The capacity to observe Earth in its full verticality (from deep-sea to space) enables the understanding of its subsystems (oceans, land, air, and space) and their complex dynamics.
In this research area, the focus is on investigating Earth’s critical subsystems, namely its oceans, land masses, atmosphere, and near-space environments. There’s particular emphasis on measurements, developing technologies and capabilities through technological innovation, big data, autonomy, and comprehensive systems analysis.
Related topic areas include ocean monitoring and measurement to enable advances in ocean and Earth science measurements, technology advances, and autonomous operations for exploration and science. This topic area also contains ocean research vessel field deployments to demonstrate novel autonomy and human-machine concept of operations (ConOps) to small-satellite technology and launch capabilities.
