasa.gov

202-358-0239

At this workshop: 202-253-9953