ESTO serves as the Earth science lead for advanced technology development initiatives. Advanced technology initiatives are supported to develop:
- Far term horizon (~25 years) systems and architectural concepts
- Mid- and near-term science and applications measurement scenarios
- Requirements collection, synthesis and analysis
- Detailed trade studies which may range from futuristic architectures to more near term analysis of alternate measurement techniques and implementation development options.
A key function in enabling the competitive selection of the best technologies to enhance and/or enable new science measurements is strategic planning. This effort encompasses advanced concept development, the gathering of requirements from the science community, and the analysis and synthesis of these requirements. Where required, technical studies are preformed to investigate alternate advanced concepts or technology development options.
Enabling the Decadal Survey
When the first decadal survey for NASA Earth Science (Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond) was released by the National Research Council (NRC) in 2007, existing ESTO technology investments already supported all of the recommended measurements. Since then, ESTO has been planning and funding investments to further support the research areas, observations, and notional missions recommended in this decadal vision. Visit the Decadal Survey Investments page to learn more.
In 2012, the NRC published a Midterm Assessment of NASA's Implementation of the Decadal Survey
A set of ESTO presentations and posters given at various Decadal Survey Mission workshops are available on the ESTO Documents page.
Responding to Climate and Environmental Change
In 2010, NASA released a strategic plan that outlines an integrated program for climate research and monitoring: Responding to the Challenge of Climate and Environmental Change: NASA's Plan for a Climate-Centric Architecture for Earth Observations and Applications from Space. A large percentage of ESTO investments are already lowering the risk of key instruments, components, and systems vital to climate measurements. As we move forward, ESTO will seek increasing emphasis on the goals outlined by this plan
Additional Projects
