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About the Airborne Science Program
The Airborne Science Program within the Earth Science Division is responsible for providing aircraft systems that further science and advance the use of satellite data. The primary objectives of this program are to:
- Satellite Calibration and Validation
Provide platforms to enable essential calibration measurements for the Earth observing satellites, and the validation of data retrieval algorithms. - Support New Sensor Development
Provide sub-orbital flight opportunities to test and refine new instrument technologies/algorithms, and reduce risk prior to committing sensors for launch into space. - Process Studies
Obtain high-resolution temporal and spatial measurements of complex local processes, which can be coupled to global satellite observations for a better understanding of the complete Earth system. - Develop the Next-Generation of Scientists and Engineers
Foster the development of our future workforce with the hands-on involvement of graduate students, and young scientists/engineers in all aspects of ongoing Earth science investigations.
To meet these observing objectives ASP maintains and operates a suite of sustained, ongoing platforms and sensors on which investigators can rely from year to year. From these known capabilities the Science Mission Directorate can develop observing strategies. However, an ongoing capability will be resource-constrained and eventually technology-constrained, so that not all observing requirements will be met with the limited core capability. Therefore the program facilitates access to other platforms or sensors on a funds-available, as-needed basis, to accommodate unique and/or occasional requirements. The Program also looks for new or evolving technologies to demonstrate their applicability for Earth science. Depending on the success of the demonstrations and the observing needs, the core capability is expected to evolve and change over time. The speed and extent of change will be balanced against the need for established, known capabilities for long-term planning.
Current Airborne Missions
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Research Opportunities
Student Airborne Research Program
The NASA Airborne Science Program invites highly motivated advanced undergraduates who will be rising seniors in summer 2022 to apply for participation in the 14th annual NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP 2022). The purpose of the Student Airborne Research Program is to provide students with hands-on research experience in all aspects of a major scientific campaign, from detailed planning on how to achieve mission objectives to formal presentation of results and conclusions to peers and others. Students will work in multi-disciplinary teams to study surface, atmospheric, and oceanographic processes. Participants will fly onboard the NASA DC-8 and assist in the operation of instruments to sample and measure atmospheric gases and to image land and water surfaces in multiple spectral bands. Along with airborne data collection, students will participate in taking measurements at field sites. Each student will complete an individual research project from the data collected.
Outstanding faculty and staff for this program will be drawn from several universities and NASA centers, as well as from NASA flight operations and engineering personnel.
Application for SARP 2022 will be open from November 15, 2021 through January 26, 2022. Apply at https://baeri.org/sarp
Related Links
Wallops Flight Facility Aircraft Office
The Aircraft Office at the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) provides for the operation, maintenance, engineering, airworthiness, and mission support of assigned aircraft as well as the planning and conducting of Airborne Science missions. The Aircraft Office explores new areas of aircraft support and plans for capabilities to accommodate them, develop and implement rules and procedures required to ensure the effective management of aircraft operations, and provide safety and quality assurance oversight of all aircraft functions. The WFF Aircraft Office also supports logistical airlift needs, range surveillance, recovery operations, and a wide array of other aircraft functions.
NASA Earth Science Project Office
The Earth Science Project Office is a small group of success-oriented individuals providing project management for NASA's Science Mission Directorate field research. We provide planning, implementation and post mission support for large, complex, multi-agency, national and international field campaigns
Balloon Program Office
Balloon Program Office offers capabilities and benefits for scientific research
Sounding Rockets Program Office
Sounding Rockets Program Office provides suborbital launch vehicles, payload development, and field operations support
