Earth Science
Decommissioned Earth science satellite to remain in orbit for centuries
A U.S.-European satellite that completed its mission earlier this month has been decommissioned but will remain in orbit for as long as 1,000 years, far beyond existing orbital debris mitigation guidelines.
Ball and SSL win study contracts for methane emission tracking satellite
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has awarded contracts to Ball Aerospace and Space Systems Loral to develop designs for a privately funded satellite to track methane emissions.
NASA moving forward on implementing Earth science decadal survey recommendations
Nearly a year after the release of the latest decadal survey for the field, the head of NASA’s Earth science program says the agency is making good progress in implementing its recommendations.
Space agencies welcome new entrants developing satellites for tracking greenhouse gases
As a growing number of organizations propose satellites to monitor greenhouse gases, national space agencies who already operate such spacecraft welcome those new entrants — as long as they’re willing to share their results.
NASA Earth science director to retire
The longtime director of NASA’s Earth science division, who in recent years provided a steadying hand amid budget concerns while seeking to take advantage of new capabilities, will retire from the agency in February.
Poll shows more public support for NASA science programs than human exploration
A new poll finds that the American public broadly supports NASA but thinks the space agency should be focused more on Earth science and planetary defense than human missions to the moon or Mars.
Bridenstine offers senators reassurances on NASA programs
In his first congressional testimony since becoming NASA administrator a month ago, Jim Bridenstine sought to reassure Senate appropriators about the status of several agency programs threatened with cancellation, as well as his own views on climate change.
Bridenstine optimistic WFIRST will avoid cancellation
As House appropriators approved a spending bill May 17 that partially restores funding for a NASA astrophysics mission slated for cancellation, the agency’s administrator said he was “90 percent” confident that the mission will continue.
A changing Earth science decadal for a changing Earth
The Earth, and particularly its climate, is changing. Earth science, therefore, is also changing. And, with those changes, come revisions on not just the missions needed to carry out the science, but how they should be selected.
NASA prepares to buy Earth science data from small satellite constellations
NASA plans to begin awarding sole source contracts in March to companies flying small satellite constellations as part of an Earth science data pilot program.
Earth science decadal report recommends mix of large and small missions
A report setting priorities for the next decade of Earth science missions recommends that NASA pursue a mix of large and small missions to help better understand the changing nature of the planet.
What happened to the 2007 Earth science decadal survey missions?
Ten years after the National Academies published the first Earth science decadal survey, NASA has flown one of the 15 recommended missions with two more scheduled to launch in 2018.
NASA planning to purchase Earth science data from commercial smallsat systems
NASA expects to purchase Earth science data from constellations of commercial satellites early next year to see how useful they are in meeting the agency’s research needs.
Earth science decadal report release now planned for January
The new decadal survey for Earth science research will likely be unveiled in early January, slightly later than previously planned.
GRACE mission comes to an end
An Earth science mission launched more than 15 years ago has finally come to an end, slightly earlier than previously expected, NASA announced Oct. 27.
NASA prepares to retire GRACE Earth science satellites
An aging German-American Earth science mission will come to an end this fall, months before the launch of a next-generation satellite pair.
