Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Connecting NASA Science and Engineering with Earth Science Applications

M. Susan Moran Southwest Watershed Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Tucson, Arizona

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Bradley Doorn Applied Sciences Program, NASA, Washington, DC

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Vanessa Escobar Sigma Space Corporation, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Molly E. Brown NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Print Publication:
01 Feb 2015
Collections:
NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) – Pre-launch Applied Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-14-0093.1
Page(s):
473–483
Restricted access

Abstract

The National Research Council (NRC) recently highlighted the dual role of NASA to support both science and applications in planning Earth observations. This article reports the efforts of the NASA Applied Sciences Program and NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission to integrate applications with science and engineering in prelaunch planning. The SMAP Early Adopter program supported the prelaunch applied research that comprises the SMAP Special Collection of the Journal of Hydrometeorology. This research, in turn, has resulted in unprecedented prelaunch preparation for SMAP applications and critical feedback to the mission to improve product specifications and distribution for postlaunch applications. These efforts have been a learning experience that should provide direction for upcoming missions and set some context for the next NRC decadal survey.

Corresponding author address: M. Susan Moran, USDA–ARS, Southwest Watershed Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd., Tucson, AZ 85719. E-mail: susan.moran@ars.usda.gov

This article is included in the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) – Pre-launch Applied Research Special Collection.

Abstract

The National Research Council (NRC) recently highlighted the dual role of NASA to support both science and applications in planning Earth observations. This article reports the efforts of the NASA Applied Sciences Program and NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission to integrate applications with science and engineering in prelaunch planning. The SMAP Early Adopter program supported the prelaunch applied research that comprises the SMAP Special Collection of the Journal of Hydrometeorology. This research, in turn, has resulted in unprecedented prelaunch preparation for SMAP applications and critical feedback to the mission to improve product specifications and distribution for postlaunch applications. These efforts have been a learning experience that should provide direction for upcoming missions and set some context for the next NRC decadal survey.

Corresponding author address: M. Susan Moran, USDA–ARS, Southwest Watershed Research Center, 2000 E. Allen Rd., Tucson, AZ 85719. E-mail: susan.moran@ars.usda.gov

This article is included in the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) – Pre-launch Applied Research Special Collection.

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Journal of Hydrometeorology

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