Abstract
As the cost of satellite missions grow, government agencies are working to increase the relevance and usefulness of the Earth science data that they produce. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) early adopter program seeks to formalize partnerships with users of data early within the satellite planning process to ensure the greatest value of the mission. Scientists who are designing the satellite observing system, those who are developing mission data products, and the community who will use them need to work together to determine how satellite data can better inform decision making. NASA is working to initiate engagement with data users much earlier in the satellite program life so that the user needs can be prioritized, continue to engage with users throughout the development cycle, and then include analysis on societal impact after nominal mission life. The Early Adopter Program allows for broad and early engagement with decision makers by encouraging individuals and institutions with clear uses of data to engage with the mission. Early adopters facilitate feedback on mission products during pre-launch and accelerate the utilization of these products post-launch. This paper provides background and detail on how NASA is working to engage with early adopters, describes the partnership between early adopters and NASA missions, and connects the program to improved societal impacts of its satellite missions.
Highlights
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Earth Science Division (ESD) delivers a wide suite of datasets derived from a sophisticated national and international infrastructure of space-based observing systems, scientific research, and applications
Application projects are carried out in partnership with public- and private-sector organizations to achieve sustained use and sustained benefits from the Earth observations. As part of this program, NASA has focused on developing its knowledge of future applications and diversified engagement with users for upcoming satellites through the concept of an early adopter (EA) [3,4]
This paper focuses on describing the early adopter program’s ability to foster satellite data applications within a wide variety of organizations and institutions
Summary
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Earth Science Division (ESD) delivers a wide suite of datasets derived from a sophisticated national and international infrastructure of space-based observing systems, scientific research, and applications. The Directive on Project Applications Program presents guidance to all future directed NASA missions, stating that Earth science satellite missions entering development after the 2017 Decadal Survey will include an applications program element and an early adopter program as part of the mission life cycle This is intended to increase awareness and improve the potential impact of future missions through gathering the user communities’ input and feedback during the development of the instrument, while the architecture and requirements for the missions are being defined. The mission’s data center gain perspective on best practices for serving data and providing user services Both NASA and early adopter institutions gain the unique opportunity to develop relationships that help identify the impact of science and implement lessons learned that reveal products that inform societally relevant applications. Institutions working to provide services across these areas know about satellite data, integrating new observations or new scientific approaches that support these benefit areas requires the engagement and partnerships like those fostered by the early adopter program. In most cases the mission works with the institution submitting the nomination to ensure a clear description of user engagement and how the new satellite data will change the current way of working within the institution and improve overall outcome
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