Since its establishment in 1958,NASA has conducted research on a range of topics. Because of its unique structure, work happens at variousfield centers and different research areas are concentrated in those centers.[1] Depending on the technology, hardware and expertise needed, research may be conducted across a range of centers.[2]
TheAeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) is one of five missiondirectorates withinNASA, the other four being the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, the Space Operations Mission Directorate, theScience Mission Directorate, and the Space Technology Mission Directorate.[3] The ARMD is responsible for NASA'saeronautical research, which benefits thecommercial,military, andgeneral aviation sectors. The current NASA associate administrator heading ARMD is Robert A. Pearce who has held the position since 2019.[4]
ARMD is involved in the creation of theNext Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).[5]
A 2014 audit by theNASA Office of Inspector General reported that ARMD "solicits input from industry, academia, and other Federal agencies regarding research needs and...uses this information to develop its research plans", and concluded that the directorate supported "advancement of the nation's civil aeronautics research and technology objectives consistent with the National Plan" established in 2006.[6]
ARMD performs its aeronautics research at four NASA facilities:Ames Research Center andArmstrong Flight Research Center in California,Glenn Research Center in Ohio, andLangley Research Center in Virginia.[5]A variety of large-scale medical studies are being conducted in space by theNational Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). Prominent among these is theAdvanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity Study, in which astronauts (including former ISS CommandersLeroy Chiao andGennady Padalka) perform ultrasound scans under the guidance of remote experts to diagnose and potentially treat hundreds of medical conditions in space. Usually there is no physician on board the International Space Station, anddiagnosis of medical conditions is challenging. Astronauts are susceptible to a variety of health risks includingdecompression sickness, barotrauma, immunodeficiencies, loss of bone and muscle, orthostatic intolerance due to volume loss,sleep disturbances, and radiation injury.Ultrasound offers a unique opportunity to monitor these conditions in space. This study's techniques are now being applied to cover professional and Olympic sports injuries as well as ultrasound performed by non-expert operators in populations such as medical and high school students. It is anticipated that remote guided ultrasound will have application on Earth in emergency and rural care situations, where access to a trained physician is often rare.[7][8][9]
In one of the nation's largest restoration projects, NASA technology helps state and federal government reclaim 15,100 acres (61 km2) of salt evaporation ponds in South San Francisco Bay. Satellite sensors are used by scientists to study the effect of salt evaporation on local ecology.[10]
NASA has started Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Program as an agency-wide program directed to prevent pollution and reduce energy and water utilization. It helps to ensure that NASA meets its federal stewardship responsibilities for the environment.[11]
Main page:NASA Earth Science
Understanding of natural and human-induced changes on the global environment (such asglobal warming) is the main objective of NASA'sEarth science. NASA currently has more than a dozen Earth science spacecraft/instruments in orbit studying all aspects of the Earth system (oceans, land, atmosphere,biosphere,cryosphere), with several more planned for launch in the next few years.[12] The earth science research program was created and funded in the 1980s under the administrations ofRonald Reagan andGeorge H. W. Bush.[13][14]
NASA is working in cooperation withNational Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The goal is to produce worldwide solar resource maps with great local detail.[15] NASA was also one of the main participants in the evaluation innovative technologies for the cleanup of the sources fordense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). On April 6, 1999, the agency signed TheMemorandum of Agreement (MOA) along with theUnited States Environmental Protection Agency,DOE, andUSAF authorizing all the above organizations to conduct necessary tests at the John F. Kennedy Space center. The main purpose was to evaluate two innovative in-situ remediation technologies, thermal removal and oxidation destruction of DNAPLs.[16] National Space Agency made a partnership with Military Services andDefense Contract Management Agency named the "Joint Group on Pollution Prevention". The group is working on reduction or elimination of hazardous materials or processes.[17]
On May 8, 2003,Environmental Protection Agency recognized NASA as the first federal agency to directly uselandfill gas to produce energy at one of its facilities—theGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.[18]
In 1975, NASA was directed by legislation to research and monitor the upper atmosphere. This led to Upper Atmosphere Research Program and later theEarth Observing System (EOS) satellites in the 1990s to monitorozone depletion.[19] The first comprehensive worldwide measurements were obtained in 1978 with the Nimbus 7 satellite and NASA scientists at theGoddard Institute for Space Studies.[20]
Within the Earth science program, NASA researches and publishes onclimate issues.[21] Its statements concur with the interpretation that theglobal climate is heating.[22] Bob Walker, who has advised president-electDonald Trump on space issues, has advocated that NASA shut down its climate study operations.[23] TheWashington Post reported that NASA scientists copied data on climate change held on U.S. government computers, out of a fear that a Trump administration would end access to data on climate change.[24]
