2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
2009 Annual Report - NASA Airborne Science Program
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PROGRAM ELEMENTS<br />
and EXECUTION<br />
The <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> <strong>Program</strong> consists of the following<br />
program elements:<br />
1. <strong>Science</strong> Requirements and Management<br />
2. <strong>Airborne</strong> <strong>Science</strong> Platforms<br />
(a) Core Platforms (DC-8, WB-57, ER-2, G-III and P-3)<br />
(b) Catalog Platforms (agency, interagency, commercial)<br />
3. New Technology and Platform Development<br />
(a) UAS (Global Hawk, SIERRA)<br />
(b) Common Data and Communication Systems<br />
4. <strong>Science</strong> Instrumentation and Support Systems<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> Headquarters is responsible for determining<br />
program direction and content through the strategic<br />
planning and budget formulation processes. The<br />
program office is the interface to the <strong>Science</strong> Mission<br />
Directorate ensuring that program activities and<br />
investments support the broader agency. A major<br />
change in the program this past year was to remove<br />
core aircraft from the catalog and manage them<br />
individually.<br />
Implementation of the major program elements<br />
takes place at the various research centers.<br />
Ames Research Center has a lead role in program<br />
analysis, advanced planning, and science mission<br />
management. This includes management of<br />
<strong>Program</strong> flight requests and field campaign<br />
management through the Earth <strong>Science</strong> Project<br />
Office. Instrument and software support, flight<br />
planning, and development of interface standards<br />
are performed out of Ames <strong>Airborne</strong> Sensor Facility<br />
in partnership with the University of California. In<br />
addition, Ames personnel manage and operate the<br />
SIERRA UAS.<br />
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