Earth Science
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.
The Explorer I Mission and the Discovery of Earth’s Radiation Belts: Event and Webcast
On January 31, 1958, the first U.S. satellite, Explorer 1, was launched from Cape Canaveral, and with it began 60 years of extraordinary technological and scientific advances. The Space Studies Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer…
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.
Senate restores funding for NASA Earth science and satellite servicing programs
An appropriations bill approved by a Senate committee July 27 would restore funding for several NASA Earth science missions slated for termination by the administration as well as a satellite servicing program.
NASA downplaying Earth science cuts while hoping for reversal
As Senate appropriators prepare to mark up a NASA spending bill, agency officials are both downplaying the effects of proposed cuts on its Earth science program while also hoping the Senate reverses them.
NASA examines effects of 2017 spending bill on science programs
As members of Congress took credit for NASA funding levels in a fiscal year 2017 omnibus spending bill, the agency’s science leadership is examining how those funds will affect its programs.
Scientists worried cuts to NASA’s Earth science programs could create climate data gap
Last month's budget proposal included terminating four planned or operational missions designed at least in part to collect climate-related data.
