Aeronautics and Space Report

of the President

Fiscal Year

2015 Activities
Fiscal Year 2015

Activities

Aeronautics and Space Report

of the President
Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 directed 

the annual Aeronautics and Space Report to include a 

“comprehensive description of the programmed activities and 

the accomplishments of all agencies of the United States in the 

field of aeronautics and space activities during the preceding 

calendar year.” In recent years, the reports have been prepared 

on a fiscal-year basis, consistent with the budgetary period now 

used in programs of the Federal Government. This year’s report 

covers activities that took place from October 1, 2014, through 

September 30, 2015. Please note that these activities reflect 

the Federal policies of that time and do not include subsequent 

events or changes in policy.

On the title page, clockwise from the top left: 1. Pluto is seen from the Long Range Reconnaissance 

Imager (LORRI) aboard NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, taken on July 13, 2015, when the spacecraft 

was 476,000 miles (768,000 kilometers) from the surface. Credits: NASA/Applied Physics Laboratory 

(APL)/Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). 2.  A DHC-3 Otter is flown in NASA’s Operation 

IceBridge-Alaska survey of mountain glaciers in Alaska. Credit: NASA/Chris Larsen, University of 

Alaska-Fairbanks. 3. This image shows an artist’s concept of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive 

(SMAP) mission. Credit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)–California Institute of Technology. 

4. Engineers at Orbital ATK prepare to test the largest, most powerful booster ever built for NASA’s 

new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). Credit: Orbital ATK. 5. NASA astronaut Scott Kelly 

works outside the International Space Station (ISS) on the 190th spacewalk in support of ISS assembly and maintenance. Credit: NASA. 6. This schlieren image of shock waves created by a T-38C in 

supersonic flight was captured using the sun’s edge as a light source and then processed using NASAdeveloped code. Credit: NASA.
Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Table of Conten

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 1

Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate 1

Science Mission Directorate  .

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate 43

Space Technology Mission Directorate 52

Department of Defense 61

Federal Aviation Administration 77

Department of Commerce . 

Department of the Interior . 

Federal Communications Commission 117

U.S. Department of Agricultur  1

National Science Foundation 131

Department of State 141

Department of Energy 147

Smithsonian Institution  . 

Appendices

A-1 U.S. Government Spacecraft Recor  1

A-2 World Record of Space Launches Successful in

Attaining Earth Orbit or Beyond . 

B Successful Launches to Orbit on U.S. Vehicle  1

C Human Spaceflights . 

D-1A Space Activities of the U.S. Government—Historical Table of Budg

Authority in Millions of Real-Year Dollars . 

D-1B Space Activities of the U.S. Government—Historical Table of Budg

Authority in Millions of Inflation-Adjusted FY 2015 Dollars . 

D-2 Federal Space Activities Budget . 

D-3 Federal Aeronautics Activities Budget . 

Acronyms 171
ivAeronautics and Space Report of the President

This page is intentionally left blank.
1Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

National Aeronautic

Space Administr

NASA

Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate

International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) continued its focus on research and technology development in such disciplines as biology, human research, biotechnology, 

Earth science, physical science, astrophysics, and satellite servicing during FY 2015. 

Also during FY 2015, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) completed two commercial cargo missions and Japan’s H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) 

completed one cargo mission. NASA continued modifications to docking ports 

that will allow the ISS to accommodate two docking ports for visiting vehicles, 

enabling traffic flexibility and port redundancy for U.S. operating segment crew 

and cargo vehicle missions.

FY 2015 presented one of the ISS Program’s toughest logistical challenges. Over 

the course of eight months, the ISS Program lost three cargo resupply vehicles 

in launch mishaps: Orbital-ATK’s Orbital 3 failed immediately after launch on 

October 28, 2014; Russia’s Progress 59P, just before reaching orbit on April 28, 2015; 

and SpaceX-7, a few minutes into flight on June 28, 2015. The ISS Program managed to mitigate the impacts; consumables remained in good shape and research 

was stockpiled on board, waiting to be executed. The ISS Program successfully 

planned for contingencies, evidenced by the fact that after losing three cargo 

resupply flights in about eight months, the Station supported six crewmembers 
2Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

and continued a full research utilization program. The Russian Progress returned 

to flight in June 2015; Orbital ATK planned to return to flight in December 2015; 

and SpaceX plans to return to flight in early 2016.

During 2015, NASA continued planning the ISS’s extension to at least 2024 to 

align with the Obama administration’s announced intent. The extension allows 

NASA a decade to help transition low-Earth orbit from exclusive to accessible; 

offers scientists and engineers the time they need to assure the future of exploration, scientific discoveries, and economic development; and presents important new 

opportunities to develop the tools needed for future missions to deep space, such 

as testing essential technologies and hardware related to long-duration journeys.

Expedition 42 crewmembers NASA astronaut Terry Virts, Roscosmos cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha 

Cristoforetti joined the Expedition 41 crew on the ISS on November 23, 2014. 

Crewmembers performed three extravehicular activities (EVAs) to prepare for the 

arrival and installation of the International Docking Adapters, which will provide 

additional docking capabilities for visiting vehicles. SpaceX-5 launched on January 

10, 2015, delivering 3,700 pounds of pressurized and unpressurized cargo, including research experiments, food, crew provisions, and exercise equipment, plus the 

Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) to measure and characterize cloud and 

aerosol effects to improve climate models.

On March 27, 2015, Expedition 43 crewmembers NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, 

and Russian cosmonauts Mikhail Kornienko and Gennady Padalka joined the 

Expedition 42 crew on the ISS. NASA began a one-year, U.S.-Russian joint human 

health and performance research project with Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko, 

who will stay aboard the Station for one year. While Kelly lives on board the 

Station, his identical twin brother, retired NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, is participating in the study on Earth, allowing NASA to better isolate the deleterious 

effects of spaceflight on the human body and aid in the development of countermeasures for these effects. This research should be invaluable to the preparation for 

future missions to study the effects of long-duration space missions on the human 

body. SpaceX-6 launched on April 14, 2015, delivering 4,200 pounds of research 

experiments, food, crew provisions, and exercise equipment. The cargo included 

20 mice for the second Rodent Research investigation to continue the study of 
3Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

accelerated bone and muscle loss in space, which could lead to new treatments for 

osteoporosis and muscle wasting on Earth, as well as the Robotic Refueling Mission 

Phase 2 (RRM-P2) equipment to continue the robotic servicing investigation for 

satellite servicing.

The loss of Russia’s Progress 59P on April 28, 2015, delayed the return of the 

Expedition 42 crew to Earth for four weeks and the launch of the Expedition 43 

crew for eight weeks. The Expedition 42 crew returned to Earth on June 11, 2015, 

after spending six months on orbit. On June 28, 2015, the SpaceX-7 cargo resupply vehicle failed a few minutes into flight, resulting in the loss of all cargo on 

board. The Russian Progress returned to flight on July 3, 2015, after a thorough 

investigation, carrying 1,900 pounds of propellant, oxygen, water, food, and experiment hardware. With this delivery, the ISS had sufficient supplies to last until 

October 2015.

The Expedition 44 crewmembers—NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, Russian 

cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui—joined the 

Expedition 43 crew on the ISS on July 22, 2015. The arrival of the three crewmembers returned the Station’s crew complement to six. Russian crewmembers conducted a six-hour spacewalk on August 10, 2015, to install new equipment on the 

Russian segment and conduct a detailed photographic inspection of the exterior 

of the Station. On August 19, 2015, Japan’s HTV-5 launched with 10,000 pounds 

of cargo and science materials, including critical spares lost on SpaceX-7, as well 

as the CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET), designed to search for dark 

matter, measure cosmic rays, and observe sources of high-energy phenomena in the 

galaxy. These crewmembers became the first to harvest and eat crops grown aboard 

the Station in the Veggie hardware, another necessary advance for astronauts traveling on deep space missions.

Finally, Expedition 45 crewmembers Russian cosmonaut Sergey Volkov, ESA 

astronaut Andreas Mogensen, and Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov launched 

on September 2, 2015, joining Expedition 43 and 44 crew to support ten days of 

nine crew operations for the first time since 2013. On September 15, 2015, Kelly 

and Kornienko reached the halfway point of their one-year mission to advance 

understanding of the medical and psychological challenges astronauts face during 

long-duration spaceflight.
4Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Launch Services

During FY 2015, the Launch Services Program (LSP) successfully launched 

two major science missions: the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) and the 

Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS). SMAP launched on January 31, 2015, aboard a 

Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. MMS launched on 

March 12, 2015, aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

in Florida. The LSP also continued to provide launch-related systems engineering, 

launch integration, and mission design and analysis support to over 40 NASAsponsored missions in various phases of development. To learn more about these 

and other NASA science missions, see the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) 

section in this report.

The LSP continued its efforts to expand the selection of launch vehicles, 

working across the launch-vehicle industry to support the continued growth of 

the U.S. commercial space sector by providing competitive opportunities to U.S. 

commercial launch providers. In FY 2015, the program acquired launch services 

for three future science missions: the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON), 

the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the Solar Probe Plus (SPP). 

ICON will launch on Orbital ATK’s Pegasus XL from Kwajalein Atoll in the 

Marshall Islands, followed by TESS on a SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 and SPP on United 

Launch Services’ Delta IV Heavy rocket launching from the Cape.

NASA and LSP also partnered with several universities to launch small 

research satellites through the Educational Launch of Nanosatellites project and 

the CubeSat Launch Initiative, which provides rideshare opportunities for smallsatellite payloads to fly on upcoming launches when space is available. These 

partnerships provide educational opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines, thereby strengthening the Nation’s 

future workforce. In addition, as CubeSats continue to play an increasingly larger 

role at NASA, LSP began work to develop a new Venture Class Launch Service 

(VCLS) in order to create an alternative to the current rideshare approach and 

foster a commercial launch market dedicated solely to flying small-satellite payloads. On September 30, 2015, NASA awarded three VCLS contracts to Firefly 

Space Systems, Inc.; Rocket Lab USA; and Virgin Galactic LLC, with the first 
5Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

demonstration launch scheduled for summer 2017. To date, CubeSats have been 

selected from 29 states across the United States, with 43 launched and 14 manifested on NASA, National Reconnaissance Office, U.S. Air Force, and commercial 

missions. The LSP also completed the certification effort for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 v1.1 

rocket in May 2015 and certified it as a medium-risk launch vehicle as defined in 

NASA policy, with a single certification exception. SpaceX is working to correct 

the issue that caused the exception, and LSP has put the appropriate steps in place 

to mitigate the technical risk.

Space Communications and Navigation

In FY 2015, the Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program Office 

remained focused on the critical sustainability and development of the ground and 

space components of the networks that provide space communications for NASA’s 

missions. The three networks—the Near Earth Network (NEN), the Space 

Network (SN) Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), and the Deep 

Space Network (DSN)—continued to meet the space communications needs, such 

as Earth monitoring and support of deep space science missions, of a wide range 

of customers, both internal and external to NASA. SCaN continued to surpass its 

requirement of 95 percent proficiency in FY 2015, with at least 99 percent proficiency in all of its networks, providing communication and navigation services to 

all science and human missions.

SCaN completed some key milestones during FY 2015:

• SCaN successfully supported all pre-mission verification testing, the 

launch, and the mission through splashdown of the Exploration Flight 

Test–1 (EFT-1) Orion mission on December 5, 2014.

• SCaN successfully completed TDRS-12 Initial Operational Capability 

(IOC) testing on January 25, 2015, and placed it into service as TDRSEast on February 12, 2015.

• SCaN completed the SN Blossom Point Ground Station, which is providing operational support to customers.

• TDRS-M successfully completed all system and environmental testing 

and has been placed in storage, pending launch in October 2017.
6Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

• The Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment (SGSS) Project successfully completed project rebaseline by completing Critical Design 

Review (CDR) closeout, termination review, and rebaseline review 

(updated Key Decision Point–C [KDP-C]).

• The SGSS project completed Increment A4 development and integration, 

including fleet management and additional signal-processing capabilities.

• The NEN project successfully completed Launch Communications 

System (LCS) CDR. This accomplishment paved the way for the buildup 

of the Kennedy Uplink Station (KUS) and Ponce De Leon (PDL) tracking 

station required for Exploration Mission–1 (EM-1) for Orion and Space 

Launch System (SLS) early ascent coverage.

• The DSN Aperture Enhancement Project successfully completed its 

first new 34-meter deep space beam waveguide antenna in Canberra, 

Australia. The new Deep Space Station–35 is now fully operational and 

meets the requirements of NASA’s missions.

• The DSN complexes at Goldstone, Madrid, and Canberra provided flawless mission support to the critical approach and flyby phases of New 

Horizons Pluto flyby.

• SCaN replanned the Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) 

due to changes in the available funding in FY 2015 and FY 2016 with a 

new launch date of June 2019 (a change of six months). The 1.25-gigabitper-second-data-rate ground modem successfully demonstrated interoperability with the test bed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s 

(MIT) Lincoln Laboratory. The demonstration is a major first step toward 

commercializing laser communications for near-Earth users and has seen 

significant response from industry in an FY 2015 open call for Guest 

Investigators during its full demonstration beginning in 2019.

• The SCaN Testbed (STB) continued operations externally on the ISS 

and has logged over 2,500 hours of operations since its launch in 2012. 

In FY 2015, the STB developed several important technologies advancing the future of SCaN networks and has partnered with ten commercial 

companies, eight universities, and three other Government agencies. The 

project demonstrated the capability of transmission at a data rate of nearly 
7Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

1 gigabit per second over that of the Ka-band, winning a NASA Silver 

Achievement Medal for the team’s efforts. Separate work on the Digital 

Video Broadcast Second Generation transmission from space demonstrated a better downlink to a ground station through improved quality in 

video reception. Commercial standards derived from the SCaN-developed 

technologies help future NASA networks be more interoperable, increase 

network throughput, and enhance spectrum efficiency by allowing greater 

amounts of data to be transmitted in a given bandwidth and adjusting 

data rates according to radio-frequency link conditions.

• The Spectrum Management Program continued to work with the White 

House, Congress, national regulators, and interagency partners in implementing the President’s Broadband Initiative.

• The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) is a major 

international organization comprising 11 international space agencies; it 

develops internationally agreed-upon and interoperable space communications standards that enable joint international missions and reduce 

cost and risk to space missions. In 2015, SCaN engineers led CCSDS 

working groups in completing many new standards and took leadership of the new working group chartered to develop new standards for 

optical communications.

• SCaN continued in its role as the Executive Director of the National 

Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board, 

an august body of PNT experts from within industry and the international community.

Human Spaceflight Capabilities

By the end of FY 2015, the Rocket Propulsion Test (RPT) Program had safely 

performed 453 tests. Test time totaled over 116,262 seconds, with more than 

10,062 seconds of hot fire at various levels of thrust. During this period, the test 

facilities had six facility-caused test delays resulting in a 98.7 percent facility readiness, far exceeding the 90 percent RPT Annual Performance Indicator.
8Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

In FY 2015, Stennis Space Center (SSC) had several test programs under way, 

including RS-25 in support of the SLS Program, as well as flight certification testing for the Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68 engine in support of the United States Air 

Force (USAF) and United Launch Alliance (ULA). Development testing continued for NASA’s Morpheus lander, as well as subscale testing of the SpaceX Raptor 

engine. Refurbishment and repair activities continued for critical enabling infrastructure, including replacing both the B-leg and the A-leg of the high-pressure 

industrial water system and restoring the B-2 test stand for SLS core stage testing.

In 2015, following the completion of the J-2X engine in FY 2014, SSC transitioned the SSC A-2 test stand to a mothball status. In January 2015, after the 

completion of facility modifications and the design and manufacturing of the 

necessary Special Test Equipment (STE), SSC completed the first test of the SLS 

RS-25 engine on the SSC A-1 test stand. In addition to the testing in support of 

the SLS Program, SSC began a test campaign supporting the development of a 

self-pumping diffuser for the White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) Orion European 

Service Module test campaign. Other activities at SSC included the buildup of 

systems in the E-Complex required to support the joint Department of Defense 

(DOD)–NASA hydrocarbon boost program and the Aerojet Rocketdyne Liquid 

Oxygen (LOX) and Refined Petroleum (Rp) development program.

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) continued testing engine components 

manufactured using advanced technologies, including components built using 

select laser melting. In addition to testing the components manufactured using 

advanced technologies, MSFC tested articles using LOX, liquid methane (LCH4), 

and new LOX Rp combustion techniques.

WSTF continued the buildup and preparation of Test Stand 301 to support 2016 

testing of the Orion ESA Service Module (SM) and began construction activities 

on Test Stand 301A to support the Boeing Company’s CST-100 crew abort system 

and SM testing. In addition to the two SM programs, WSTF also provided test 

support for Boeing, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the USAF Minuteman, 

and the USAF Peacekeeper demilitarization.

Glenn Research Center’s (GRC) Plum Brook Station (PBS) collaborated with an 

Agency high-altitude balloon program to perform a long-duration thermal vacuum 

test on a payload package during a standard facility Integrated Systems Test (IST). 
9Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

The test ran continuously for 1,770 minutes and accomplished all objectives. In 

addition to the high-altitude balloon test, PBS began preparations for a 2016 IST 

that will perform a hot fire test in a simulated space environment.

Commercial Crew Development

The Commercial Crew Program is facilitating the development of safe, reliable, 

and cost-effective U.S. human space transportation to and from low-Earth orbit 

and the ISS. NASA is using a unique approach for this program whereby private 

industry is responsible for the development of the space transportation systems and 

NASA is certifying them as safe to transport the Agency’s astronauts.

In September 2014, NASA announced contracts with Boeing and SpaceX to 

continue development and certification efforts under the Commercial Crew 

Transportation Capabilities (CCtCap) contracts, with a goal of ending the Nation’s 

sole reliance on Russia for crew transportation to and from the ISS. One of the 

competing corporations subsequently protested the award and, in January 2015, 

the General Accounting Office rendered a decision in favor of NASA, allowing 

NASA and the two CCtCap partners (Boeing and SpaceX) to proceed with work 

in earnest.

During the fiscal year, both commercial partners continued making technical 

and programmatic progress in maturing their respective commercial crew transportation systems.

• Both partners completed their respective Certification Baseline Reviews, 

the first major milestone under the CCtCap contracts.

• Throughout the year, both partners continued identifying and submitting 

variances, alternate standards, and hazard reports necessary for NASA’s 

crew transportation system certification efforts.

• Boeing began modifications to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s 

Launch Pad 41 and performed several wind tunnel and landing tests.

• SpaceX completed a pad abort test and continued the company’s efforts to 

modify Launch Pad 39A to enable crewed missions.

Through the Commercial Crew Program, NASA is ensuring that the 

Agency’s commercial partners’ crew transportation systems are safe, reliable, and 
10Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

cost-effective. The certification process assesses progress throughout the production and testing of the partners’ systems, which include the launch vehicle, the 

spacecraft, and ground operations.

Advanced Exploration Systems

The Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Division is pioneering new ways to 

rapidly develop prototype systems, demonstrate key capabilities, and validate operational concepts to reduce the risk and cost of future human exploration missions. 

In FY 2015, the AES Division continued the successful execution of 26 research 

and technology development activities employing 572 civil servants spread across 

all NASA Centers. In FY 2015, AES had a goal to complete at least 80 percent of 

the 72 annual milestones. The team accomplished 56 milestones (78 percent) on 

schedule and within the available resources.

In November 2014, AES demonstrated the first 3D printer for in-space manufacturing of spare parts and tools on the ISS. The printer produced over 20 parts that 

returned to Earth for post-flight testing. AES also conducted two public crowdsourcing challenges that involved over 600 students to design a handrail clamp and 

a container that could be 3D-printed on the ISS.

In December 2014, the AES Radiation Sensors activity flew radiation environment monitors on the EFT-1 mission. These sensors measured the radiation 

environment inside the Orion crew capsule as it passed through the Van Allen 

radiation belts. The Radiation Sensors project also completed the Preliminary 

Design Review for the sensors that will be flown on EM-1.

AES’s Automated Systems and Operations activity demonstrated an advance 

caution and warning system on EFT-1 to help mission controllers identify and 

diagnose imminent failures in the Orion power system. The activity also developed 

and tested software for autonomous monitoring and control of a Cascade Distiller 

System for wastewater processing.

The Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) flight hardware arrived 

at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in July 2015, after integration of the inflatable 

module with the Passive Common Berthing Mechanism and the completion of 

all structural testing and payload safety reviews. A public-private partnership with 
11Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Bigelow Aerospace developed BEAM, which is expected to launch to the ISS on 

the SpaceX-8 mission in January 2016.

AES’s Spacecraft Fire Safety project completed the fabrication, assembly, and 

environmental testing of three Saffire flight experiments that will study large-scale 

fire propagation in microgravity. The first experiment (Saffire-I) is planned for 

launch on the Cygnus vehicle in March 2016.

AES issued the Next Space Technology Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) 

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) in October 2014. This solicitation requested 

proposals for public-private partnerships to develop habitation and life-support systems, advanced electric propulsion, and small satellites. The partnerships required 

at least 50 percent cost sharing from industry or universities. AES selected 12 proposals for award in April 2015. Bigelow Aerospace, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and 

Orbital ATK received contracts for conceptual studies of habitats beyond Earth 

orbit. Dynetics, UTC Aerospace Systems, and Orbitec received contracts for lifesupport-system components. Ad Astra, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and MSNW received 

contracts to develop 100-kilowatt electric propulsion systems and to test them in 

the laboratory for 100 continuous hours. Lockheed Martin and Morehead State 

University received contracts to develop CubeSats for launch as secondary payloads on EM-1.

Working with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and Space Technology 

Mission Directorate, AES developed systems requirements and preliminary design 

concepts for three payloads on the Mars 2020 mission to address strategic knowledge gaps for human exploration. The Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization 

Experiment (MOXIE) will demonstrate the production of oxygen from the Martian 

atmosphere to enable in situ propellant production for future human missions. The 

Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) is a surface weather station that 

will measure temperature, pressure, winds, and dust to characterize the environmental conditions that may be encountered by human explorers. Both MOXIE and 

MEDA completed their Instrument Accommodation Reviews to ensure their fit 

on the Mars 2020 rover. In addition, AES committed to re-flying the Mars Entry, 

Descent, and Landing Instrumentation (MEDLI) experiment to further characterize the entry environment for future landings on Mars by robotic and human 

missions. The MEDLI-2 project completed its Systems Requirements Review.
12Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

AES continued the development of three CubeSats that will be launched as secondary payloads on EM-1. The payloads include Biosentinel, which will investigate 

the effects of deep space radiation on yeast DNA; the Lunar Flashlight, which will 

search for volatiles in shadowed craters on the Moon; and the Near-Earth Asteroid 

(NEA) Scout, which will use a solar sail to fly by an asteroid. BioSentinel completed its biosensor payload Preliminary Design Review, and the Lunar Flashlight 

and NEA Scout completed their initial safety reviews and developed FlatSat test 

beds for their spacecraft avionics.

AES’s Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar 

CATALYST) activity worked with three commercial partners to develop lunar 

landers for delivering small payloads by providing engineering expertise, test 

facilities, software, and loaned hardware to the partners. In 2015, Astrobotic 

Technologies completed an end-to-end mission simulation, Moon Express completed a tethered flight of their test vehicle, and Masten Space Systems completed 

a Preliminary Design Review of their lander’s propulsion system.

The AES Resource Prospector continued mission formulation activities this 

year. AES conducted a field test of a prototype rover carrying a sampling drill and 

several prospecting instruments in the rock yard at Johnson Space Center (JSC) 

to simulate mission operations. AES initiated a study agreement with Taiwan to 

develop design concepts for the Resource Prospector lander.

AES continued to advance next-generation spacesuit capabilities by conducting 

human-in-the-loop testing of a new Portable Life Support System and assembling 

a new Z-2 suit garment.

The AES Life Support Systems project completed the Systems Requirements 

Review for the Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor that will detect contaminants in 

the air inside the ISS; the project also completed the Critical Design Review for a 

Cascade Distiller System that will process wastewater.

The AES Core Flight Software team certified core flight software for use on 

human spaceflight systems and tested it on the Orion backup computer.

AES demonstrated automated loading of liquid-oxygen and liquid-hydrogen 

propellants at KSC. AES also demonstrated the liquefaction of hydrogen. This 

capability will reduce ground-operations costs for fueling the SLS.
13Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

An astronaut on board the ISS demonstrated supervisory control of the 

European Space Agency’s Eurobot rover on the ground using Disruption Tolerant 

Networking communications protocols.

The AES Logistics Reduction activity delivered a Multi-Purpose Cargo Transfer 

Bag that can be repurposed to provide acoustic insulation around the treadmill on 

the ISS. AES assembled and tested a Heat Melt Compactor for processing trash.

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, the AES Nuclear Thermal 

Propulsion activity fabricated a representative graphite composite reactor fuel element and tested it in a hot hydrogen flow to simulate the environment inside a 

nuclear rocket engine.

AES matured the Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC) series of human exploration architecture studies beyond encompassing the capabilities of the ISS, Orion, 

SLS, short cislunar habitation, and Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) to include 

a broader scope with Agency-wide participation and cooperative robotic mission 

planning with the SMD. The campaign included the analysis of capabilities realized through the NextSTEP BAA habitation and life-support systems studies, 

along with emerging plans of international partners. The EMC focused on a hybrid 

in-space transportation system using solar electric propulsion and chemical propulsion to efficiently transport crew to the Mars environment and back. The Evolvable 

Mars Campaign will ensure that future architectures have sustainable and resilient 

capabilities at minimum cost and risk for human spaceflight missions.

AES coordinated multiple integration and strategic planning discussions for 

Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) leadership 

and completed the publication NASA’s Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in 

Space Exploration in October 2015. This document, coordinated across the Agency 

and with external communities, captured and communicated the Agency’s human 

spaceflight plans to domestic stakeholders and the Nation’s international partners.

AES funded and co-led the planetary protection workshop for future human 

missions in March 2015. Planetary protection requirements exist for robotic missions, but there is insufficient scientific and technological knowledge to establish 

effective quantitative requirements for the development of human spaceflight 

systems. To prepare for such future missions, HEOMD needed to increase knowledge in microbial and human health monitoring, technology and operations for 
14Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

contamination control, and natural transport of contamination on Mars while 

iteratively developing an appropriate set of requirements. The workshop captured 

the current state of knowledge and identified additional research to appropriately 

inform planetary protection requirements development for the human exploration 

of Mars.

Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications

Human Research Program

In 2015, the Human Research Program (HRP) prepared for the release of a 

Cooperative Agreement Notice for a Translational Research Institute. This 

institute will replace the current NASA Space Biomedical Research Institute for 

supporting NASA’s human research effort by engaging the skills of the external 

biomedical research community. The Translational Research Institute is a key 

component of NASA’s strategy to address the key issues in human health and performance for the next generation of space exploration.

The Human Research Program put a major effort into increasing the effectiveness of its utilization of research facilities, beginning with the ISS. Through this 

effort, HRP removed five investigations from the ISS utilization plan and reduced 

the on-orbit resource requirements of 14 others. This effort made almost 30 percent 

of the crew time previously planned for HRP research available for other NASA 

research. HRP also established partnerships to enable access to unique facilities 

needed to evaluate risks in long-duration exploration missions. Working with the 

German Aerospace Center (DLR), HRP arranged access to the :envihab facility 

in Cologne to conduct long-duration mission simulations. HRP also arranged, 

through an agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF), to conduct 

research on behavioral performance and group dynamics at the NSF’s facilities 

in Antarctica.

ISS Research—Biological and Physical Sciences

The Space Biology Program took major steps toward implementing a vision 

of broader participation in space research by the biological sciences community 

with the continuing maturation of the GeneLab project. GeneLab released a 
15Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

searchable database of existing research results online in 2015, and the GeneLab 

Data System 1.0 Web site won a 2015 Webby award for ease of navigation out of 

over 13,000 entries.

In cooperation with the Human Research Program, the Veggie plant research 

facility grew lettuce that the astronauts aboard the ISS ate. Space Biology plans 

follow-on demonstrations of crop growth on orbit.

Space Biology initiated the Microbial Tracking project in 2015 to respond to 

a high-priority recommendation, made by the National Research Council’s 2011 

Decadal Survey for space life and physical sciences, to conduct an integrated 

“microbial observatory” investigation of the evolving microbiome of the ISS.

Recognizing the need to achieve greater efficiency in the use of crew time 

for investigations with large crew-time requirements like rodent research, Space 

Biology began plans for a cooperative project with a National Laboratory–

sponsored investigation. The joint project, tentatively planned for launch in 2017, 

is expected to return a comprehensive dataset for analysis by the space biology 

community, maximizing the potential return from these valuable opportunities.

The Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL), a project that aims to create the lowest measurable temperature in the universe aboard the ISS in a facility intended to support 

a range of world-class investigations in atomic physics, held a successful Critical 

Design Review on its way to a planned 2017 launch. CAL science team member 

Holger Mueller (a physicist at the University of California, Berkeley) and colleagues 

highlighted the possibility of using observations of atomic physics in ultra-cold 

facilities like CAL to directly observe dark energy, the existence of which has only 

been inferred from calculations, in a paper published in the journal Science in 

August 2015.

Heat pipes see wide use on Earth and in space to cool electronics, among many 

heat-transfer applications, but surprisingly little work has been done to observe 

and understand the behavior of the working fluid that carries the thermal energy 

inside the heat pipe. In a paper published in the journal Science in May 2015, 

Professor Peter Wayner of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his colleagues 

described their observations from a series of experiments with heat pipes aboard 

the ISS. They observed an unpredicted and unexpected fluid mechanical instability that appears to limit the performance of heat pipes in space-based applications. 
16Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

With this insight, it may be possible to redesign space-based heat pipes to avoid 

the instability.

NASA Physical Sciences established, through the Physical Sciences Informatics 

project, a database with the raw data from a number of flight experiments available 

online. In its first effort to stimulate broader use of flight results by the research 

community, NASA released a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) specifically 

inviting research projects based on the analysis of flight experiment data. The 

Agency received proposals in October 2015.

Exploration Systems Development

Three programs—SLS, Orion spacecraft, and Ground Systems Development 

and Operations (GSDO)—are an integrated effort to achieve deep space exploration. The SLS is an advanced launch vehicle for a new era of exploration beyond 

Earth’s orbit, launching astronauts in the Orion spacecraft on missions to an asteroid and eventually to Mars while opening new possibilities for other payloads, such 

as robotic scientific missions to Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter. GSDO continued preparations at KSC to process and launch the next-generation rocket and spacecraft. 

Exploration Systems Integration (ESI) continued to integrate the developmental 

schedules of all three programs to ensure that critical milestones would be met as 

Exploration Mission–1 moves toward its planned launch window in 2018. Life-cycle 

reviews across the SLS, Orion, and GSDO proceeded as planned, with the SLS 

CDR completed in August, Orion’s CDR completed in October, and GSDO’s CDR 

planned for late fall 2015.

Orion Program

The Orion Program passed a major milestone with the successful flight of 

Exploration Flight Test–1 in December 2014. The program designed EFT-1 to take 

the Crew Module farther from Earth than any human-rated spacecraft has traveled since Apollo, testing the capsule’s primary reentry systems, including the heat 

shield and parachute systems, at conditions far exceeding those experienced during 

return from low-Earth orbit. Technicians fitted EFT-1 with hundreds of sensors to 

provide information on loads, acceleration, acoustics, vibration, and other factors 

that affect vehicle performance and crew survival. The mission also allowed the 
17Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Orion and GSDO teams to experience the process of working together throughout assembly, testing, and launch operations and for the Mission Control teams 

at KSC and JSC to test procedures and handoffs. The results of EFT-1 produced 

specific improvements in the design and manufacturing process for both the heat 

shield and the pressure vessel, as well as enhancements in control of the parachute 

motion upon reentry and the evaluation of improvements to the Crew Module 

Uprighting System.

Orion also made major progress on flight hardware and test capabilities. In 

FY 2015, the Orion Program began machining the Exploration Mission–1 Crew 

Module primary structure, or Pressure Vessel—the living space within Orion. 

Ahead of the machining and welding of each EM-1 flight part, the program also 

machined and then welded a pathfinder version to test the design and procedures. 

The program completed and opened a major test facility, the Integrated Test 

Laboratory, in Denver during the fourth quarter of FY 2015.

Also in the fourth quarter of FY 2015, Orion passed its Key Decision Point–C 

review. The data gained from EFT-1 became critical to maturing the preliminary design, allowing the team to advance to its CDR, which was completed on 

October 21, 2015.

Space Launch System Program

The SLS Program continued to make substantial and sustained progress toward 

first flight on EM-1. The SLS accomplished two major propulsion test milestones 

during the reporting period. In 2015, the SLS conducted a series of seven development tests of the RS-25 core stage engine, the first test of an RS-25 since the Space 

Shuttle Program completed engine testing in 2010. In March 2015, the SLS also 

successfully conducted the first of two planned booster qualification motor test 

firings, QM-1.

The SLS Program also made progress on the production capability of the 

217-foot-tall core stage flight articles. In January 2015, the SLS discovered a tool 

alignment problem in the Vertical Assembly Center (VAC) welding tool at the 

Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, and began remediation; the 

new date for VAC tool acceptance is now in the first quarter of FY 2016. The VAC 
18Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

is the largest welding tool of its kind in the world and will enable the assembly of 

the SLS Core Stage barrel sections using advanced friction stir welding.

The SLS met major design review milestones with the successful completion 

of CDRs for SLS elements, including the Spacecraft Payload Integration and 

Evolution CDR-1 in April 2015 and culminating with the successful completion of 

the SLS program-level CDR in July 2015.

Exploration Ground Systems Program

For the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Program, modernization and compatibility efforts continued in FY 2015 to support the EM-1 launch. EGS completed 

major infrastructure enhancements to prepare launch pad 39B for the EM-1 mission and future flights. Enhancements such as the flame trench, flame deflector, 

ignition overpressure, and sound suppression system will safely channel the extraordinary energy released by the rocket away from critical systems. To provide ground 

crew with access to the launch vehicle and Orion while on the mobile launcher, 

upgrades continued to the aging ground support equipment and umbilical outfitting on the upper stage, core stage, and crew access arm. NASA completed the 

design for the new adjustable high-bay access in the Vehicle Assembly Building and 

awarded a construction contract.

As noted earlier, EGS supported Orion EFT-1 landing and recovery operations in 

FY 2015. EFT-1 completed the under way recovery tests of the EFT-1 mission Crew 

Module while ongoing landing recovery planning and design continued in support 

of EM-1. EGS worked on end-to end spaceport command and control system applications and displays, along with transmission, imagery, and voice communication. 

Integrated verification and validation activity began in order to assure mission 

success and seamless integration and launch site processing during EM-1.
19Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Science Mission Directorate

The NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and the Nation’s science community use space observatories to conduct scientific studies of Earth and the sun 

from space, to visit and return data and samples from other bodies in the solar system, and to peer into the vast reaches of the galaxy and beyond. SMD’s four science 

divisions—Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics—

along with its Joint Agency Satellite Division (JASD) and the James Webb Space 

Telescope (JWST) program office—contribute significantly to national and 

Agency goals.

In FY 2015, SMD successfully launched the Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite, the Cloud-Aerosol Transport System, the International Space Station–Rapid 

Scatterometer (ISS-RapidScat), the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, the Deep 

Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite, a flight demonstration of a superpressure balloon, eight scientific balloons, and 21 sounding rockets. SMD’s research 

laid the intellectual foundation for future robotic and human expeditions while 

meeting current scientific needs to address national goals, as well as informing the 

Nation’s decision makers, first responders, and communities by providing observations and predictions on climate and extreme weather, space weather, and potentially hazardous near-Earth objects (NEOs).

Although many of NASA’s instruments and spacecraft have exceeded their 

prime design lifetimes, they continued to provide necessary long-term measurements during this fiscal year. NASA’s space assets routinely gathered measurements 

for operational use by NASA’s interagency and international partners. SMD led 

public engagement in NASA’s activities, documenting over 12 billion Twitter 

impressions in a single week during the Pluto New Horizons flyby. SMD collaborated with NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) to develop new 

technologies and to study small-satellite potential.

As a part of NASA’s commitment to education, SMD’s Science Education program enabled NASA scientists and engineers to engage more effectively with learners of all ages. Sally Ride internships have improved retention rates of underserved/

underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 

(STEM) careers, and a partnership with the Office of Education will expand the 
20Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

scope of the Undergraduate Student Instrument Project (USIP), which provides 

undergraduate students with the opportunity to conduct hands-on research. In 

addition, SMD released the fifth Hands-On Project Experience (HOPE) solicitation for NASA civil service early-career teams to develop a flight project.

Earth Science Division

Through SMD’s satellite development, research, applications, and Earth-focused 

technology advancement programs as well as leveraging continued partnerships 

with agencies maintaining forecast and decision-support systems (e.g., the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], United States Geological 

Survey [USGS], and Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]), SMD improved 

national capabilities to predict climate, weather, and natural hazards; to manage 

resources; and to develop environmental policy. SMD’s Earth Science Division 

(ESD) made essential contributions to understanding global change in service 

to society.

ESD had numerous successes in FY 2015, including the launch of SMAP to monitor global soil moisture and to study future trends in water availability, the measurement of rapidly transforming Arctic and Antarctic ice regions by Operation 

IceBridge (OIB), and the onset of both the Orbiting Carbon Observatory  2 

(OCO-2) to study carbon’s role in climate change and RapidScat to measure surface 

ocean wind speeds in support of weather forecasting, ocean prediction, and climate 

studies. The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System launched to the ISS to measure particulate and aerosol impacts, while the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) 

mission, launched in February 2014, produced its first routine global maps of rain 

and snowfall. NASA started several important Earth Science missions in FY 2015 

that are planned for launch in the near future: the Global Ecosystem Dynamics 

Investigation (GEDI) as the first systematic probe of Earth’s forests from space; 

Landsat-9 to extend NASA’s accurate, continuous measurements of Earth’s land 

cover to 50 years; and the Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission to advance our understanding of the marine life response to climate change.

During FY 2015, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On 

(GRACE-FO) project made significant technical progress toward a planned launch 
21Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

in 2017. The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS), designed to 

study hurricane genesis and intensification using Global Positioning System (GPS) 

signals reflected from the ocean surface, completed its Mission Critical Design 

Review. The NASA–Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Synthetic 

Aperture Radar (NISAR) also successfully completed a key review in its progress 

toward an unprecedented look at complex Earth processes.

In FY 2015, ESD played a pivotal role in tracking typhoons and providing 

invaluable information for earthquake disaster relief efforts. NASA sponsored the 

Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Science 

Education Program. Innovative low- to moderate-cost projects competed under the 

Earth Venture class of missions. Finally, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 

(TRMM) satellite ended a remarkably long-lived 17-year measurement of tropical 

rainfall, reentering Earth’s atmosphere over the southern Indian Ocean.

Antarctic and Arctic Deployments Measure Rapidly Evolving Sea and Land 

Ice Regions

OIB completed its sixth deployment of research flights over Antarctica to 

study changes in the continent’s ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice, accomplishing 

22 science flights between October and November 2014. During the six-week-long 

deployment from Punta Arenas, Chile, researchers aboard NASA’s DC-8 airborne 

laboratory measured land and sea ice from above to continue building a record of 

change in the Antarctic. OIB also completed its seventh Arctic deployment in 

May 2015, conducting 33 flights comprising numerous science targets, such as the 

Arctic Basin and Jakobshavn Glacier, and collecting data over sea and land ice 

regions that have been evolving rapidly over the last decade.

Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 Studies Carbon Contribution to Climate Change

OCO-2 prime operations officially began in October 2014, and its first data were 

made available to the public in January 2015, as planned. The satellite gathers 

detailed global measurements of Earth’s carbon (around 100,000 measurements 

daily) to answer important questions about precisely where carbon is coming from 

and where it is being stored.
22Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

International Space Station–Rapid Scatterometer Measures Ocean Wind Speeds 

from Space

ISS-RapidScat, which launched on September 20, 2014, has been collecting 

data following its successful installation and activation on the exterior of the ISS’s 

Columbus module. RapidScat became the first science payload to be robotically 

assembled in space since the Space Station itself, as well as the first U.S. instrument designed and developed to operate from the exterior of the Station. It is 

measuring near-surface ocean wind speeds and direction in Earth’s low and middle 

latitudes during its two-year mission to support weather and marine forecasting—

including tracking storms and hurricanes—and climate studies.

Terra Satellite Tracks Super-Typhoon Hagupit

The 22nd tropical weather system (and 11th typhoon) of the year in the northwestern Pacific Ocean had the potential to be one of the most damaging of 2014. 

In early December 2014, Super-Typhoon Hagupit approached the Philippines as 

a major and slow-moving typhoon threatening to hit the islands with torrential 

rain and a large storm surge. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 

(MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired storm images, and local authorities 

evacuated hundreds of thousands of people in the lead-up to the storm. At the 

time, forecasters predicted Hagupit as a Category 5 super-typhoon with sustained 

winds of 155 knots (180 miles or 290 kilometers per hour) and the fourth Category 

5 typhoon of the year in the western Pacific. Forecasters issued the final advisory 

on Hagupit on December 11–12, 2014, as the Terra satellite tracked the storm’s 

center spinning down off the coast of southern Vietnam. NASA data proved 

instrumental in informing evacuation efforts.

Optical and Radar Satellites Support Gorkha Earthquake Relief Efforts

NASA data and expertise provided invaluable information for disaster relief 

efforts in the magnitude 7.8 Gorkha earthquake on April 25, 2015, in Nepal. The 

quake triggered a humanitarian crisis and significant regional damage. It was the 

strongest earthquake to occur in the vicinity since the 1934 magnitude 8.0 earthquake, which caused more than 10,000 fatalities. NASA and its partners developed 

products using optical and radar satellites to support analysis and assessment efforts. 
23Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Collectively, the partnership harnessed the best science available, ran models, created maps and tools, and disseminated results to key users to support near-real-time 

disaster response and recovery.

Cloud-Aerosol Transport System Measures Particulate and Aerosol Coverage Impacting 

Global Climate

In January 2015, CATS launched to the ISS to measure clouds and the location and distribution of pollution, dust, smoke, and other particulates and aerosols in the atmosphere using a light identification detection and ranging (lidar) 

system. Using CATS, scientists hope to create a better model of Earth’s climate 

feedback processes.

Soil Moisture Active Passive Satellite Launches to Align Models of Future Trends in 

Water Availability

Scientists view future water resources as a critical societal impact of climate 

change; scientific understanding of how such change may affect water supply and 

food production is crucial for policy makers. Climate model uncertainties have 

resulted in disagreement on whether there will be more or less water regionally 

compared to today. The SMAP satellite launched in January 2015. The six-meterdiameter antenna unfurled and deployed in late February. SMAP science operations began in April 2015. NASA released preliminary level 1 data in July, with 

a full beta set of preliminary calibrated geophysical products scheduled for release 

in FY 2016. SMAP data enable the alignment of climate models regarding future 

trends in water resource availability. On July 7, 2015, the SMAP active radar 

instrument ceased to operate, and all recovery efforts have been unsuccessful. The 

SMAP observatory and radiometer instrument continue to operate, routinely producing global soil moisture and ocean salinity data with 35-kilometer resolution.

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite Is Remarkably Long-Lived, Measuring 

Tropical Rainfall for 17 Years

The TRMM satellite, a joint project by the United States and Japan, reentered 

Earth’s atmosphere on June 15, 2015, over the southern Indian Ocean. Designed 

for a three-year life, the satellite produced valuable data for more than 17 years 
24Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

(1997 to 2015). TRMM became the first mission dedicated to measuring tropical and subtropical rainfall through microwave and visible infrared sensors, and it 

included the first spaceborne rain radar. By using a low-altitude orbit of 217 miles 

(350 kilometers), TRMM’s complement of instruments provided more accurate 

measurements than previously existed. These measurements increased scientists’ 

knowledge of how rainfall releases heat energy that drives atmospheric circulation.

Global Precipitation Measurement Produces First Global Rainfall and Snowfall Map 

for Global Precipitation Dataset

The GPM mission expands and improves on the TRMM legacy. GPM produced 

its first global map of rain- and snowfall from its initial months of data collection. 

By April 2015, the mission had produced the full planned suite of GPM individual 

and merged data products and made them available to researchers and the operational community. The foundation of the GPM mission is the Core Observatory 

satellite; data collected from the GPM Core Observatory serve as a reference standard to unify precipitation measurements from research and operational satellites 

launched by a consortium of GPM partners in the United States, Japan, France, 

India, and Europe. The GPM constellation of satellites observes precipitation over 

the entire globe every two to three hours. The GPM Core Observatory measured 

rain and snow using two science instruments: the GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) 

and the Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR). The GMI captured precipitation intensities and horizontal patterns, while the DPR provided insights into 

the three-dimensional structure of precipitating particles. Together, these two 

instruments provided a database of measurements against which partner satellites’ 

microwave observations can be meaningfully compared and combined to make a 

global precipitation dataset.

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on Programmatic and 

Technical Maturity

Scheduled for launch in 2017, the GRACE-FO Project successfully completed 

the final design of all instrument and spacecraft components. Most of the 

flight hardware has been manufactured, and all three of its science instruments 

(Microwave Instrument, Laser Ranging Interferometer, and Accelerometers) are 
25Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

completing final assembly and testing in preparation for delivery for spacecraft 

integration. GRACE-FO passed its Systems Integration Review (SIR) conducted in 

July 2015 and Key Decision Point–D in August 2015. NASA designed GRACE-FO 

to measure variations in gravity over Earth’s surface, producing a new map of the 

gravity field every 30 days to demonstrate how the planet’s gravity differs not only 

from one location to another, but also from one period of time to another.

Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System Develops Processes to Probe Hurricane 

Genesis and Intensification

CYGNSS successfully completed its Mission Critical Design Review and KDP-D 

in August 2015. CYGNSS consists of a constellation of microsatellites scheduled 

for launch in October 2016. The mission’s primary science goal is to better understand how and why hurricane winds intensify by probing key air-sea interaction 

processes taking place near the inner core of storms, which change rapidly and 

play significant roles in the genesis and intensification of hurricanes. CYGNSS 

measurements also may provide information to the hurricane forecast community.

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Will Provide Unique 3D View of Earth’s 

Forests to Study the Carbon Cycle

The GEDI lidar completed its successful KDP-B in August 2015. GEDI has been 

designed to be the first systematic probe of Earth’s forests from space. The system 

is one of two instrument proposals selected and started in September 2014 for 

NASA’s Earth Venture Instrument program.

Landsat-9 Project Extends Earth Observations Program to Half a Century

NASA and USGS initiated the Landsat-9 project in March 2015 with plans to 

launch no later than 2023. The Landsat program has provided accurate measurements of Earth’s land cover since 1972. Landsat satellite data have allowed ecologists to track deforestation in South America, water managers to monitor irrigation 

of farmland in the American West, and researchers to watch the growth of cities 

worldwide. The program’s open archive has helped firefighters to assess the severity 

of wildfires and scientists to map the retreat of mountain glaciers.
26Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and Ocean Ecosystems to Advance Understanding of

Marine Life Response to a Changing Climate

NASA initiated the PACE mission in December 2014, to be executed in a novel 

design-to-cost approach involving explicit iteration and balancing of mission capabilities, risks, schedule, and costs. Tentatively scheduled to launch in 2022, PACE 

has been designed to extend critical climate measurements of Earth’s oceans and 

atmosphere and address the uncertainty in our understanding of how clouds and 

small airborne particles called aerosols affect Earth’s climate.

NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Progresses Toward Goal of Unprecedented 

Look at Complex Earth Processes

This year, the joint NISAR satellite successfully completed its KDP-B review. 

Using NISAR, scientists hope to learn more about the evolution and state of 

Earth’s crust, better understand our planet’s processes and changing climate (manifested through phenomena like ecosystem disturbances and ice-sheet collapse), and 

aid future resource and hazard management during such disasters as earthquakes, 

tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.

NASA Announces Competition for Innovative Low- to Moderate-Cost Projects for 

Earth Venture

NASA released the solicitation for the Earth Venture Instrument–3 (EVI-3) 

in March 2015 and received proposals in June 2015, with selections expected in 

early 2016. NASA released the Earth Venture Mission–2 (EVM-2) Announcement 

of Opportunity in September 2015, with selections expected in September 2016. 

A part of NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder program, the Earth Venture 

program encourages investigations using cutting-edge instrumentation carried on 

airborne platforms, on small space missions, or as secondary instruments or hosted 

payloads on larger platforms.
27Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

NASA Sponsors Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment 

Science Education Program: Reflecting Commitment to Science, Technology, 

Engineering, and Mathematics

The GLOBE science and education program, created on Earth Day in 1995, 

connects students, teachers, and professional and citizen scientists with opportunities to participate in science data collection by conducting real, hands-on science 

in their local communities. NASA has been one of the proud sponsors of GLOBE 

since its inception. The 19th GLOBE annual meeting successfully adjourned in 

July 2015 after a week of discussions between the United States and international 

partners, as well as GLOBE teachers. A total of 223 students from 33 countries 

participated, including 29 U.S. students from Alaska, California, Colorado, Ohio, 

Michigan, and Texas.

Heliophysics Division

Heliophysics improves our understanding of fundamental processes of the sun, 

which is the major driver of energy in the solar system. The domain of heliophysics is 

vast, ranging from the interior of the sun, to the upper atmosphere of Earth, and outward to a region far beyond Pluto where the sun’s influence wanes against the forces 

of interstellar space. The sun periodically sends out powerful coronal mass ejections 

and flares that drive the aurora and powerful electric currents on Earth, inflate the 

Van Allen radiation belts, violently churn the ionosphere and uppermost layers of 

the atmosphere, and can disrupt our technologies and be harmful to astronauts.

The Heliophysics Division (HPD) had a fruitful 2015, including the successful 

launch of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission to study the little-understood 

magnetic reconnection phenomenon. Solar Probe Plus (SPP) achieved a key 

milestone in preparing for its upcoming visit to the sun’s atmosphere; Ionospheric 

Connection Explorer (ICON) completed a design review milestone for its imminent 

mission of an unprecedented look at how Earth weather impacts space weather; 

and Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) has been confirmed 

to enter its implementation phase as it prepares to study the atmospheric response 

to solar forcing. In addition, HPD conducted an external review of 11 CubeSat 

nanosatellite proposals and launched 21 sounding rockets providing low-cost science opportunities.
28Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Magnetospheric Multiscale Launches to Study Magnetic Reconnection Phenomenon

The MMS mission successfully launched in March 2015 and deployed all four 

observatories. Science operations began in September 2015, with an expected 

completion of September 2017. MMS consists of four identical spacecraft orbiting 

Earth through the dynamic magnetic system surrounding our planet to study a 

little-understood phenomenon called magnetic reconnection, which occurs when 

magnetic field lines cross and release a gigantic burst of energy that can be studied 

only in situ in our solar system and is most accessible in near-Earth space. MMS 

has already detected its first magnetic reconnection event.

Solar Probe Plus Successful Mission Critical Design Review Preparing to Visit Our 

Sun’s Atmosphere

The SPP project successfully conducted a Mission Critical Design Review in 

March 2015. SPP is designed to repeatedly sample the near-sun environment, revolutionizing our knowledge and understanding of coronal heating and the origin 

and evolution of the solar wind, as well as improving our ability to characterize and 

forecast the radiation environment for future space explorers.

ICON Confirmed for Implementation to Study How Earth Weather Impacts 

Space Weather

The ICON mission completed its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and 

has been confirmed to proceed to its implementation phase (KDP-C). ICON is 

designed to study the area where terrestrial weather meets space weather (or where 

the thermosphere and ionosphere overlap) by measuring how motions in the lower 

atmosphere get transmitted into space at a height of 360 miles for a view of what is 

happening from the lowest reaches of space up to 250 miles.

Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk Mission Moves to Implementation 

Phase as It Prepares to Study Atmospheric Response to Solar Forcing

The GOLD mission successfully completed its KDP-C and is confirmed to enter 

the implementation phase. GOLD is an imaging instrument designed to fly on 

a commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit to examine the 

response of the upper atmosphere to forcing from the sun, the magnetosphere, and 

the lower atmosphere.
29Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Sounding Rockets Provide Low-Cost, High-Risk Science Opportunities

In FY 2015, NASA launched 21 sounding rockets to help calibrate NASA’s Solar 

Dynamics Observatory (SDO) instruments, develop and test new instruments, and 

conduct experiments on Earth’s atmosphere. Since 1959, sounding rockets have 

proved cost-effective and time-efficient for testing instruments for satellites and 

spacecraft and providing information about the sun, stars, galaxies, and Earth’s 

atmosphere and radiation.

CubeSat Initiative Furthers Nanosatellite Technology While Attracting Students to 

STEM Disciplines

This year, the Heliophysics Division conducted an external review of 11 CubeSat 

(cube-shaped satellite) proposals received in response to the 2017/2018 Human 

Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate Exploration Mission–1 (EM-1) 

opportunity. NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) provides opportunities for 

nanosatellites (measuring approximately four inches long with a volume of about 

one quart and weighing about three pounds) to fly as auxiliary payloads on rockets 

planned for upcoming launches.

Planetary Science Division

Planetary science continues to expand our knowledge of the solar system, with 

missions to Earth’s Moon, other planets and their moons, asteroids and comets, 

and icy bodies of the outer solar system. Robotic exploration is NASA’s principal method of exploring the solar system and an essential precursor to human 

exploration of space. Ground-based observations and analysis of extraterrestrial 

materials supplement our space-based assets. Each progression—from flybys, to 

orbiting spacecraft, to landers and rovers, to sample return missions—advances 

our understanding of planetary bodies, the chemical and physical history of the 

solar system, and the conditions for sustaining life.

In FY 2015, the Planetary Science Division (PSD) saw the historic New Horizons 

flyby of Pluto that completed the initial reconnaissance of the major bodies in 

the solar system. During Comet Siding Spring’s once-in-a-lifetime, extremely close 

flyby of Mars, NASA spacecraft made atmospheric observations before and after 
30Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

the comet’s arrival to assess the comet’s impact on the planet’s atmosphere. The 

Dawn mission went into orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres to study the evolution 

of our solar system. NASA’s mission to Europa passed a key milestone toward its 

planned search for evidence of conditions suitable for life on Jupiter’s icy moon. 

The Mars 2020 rover successfully completed its KDP-B review and is one step closer 

to the investigation of Mars’s habitability. The Interior Exploration Using Seismic 

Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) project completed a review 

milestone toward its mission to drill deep beneath the Martian surface.

PSD also celebrated several mission milestones. MErcury Surface, Space 

ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) ended a successful 

four-year mission as the first orbiter of Mercury, impacting Mercury’s surface after 

finally running out of propellant. The unexpectedly long-lived Mars Odyssey completed a major milestone of 60,000 total orbits of Mars since arriving at the Red 

Planet in 2001. Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity completed the first extraterrestrial marathon (having traveled more than 26.2 miles since landing in 2004), 

and Mars Rover Curiosity sampled and analyzed sedimentary rocks that scientists 

believe formed in the presence of water.

From Mountains to Moons: Discoveries by New Horizons’ Historic Flyby of Pluto

NASA completed the goal of visiting of all of the major bodies in the solar 

system with the first-ever flyby of Pluto by New Horizons on July 14, 2015. NASA’s 

New Horizons mission made several discoveries, including icy mountains on Pluto 

and a new, crisp view of its largest moon, Charon. A new close-up image of an 

equatorial region near the base of Pluto’s bright, heart-shaped feature showed a 

mountain range made of ice, with peaks jutting as high as 11,000 feet (3,500 meters) 

above the surface. The mountains on Pluto likely formed no more than 100 million years ago—mere youngsters in a 4.56-billion-year-old solar system—making it 

one of the youngest surfaces we have ever seen in the solar system and suggesting 

that the close-up region, covering about one percent of Pluto’s surface, may still be 

geologically active today. NASA celebrated the flyby as one of the Agency’s most 

successful media operations, with Pluto images gracing the front pages of nearly 

450 newspapers worldwide on July 15 and appearing in more than 14,000 media 

reports from July 14 to 20. The Web site nasa.gov reported 18.5 million page views 
31Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

for July 13–15 alone. On social media, New Horizons tweets and replies made 

70 million impressions on Twitter; New Horizons/Pluto posts reached 144 million 

Facebook users; and all New Horizons posts across 21 social media platforms had 

a potential reach of 12.1 billion viewers. In the hour before the Pluto flyby, 42 percent of all Government Web traffic occurred at nasa.gov. New Horizons continues 

to perform well, remaining the top mission page on nasa.gov months after the 

flyby, with new images and data posted each week.

Very Close Encounters: Comet Siding Spring’s Once-in-a-Lifetime Flyby of Mars

Comet Siding Spring’s very close approach (within about 87,000 miles 

[139,500 kilometers]) to Mars took place on October 19, 2014. All Mars orbiters took 

precautions during the period of greatest risk from dust impacts while preserving 

opportunities to gather valuable scientific data and obtaining up-close observations 

of the comet flyby. Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) and Mars 

Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) made atmospheric observations before and after 

the comet’s arrival to assess the comet’s impact on the Martian atmosphere. Dust 

from the comet impacted Mars and vaporized high in the atmosphere, likely producing an impressive meteor shower. This debris resulted in significant temporary 

changes to the planet’s upper atmosphere and possible longer-term perturbations.

Dawn Mission Orbits Second Celestial Body to Study the Evolution of Our 

Solar System

In the first visit ever to a dwarf planet, the Dawn spacecraft went into orbit 

around the dwarf planet Ceres on March 6, 2015. Dawn is the first spacecraft 

to orbit two different bodies in our solar system. During its nearly decade-long 

mission, the Dawn mission has completed its study of the asteroid Vesta and is 

currently studying the dwarf planet Ceres; scientists hope to compare the different evolutionary paths each took and increase our knowledge of how the solar 

system formed. Vesta is a dry, differentiated object showing signs of resurfacing and 

resembling the rocky bodies of the inner solar system, including Earth. Ceres, by 

contrast, has a primitive surface containing water-bearing minerals and perhaps 

possessing a weak atmosphere, appearing to have many similarities to the large icy 

moons of the outer solar system.
32Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

MESSENGER Impacts Mercury’s Surface After Successful Four-Year Mission

After more than four years in orbit, the MESSENGER spacecraft impacted the 

surface of Mercury on April 30, 2015, ending its successful exploration of the previously never-orbited planet. Traveling at over 8,700 miles per hour (3.91 kilometers 

per second), the MESSENGER spacecraft collided with Mercury’s surface, creating 

a crater estimated at 52 feet (16 meters) in diameter. MESSENGER acquired over 

250,000 images and other extensive datasets during its mission. Among its many 

accomplishments, the MESSENGER mission determined Mercury’s surface composition, revealed its geological history, discovered that its internal magnetic field 

is offset from the planet’s center, and verified the composition of its polar deposits 

as dominantly water ice.

Europa Mission Prepares to Look for Conditions Suitable for Life

NASA announced instrument selections for a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa 

in May 2015. The Europa mission passed KDP-A in June 2015 and has proceeded 

into Phase A. The mission will investigate whether the mysterious icy moon could 

harbor conditions suitable for life. NASA’s Galileo mission yielded strong evidence 

that Europa, about the size of Earth’s moon, has an ocean beneath a frozen crust of 

unknown thickness.

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Confirms That Liquid Water Flows on Mars Today

In September 2015, NASA reported new findings from the MRO that provide 

the strongest evidence yet that liquid water flows intermittently on present-day 

Mars. Using an imaging spectrometer, researchers detected signatures of hydrated 

minerals on slopes with mysterious streaks, known as recurring slope lineae, that 

darken and appear to flow down steep slopes during warm seasons (when the temperature is above minus ten degrees Fahrenheit [–23 degrees Celsius]) and then fade 

in cooler seasons. Scientists suspect that the hydrated salts indicate the presence of 

a liquid brine. The hydrated salts would lower the freezing point of the brine, just as 

salt on roads here on Earth causes ice and snow to melt more rapidly. Scientists say 

that the water is likely a shallow subsurface flow, with enough water wicking to the 

surface to explain the darkening. Earlier in the year, MRO data revealed deposits 
33Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

of glass within impact craters on Mars, possibly preserving ancient signs of life and 

opening up a potential new strategy in the search for ancient Martian life.

Mars Exploration Rover Completes First Martian Marathon

On March 24, 2015, or Sol 3968, the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity 

passed the 26.2-mile mark, setting the record as the only vehicle ever to traverse 

a marathon on the surface of another world. Opportunity’s original three-month 

prime mission in 2004 yielded evidence of past Martian environments with liquid 

water soaking the ground and flowing on the Red Planet’s surface. As the rover 

continues to operate far beyond expectations for its lifespan, scientists chose the 

rim of Endeavour Crater as its long-term destination. Since 2011, examinations 

of Endeavour’s rim have provided information about ancient wet conditions less 

acidic and more favorable for microbial life than the environment found earlier in 

the mission.

Curiosity Detects Organic Molecules on Mars and Evidence of Ancient Lakes

Using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, NASA’s Curiosity 

rover made the first definitive detection of organic molecules and the first detection of nitrogen on Mars, both of which add to the evidence that ancient Mars 

could have supported life. Curiosity performed a multipart study of the variation 

of chemistry within sedimentary rocks on the surface of Mars using the turretmounted brush and Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS). The Pahrump Hills 

region contains sedimentary rocks that scientists believe formed in the presence 

of water. A new study from the team behind NASA’s Curiosity has confirmed that 

billions of years ago, Mars was capable of storing water in lakes over an extended 

period of time. Using data from the Curiosity rover, the team has determined that, 

long ago, water helped deposit sediment into Gale Crater, where the rover landed 

more than three years ago. The sediment was deposited as layers that formed the 

foundation for Mount Sharp, the mountain found in the middle of the crater today.

Mars 2020 Successful Gate Review: Toward Investigation of Red Planet Habitability

The Mars 2020 Rover mission successfully completed the KDP-B gate review. 

The Mars 2020 mission is a future rover designed to investigate key questions about 
34Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

the habitability of Mars, assess natural resources and hazards in preparation for 

future human expeditions to the Red Planet, and store a collection of rock and soil 

samples for potential return to Earth.

InSight Completes Project Review

The InSight project completed and passed its Systems Integration Review in 

February 2015. The InSight mission will place a lander on Mars designed to drill 

beneath the surface and investigate the planet’s deep interior using a seismometer 

and a heat-flow probe to better understand Mars’s evolution as a rocky planet.

Unanticipated Long Life of Mars Odyssey: Achieving 60,000 Orbits Around Mars

In June 2015, the unexpectedly long-lived Mars Odyssey completed the major 

milestone of 60,000 total orbits of Mars since arriving in 2001. The mission completed the first global map showing the amount and distribution of many chemical 

elements and minerals composing the Martian surface. Maps of hydrogen distribution led scientists to discover vast amounts of water ice in the polar regions 

buried just beneath the surface. Odyssey also recorded the radiation environment 

in low-Mars orbit to determine the radiation-related risk to any future human 

explorers who may one day travel to Mars. The Odyssey orbiter has also existed as 

a communications relay for the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, 

transmitting over 95 percent of the data from the rovers to Earth.

Astrophysics Division

SMD’s astrophysics missions explore the extreme physical conditions of the universe and study the building blocks of our own existence at the most basic level: 

the space, time, matter, and energy that created the universe. Our space telescopes 

have already measured the current age of the universe to be about 13.7 billion years 

and uncovered remarkable new phenomena, such as the mysterious dark energy 

dominating the universe; in the future, they will probe the origin and destiny of 

the universe, from the first moments after the Big Bang to black holes, dark energy, 

dark matter, and gravity. Our space missions use nearly the full electromagnetic 

spectrum to observe the cosmos in our efforts to understand the diversity of planets 
35Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

and planetary systems in our galaxy. We have confirmed the existence of over 

1,900 planets orbiting stars other than Earth’s sun and discovered thousands of 

candidate planets around other stars.

The Astrophysics Division had a successful 2015, with a salute to the breathtaking ongoing work of the Hubble Space Telescope—as it celebrated its 25th anniversary of revolutionizing astronomy—and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared 

Astronomy’s (SOFIA) continuing mission as Earth’s largest airborne observatory. 

The Kepler Space Telescope planet-hunting mission announced the discovery of 

the closest analog yet to an Earth-sun system, while the Chandra X-ray Observatory 

and Spitzer Space Telescope continued making ground-breaking observations 

of the universe. This year, the European Space Agency’s Laser Interferometer 

Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder, with NASA’s Disturbance Reduction System 

on board, arrived at its launch site; the ISS–Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass 

(CREAM) completed testing and arrived at Kennedy Space Center; and JAXA’s 

ASTRO-H observatory with NASA’s Soft X-ray Spectrometer completed integration and testing. All three should launch before the end of 2016 or early in 2017. 

NASA launched an around-the-world test flight of a super-pressure balloon.

Astrophysics also met several milestones: the division cleared the Transiting 

Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) for its next design phase toward its mission of 

the first all-sky survey of nearby exoplanets, and the Neutron star Composition 

and Interior Explorer (NICER) began integration and test activities geared toward 

a launch to the International Space Station. The Wide-Field Infrared Survey 

Telescope (WFIRST) had a successful pre-acquisition strategy meeting, and SMD 

announced the selection of three Small Explorer proposals and two Explorer 

Mission of Opportunity proposals for competitive Phase A studies. In addition, 

SMD updated the Astrophysics Implementation Plan to reflect NASA planning 

and priorities in December 2014.

Hubble Space Telescope: One of the Most Productive Scientific Instruments in History

The Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 25th anniversary in April 2015 with 

celebrations and public lectures. Hubble has made more than one million observations, and astronomers using Hubble data have published more than 12,000 scientific papers, making Hubble one of the most productive scientific instruments 
36Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

ever built. The telescope was initially tasked to measure the expansion rate of 

the universe, find very distant galaxies, and investigate black holes, but Hubble’s 

research has covered nearly every frontier in deep space astronomy: the expansion and acceleration rate of the universe, the apparent link between galaxy mass 

and central black hole mass, early galaxy formation shortly after the Big Bang, 

strange transient events in space, and the chemistry and potential habitability of 

planets orbiting other stars. Hubble has also provided a fascinating view of Earth’s 

own dynamic solar system, revealing colliding asteroids, showing changing aurorae 

and weather on planets and moons, and even enabling the detection of previously 

unknown moons.

Chandra Observes the Hot, Turbulent Regions of the “X-Ray Universe”

The Chandra X-ray Observatory viewed the largest x-ray flare ever detected 

from the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Chandra 

allows scientists from around the world to obtain unprecedented x-ray images and 

spectra of violent, high-temperature events and objects, helping us better understand the structure and evolution of our universe.

Spitzer’s Infrared Observations Peer into Hidden Cosmic Regions

The Spitzer Space Telescope confirmed the discovery of the nearest rocky exoplanet, HD 219134b, a mere 21 light-years away. Spitzer detects infrared radiation, 

which is primarily heat radiation. Spitzer’s highly sensitive instruments allow scientists to peer into cosmic regions hidden from optical telescopes, including dusty 

stellar nurseries, the centers of galaxies, and newly forming planetary systems, as 

well as cooler objects in space, like failed stars (brown dwarfs), extrasolar planets, 

giant molecular clouds, and organic molecules that may serve as signatures of life 

on other planets.

SOFIA Continues as Earth’s Largest Airborne Observatory

Following a successful heavy maintenance visit in late 2014 at Lufthansa 

Technik in Germany, the SOFIA Observatory conducted a successful six-week 

science deployment in the Southern Hemisphere while stationed at Christchurch, 

New Zealand, during the late spring/summer of 2015. SOFIA spent the rest of 2015 
37Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

conducting science missions from its home base in Palmdale, California. SOFIA is 

a modified Boeing 747SP and the largest airborne observatory in the world, capable 

of making observations impossible for even the largest and highest ground-based 

telescopes. SOFIA is used to study many different kinds of astronomical objects 

and phenomena, including star birth and death; the formation of new solar systems; 

the identification of complex molecules in space; planets, comets, and asteroids in 

our solar system; nebulae and dust in galaxies (ecosystems of galaxies); and black 

holes at the centers of galaxies.

Kepler Space Telescope Discovers Kepler 452b: Earth’s Bigger, Older Cousin

The Kepler Space Telescope discovered Kepler 452b, the closest analog yet to an 

Earth-sun system. The planet is characterized not as an Earth twin, but as Earth’s 

larger, older cousin. The Kepler planet-hunting mission surveyed a region of the 

Milky Way Galaxy to discover Earth-sized and smaller planets in or near the habitable zone—the region around a star in which planets with sufficient atmospheric 

pressure can support liquid water at their surfaces—and determine the fraction of 

the hundreds of billions of stars in our galaxy that might have such planets. With 

that survey completed, Kepler is continuing to search for rocky planets around 

other stars and to study planets in our solar system as well as distance galaxies.

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Pathfinder Tests Technology Required to Detect 

“Space Tremors”

The ESA LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, including the NASA Disturbance 

Reduction System (DRS) instrument, arrived at its launch site in August 2015. 

This technology demonstration mission is designed to test techniques needed for a 

future space-based gravitational wave detection observatory. Passing gravitational 

waves would ripple space and time, revealing their presence by altering the motion 

of a future observatory’s ultrasensitive detectors.

ASTRO-H Orbiting Observatory to Study Extreme Energetic Processes in the Universe

JAXA’s ASTRO-H spacecraft, including NASA’s contribution to the Soft X-ray 

Spectrometer (SXS) instrument and Soft X-ray Telescope, completed integration and environmental testing during 2015. ASTRO-H is a facility-class mission 
38Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

scheduled for launch in early 2016 into low-Earth orbit. The ASTRO-H mission 

objectives include tracing the growth history of the largest structures in the universe, providing insights into the behavior of material in extreme gravitational 

fields, determining the spin of black holes and the equation of state of neutron 

stars, tracing shock acceleration structures in clusters of galaxies, and investigating 

the detailed physics of jets.

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Cleared for Next Phase in Design as First All-Sky 

Survey for Nearby Exoplanets

In October 2014, TESS gained approval to proceed into the manufacturing 

and assembly phase. This marks a significant step for the TESS mission, which is 

designed to search the entire sky for nearby planets outside our solar system, known 

as exoplanets. TESS is expected to find more than 5,000 exoplanet candidates, 

including 50 Earth-sized planets, and a wide array of exoplanet types, ranging from 

small, rocky planets to gas giants. Some of these planets could be the right sizes—

and orbit at the correct distances from their stars—to potentially support life.

WFIRST Prepares for Investigation of Dark Energy, Galaxy Evolution, Exoplanets

WFIRST conducted a successful pre-acquisition strategy meeting in April 2015 

and delivered the final report of the WFIRST–Astrophysics Focused Telescope 

Assets (AFTA) Science Definition Team, including the Design Reference Mission, 

in March 2015. The goals for WFIRST include science objectives in exoplanet 

exploration, dark energy research, and galactic and extragalactic surveys. WFIRST 

is being designed to have a widefield camera for cosmology surveys and a coronagraph that masks the bright disk of a star so that faint planets near the star can 

be studied.

Neutron Star Composition and Interior Explorer Closer to Revealing the Physics of 

Neutron Stars: The Zombies of the Cosmos

NICER accepted delivery of all flight hardware in summer 2015 and should 

complete payload integration and testing by early 2016 for a 2017 launch. NASA 

selected NICER in 2014 not only to reveal the physics making neutron stars the 

densest objects in nature, but also to demonstrate a groundbreaking navigation 
39Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

technology that could revolutionize the Agency’s ability to travel to the far reaches 

of the solar system and beyond. Neutron stars have been called the zombies of the 

cosmos: they shine even though they are technically dead, and they occasionally 

feed on neighboring stars that venture too close.

ISS–Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass to Measure Cosmic Rays and Their Origin

ISS-CREAM completed integration and environmental testing and was then 

shipped to Kennedy Space Center in August 2015. ISS-CREAM is designed to be 

the first instrument to detect cosmic rays at the necessary higher energy ranges 

and over such an extended duration in space. Scientists hope to discover whether 

cosmic rays are accelerated by a single cause, believed to be supernovae.

Super-Pressure Balloons Maintain Constant Altitude at the Brink of Space

NASA demonstrated super-pressure balloon (SPB) capability with an aroundthe-world test flight in mid-latitudes from New Zealand in March–April 2015. 

NASA conducted additional zero-pressure balloon campaigns from New Mexico, 

Hawaii, and Antarctica. The SPB is designed to maintain a positive internal pressure and shape irrespective of its environment, keeping the balloon at a constant 

float altitude. NASA’s scientific balloons offer low-cost, near-space access for scientific payloads weighing up to 8,000 pounds for conducting scientific investigations 

in fields such as astrophysics, heliophysics, and atmospheric research.

Explorer Proposals Selected for Competitive Phase A Studies

SMD announced the selection of three Small Explorer proposals and two 

Explorer Mission of Opportunity proposals for competitive Phase A studies in 

July 2015. The Explorer series is designed to provide frequent, low-cost access 

to space using principal investigator–led space science investigations relevant to 

NASA’s astrophysics and heliophysics programs. The 5 Phase A studies selected 

included the Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources (PRAXyS); 

the Spectrophotometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, 

and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx); the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), 

the Galactic/Extragalactic Ultra-Long Duration Balloon (Gal/Xgal U/LDB) 
40Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Spectroscopic–Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory (GUSTO), and U.S. participation in JAXA’s LiteBIRD Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization Survey.

James Webb Space Telescope

A large infrared telescope with a 6.5-meter primary mirror, Webb is designed to 

cover longer wavelengths of light and have greatly improved sensitivity over that of 

the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as to significantly advance our understanding 

of the origin and destiny of the universe, the creation and evolution of the first 

stars and galaxies after the Big Bang, the formation of stars and planetary systems 

within the Milky Way Galaxy, and the characteristics of planetary systems, including our own.

Webb remains on schedule for launch in October 2018. The program achieved 

several important milestones during FY 2015, including completion of the second cryo-vacuum test of the integrated science instrument module, the first cryovacuum test of the Pathfinder Telescope, the flight telescope backplane and its 

delivery to Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), and the first annual user training in Webb data analysis at the Space Telescope Science Institute.

Joint Agency Satellite Division

In FY 2010, NASA established the JASD within SMD to manage satellite development work for other agencies on a fully reimbursable basis. JASD applies standard 

NASA project management processes to ensure mission success for our partners, 

with a focus on the efficient management of operational satellite acquisitions.

In FY 2015, JASD partnered with NOAA and the U.S. Air Force to launch the 

DSCOVR satellite to measure solar storms before they reach Earth. Four of the five 

instruments for the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-1 mission, which will 

provide for improved weather-forecasting efficiency and accuracy, successfully completed integration with the spacecraft. NASA, on behalf of NOAA, awarded a contract for the JPSS-2 spacecraft, the follow-on mission to JPSS-1. Additionally, the 

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R (GOES-R) spacecraft successfully completed thermal vacuum testing in anticipation of its upcoming launch.
41Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Deep Space Climate Observatory Satellite Positioned to Monitor and Warn of 

Potentially Harmful Solar Storms

The DSCOVR spacecraft successfully launched on February 11, 2015, and subsequently reached its orbit position (Lagrange point 1)—approximately one million 

miles away from Earth in the direction of the sun—giving the satellite a unique 

vantage point on the two bodies. From this location, the satellite is measuring solar 

storms before they reach Earth. After its commissioning was complete, NASA’s 

Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera on board DSCOVR returned its first view of 

the entire sunlit side of Earth from one million miles away. DSCOVR is a partnership between NOAA, NASA, and the U.S. Air Force designed to monitor and 

warn of harmful solar activity that could impact Earth. JASD completed the spacecraft’s Post-Launch Assessment Review in September 2015 in order to formally 

hand over the DSCOVR spacecraft to NOAA as the new operator. NOAA plans 

to operate and manage the spacecraft’s post-launch commissioning activities until 

it becomes fully operational and is able to replace the Advanced Composition 

Explorer (ACE) spacecraft that currently provides the space weather data to 

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

Joint Polar Satellite System 1 Sets the Groundwork for Improved Efficiency and 

Accuracy in Weather Forecasting

In 2015, the JPSS-1 satellite made significant progress by successfully completing its Mission System Integration Review and Mission Operations Review, setting the groundwork for the satellite’s mission of improving weather-forecasting 

efficiency and accuracy. JPSS is the restructured civilian portion of the National 

Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The system includes satellites and sensors supporting civil weather and climate measurements and a shared ground infrastructure with the Department of Defense weather 

satellite system.

GOES-R Completes Thermal Testing in Anticipation of Upcoming Launch

The GOES-R spacecraft successfully completed its Pre-Environmental Review 

in April 2015 and thermal vacuum testing in September 2015. GOES is a joint 

NASA-NOAA effort consisting of a series of four next-generation geostationary 
42Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

weather satellites designed to help meteorologists observe and predict weather 

events, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, fog, flash floods, and other severe 

weather. The first satellite of the GOES-R series is scheduled to launch in 2016.

Jason-3 to Monitor Earth’s Oceans and Predict Cyclone Intensity from the Vantage 

Point of Space

The Joint Altimetry Satellite Oceanography Network (Jason)–3 mission successfully completed its Operations Readiness Review and the spacecraft pre-ship 

review. The mission also successfully completed several launch-vehicle readiness 

reviews in preparation for an initially planned August 2015 launch date. However, 

the new launch readiness date has been pushed to January 2016, pending the outcome of the SpaceX CRS-7 launch failure investigation. Jason-3 continues a 23-year 

effort to monitor Earth’s global ocean: tracking sea-level rise, ocean heat content, 

and sea-surface height. Jason-3 is an international partnership led by NOAA 

with participation from NASA, France’s Centre National d’Études Spatiales 

(CNES), and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological 

Satellites (EUMETSAT).

International Cooperation Results in Meteorological Operational Satellite Program–C

The Meteorological Operational Satellite Program (MetOp)–C mission successfully completed an annual activation test on its payload module; the U.S.-provided 

instruments performed nominally. The payload module has been returned to storage until the launch readiness date, currently planned for October 2018. MetOp is a 

European meteorological satellite network (with MetOp-A and MetOp-B currently 

operating on orbit) and the result of multinational cooperation and teamwork.
43Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) implemented a new 

program structure in FY 2015 to align with the new ARMD strategic vision 

described in the FY 2014 NASA Strategic Plan. The restructured organization 

most effectively manages the research needed to address the six new strategic 

research thrusts: safe, efficient growth in global operations; innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft; ultra-efficient commercial vehicles; a transition to lowcarbon propulsion; real-time, systemwide safety assurance; and assured autonomy 

for aviation transformation. The new structure includes four programs committed to transforming aviation: the Airspace Operations and Safety Program, the 

Advanced Air Vehicles Program, the Integrated Aviation Systems Program, and 

the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program.

In FY 2015, NASA celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the organization 

from which NASA was created in 1958, marking the Agency’s long research 

heritage in advancing airframe and engine technologies. Many of the technological advances realized during the past fiscal year can trace their origins 

to lessons learned about aviation during the past century. More information is 

available online at http://www.nasa.gov/naca100 and http://www.nasa.gov/aero/

airplanes-or-langleys-and-other-tales-of-the-NACA.

Airspace Operations and Safety Program

During FY 2015, NASA contributed specific research and technology to enable 

the continued development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System 

(NextGen) and beyond and to address current and future safety risks.

Two NASA-developed software tools for helping the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) better manage air traffic through the National Airspace 

System (NAS) moved from concept to reality during FY 2015. One of these tools, 

Terminal Sequencing and Spacing (previously called TSS, now TSAS), helps air 

traffic controllers manage airspace within a doughnut-shaped region of sky that 

begins five miles from a major airport and extends outward about 35 miles and 
44Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

allows pilots to better use flight deck automation to fly fuel-efficient, optimizedprofile descents, which streamlines glide paths toward the runway, reducing fuel 

use and approach noise to an airport. TSAS safely permits more flights to merge 

together at a point where they can be cleared for final approach and landing. The 

FAA and NASA completed an operational integration assessment of the tool in 

May 2015 at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center. The FAA received 

a final investment decision for the program, meaning that the agency intends to 

deploy the capability in the NAS beginning with nine major airports located in 

Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Denver, 

and Los Angeles between 2018 and 2022. More information is available online 

at http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-developed-air-traffic-management-toolflies-into-use. The other tool, Airborne Spacing for Terminal Arrival Routes 

(ASTAR), gives pilots specific speed information and guidance so that planes can 

be more precisely spaced, enabling pilots to fly a “follow the leader” approach to 

their destination airport. This type of approach would minimize flightpath deviations, allow more efficient use of existing airspace, and possibly reduce noise over 

communities surrounding airports—all of which could lead to reductions in commercial flight delays. NASA tested the software on the Boeing ecoDemonstrator 

787 Test Airplane as part of the Boeing Company’s ecoDemonstrator Program. 

During the flight tests, a NASA engineer operated ASTAR on a laptop in the 

rear of the aircraft. As a second aircraft flew in front of the ecoDemonstrator 787, 

ASTAR computed and displayed the speed required to follow safely behind. The 

engineer then communicated those speed commands to the ecoDemonstrator 

787 pilots. This demonstration is part of the lead-up to flight trials for the Air 

Traffic Management Technology Demonstration #1 expected in 2017. More 

information is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/december/

nasa-tests-software-that-may-help-increase-flight-efficiency-decrease-aircraft/.

A third tool, known as Traffic Aware Planner (TAP), helps air carriers save 

time and reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. During FY 2015, Virgin 

America and Alaska Airlines adopted the tool for testing by their pilots during 

the next three years. TAP connects directly to the aircraft avionics information 

hub on the aircraft and reads the current position and altitude of the aircraft, 

its flight route, and other real-time information that defines the plane’s current 
45Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

situation and active flight plan. Then, it automatically looks for a variety of route 

and/or altitude changes that could save fuel or flight time and displays those solutions directly to the flight crew. TAP also can connect with the plane’s Automatic 

Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver and scan the ADS-B signals of nearby air traffic to avoid potential conflicts in any proposed flightpath 

changes, making it easier for air traffic controllers to approve a pilot’s route change 

request. More information is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/

nasa-developed-technology-aims-to-save-commercial-airlines-fuel-time.

Also during FY 2015, NASA continued its research in the phenomenon of ice 

crystal icing conditions at high altitude. When ice crystals hit warm aircraft engines, 

they start to melt and evaporate, cooling the engine core surfaces to temperatures 

below freezing. The cooling engine causes the melted ice crystal water to refreeze, 

and ice accumulates inside the engine core, which may cause temporary power loss 

or engine blade damage. During the month of August, NASA’s DC-8 completed 

flights in Florida aimed at collecting data on high-altitude crystals for the High 

Ice Water Content (HIWC) mission. The campaign collected almost 72 hours of 

in-flight meteorological and radar data associated with adverse weather and thunderstorms. This NASA-led research campaign, which also involved the FAA, the 

Boeing Company, and other industry partners, recorded both instrumented weather 

and standard radar data as the plane flew in known HIWC conditions, and, then, 

it saw if a potential HIWC radar signature could be identified by comparing the 

data. Researchers plan to use the data to develop technology that can be used on 

board commercial aircraft to avoid high-ice-water-content conditions and provide a 

safer flight for passengers. More information is available online at http://www.nasa.

gov/aero/nasa-completes-high-ice-water-content-radar-flight-campaign-in-florida.

Public attention to unmanned aircraft systems and their growing presence in 

the NAS stimulated widespread interest in a conference cohosted by NASA and 

held during July 2015 in California. The three-day Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

(UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) convention brought together a domestic and 

international audience of representatives from Government and academia, as well 

as the aviation, agriculture, and film industries, among others. Through discussions held at this conference, and with others, NASA worked toward developing a 

well-coordinated plan for incorporating UTM operations into the NAS to inform 
46Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

regulatory actions taken in the future by the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Then, in late August, NASA’s UTM project successfully completed its Build 1 

Demonstration flight test. Objectives included demonstration of UTM capabilities/

procedures, navigation performance, and aircraft tracking. The project collected 

data on noise signatures and observations for weather models.

Advanced Air Vehicles Program

The Agency kicked off the calendar year at a public forum in Florida in which 

NASA shared results from the previous spring’s second round of Alternative Fuel 

Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS II) research flights. Forum 

attendees included many of the 24 member nations that make up the International 

Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR). Several IFAR members partnered with 

NASA for the ACCESS II research. It was the first time NASA was able to brief 

IFAR members since project researchers had announced initial results the previous 

September. The ACCESS II campaign used NASA’s DC-8, burning biofuel and 

Jet-A, and aircraft from two partner nations, Germany and Canada, to fly sampling missions. The campaign also completed ground sampling of emissions from 

an idling DC-8. Data from this ACCESS II test, as well as from predecessor tests, 

are publicly available online at https://aero-fp.larc.nasa.gov. More information is 

available online at http://www.nasa.gov/aero/nasa-reports-alternative-jet-fuel-researchresults.html.

In FY 2015, NASA completed a set of performance milestones in commercial 

supersonic aircraft research that represent the culmination of more than six years 

of work by a multi-Center NASA team, supported by U.S. partners in industry 

and academia. The work delivered new computational tools and design approaches 

that have created a breakthrough capability to design supersonic aircraft adept at 

flying overland without creating annoying sonic-boom noise. These tools can fully 

simulate the supersonic flow around an aircraft, including details of the flow and 

the sonic-boom shock wave that are affected by the engine inlet and nozzle. Wind 

tunnel testing validated the analysis tools in a variety of facilities. The tools and 

design approaches have been transferred to NASA’s U.S. industry partners and 

applied in the successful conceptual design of small supersonic civil airliners and a 
47Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

subscale low-boom X-plane that could be used to demonstrate the acceptability of 

low-boom supersonic flight over land.

In support of this ongoing development of commercial supersonic technology, 

NASA continued its efforts related to another challenging environmental problem 

for commercial supersonic vehicles—propulsion noise generated while the vehicle 

is at the airport. In FY 2015, NASA developed models of the types of advanced 

nozzles needed for a small, low-boom aircraft to predict the noise generated by the 

propulsion system. Future testing should validate the accuracy of these models. 

Additionally, industry and university research studies complemented these efforts 

to further address sonic-boom propagation, nozzle noise, and high-altitude emissions from supersonic jets. More information is available online at http://www.nasa.

gov/press-release/nasa-invests-in-future-of-aviation-with-supersonic-research-projects.

In FY 2015, NASA also completed testing on an advanced, hybrid wing body aircraft configuration that has significant potential to be more efficient in flight—dramatically reducing needed fuel. The configuration also included mounted engines 

located on top of the vehicle rather than below the wing as is done currently. 

NASA completed this testing in the National Transonic Wind Tunnel at NASA 

Langley Research Center in Virginia in partnership with another Government 

agency and an airframe manufacturer. Additionally, in FY 2015, NASA completed 

the designs for significantly enhanced optical access ports for the 11-foot and 9- by 

7-foot (9×7) Wind Tunnels at Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. 

Key components have been acquired, and, when complete, the visibility into the 

wind tunnel test sections should greatly enhance understanding of the flows affecting the models of next-generation, highly fuel-efficient aircraft.

Because lighter-weight aircraft are generally more fuel-efficient than heavier 

ones, NASA is investing in advancing lightweight composite materials for aircraft. 

In FY 2015, NASA made advances in bringing computational modeling and prediction capabilities to bear on the challenge of fully exploiting the potential of these 

composite materials. Specifically, NASA conducted detailed testing and inspection 

of various types of damage that may affect composite structures and is preparing 

to compare these data with calculated predictions of such damage. The ability to 

predict how such damage may occur and progress would enable more confidence 

in the use of composite materials in advanced aircraft design and manufacturing.
48Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Working toward ultra-efficient vehicles also requires the advancement of 

technologies to address other environmental factors, such as noise. In the area of 

vertical-lift (rotorcraft) vehicles, in FY 2015, NASA conducted flight tests using 

a pair of helicopters to validate a computer-based model known as Fundamental 

Rotorcraft Acoustic Modeling for Experiments (FRAME), which predicts when 

and where rotorcraft noise might become a problem as the vehicle flies in different 

conditions and altitudes. Results of the flight testing enabled the validation of 

this prediction tool, which in turn should enable onboard tools and techniques 

to allow helicopter pilots to adjust their flight profiles based on readily available 

information on how the noise signature is hitting the ground. More information 

is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/langley/nasa-researcher-develops-modelthat-could-quiet-down-noisy-helicopters and http://www.nasa.gov/langley/feature/

nasa-langley-honored-for-landmark-contributions-to-vertical-flight.

In FY 2015, NASA conducted research in hybrid gas-electric propulsion system 

concepts that could enable very-low- or nearly no-carbon emission propulsion. 

Detailed design began for the first fully superconducting machine (with both a 

superconducting rotor and stator) at power levels of interest to designers of aircraft. This 0.75-megawatt machine is based on a heritage Air Force rotor and 

NASA-designed stator. Additionally, NASA established feasibility for achieving 

substantially high efficiencies and power densities in nonsuperconducting motors, 

which hold potential for hybrid gas-electric aircraft without the need for cryogenics. NASA also completed laying the foundation for two new test bed capabilities. 

The first, located at Armstrong Flight Research Center, is designed to investigate 

the power and control design and integration challenges associated with a onemegawatt hybrid electric vehicle. The second, located at Glenn Research Center, 

is designed to provide the capability to test megawatt-class electric drive systems.

At the end of FY 2015, NASA collaborated with the German Aerospace 

Center (DLR) by supplying several key measurement instruments for the DLR’s 

Emissions and Climate Impacts of Alternative Fuels (ECLIF) experiments. NASA 

has designed and installed an exhaust sampling system and provided detailed 

particle emission characterization measurements for the ground tests, the results 

of which should help interpret the airborne observations and validate a model 

to predict cruise emissions from engine certification measurements. Under this 
49Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

activity, NASA placed instruments about 100 feet (30 meters) behind a parked 

DLR Airbus 320. These instruments then measured the exhaust from the jet as 

it burned eight different types of standard and alternative fuels that contained 

varying amounts of aromatic compounds and sulfur impurities. Emissions covering a total of about nine hours of ground-based jet engine operations were 

sampled, and the data were recorded and analyzed as part of NASA’s contribution to the German-led effort. Data analysis is getting under way, but preliminary results appear consistent with those from ACCESS-II and indicate that 

fuels with reduced aromatic and sulfur content produce lower particle emissions. 

ECLIF data should help confirm and supplement information gathered during 

NASA’s own research with the Alternative Aviation Fuel Experiment (AAFEX) 

activities in 2009 and 2011 and during the ACCESS flight research campaigns in 

2013 and 2014. More information is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/aero/

nasa-instruments-head-to-germany-for-alternative-fuels-research.

Integrated Aviation Systems Program

During FY 2015, NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project concluded its final year with eight successfully completed Integrated Technology 

Demonstrations that enable industry to build advanced, ultra-efficient commercial 

vehicles. For airplanes flying in the 2020–25 timeframe, NASA research is aimed 

at cutting fuel use in half, reducing emissions up to 75 percent during takeoff and 

landing, and quieting aircraft noise by 42 decibels below current standards.

Two of these demonstrations took place this year aboard Boeing’s 

ecoDemonstrator 757 flying laboratory. The first studied how small jets embedded in an aircraft’s vertical tail and blowing air over its surfaces could provide 

enough force to safely allow smaller tails on future aircraft designs, resulting in 

saved weight, reduced drag, and a decrease in fuel usage of up to 0.5 percent—

a small number that quickly adds up to big savings. The project tested active 

flow control technology during six flights in a variety of configurations and 

flight conditions—including simulated engine failures—which appeared to 

work as expected, duplicating the results of wind tunnel tests conducted in 
50Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

2013. More information is available online at http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/

nasa-wraps-up-first-green-aviation-tests-on-boeing-ecodemonstrator.

The second demonstration studied how well special coatings worked to prevent 

sticky bug residue from building up on the leading edge of an airplane wing and 

increasing drag. Fewer remains would smooth airflow and help reduce fuel consumption. NASA and Boeing engineers made 15 flights into bug-filled skies near 

Shreveport Regional Airport testing nonstick wing coatings. Although more testing 

needs to be done, one of the five coatings tested showed promising results by reducing bug counts and residue about 40 percent. More information is available online 

at http://www.nasa.gov/langley/nasa-tests-aircraft-wing-coatings-that-slough-bug-guts.

Ever-increasing levels of automation and autonomy are transforming aviation. 

Safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems—colloquially known as drones—

into the National Airspace System requires research in multiple areas, including 

communications, human-machine interfaces, sense-and-avoid, and separation 

assurance. NASA’s aeronautical innovators addressed each of these areas during 

FY 2015. In May 2015, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics–Special 

Committee 228 (RTCA-SC228) held working group meetings in Washington, DC, 

at which NASA’s UAS in the NAS project representatives participated. The special committee is responsible for developing Minimum Operational Performance 

Standards (MOPS) for flying UAS in the NAS. NASA researchers provided 

input including data, analysis, and recommendations based on integrated flight 

tests involving both simulated and live vehicles traversing airspace and interacting with other aircraft. Section areas briefed for the committee’s report included 

guidance, alerting, human-machine interface, aircraft performance, terminology, 

system-specific performance requirements, and equipment test procedures. The 

Preliminary MOPS incorporated this information, which the RTCA Program 

Management Council approved in FY 2015.

UAS activity for FY 2015 wrapped up with the successful demonstration of a 

prototype Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) system using NASA’s remotely piloted Ikhana 

aircraft. Ikhana made 11 flights over the California high desert involving more 

than 200 scripted encounters with approaching aircraft. Depending on the specific 

scenario, either Ikhana detected one or more approaching aircraft and sent an 

alert to its remote pilot to take action, or Ikhana itself took action on its own by 
51Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

flying a programmed maneuver to avoid a collision—an aviation first. The DAA 

research, designated FT3 (for third in a series of flight test campaigns for NASA’s 

UAS Integration in the NAS project), relied on three sensors that included a 

prototype radar, an ADS-B, and a second-generation Traffic alert and Collision 

Avoidance System (TCAS). As its name implies, TCAS keeps an electronic eye 

on the sky immediately surrounding an airplane and alerts the pilot to take action 

if another airplane with a similar device flies too close. Knowledge gleaned from 

the data recorded during this third phase of UAS-NAS flight tests should not only 

help researchers plan the next phase of flight tests targeted for FY 2016, but also 

help inform organizations developing UAS-related operating standards, including 

the RTCA-SC228.

Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program

Safety is the highest priority in aviation, so the quest for reducing risk in the 

air is never-ending. An example of NASA’s devotion to anticipating and resolving 

potential safety issues dealt with the presence of volcanic ash in the atmosphere 

and its effects on engine health. During FY 2015, the Vehicle Integrated Propulsion 

Research (VIPR) project chose to use volcanic ash for the final phase of a threephase study of an engine health–monitoring system. Atmospheric particulates have 

become of interest to military and civil aviation authorities that have to assess the 

airworthiness of engines encountering ash. Eruptions in Iceland during the past 

five years, especially in 2010, disrupted air traffic worldwide and cost airline companies more than $1 billion due to cancelled or rerouted flights. The new healthmonitoring sensors detect the degradation caused by the volcanic ash, quantify 

the significance of the event, and aid in identifying which engine components 

might require maintenance. To reduce risk, the VIPR project conducted tests on 

the ground under controlled conditions. More information is available online at 

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/engine_health_monitoring.html.
52Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Space Technology Mission Directorate

The Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) made significant progress 

toward advancing NASA’s current and future deep space exploration missions. In 

order to enable and enhance the Agency’s capabilities, investments focused primarily in eight key thrust areas: 1) In-Space Propulsion; 2) High Bandwidth Space 

Communications; 3) Advanced Life Support and Resource Utilization; 4) Entry, 

Descent, and Landing (EDL) Systems; 5) Space Robotic Systems; 6) Lightweight 

Space Structures; 7) Deep Space Navigation; and 8) Space Observatory Systems. 

STMD manages nine major technology development programs performed at 

each of NASA’s ten Centers. STMD plays a key role in NASA’s contribution to 

the Nation’s innovation economy through involvement in several national initiatives, including the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership and the National 

Robotics Initiative.

In FY 2015, STMD fostered 61 activities with 42 other Government agencies 

and ten activities with 14 international organizations. STMD also evaluated over 

2,500 proposals and funded over 650 new selections for awards investing over $200 

million. A few of the notable achievements in FY 2015 included the following:

Technology Demonstration Missions

Low Density Supersonic Decelerator

The Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) crosscutting demonstration 

mission successfully conducted its second full-scale flight test of a rocket-powered, 

saucer-shaped vehicle in near-space on June 8, 2014, from the U.S. Navy’s Pacific 

Missile Range Facility on Kauai, Hawaii. Following up on the earlier test flight, 

FY 2015’s flight served as a crucial milestone for proving two key technologies for 

landing future robotic and human missions on the surface of Mars: the Supersonic 

Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD) and the Supersonic Ringsail parachute. At 180,000 feet and supersonic speeds of about Mach 3, the SIAD, a large 

doughnut-shaped air brake, deployed flawlessly during the flight and began to slow 

the vehicle. The state-of-the-art supersonic parachute—at 100 feet in diameter, 

the largest parachute ever flown—appeared to blossom to full inflation prior to 
53Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

the emergence of a tear, which then destroyed the parachute’s canopy. The team 

recovered all the vehicle hardware and data recorders for analysis.

Solar Electric Propulsion

NASA’s Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) project is developing critical technologies to enable cost-effective access across the inner solar system to destinations such 

as Mars and asteroids. SEP technology can also support more affordable missions 

for commercial and Government operations in Earth orbit. The system uses energy 

collected by large solar-cell arrays that convert it to electrical power. The electrical 

power drives extremely fuel-efficient thrusters that provide gentle but continuous 

thrust throughout the mission. Previously, ATK Aerospace and Deployable Space 

Systems, working with NASA, completed ground testing of large, high-power 

solar arrays that can be stowed into small, lightweight packages for launch. One 

of these concepts has already been adopted for use on commercial satellites. In 

FY 2015, the SEP team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center successfully tested a new 

12.5-kilowatt Hall thruster throughout its full performance envelope. This electric 

thruster employs magnetic shielding that enables it to operate continuously for 

years, a capability needed for deep space exploration missions.

Green Propellant Infusion Mission

NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) made progress toward 

launching a spacecraft designed to test the unique attributes of a high-performance, 

nontoxic, “green” fuel on orbit next year. The propellant, a hydroxyl ammonium 

nitrate–based fuel/oxidizer mix also known as AF-M315E, may replace the highly 

toxic hydrazine and complex bipropellant systems in use today, providing enhanced 

performance and volumetric efficiency. In FY 2015, GPIM prime contractor Ball 

Aerospace & Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colorado, integrated the green propellant propulsion subsystem less than two weeks after receiving it from Aerojet 

Rocketdyne in Redmond, Washington. The propulsion subsystem is the primary 

payload on the mission’s spacecraft—a Ball Configurable Platform 100 small 

satellite. System performance and environmental testing has already begun, and 

launch to low-Earth orbit in partnership with the U.S. Air Force is scheduled for 

early 2017.
54Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Deep Space Atomic Clock

The Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) project continued advancing toward its 

test flight next year, completing a Critical Design Review and KDP-D. The project 

completed clock integration as well as functional and performance testing, vibration testing, and thermal vacuum testing. The full payload testing is under way, 

and launch as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Test Program (STP)–2 mission 

aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy booster is expected in early 2017. Surrey Satellite 

Technologies U.S. of Englewood, Colorado, is providing a spacecraft to host the 

DSAC demonstration unit and payload.

Laser Communication Relay Demonstration

The Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) project also continued to surpass developmental milestones on its way to conduct ground technology 

validation testing in 2017 and will fly as a commercial satellite payload in 2019. 

Ground Modem #1 successfully demonstrated optical communication with the 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory, and the assembly of Ground Modem #2 was completed.

Game Changing Development

The Game Changing Development (GCD) program engaged industry, students, 

members of the public, and stakeholders across a variety of technical areas, producing over 220 publications and presenting at 65 conferences in FY 2015.

Next Generation Life Support

The Next Generation Life Support (NGLS) project seeks to develop key 

life-support technologies that will enable critical capabilities to extend human 

presence beyond low-Earth orbit into the solar system. In FY 2015, the project 

successfully developed two portable life-support system technologies—the Rapid 

Cycle Amine unit and Variable Oxygen Regulator—for the next-generation extravehicular mobility unit, which will be infused in HEOMD’s Advanced Exploration 

Systems demonstrations.
55Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

High-Performance Thermal Protection Systems

In FY 2015, GCD successfully developed and matured the 3-Dimensional 

Multifunctional Ablative Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) (3D-MAT) for use 

in spacecraft heat shields. The 3D woven composite has pushed state-of-the-art 

manufacturing to new levels, yielding tailored materials that can be both structure 

and thermal protection system. The technology has been infused into the baseline design of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle as the compression pads, the 

interface between the crew module and service module for the EM-1 flight planned 

for 2018.

Thermal Systems

During the course of FY 2015, GCD’s Phase Change Material (PCM) Heat 

Exchanger (HX) project set out to design and develop large-scale PCM heat 

exchangers for future exploration vehicles. As missions move beyond low-Earth 

orbit, human spacecraft orbiting the moon or Mars will need some form of supplemental heat rejection to accommodate cyclical heat loads. In partnership with 

Mezzo Technologies in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and UTC Aerospace Systems in 

Windsor Locks, Connecticut, GCD developed and fabricated advanced PCM HXs 

for flight demonstration on the International Space Station in 2016. The PCM HX 

feeds into the thermal control system design for Orion.

Human Robotic Systems

This project develops advanced robotic technology to amplify human productivity and reduce mission risk by improving the effectiveness of human-robot teams. 

Key technologies include human-robot interaction, robotic assistance, and surface 

mobility systems. In FY 2015, Human Robotic Systems (HRS) designed and fabricated a prototype rover in support of HEOMD’s Resource Prospector project. 

This mission, currently planned to fly in 2020, should demonstrate prospecting 

and processing volatiles (potentially water ice trapped below the surface) from 

lunar regolith.
56Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Technology Transfer 

Research (STTR)

NASA awarded 532 proposals for a total of $166.9 million in FY 2015. 

Specifically, NASA selected 332 SBIR and 50 STTR Phase I proposals for award 

to 327 U.S. small businesses to establish the scientific, technical, and commercial 

feasibility of the proposed innovation. In addition, NASA made 129 SBIR and 

21 STTR Phase II awards to further expand upon their Phase I work. Furthermore, 

the Commercialization Readiness Program (CRP) awarded 17 CRP contracts for 

$5.4 million in FY 2015. SBIR/STTR CRP investment to date totals $9 million. 

A few highlights from FY 2015 awardees include the following: PC Krause and 

Associates has developed technology to enable dynamic modeling of the N+3 generation aircraft, investigation of aircraft configurations, estimation of mass and 

efficiency, and fault/stability assessment. Busek Company, Inc., matured propulsion 

technologies to support future CubeSat and other space exploration missions. The 

Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology Project (HEEET) matured 

Bally Ribbon Mills’ 3D woven thermal protection system material for demanding 

future entry/reentry missions. Creare, Inc., worked on developing and demonstrating the fabrication processes for a prototype heat exchanger module for a 20-kelvin, 

20-watt cryocooler to enable future science missions.

Small Spacecraft Technology Program

This program has been preparing for demonstration missions related to all of its 

current flight projects. The Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration 

project launched one CubeSat on October 8, 2015, and plans for two more in June 

2016. In FY 2015, SSTP completed spacecraft integration and pre-flight testing 

for the Integrated Solar Array Reflectarray Antenna satellite for advanced communications as well as the CubeSat Proximity Operations Demonstrator that will 

attempt autonomous rendezvous and docking. The program has been formulating a series of future CubeSat missions to demonstrate propulsion capabilities. In 

FY 2015, the program completed 11 university-NASA collaboration projects and 

selected eight new projects for 2016–17. Two of the earlier projects developed satellites that were selected for NASA-sponsored launches.
57Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Flight Opportunities

The Flight Opportunities Program flew 29 technology payloads over the course 

of five parabolic and eight suborbital reusable launch vehicle (sRLV) test flights 

in FY 2015. Among the technologies tested, Masten Space Systems flew the Jet 

Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Fuel Optimal and Accurate Landing System Test 

Flights (FOALS). FOALS progressed one step closer to the Mars 2020 mission. 

Another successful test flight included UP Aerospace Corporation’s launch of 

SpaceLoft-9 with four payloads, including a Montana State University project 

designed to mature the technology readiness level of a radiation-tolerant, reconfigurable computer system. The Flight Opportunities Program also selected 

six technologies for flight demonstration grants through the STMD Research, 

Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2014 (REDDI-2014) NASA Research 

Announcement (NRA) and on-ramped New Space Corporation as a new flight 

provider under the Agency’s indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ2) contract. The program also released a call for sRLV and nanolauncher public-private 

partnership opportunities.

Space Technology Research Grants

The Space Technology Research Grants Program has funded research at 95 

universities across 42 states with a total of 357 grants since its inception. Some 

highlights from FY 2015 include the following:

• Erik Komendera, a researcher from the University of Colorado Boulder, 

demonstrated autonomous assembly of 2D titanium trusses using intelligent precision, jigging robots, laser sensing, and welding.

• Christopher Combs, a researcher from the University of Texas at Austin, 

acquired quantitative images of the transport of the ablation products in 

a supersonic turbulent boundary layer on a scaled Orion Multi-Purpose 

Crew Vehicle–shaped model; NASA is using these data for computational 

fluid dynamics validation.

• The European Space Agency recently demonstrated MIT researcher 

Dustin Kendrick’s work on a countermeasure skin suit on an ISS mission.
58Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

• Eric Stern, a researcher from the University of Minnesota, developed a 

revolutionary and unique means of characterizing internal fluid dynamic 

and thermochemical processes of porous TPS materials.

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) made 15 Phase I and seven 

Phase II awards across industry, academia, and NASA Centers while completing 12 Phase I and six Phase II studies. One example of a NIAC success story in 

FY 2015 is 2013 Fellow Dr. Chris Walker, a professor at the University of Arizona. 

Walker’s research in creating a pressurized balloon mirror inside a weather balloon 

has enabled astrophysics above 99 percent of the atmosphere without the cost of a 

spacecraft. This project has received multiple follow-on grants and contracts from 

NASA and the Department of Defense.

Centennial Challenges

The Centennial Challenges Program conducted a record four competition 

events in FY 2015 and awarded prize money in each, a first for the program. 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute hosted the fourth year of the Sample Return 

Robot Challenge in June. The purpose is to demonstrate robots that can locate 

and retrieve geologic samples from a wide and varied terrain without human control or terrestrial navigation aids. West Virginia University met two of the Level 2 

requirements and received a $100,000 award. Fifteen teams competed in the first 

year of the Mars Ascent Vehicle Challenge. Teams are challenged to develop 

an autonomous robotic system that can load a sample into a rocket, launch to a 

predetermined altitude, and safely return the sample container to Earth. North 

Carolina State University won first place ($25,000), and Tarleton State University 

won second ($15,000). The program conducted the first Ground Tournament 

(GT-1) of the Cube Quest Challenge in August. The purpose of the challenge is 

to design, build, and launch flight-qualified, small satellites capable of advanced 

operations near and beyond the moon. Thirteen teams participated in GT-1; 

five teams won $20,000 each. The program conducted the 3-D Printed Habitat 
59Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Challenge in September. The purpose of the challenge is to advance the additive 

construction technology to create sustainable housing on Earth and beyond. This 

challenge received over 165 entries and awarded the top three entries at the Maker 

Faire in New York in September. The first-place winner, Team Space Exploration 

Architecture and Clouds Architecture Office, received $25,000. The second-place 

winner, Team Gamma (Foster + Partners), received $15,000. Team LavaHive (ESA 

European Astronaut Centre and LIQUIFER Systems Group) won third place.
60Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

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61Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Department of Def

DOD

Aeronautics Activities

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

The Department of Defense (DOD) continued flight test evaluations of the 

three F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) variants: the F-35A conventional takeoff and 

landing, the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing, and the F-35C aircraft carrier variant. The first separation test of a Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)–39 Small 

Diameter Bomb (SDB) from an F-35A occurred on October 21, 2014. Block 3F 

flight testing began on July 10, 2015. Also, DOD completed Block 2B weapons testing, Block 3i weapons testing, and 25-millimeter internal gun firing tests (ground 

only) during FY 2015. The Marine Corps declared Initial Operational Capability 

(IOC) for the F-35B on July 31, 2015.

The Navy’s F-35C carrier aircraft completed its second sea trials and the fifth 

sea-based test event aboard the USS George Washington in October of 2015. The 

Navy successfully completed three test events aboard L-Class aircraft carriers by 

the F-35B and two by the F-35C. The F-35B and F-35C represent a new frontier for 

naval aviation, integrating a stealth aircraft with an aircraft carrier.

The international community has shown strong support for the F-35. The Final 

Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility in Cameri, Italy, rolled out its first two 

aircraft during 2015, resulting in Italy’s and Norway’s first F-35As.

During FY 2015, F-15C/E Eagles served in the U.S. Central Command theater 

of operations and deployed multiple times to the U.S. European Command as 

part of theater security packages against Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. 
62Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

The Air Force worked toward a major modernization surge on the F-15 Eagle air 

superiority and global precision attack weapon system with upgrades including the 

operational flight program, the production and installation of Modern Advanced 

Electronically Scanned Array Radars, the Advanced Display Core Processer II, and 

the Acquisition Category I Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System. 

The Air Force also conducted in-depth structural fatigue life testing to determine 

what modifications are required to extend the service of the platform into the 

2040s. These hardware and software programs set the foundation for the F-15 Eagle 

weapon system to serve as an advanced, fourth-generation fighter augmenting the 

fifth-generation fleet.

The Air Force continued work on the KC-46 aerial tanker and C-5 cargo aircraft. 

The KC-46 program initiated the build of four Engineering and Manufacturing 

Development aircraft in 2014 and began flight tests in 2015. The first KC-46 test aircraft took off on its first flight on September 25, 2015, at Paine Field in Washington 

State. Additionally, the Air Force secured approval to begin pre-engineering, manufacturing, and development work on the recapitalization effort for the Presidential 

Aircraft, also known as Air Force One. In January, the Air Force selected the 

Boeing 747-8 as the replacement platform for the VC-25. The Air Force completed 

the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) modification on the 

first of two C-5C aircraft used to transport outsized NASA cargo. Upon completion 

of RERP, the Air Force plans to redesignate 49 C-5Bs, one C-5A, and two C-5Cs as 

C-5Ms, indicating increased range, payload, takeoff thrust, climb performance, and 

fuel efficiency, as well as an extended service life until at least 2040.

The Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program focuses on significantly 

increasing continuous close air support (CAS) capabilities that enable enhanced 

manned/unmanned attack platform strike capabilities; create next-generation 

graphical user interfaces, digital guidance, and control; support advanced munitions; and reduce collateral damage and potential fratricide for coordinated attacks 

against multiple, simultaneous targets. In May 2015, PCAS conducted 50 flight 

sorties exercising the PCAS system end to end, with ten successful live-fire weapons employments. PCAS will improve U.S. ground forces operations and speed of 

attack by allowing the Joint Tactical Air Controller the ability to rapidly engage 

multiple moving targets simultaneously within the area of operation.
63Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), through work with NASA on 

the joint Environmentally Responsible Aviation project, conducted flight tests to 

demonstrate Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge flaps. AFRL also fabricated and 

tested a variable camber compliant wing. A variable camber compliant wing is a 

technology in which a single carbon-fiber composite skin enables active changes 

to the wing camber.

Rotorcraft

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) conducted experiments involving 

mistuning in a turbine rotor, which occurs due to geometric imperfections in the 

blade. AFIT conducted experiments to determine the force response and mistuning patterns for each rotor, resulting in a characterization of each rotor’s mistuning 

as a predictor of high-cycle fatigue.

In September 2015, the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Technology 

Demonstrator program successfully completed subscale demonstrator development activities, ground tests, and preflight checks. Key design features included 

a first-ever all-electric, tilt-wing, distributed ducted-fan propulsion system with 

the incorporation of flightworthy three-dimensional printed parts. The VTOL 

Technology Demonstrator program develops technologies to enable revolutionary 

improvements in heavier-than-air VTOL air vehicle capabilities through the development of subsystems, aircraft configurations, and design integration. The program plans to build and flight test an unmanned aircraft weighing approximately 

12,000 pounds, capable of sustained speeds in excess of 300 knots while enhancing 

hover and cruise efficiencies.

The Army continued developing the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology 

Demonstrator (TD), which is expected to transform vertical-lift capabilities across 

DOD. JMR TD developed two aircraft, one a tilt-rotor and the other a lift-offset 

compound helicopter. During FY 2015, the Army completed final reviews of the 

TD’s components, subsystems, and system designs; placed orders for long-lead 

items; and began fabricating components and assembling major subsystems. The 

Army also moved technologies forward for rotary-wing configurations, including a 

compound rotorcraft concept with twin-ducted fans and an optimal-speed tilt-rotor 
64Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

design. Flight demonstrations are scheduled to begin in 2017. The TD aircraft are 

designed to carry 12 troops; hover out of ground effect at an ambient condition of 

6,000 feet and 95 degrees Fahrenheit; self-deploy to a range of 2,100 nautical miles; 

and fly at speeds of up to 230 knots.

The Army also developed flight controls, sensors, and cueing required to allow 

vertical-lift systems to operate safely and effectively in degraded visual environments 

under the Degraded Visual Environment Mitigation (DVE-M) program. Together 

with the Air Force and industry partners, the Army completed work in each of the 

critical DVE-M technology areas: flight controls, sensors, and cueing. The Army 

completed ground-based testing of eight industry-provided systems at Yuma Proving 

Ground, Arizona. The tests assessed imaging systems’ ability to collect, fuse, and 

present a discernable image of a populated obstacle field, obscured by blowing dust. 

The Army plans to further refine and integrate the systems for flight testing in 2016. 

The Army also demonstrated a new version of Modernized Control Laws for the 

Black Hawk that further improves flight performance and reduces pilot workload in 

DVE as part of testing at Moffett Field, California. Finally, the Army completed the 

first of a series of cueing experiments to investigate the contributions of visual, aural, 

and haptic cueing elements to optimize human performance in DVE.

In software development, the Army released an update of its Helios (v.5.3) 

modeling and simulation software for rotorcraft aeromechanics. In addition to the 

previously existing capabilities for high-fidelity simulations of full-vehicle rotor and 

fuselage combinations, Helios v.5.3 added an option to bring the NASA computational fluid dynamics OVERset grid FLOW solver (OVERFLOW) into the Helios 

framework. This addition of OVERFLOW to Helios allowed for faster and more 

accurate simulations of rotor blade aerodynamics.

In collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Army executed a flight 

test to assess TRIO, a stackable, three-section air-delivery technology. The TRIO 

effort is intended to develop a rugged, low-cost multi-section stackable helicopter 

external load that can deliver as much as 6,000 pounds of materials at high speeds 

(in excess of 100 knots) utilizing an automatic release mechanism to deposit supplies at as many as three locations in a single sortie. The testing to date focused 

primarily on evaluation of the automatic release mechanism in the bottom and 

middle boxes ballasted to a heavy configuration.
65Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Hypersonics

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Conventional Prompt Global 

Strike (CPGS) effort conducted technology development during FY 2015 for risk 

reduction in several key areas, including aerodynamics, thermo-structural physics, 

testing, and evaluation. OSD employed five U.S. hypersonic wind tunnel facilities 

to generate high-fidelity aerodynamic and aerothermal databases that can be used 

to develop trajectories, guidance and control algorithms, and a thermal protection 

system for candidate vehicles. The synergy between ground tests and modeling 

and simulation (M&S) through post-test analyses led to updating state-of-the-art 

M&S models. The CPGS effort held a Preliminary Design Review for an upcoming 

hypersonic flight experiment that will serve as a demonstration and evaluation of 

the latest technologies.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The U.S. Marine Corps began fielding the RQ-21 Blackjack to the first operational squadron in FY 2015. In addition to the Marine Corps’s currently fielded 

RQ-7Bs, the Marine Corps began fielding the RQ-21 Blackjack to squadrons to 

support Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) afloat, Marine Special Operations 

Command (MARSOC) units, and other Marine Corps regimental-sized units.

The United States Navy is executing the MQ-4C Triton Program to develop 

persistent maritime and littoral intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance 

capabilities for the fleet to enhance situational awareness and reduce sensor-toshooter kill-chain timelines. The Navy began Integrated Functional Capability 

flight testing in April 2015 in preparation for an operational assessment planned 

for late 2015. The Navy has MQ-4C Triton System Demonstration Test Article 

assets in production and conducted an Executive Production Readiness Review in 

June 2015 to confirm production readiness. The Navy also awarded a PDR contract 

for the Multi-Intelligence Sensor Upgrade in September 2015.

The United States Air Force is executing the RQ-4 Global Hawk Program to 

provide continuous, high-altitude, long-endurance, all-weather, day/night wide 

area surveillance and reconnaissance capability. The Global Hawk core program 
66Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

is in the final portion of the aircraft production phase, with an expected completion in FY 2017. In 2015, the program shifted focus to planning and executing 

a series of modernization efforts including Sensor Integration, Ground Segment 

Modification, Communication System Modification, Operational Flight Program, 

and Ice Protection.

An Omega K-707 tanker aircraft completed the first-ever fully autonomous aerial 

refueling operation of the Navy’s X-47B carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft 

demonstrator in April 2015.

Airborne Weapons Systems and Missiles

In July 2015, a Standard Missile–6 (SM-6) Dual 1, fired from the USS John 

Paul Jones, intercepted a short-range ballistic missile launched from the Pacific 

Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. This test demonstrated DOD’s capability 

to intercept low-flying cruise missiles or space-hugging ballistic missiles as they 

neared their terminal points of impact from a sea-based platform. The test also 

demonstrated the new SM-6 variant’s ability to destroy a ballistic missile in the last 

moments of flight. DOD derived the SM-6 Dual 1 from the existing SM-6s built to 

target cruise missiles. The Dual 1 joins the U.S. Army’s Patriot missiles as the only 

U.S. interceptors capable of defending against both cruise and ballistic missiles.

The Air Force Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) team’s accomplishments during FY 2015 included working with the Navy to understand the level of 

common work between intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and submarinelaunched ballistic missiles and, recently, receiving the Air Force’s Requirements 

Oversight Committee approval of the GBSD program’s draft Capabilities 

Development Document (CDD). All these activities supported a decision to enter 

the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction phase of the project in FY 2016. 

The CDD provides requirement threshold and objective values to take forward 

into the post–Milestone-A Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) 

acquisition phase as the program evaluates and matures technologies for a future 

ICBM system to replace Minuteman-III in the late 2020s.
67Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Space Activities

Launch and Range Operations and Spacelift Developments

The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program continued to successfully place satellites into orbit during FY 2015. United Launch Alliance continued 

its record of success with ten launches. These launches included eight national 

security space (NSS) missions, summarized below (date: launch vehicle, configuration, payload):

• October 29, 2014: Atlas 5 (401), Global Positioning System (GPS)–IIF-8

• December 12, 2014: Atlas 5 (541), National Reconnaissance Office 

Launch–35

• January 21, 2015: Atlas 5 (551), Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)–3

• March 25, 2015: Delta 4 Medium+ (4,2), GPS-IIF-9

• May 20, 2015: Atlas 5 (501), Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)–5 

(X-37B and CubeSats)

• July 15, 2015: Atlas 5 (401), GPS-IIF-10

• July 24, 2015: Delta 4 Medium+ (5, 4), Wideband Global Satellite 

Communications System–7

• September 2, 2015: Atlas 5 (551), MUOS-4

In addition, the Air Force certified the SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch System for 

NSS missions in May 2015. The action enabled SpaceX to compete for qualified 

NSS launch missions as one of two currently certified launch service providers. 

This milestone culminated a two-year effort by the Air Force to introduce more 

competition into the EELV program.

Range modernization efforts continued in FY 2015 with the following 

accomplishments: 

1) The Modernization Eastern Range Network (MEN) contract upgraded 

the Eastern Range mission communications core to address obsolescence issues and improve cyber protection. As part of MEN, the Internet 

Protocol Companion Contract (IPCC) upgraded the Eastern Range’s 

communications network from Asynchronous Transfer Mode to Internet 
68Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Protocol version 4 (Internet Protocol version 6 capable). The IPCC successfully completed its Preliminary Design Review in FY 2015.

2) The Eastern Range Command Destruct Modernization (ERCDM) effort 

continued to improve upon obsolete range safety and positive control 

assets used to ensure public safety during space and ballistic missile 

launches. System design culminated in the combined Preliminary Design 

Review/Critical Design Review in September 2015. The Western Range 

Command Destruct Modernization (WRCDM) effort will apply similar 

upgrades to the Western Range. The Air Force completed WRCDM site 

surveys and acquisition document development in FY 2015.

3) The Air Force completed Antigua telemetry divestitures and site closure. 

The effort included demolition, removal, and divestiture of the Antigua 

telemetry antennas and instruments.

The Hydrocarbon Boost Demonstration subscale pre-burner ground rig test led 

to the completion of the final design of the full-scale pre-burner, a major component of an advanced liquid-oxygen (LOX)/liquid-kerosene (RP-1) rocket engine. 

The resulting technologies enable and support domestic space launches. The 

Hydrocarbon Boost Demonstration pre-burner is being used to support a Space 

and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and NASA thrust chamber combustion stability demonstration supporting SMC risk-reduction efforts toward a future launch 

vehicle engine.

Position, Navigation, and Timing

The Global Positioning System program celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing uninterrupted position, navigation, and timing data free of charge to users 

worldwide. The success of the GPS program is reflected in the total number of 

GPS receivers produced to date, estimated at four billion worldwide. DOD initially 

declared the GPS constellation fully operational in July 1995, and two Block IIA 

satellites from that year remain operational, more than tripling their design life 

of 7.5 years. To keep the constellation healthy, the program launched three new 

Block IIF satellites during FY 2015. Besides the legacy signals, these Block IIF satellites will also provide the newest L2C and L5 signals. Daily uploads of the civil 
69Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

navigation message on L2C and L5 began on December 31, 2014, marking the first 

new signals available from GPS since initial operations in 1995. The next block 

of satellites, GPS III, are nearing the completion of their development. The first 

GPS III satellite began final thermal vacuum testing in the fall of 2015. Finally, 

the United States and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding this year 

for Canada to provide 24 search-and-rescue transponders for GPS III, currently 

scheduled to be available for search-and-rescue operations beginning in 2023.

Satellite Communications

The Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) is a joint-service satellite 

communications system that provides global, survivable, secure, protected, and 

jam-resistant communications for high-priority military ground, sea, and air assets. 

The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) completed 

dedicated Multi-Service Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E) of the AEHF 

satellite constellation on February 2, 2015, which found the system effective and 

suitable. DOD declared Initial Operational Capability for AEHF on July 28, 2015, 

with the three on-orbit AEHF satellites, augmenting the legacy Milstar constellation and providing protected satellite communications for strategic users. Mission 

Planning Element (MPE) 7.6 arrived in June 2015 for operations by the end of 

the calendar year. The production of AEHF satellite 4 is nearly complete. DOD 

awarded the contract for the follow-on MPE Increment 8 on July 1, 2015, to integrate the Family of Advanced Beyond Line of Sight Terminals (FAB-T) and Global 

Aircrew Strategic Network Terminals and increase system capacity.

The FAB-T program will field nuclear event–survivable terminals capable of 

communicating with the Milstar and AEHF satellite constellations using jamresistant, low-probability-of-intercept and low-probability-of-detection waveforms. 

DOD placed the Command Post Terminal (CPT) variant on contract for initial 

production in September 2015. CPT will provide command and control of the 

AEHF constellation and command of nuclear forces by the President.

The first Enhanced Polar System (EPS) payload (on a hosted space vehicle) 

successfully launched in FY 2015 completed its on-orbit checkout and became 

ready for operational testing. The second payload is being integrated onto its host 
70Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

spacecraft with launch expected in FY 2017. The EPS will replace the Interim Polar 

System, ensuring critical protected communications requirements above 65 degrees 

north latitude for joint forces.

DOD launched Wideband Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM) 

(WGS) satellite 7 (WGS-7) on July 23, 2015. WGS-7 is a Block II follow-on version, 

expected to become operational by December 2015. WGS satellites 8–10 remain 

in production. WGS is the DOD SATCOM constellation with the highest capacity, declared Full Operational Capability (FOC) with five satellites on May 12, 

2014. The DOD has a total of ten satellites either on orbit or in production. The 

WGS system provides up to 2.6 gigabits per second per satellite (over 11 gigabits 

per second worldwide) to support various missions of the Unified Combatant 

Commanders (UCCs), military services, other DOD agencies, and international partners (Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, 

and Luxembourg).

The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) provides narrowband communications using two separate payloads: a legacy Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) capability and the new Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) payload. 

DOD launched MUOS satellite 3 on January 21, 2015, and MUOS satellite 4 on 

September 2, 2015. MUOS satellite 5 is completing production and scheduled to 

launch in May 2016. MUOS Waveform v3.1.4 Increment 1 arrived on July 30, 2015, 

to support MOT&E-2 in October 2015.

Indications and Warning

The Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) provides missile warning and supports missile defense, technical intelligence, and battlespace awareness mission 

areas. The nominal constellation consists of four Geosynchronous Earth Orbit 

(GEO) satellites, two hosted sensors in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), and associated ground elements. The SBIRS GEO-1 and GEO-2 satellites have been certified 

for operations since 2013, and the SBIRS HEO-3 payload made orbit in April 2015. 

The HEO-4 payload shipped from the contractor for integration with the host 

satellite in May 2015. The GEO-3 satellite completed production in July 2015 and 

went into storage, while the GEO-4 satellite continued production with no major 
71Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

issues. In June 2015, the Air Force signed a no-cost change to a fixed-price contract 

to modernize the GEO-5/GEO-6 satellite bus in production. Additionally, the Air 

Force continued development of the ground segment with a goal of consolidating the operations into a single source for processing and dissemination of fused 

Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) data.

Satellite Control and Space Situational Awareness

In January 2015, the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) Mission System 

(JMS) completed the integration of Service Pack 9 (SP-9), transitioning the 

authoritative catalog of space objects from the legacy database to JMS. SP-9 also 

enabled significant new capabilities, including catalog growth to 1,000,000 objects 

with future scalability; “all vs. all” conjunction assessment; automated, continuously updated, high-accuracy orbit determination; and maneuver detection. JMS 

is an agile information technology development program delivering capabilities 

in a series of increments. Increment 1 has been in continuous use since November 

2012 and has supported multiple high-profile events since inception. In 2015, the 

contractor completed Increment 2 Service Pack 7 development and delivered the 

associated infrastructure hardware to the JSpOC.

Groundbreaking for Space Fence Increment 1 occurred on Kwajalein Atoll, 

Republic of the Marshall Islands, in February 2015. The Air Force expects the 

Space Fence radar system to improve Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities by providing un-cued surveillance of small objects and satellites in low- and 

medium-Earth orbit to provide spaceflight safety, early detection and custody of 

threats, and awareness to satellite operators in the crewed spaceflight regime.

The United States and Australia enjoy an increasingly fruitful relationship 

in the SSA mission area. The countries completed a C-Band Radar relocation 

from Ascension Island to Australia in February 2015. Following calibration and 

operational testing, the system is expected to achieve IOC in FY 2016. The radar 

will soon become the only U.S. near-Earth dedicated SSA sensor in the Southern 

Hemisphere. C-band radar provides excellent satellite detection, tracking, and 

identification capability, along with extremely accurate space object positional 

data and the ability to increase maneuver detection and conjunction assessment 
72Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

capabilities. Efforts began to operationalize the Space Surveillance Telescope 

(SST) located at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, prior to its relocation 

to Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station in Exmouth, Western Australia. 

SST technology enables faster discovery and tracking of previously unseen, hardto-find small objects in geosynchronous orbits. The system leverages multiple technology improvements to provide orders-of-magnitude enhancements in search rate 

and sensitivity over existing ground telescopes. Australia will operate both the 

C-Band Radar and SST systems in partnership with the United States.

The Air Force successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review for Phase II 

of the Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) Service 

Life Extension Program (SLEP) in August 2015. Phase II replaces aging and unsupportable mission-critical subsystems in the Data Processing Group with modern, 

sustainable components to allow the system to continue providing time-critical 

deep space tracking information. In addition, the Eglin Radar completed a SLEP of 

its Control and Signal Processor in June 2015 to extend the life of the phased array 

radar dedicated to finding and tracking near-Earth and deep space objects.

Other Space Developments

AFRL is working to integrate hardware into spacecraft structure to monitor the 

health of the structural elements. During 2015, AFRL incorporated piezoelectric 

beamforming elements and precision tri-axial accelerometers into the flight hardware of the Space Test Program-H5 payload for a yearlong test on the International 

Space Station.

AFRL also adapted principal component analysis compression theories for use 

in quantitative analysis when it is important to preserve critical space signals and 

features within the data while also allowing for higher compression ratios. AFRL 

submitted a provisional patent for this compression technique.

The third flight of the X-37B or Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) landed at 

Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on October 17, 2014, completing a recordsetting 675 days in orbit. OTV-4 launched on May 20, 2015, to test the performance 

of an experimental propulsion system (Hall Current Thruster), jointly developed 

by AFRL and the Space and Missile Systems Center, as well as a series of advanced 
73Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

material plates developed by NASA. The X-37B is an experimental test program 

to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, uncrewed space test platform.

The X-37B has proven to be a powerful test bed for a new Hall Current Thruster 

(HCT) design. AFRL designed, built, and ground-tested a modified version of the 

Hall Thruster currently in use on the AEHF communications satellite. AFRL 

launched the new thruster on AFSPC-5 on May 20, 2015, only three years after the 

initial concept. Onboard measurements indicated performance of the new Hall 

Thruster design to be superior to the current system. The new design has been 

accepted into the product line as the first of the second generation of 5-kilowatt 

Hall Thrusters. The program continues to collect data both on board and from 

ground observations to refine environment/thruster coupled models.

Officials from the 50th Space Wing completed their operations review of the 

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Flight 13, which permanently shut down 

on February 3, 2015, precipitating a debris-causing event. The review determined 

that no actions could have been taken to prevent the incident. The mission is 

operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on behalf of 

the U.S. Air Force.

The Vector Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) proved the 

military utility of nanosatellites for an advanced communications capability. The 

Navy’s Program Executive Office for Space Systems continued development of the 

Integrated Communications Extension Capability (ICE-Cap) nanosatellite to augment UHF communications at the North Pole. A study by the Space and Naval 

Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), 

and the Program Executive Office for Space Systems found nanosatellites to be a 

cost-effective augmentation for radar altimetry missions, such as Jason-3.

The Counter Communications System (CCS) provides expeditionary, deployable, reversible counter-space effects applicable across the full spectrum of conflict. The CCS denies adversary satellite communications in an area of conflict to 

include command and control, early warning, and propaganda dissemination. The 

pre-planned product improvements, which transition the system to Increment 10.2, 

remain on track and are progressing well.

In 2015, the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office continued to support 

the on-orbit operations of the ORS-1 satellite, launched in June 2011 from NASA’s 
74Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia. Although designed with a life of two years, ORS-1 

continued to support U.S. Central Command throughout FY 2015. Additionally, 

ORS continued to directly support Joint Force Commander needs with the development of ORS-5 to satisfy a U.S. Strategic Command need. The ORS-5 satellite 

will demonstrate SSA (wide-area search capability) of the geosynchronous orbit 

belt with a small satellite in low-Earth orbit, provide risk reduction to the Space 

Based Space Surveillance Follow-On (SBSS FO) program, and develop and demonstrate ORS enablers and principles. ORS also continued with ORS-4, developing 

the small, responsive, low-cost Super-Strypi launch vehicle, planning for a first 

launch in FY 2016. In April 2015, the Secretary of the Air Force, acting as the 

DOD Executive Agent for Space, directed the Weather System Gap Filler (WSGF) 

as the next major ORS project. The WSGF is a combined effort between ORS and 

the Weather System Follow-On program office to fill an impending gap in spacebased weather data collection.

The Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP) is a joint DOD and Office of 

the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) organization established to function 

as the center of excellence for options and strategies (materiel and non-materiel), 

leading to a more resilient and enduring National Security Space Enterprise. In 

the past year, the program implemented cyber support to defensive space alternatives and provided assessments and solutions for hosted payloads. Additionally, 

SSDP conducted a number of analytic efforts focused on enhancing the resilience 

of space systems in a contested environment. SSDP efforts helped develop and 

integrate rapid prototyping capabilities for key space mission areas.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) 

spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on February 11, 2015, 

for a joint mission between NASA, NOAA, and the U.S. Air Force. The launch 

delivered the DSCOVR payload on a trajectory to the sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point 

for a space weather warning mission for NOAA and an Earth science mission for 

NASA. The Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program procured the rocket, 

the first Falcon 9 mission purchased, and executed the launch under its Orbital/

Suborbital Program–3 (OSP-3) contract.

The DOD Space Test Program provides spaceflight opportunities for militarily 

relevant DOD space research and development payloads, then demonstrates new 
75Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

technologies in space prior to operational use. In February 2015, the DOD Space 

Test Program successfully launched an Air Force Research Laboratory experiment 

called Ionospheric Control, a sounding rocket to study radio-frequency propagation in the ionosphere. Also in February 2015, the Space Test Program deployed 

a small research satellite from the International Space Station that successfully 

demonstrated space-to-ground communications over the commercial space-based 

Globalstar system. Additionally, in September 2015, the Space Test Program 

successfully launched a Naval Research Laboratory Experiment called Charged 

Aerosol Release Experiment II, using a sounding rocket to examine the effects of 

artificially created charged-particulate layers on radar signals.
76Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

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77Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Federal Aviat

Administrat

FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) saw major milestones completed in 

its modernization effort, which is moving the national airspace system from groundbased radar to satellite-based navigation, from voice to digital communication, and 

from point-to-point data to a fully integrated information management system. 

These initiatives change how we see, navigate, and communicate in the Nation’s 

skies. The Nation’s aviation system is a valuable asset that contributes 12  million jobs and $1.5 trillion annually to the U.S. economy. To that end, the agency 

measured $1.6 billion in benefits to airlines and the traveling public from Next 

Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) capabilities already in place.

En Route Automation Modernization

In FY 2015, the FAA completed an air traffic system that will significantly improve air travel through every phase of flight. En Route Automation 

Modernization (ERAM) uses satellite technology to provide a much more precise 

picture of air traffic and allow more efficient management of flights from takeoff 

to touchdown, replacing the former En Route Host plane tracking system, which 

dated back to the 1960s.

ERAM is part of the multi-year, multibillion-dollar NextGen program to shift 

air traffic control from ground-based radar to Automatic Dependent Surveillance–

Broadcast (via satellite-based Global Positioning System [GPS]) tracking. The 

system, a crucial foundation for NextGen, is the backbone of operations at the 
78Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

20 FAA air route traffic control centers (ARTCC). ERAM enabled controllers to 

track nearly double the number of flights from gate to gate while offering suggestions for the best flight speed and path to avoid weather and congestion. ERAM 

increased the number of aircraft tracked by ARTCCs from 1,100 to 1,900. This 

precision also enabled controllers to safely space planes three miles apart, rather 

than the previous five miles.

The first ERAM system went online at Salt Lake City Center in March 2012, 

and the FAA completed the final installation in March 2015 at the New York 

Center. The FAA designed ERAM to be the operating platform for other NextGen 

technologies, including Performance Based Navigation, Automatic Dependent 

Surveillance–Broadcast, and Data Communications (Data Comm).

Performance Based Navigation

ERAM encourages the use of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures 

that enable controllers and flight crews to know exactly when to reduce the thrust 

on aircraft, allowing them to descend from cruising altitude to the runway with the 

engines set at rear idle power, saving on flying time and fuel consumption. As of 

FY 2015, the FAA has established thousands more routes and procedures based on 

PBN satellite technology to make the flow of air traffic more efficient at 463 airports, from the largest, busiest hubs to general aviation airfields. For example, 

Atlanta Hartsfield Airport reported flights to be 48 percent faster from the gate 

to departure and into en route airspace, and Delta Air Lines showed a savings of 

$10–$12 million per year at Dallas Fort Worth Airport.

PBN benefits included the following:

• Increased safety through continuous descent procedures.

• Improved airport and airspace access in all weather conditions.

• Reduced delays at airports and in certain dense airspace through the 

application of new parallel routes; newly enabled ingress/egress points 

around busy terminal areas; and improved flight re-routing capabilities 

that make better use of closely spaced procedures and airspace.

• Increased efficiency through more direct routes, especially at lower 

flight altitudes.
79Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP) provide 

environmental benefits through reduced emissions and fuel consumption.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast

The FAA moved steadily toward replacing the old system of ground-based radars 

to track aircraft with one that relies on satellite-based technologies. ERAM already 

receives information from aircraft equipped with ADS-B and displays these data on 

controllers’ screens. This technology has made it possible for controllers to provide 

radar-like separation to aircraft that previously operated in areas where no radar is 

available, such as the Gulf of Mexico and large parts of Alaska. The FAA expects 

ADS-B to replace radar as the primary means of tracking aircraft by 2020.

Data Comm

To reduce congestion on radio frequencies, the FAA and the aviation industry 

continued to develop Data Comm, which will allow controllers and pilots to communicate by direct digital link rather than voice, similar to text messaging. ERAM 

is already equipped to handle this technology. In FY 2015, the agency continued 

testing Data Comm at Newark and Memphis and plans to commission Data Comm 

at new sites in Houston and Salt Lake City in the near future. Data Comm speeds 

communications, enhances safety by reducing the chance of a read-back error 

while relaying information, allows controllers to send text instructions to several 

aircraft at once, and cuts down on travel delays.

Equivalent Lateral Spacing Operations

In FY 2015, Atlanta Hartsfield International became the first airport using 

Equivalent Lateral Spacing Operations (ELSO). ELSO allows controllers to space 

routes more closely together and safely clear aircraft for takeoff more efficiently 

through the use of Performance Based Navigation to fly precise paths with pinpoint 

accuracy, eliminating the necessity for an extra cushion of airspace around the 

plane to account for variations in the flightpath. Current air traffic rules require a 
80Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

15-degree minimum angle between departure routes, but ELSO reduced the minimum to 10 degrees in Atlanta, allowing four flights to depart from the same area 

where previously only three could be accommodated. This flexibility makes it possible for controllers to clear as many as eight to 12 additional departures every hour, 

providing a huge benefit for the airport. The FAA plans to expand the procedure 

to airports in Denver, Detroit, Cleveland, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.

System Wide Information Management

System Wide Information Management (SWIM) is the digital data delivery pillar 

of NextGen, providing easy access to a wide range of air traffic control and management information over the Federal Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) in a 

standard data format. In November 2014, the FAA began offering a new SWIMenabled information capability based on the Traffic Flow Management System 

(TFMS). The FAA’s TFMS monitors demand and capacity information, assesses 

the impact of system constraints, provides alerts, and helps determine appropriate 

adjustments. Access to TFMS provides SWIM users with traffic data and flow information including ground delays, ground stops, re-routings, and traffic advisories.

As of March 2015, the FAA implemented the SWIM Surface Visualization Tool 

(SVT) prototype in 11 sites around the country. The Volpe Center engineered 

and developed this new Government-owned tool as a Web-based application that 

gives controllers and traffic managers access to surface data previously unavailable 

outside of a tower cab. Specifically, the tool provides access to Airport Surface 

Detection Equipment–Model X (ASDE-X) or the Airport Surface Surveillance 

Capability System (ASSC) tracking data provided by the SWIM Terminal Data 

Distribution System (STDDS). STDDS takes airport surface information on aircraft moving on ramps, taxiways, and runways and provides it to airlines, airports, 

and other interested parties.

SVT improves shared surface situational awareness capabilities in Terminal Radar 

Approach Controls (TRACON) by allowing controllers to view actual traffic rather 

than rough estimates based on past activity and plan for changes, such as switching operational runways in response to changing weather conditions. The FAA 

completed initial SVT implementation in Southern California in April 2014. As 
81Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

of March 2015, the FAA also implemented SVT at the Los Angeles and New York 

Air Route Traffic Control Centers; the Northern California, Potomac, Louisville, 

Chicago, Houston, and New York TRACONs; and the Air Traffic Command 

System Control Center in Warrenton, Virginia, which manages the flow of air traffic nationwide. This marked the completion of the planned implementation.

Advanced Electronic Flight Strips

The old tried-and-true process of paper flight progress strips, which air traffic 

controllers in the towers use to track incoming and outgoing flights, has been 

upgraded to a prototype paperless software program, using emerging NextGen 

technology, known as the Advanced Electronic Flight Strips (AEFS) system. In 

FY 2015, the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center’s Terminal Second Level 

Engineering team created and designed the prototype AEFS system to demonstrate 

how providing tower controllers with a single source of collective information 

increases efficiency while maintaining safety and situational awareness for each 

controller in the tower cab. Software engineers Guy Monhollen (program lead 

for AEFS), Joel Knee, and Anthony Kristovich collaborated with air traffic controllers, FAA management, and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association 

(NATCA) to ensure a user-friendly and adaptable system for each tower’s specific 

needs. AEFS is currently being used at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International 

Airport traffic control tower.

The FAA plans to replace the prototype AEFS system and the current Electronic 

Flight Strip Transfer System (EFSTS) with a new flight information system delivered through the Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) program to support the 

NAS in the long term. The AEFS prototype highlighted the many benefits to 

come across the NAS with TFDM, including reducing controller heads-down time; 

increasing controller awareness by allowing more out-the-window scanning time; 

reducing the time needed to mark strips manually; and increasing accessibility by 

allowing any controller, traffic management unit, or front-line manager in the cab 

to access or manipulate information in the system when needed.

Additional information about the FAA Office of NextGen, updates, reports, and 

other documents can be found online at http://faa.gov/NextGen.
82Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Office of Commercial Space Transportation

In 2015, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) continued 

to promote U.S. commercial space transportation, licensing seven orbital commercial space launches: an Orbital Sciences Corporation (now Orbital ATK) Antares 

launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) in Virginia, five SpaceX 

Falcon 9 launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida, and 

a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy launch from CCAFS. AST also 

licensed a pad abort test of a SpaceX Dragon crewed vehicle. AST provided permits 

for two suborbital commercial space launches: a Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo 

launch from Mojave Air and Space Port in California and a Blue Origin New 

Shepard launch from the company’s test site in western Texas.

Two AST licensed orbital launches ended in failure. In October 2014, the 

Antares vehicle exploded immediately after liftoff, causing significant property 

damage to the MARS site. In June 2015, a Falcon 9 vehicle carrying cargo to the 

International Space Station (ISS) failed during ascent, causing no property damage beyond that of the Falcon 9 and its cargo. In both instances, no fatalities or 

injuries occurred.

One permitted launch, that of the SpaceShipTwo vehicle, ended in failure about 

13 seconds after release from the WhiteKnightTwo carrier vehicle during a powered test flight. This accident resulted in two crew casualties (one fatality and one 

injury) with no other fatalities or injuries. AST safety inspectors remained on-site 

for each launch, ensuring public safety by verifying operator compliance with FAA 

regulations and with the terms and conditions of their specific licenses or permits.

AST did not issue any new launch licenses during FY 2015. AST granted one 

reentry license to SpaceX for reentry of its Dragon Cargo capsule in support of 

the Spx-7 mission to the ISS and one launch license renewal to Orbital ATK for 

Minotaur-C launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB). AST granted a 

launch site operator license to the Houston Airport System in Texas, bringing the 

total number of AST licensed launch and reentry sites to ten. AST renewed launch 

site operator licenses for Space Florida for operations at CCAFS, Jacksonville 

Aviation Authority for operation of Cecil Field Spaceport, and Alaska Aerospace 

Corporation for operation of Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska.
83Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

AST issued a new experimental permit to SpaceX for flights of its Dragonfly 

Reusable Launch Vehicle at the company’s McGregor Test Site in Texas. AST 

also renewed Blue Origin’s experimental permit authorizing it to continue tests of 

the New Shepard vehicle at the company’s West Texas site. AST did not issue any 

new safety approvals during the fiscal year but did renew a safety approval for the 

National Aerospace Training and Research Center based in Pennsylvania.

AST inspectors conducted 218 safety inspections on 116 different types of 

FAA-regulated activities. AST conducted inspections at various locations including Burns Flat, Oklahoma; Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida; Decatur, 

Alabama; Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska, Alaska; McGregor Test Site, Texas; 

and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Virginia.

In FY 2015, AST issued its final Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS), 

Finding of No Significant Impact, and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Houston 

Spaceport in Harris County, Texas. AST subsequently issued the Launch Site 

Operator license for Houston Spaceport in June.

Also in 2015, the FAA continued support of its Center of Excellence for 

Commercial Space Transportation (COE CST), which enables the FAA to work 

with universities and their industry partners to conduct research in environmental 

and aviation safety, as well as other activities, to ensure a safe and efficient air 

transportation system. The COE CST, working with nine member universities, 

provides grants with a one-to-one matching requirement (one non-Federal dollar for every Federal dollar granted) in four distinct research areas: space traffic 

management and operations; space transportation operations, technologies, and 

payloads; human spaceflight; and space transportation industry viability.

In 2015, AST also conducted a payload review of inflatable lunar habitats being 

developed by Bigelow Aerospace to address the uncertain regulatory environment as it relates to commercial activity on the moon. Though not a Government 

endorsement of property rights on celestial bodies, AST used its launch licensing authority to ensure that Bigelow could carry out its activities on the moon 

safely and without interference from other companies licensed by the FAA. This 

action was seen as a small step toward supporting commercial activities beyond 

low-Earth orbit.
84Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

In FY 2015, the FAA did not solicit any new Space Transportation Infrastructure 

Matching (STIM) grant proposals or make new awards.

Additional information about the FAA Office of Commercial Space 

Transportation, regulations, reports, and other documents can be found online at 

http://faa.gov/go/space.
85Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Department of Comm

DOC

During FY 2015, the Department of Commerce (DOC) continued to participate 

in the national management of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a member 

of the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and 

Timing, the senior body that advises and coordinates Federal agencies on GPS 

matters. At the committee’s request, DOC led an interagency effort to estimate 

the economic benefits of GPS. The initial estimate found that GPS technology 

enabled $55.7 billion of U.S. economic benefits across a limed set of industries in 

2013. In addition to participating in the committee’s meetings and activities, DOC 

continued to host the committee’s offices and its https://www.gps.gov Web site. The 

site remained a top hit in Web searches for “GPS”, serving over 1.3 million users 

in FY 2015.

DOC participated in White House–led consultations with Japan to discuss space 

cooperation, including satellite navigation, Earth observation, and export control 

reform. DOC finalized the text of a formal license allowing the Japan Aerospace 

Exploration Agency to continue operating its existing Quasi-Zenith Satellite 

System monitoring station at NOAA’s Weather Forecast Office in Guam. DOC 

cochaired a meeting of a U.S.-European working group on trade issues affecting 

GPS and Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system. DOC also participated in 

meetings of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems 

to discuss market access issues affecting U.S. industry.

In September 2015, NOAA released a draft of its first Commercial Space Policy 

for public comment. The policy establishes broad principles for the use of commercial space-based approaches for NOAA’s observational requirements and 

may potentially open a pathway for new industry to join the space-based Earth 
86Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

observation process. Earlier in the year, NOAA also held the first in a series of 

public workshops to discuss the NOAA satellite data requirements process and 

how the agency can and should engage with the commercial sector to fulfill 

such requirements.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

In FY 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) 

satellites remained as critical as ever, monitoring the severe drought and wildfires 

in the West, flooding outbreaks in Oklahoma and Texas, a brutal winter season in 

Boston, and the culmination of Earth’s warmest year on record. Twenty-four-hour 

global coverage from NOAA’s satellites provides scientists and managers with a 

continuous stream of information used in preparation for events impacting our 

climate, weather, and oceans. NOAA manages and operates four primary types 

of environmental satellites: geostationary environmental satellites, polar-orbiting 

environmental satellites, ocean altimetry satellites, and space weather satellites.

NOAA’s Geostationary Satellites

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) satellites continuously monitor the Western Hemisphere by circling Earth in a geosynchronous orbit 

22,000 miles above the equator, meaning they remain over one position on the 

surface by orbiting at a speed matching that of Earth’s rotation. GOES imagery and 

data help meteorologists with forecasting weather in the short term, tracking severe 

storms, and estimating precipitation for issuing winter storm warnings and spring 

snow-melt advisories. In FY 2015, GOES-15 flew at 135° west longitude and served 

as “GOES-West,” while GOES-13 flew at 75° west and served as “GOES-East.”

NOAA’s Polar-Orbiting Satellites

NOAA’s primary polar-orbiting environmental satellites, Polar-orbiting 

Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and Suomi National Polar-orbiting 

Partnership (Suomi NPP), orbit Earth at an altitude of approximately 517 miles, 
87Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

passing close to both poles and providing complete views of weather around the 

world. POES provides full global coverage with advanced sensors for weather and 

climate data, collecting information on temperature, atmospheric conditions, wind 

speed, cloud formation, and drought conditions over the entire Earth. All major 

numerical weather prediction (NWP) centers around the world use this information as the basis of nearly every medium-term weather forecast.

The Suomi NPP satellite remained NOAA’s primary operational polar-orbiting 

satellite. Suomi NPP is a joint NOAA-NASA mission and serves as a bridge between 

NOAA’s current fleet of polar-orbiting satellites and the upcoming next-generation 

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). NOAA-19, NOAA’s previous primary operational polar-orbiting satellite, also remains a critical part of NOAA’s polar constellation and provides valuable contributions to National Weather Service forecasts.

NOAA’s Ocean Altimetry Satellite

NOAA, in partnership with NASA, Centre National d’Études Spatiales 

(CNES), and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological 

Satellites (EUMETSAT), operates Jason-2, a sea surface topography mission that 

flies an altimeter to provide high-precision measurements of sea surface height. 

Jason-2 has been crucial to improvements in weather modeling and tropical 

storm–intensification forecasting because the temperature of the ocean and ocean 

currents can change the height of the sea, which can affect the world’s weather, 

including tropical storms. In July 2015, the Jason-2 partners agreed to extend 

Jason-2 operations until the end of December 2017.

NOAA’s Space Weather Mission

NOAA, in partnership with NASA and the USAF, successfully launched the 

Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) mission on February 11, 2015. 

DSCOVR, NOAA’s first operational deep space mission, maintains the Nation’s 

real-time solar wind monitoring capabilities, which are critical to the accuracy 

and lead time of NOAA’s space weather alerts and forecasts. Without timely and 

accurate warnings, space weather events, like the geomagnetic storms caused 
88Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

by changes in solar wind, have the potential to disrupt nearly every major public infrastructure system, including power grids, telecommunications, aviation, 

and GPS. Once fully calibrated and validated, DSCOVR will succeed NASA’s 

Advanced Composition Explorer’s (ACE) role in supporting solar wind alerts and 

warnings from the L1 orbit, the neutral gravity point between Earth and the sun 

approximately one million miles from Earth.

NOAA’s Additional Space-Based Capabilities

In addition to those four main types of environmental satellites, NOAA, 

together with international partners, flew two other types of instruments on some 

of its satellites.

Argos is a data collection and location relay system administered under an agreement between NOAA and CNES initiated in 1974. CNES provides sensors that 

collect a wide variety of in situ measurements, including data on atmospheric pressure, sea temperature, ocean-current velocity, animal migration patterns, and river 

water levels.

The Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system (COSPAS-SARSAT) 

is an international system that uses satellites to locate emergency beacons carried 

by ships, aircraft, or individuals and communicate location information to searchand-rescue authorities. The system has rescued over 39,000 people worldwide since 

1982. NOAA provides space on its polar-orbiting satellites for the French processor 

and Canadian receiver.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

In FY 2015, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continued to provide Federal agencies and the aerospace industry with the research, 

guidance, standards, products, and services needed to advance the President’s 

aeronautics and space agenda. These wide-ranging outputs fall into four main 

categories: 1) calibrations and measurements for the aerospace industry, 2) calibrations of satellite sensors, 3) development of astronomical and satellite sensors, and 

4) support of manufacturing technology.
89Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

As the storm moves offshore and the skies clear over the northeastern United States, the extent 

of snowfall from the blizzard is shown in this image from the Suomi NPP satellite imagery, taken 

on January 28, 2015, at 1:50 EST. Portions of Suffolk County, New York, and parts of eastern and 

southern New England, including areas in and around Portland, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; and 

Providence, Rhode Island, received more than 20 inches of snowfall. Auburn, Hudson, and Lunenburg, 

Massachusetts, reported up to 36 inches of snow. (NOAA)

A combination of the day-night band and high-resolution infrared imagery from the Suomi NPP satellite shows the historic blizzard near peak intensity as it moves over the region covering New York and 

the Boston Metropolitan area at 1:45 a.m. EST on January 27, 2015. The high cloud tops associated 

with the most intense parts of the storm blurred the nighttime lights in the region. (NOAA)
90Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

NIST Calibrations and Measurements for the Aerospace Industry

Traceable NIST measurements (mass, force, vibration, acoustics, electricity, 

thermometry, humidity, flow, pressure, viscosity, fluid density, radiometry, and 

length) are essential for aircraft manufacturing. For instance, every tool used in 

Boeing’s 787 airplane assembly process has been calibrated in Boeing’s metrology 

laboratories with direct traceability to NIST. Other direct applications of NIST 

measurements this fiscal year included the use of NIST-calibrated weights to support wind tunnel applications; weighing airplanes; and the measurement of torque, 

pressure, and force. NIST worked with the Department of Defense and Boeing on 

the applicability of laser-scanning technology for the dimensional measurement of 

aircraft components. The work included developing calibration methodologies and 

facilities for laser-scanner systems and national and international standardization 

of their measurement accuracy.

NIST provided air-speed measurement calibrations of anemometers used at airports, on aircraft, and in wind tunnels. The hydrocarbon-liquid calibration service 

tested flow meters used to measure jet fuel, such as turbine meters used to evaluate 

jet engine performance on test stands.

NIST has an ongoing engagement with the Boeing Company to identify technical issues and to define requirements for industrial wireless networking, cybersecurity in manufacturing environments, and prognostics and health management for 

manufacturing systems.

NIST contributed to workshops with the Federal Aviation Administration, 

the Department of Defense, NASA, and aerospace industry representatives, 

including Honeywell Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, 

to identify proposed approaches for the qualification and certification of additive manufacturing materials, processes, and parts for use in load-bearing and 

mission-critical applications.

NIST collaborated with members of the Additive Manufacturing Consortium 

(AMC), including aerospace companies General Electric Aviation, Rolls-Royce, 

and United Technologies Aerospace, to conduct round-robin testing and determine 

the mechanical properties of Inconel 625 parts made using the direct metal laser 

sintering process. NIST also collaborated with the U.S. Department of Energy to 
91Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

develop measurement methods and experimental data to improve the machining 

of high-performance materials, such as titanium and nickel-based alloys used for 

aerospace applications.

During FY 2015, NIST collaborated with NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 

on spacecraft fire detection research. NASA and NIST developed the Smoke 

Aerosol Measurement Experiment (SAME) with smoke and aerosol measurement 

instruments to characterize smoke properties from overheated spacecraft materials 

aboard the International Space Station (ISS). NIST chaired the Fire Safety section 

of the ISS Combustion Laboratory Workshop sponsored by NASA in FY 2015.

Also in 2015, NIST signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 

NASA to establish cooperation with NASA’s MaterialsLab microgravity materials 

science program. The vision of the MaterialsLab program is to fully utilize the ISS 

as a national laboratory to conduct microgravity materials science experiments and 

disseminate data into open science informatics. This partnership with NASA will 

leverage advanced materials modeling and simulation tools that NIST is developing under its Materials Genome Initiative program.

NIST research addressed safety standards for robotic manipulators and automated guided vehicles (i.e., mobile platforms) and measurement science to enable 

new capabilities for collaborative robotics, of interest to aerospace manufacturers 

such as Boeing and Spirit Aerospace.

In FY 2015, several partners in the aerospace community took advantage of the 

unique capabilities of the NIST Center for Neutron Research to study a number of 

aerospace challenges:

• Researchers used neutron imaging in continuing studies of alkali metal 

heat pipes that cool the leading edge of hypersonic aircraft.

• NIST, along with employees of Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), 

used neutron imaging to study the water distribution in proton exchange 

membrane fuel cell flow fields and gas diffusion layers, as well as collaborating with the NIST imaging group to develop a neutron microscope.

• Researchers from GRC and Michigan Technology University also worked 

with the neutron imaging facility to develop accurate measurements of 

thermodynamic parameters in the boiloff of cryogenic liquid propellants 

critical for understanding long-term microgravity storage of cryogens.
92Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

• Researchers from the Air Force Academy collaborated with NIST staff to 

characterize residual stresses in aluminum alloy samples originating during supersonic particle deposition (SPD). The Cold Spray Process (CSP) 

that incorporates SPD is a relatively new technology well suited for repair 

and restoration of nonstructural aircraft components.

NIST Calibrations of Satellite Sensors

NIST provided calibration support for the infrared and optical sensors for two 

satellite missions under development: the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and 

GOES-R. DSCOVR, launched on February 11, 2015, included the NIST Advanced 

Radiometer (NISTAR), a three-channel radiometer for quantifying the infrared 

and optical radiation balance for climate science studies.

NIST, in partnership with the University of New Mexico, Harvard University, 

and the Smithsonian Institution, continued a program to improve the absolute 

radiometric calibration of stars for applications that include satellite-sensor calibration, dark-energy research, and nighttime aerosol monitoring. NIST made accurate 

measurements of the amount of light from the moon and sun with the goal of 

enabling the moon to serve as a calibration source for satellite sensors while they 

are in space.

NIST continued its collaboration with NOAA on the calibration of the Marine 

Optical Buoy (MOBY) used in the vicarious calibration of ocean-color measurements provided by satellite sensors. NIST is participating in the MOBY Refresh 

effort, a multi-year activity to replace aging systems, reduce the risk of instrument 

failure, and improve measurement variability and uncertainty.

NIST used the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility (SURF) III as a 

source of soft x-rays and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light to support the calibration of the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) aboard NASA’s Solar Dynamics 

Observatory (SDO).

NIST continued the development and deployment of measurement methods to 

calibrate microwave radiometers as deployed on numerous U.S. operational weather 

and research satellite assets within NOAA, NASA, and DOD. Working with 

colleagues at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) through an ongoing 
93Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

MOU, NIST demonstrated microwave brightness-temperature (radiance) calibrations for the remote sensing bands.

NIST performed calibrations necessary to support the infrared remote sensor 

used by the Missile Defense Agency.

NIST Development of Astronomical and Satellite Sensors

NIST collaborated with Goddard Space Flight Center to develop photodetectors 

for space applications. NIST designed and fabricated nanotextured gallium nitride 

(GaN) and GaN nanowires that serve as raw materials for photocathode detectors. 

GSFC collaborators activated the material with cesium and packaged the units 

into complete imaging systems.

NIST collaborated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) on the development 

of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). NIST characterized various JPL devices and packaged some JPL devices with NIST’s self-aligned 

single-mode optical-fiber packaging scheme. NIST also began joint development 

with JPL of small arrays of SNSPDs.

NIST developed new detectors based on the voltage-biased superconducting 

transition-edge sensor (TES). NIST developed integrated TES polarimeters for 

measuring polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). NIST provided Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) and SQUIDbased multiplexers to many researchers, both at NASA Centers (Goddard, JPL) and 

in academia. NIST also used its SQUID expertise to assist GSFC in the development of magnetic micro-calorimeters. NIST continued work on new concepts to 

achieve on-chip electrical cooling of cryogenic detectors. Recently, NIST demonstrated the first cooling by tunnel junctions of a macroscopic stage that can support 

user-supplied payloads.

NIST participated in NASA’s program support of the European Space Agency’s 

Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) program and the Space Optical Clock 

(SOC) program. NIST continued preparations to host an ACES Microwave Link 

Ground Terminal and to participate in ACES/Microwave Link time and frequency 

transfers, as well as international clock comparisons. NIST performed research, 

development, and evaluation of an ytterbium (Yb) optical lattice clock as a 
94Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

candidate for the Space Optical Clock program. NIST plans to demonstrate a highperformance optical microcomb that could be used in space for direct comparisons 

of optical and microwave clocks, in collaboration with scientists at the California 

Institute of Technology.

NIST helped resolve long-standing discrepancies in the data used to determine 

properties of hot astronomical objects observed by the Chandra X-ray Observatory 

and other x-ray missions. NIST collaborated with NASA, the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the Argonne National Laboratory to 

create atoms in the laboratory in the same extremely hot form as that found in 

high-energy astrophysical environments.

NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership

In the first three quarters of FY 2015, NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership 

(MEP) centers engaged in 173 projects with 141 individual manufacturing companies designated with an aerospace North American Industry Classification System 

(NAICS) number (NAICS 3364). The NIST MEP post-project, followup survey of 

aerospace NAICS companies revealed that MEP services resulted in the creation or 

retention of 3,350 aerospace jobs, over $122 million in new sales, nearly $155 million in retained sales, over $48 million in new investment, and nearly $29 million 

in cost savings.

International Trade Administration

Industry and Trade Policy

The Office of Transportation and Machinery (OTM) pursued multiple paths 

to promote exports of products and services to support the Next Generation Air 

Transportation System. OTM created and published an online NextGen Solutions 

Vendors Guide to help foreign customers identify U.S. companies that can provide products that meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation 

Organization’s (ICAO) Aviation System Block Upgrade (ASBU) technology roadmaps. In 2015, OTM helped to staff the FAA/NextGen booth at the third World 
95Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Air Traffic Management Congress in Madrid, Spain, in order to direct potential 

customers to U.S. exhibitors and non-exhibiting NextGen providers and promote 

opportunities for foreign delegates to meet with top FAA officials at the booth. 

OTM also took the opportunity to learn about the specific air-navigation procurement needs of various countries, counsel individual companies on NextGen-related 

prospects, and recruit participants for the NextGen Solutions Vendors Guide 

while at the Congress. OTM participated in a number of domestic conferences 

and exhibitions (such as the 59th Air Traffic Control Association Conference and 

Exhibition and the 2015 Air Transportation Information Exchange Conference) to 

discuss the future of the NextGen market with individual companies and learn of 

their particular regional interests.

OTM personnel also participated in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems 

Symposium and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International 

(AUVSI) Unmanned Systems 2015 Conference to engage with Government, 

academic, and industry stakeholders within the UAS community, to learn more 

about the projected market for UAS, to hear about the latest roadmaps for the 

technology, and to recruit participants for the National Aerospace Foreign Direct 

Investment Exposition. Additionally, OTM cultivated contacts with various state 

business development offices at Unmanned Systems 2015, with particular emphasis 

on the regions not represented by the FAA’s six UAS test sites. In addition, OTM 

contributed to the Global Markets Aerospace and Defense Team’s informational 

sessions at the conference.

OTM continued to support its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) to share data and aerospace information 

and to promote the competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation of the U.S. 

aerospace manufacturing industry. As part of this effort, ERAU is finalizing a virtual research partnership program in which ERAU-Worldwide students research 

topics suggested by the International Trade Administration (ITA).

Throughout the year, OTM personnel organized and led four meetings of the 

Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Aerospace Equipment. The committee 

provides advice to the Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative 

on aerospace-related trade policy issues.
96Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

ITA continued to support the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on issues 

relating to the enforcement of U.S. rights under the World Trade Organization 

concerning trade in civil aircraft. In particular, OTM has provided support for the 

ongoing U.S.–European Union (EU) trade dispute over subsidies to manufacturers 

of large civil aircraft, providing industry expertise in areas relating to changes in 

the market and actions of the major stakeholders.

ITA’s OTM and Office of Finance and Insurance Industries (OFII) continued 

to participate in the Group on the Sector Understanding on Export Credits for 

Civil Aircraft (the “Aircraft Sector Understanding” or ASU) at the Organization 

for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The governments of almost 

all countries with major aircraft manufacturers have signed the ASU, an annex to 

the OECD Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits, which establishes 

rules for export credit agencies. The OECD rules aim to ensure that governmentprovided export financing is not a competitive factor in civil-aircraft sales competitions. A new ASU, which had been completed in early 2011, went into full effect in 

2013 and still had observable aftermath in 2015. As a member of the U.S. delegation, ITA helped address the interests of industry during the implementation of the 

new ASU and monitored and provided advice on how Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank 

programs affect the aerospace industry.

ITA and NOAA continued their active participation in the implementation 

of the current National Space Policies, which include industrial base and competitiveness issues. ITA’s OTM actively participated in the implementation of 

several actions identified in the June 2010 National Space Policy, which revised 

and updated several aspects of the previous policies. OTM and NOAA continued 

to ensure that commercial interests would be adequately addressed and that all of 

the policies’ implementation actions would work toward improving U.S. industry’s 

competitiveness, stimulating the American economy, increasing exports, and creating U.S. jobs.

OTM continued to represent commercial remote sensing satellite industry interests within the Remote Sensing Interagency Working Group (RSIWG), led by the 

State Department. The RSIWG coordinates policy for the export of commercial 

remote sensing satellite systems and negotiates government-to-government agreements that address the safeguarding of those systems’ technology. The RSIWG 
97Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

consulted with several foreign countries on satellite cooperation and met with 

industry representatives to understand the impact on related businesses.

In June 2015, ITA organized and supported the Commerce Department’s participation in the Paris Air Show and arranged senior-level meetings for the Assistant 

Secretary for Industry and Analysis with foreign government and industry officials 

as well as U.S. industry executives. ITA/OTM met with numerous U.S. and foreign 

government and industry officials to discuss ongoing policy issues impacting the 

competitiveness of U.S. industry.

Industry and Trade Promotion

ITA conducted a number of trade promotion activities to encourage aviation 

infrastructure exports in FY 2015. In Brazil and China, ITA held airport roadshows 

to showcase U.S. technologies and services for airports and air traffic management 

and provide opportunities for U.S. companies to meet with airport planners. In 

Indonesia, ITA continued to develop the Aviation Working Group, a public-private 

initiative to help increase efficiency and safety in Indonesia’s aviation system. ITA 

also hosted Webinars to promote aviation infrastructure opportunities in India as 

a precursor to the first U.S.-India Strategic and Commerce Dialogue (S&CD) and 

the November U.S.-India Aviation Summit funded in part by the U.S. Trade and 

Development Agency.

ITA’s Global Aerospace and Defense Team, including Commercial Service 

(CS) personnel, affected deals with small- and medium-sized companies, as well as 

larger corporations such as Bell Helicopter, Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed 

Martin, and United Technologies Corporation.

The Global Team participated in over 30 domestic and international aerospace 

trade events at which team members supported U.S. industry with one-on-one 

counseling sessions, arranged individualized business-to-business meetings with 

international business partners, and provided additional export counseling services. ITA trade show support generated hundreds of trade leads for participating companies, allowing them to enter or expand their exports to international 

markets. These international trade events in FY 2015 included Helitech 2014, 

Expo Defensa, Airshow China, Aeromart Toulouse, the International Defense 
98Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), Avalon, Aero India, the Latin America 

Aerospace and Defence (LAAD) Defence and Security International Exhibition, 

Aircraft Interiors, the Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference 

(SOFEX), and the Paris Airshow. The Global Team also updated the 2014–15 edition of its Aerospace Resource Guide, which profiles market opportunities in over 

40 countries and was well received by industry.

Bureau of Industry and Security

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) continued to support the President’s 

Export Control Reform Efforts as they relate to spacecraft. On July 13, 2015, BIS 

published a final rule with clarifications and corrections to the current regulations 

on spacecraft and related items. The changes included in this rule were limited 

to corrections and clarifications to the regulations and were informed in large 

part by industry comments received during the first six months of using the new 

Commerce controls for spacecraft and related items. Overall, feedback on the new 

rules has been very positive and industry has commented that the rules have transformed the U.S. space industry’s ability to compete in foreign markets. As a result 

of the new regulations, BIS also began participating in the Commercial Satellite 

Technical Advisory Committee International Space Policy Working Group.
99Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Department of the In

DOI

Remotely sensed data and derived information contribute significantly to 

mission-critical work across the Department of the Interior (DOI). This DOI section highlights a sample of DOI remote sensing applications and illustrates a range 

of technology, platforms, and specialized sensors employed.

U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is both a user and a provider of remotely 

sensed data. The USGS manages the Landsat satellite series and a Web-enabled 

archive of global Landsat imagery dating back to 1972. The entire Landsat archive 

became available for download at no charge in December 2008, and by the end 

of September 2015, the user community had downloaded more than 29 million Landsat scenes. In addition to distributing aerial photography through the 

National Map, the USGS distributed and archived historical aerial photography, 

light detection and ranging (lidar) data, declassified imagery, hyperspectral imagery, data collected by Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and imagery from a variety of 

Government, foreign, and commercial satellites.

Alaska Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Project

The USGS Mineral Resources Program (MRP) used hyperspectral remote sensing 

at a variety of scales to characterize rocks and soils in selected areas of Alaska using 

laboratory, field-based, and airborne spectrometers. In July 2015, the USGS collaborated with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) to utilize their commercially 
100Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

purchased HySpex sensor in the field to image selected rock outcrops at very fine 

resolution (5-centimeter pixel size). More information is available online at http://

crustal.cr.usgs.gov/projects/hyperspectral-AK-mineral-deposits/index.html.

Fires Mapped by Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity Project 

Approaches 20,000

The Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) project is a collaborative effort 

between the United States Forest Service (USFS) Remote Sensing Applications 

Center (RSAC) and the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) 

Center that uses Landsat data from the archive at USGS EROS to assess burn 

severity for all known large fires (i.e., greater than or equal to 500 acres in the 

East, greater than or equal to 1,000 acres in the West) that have occurred on all 

lands in the United States since 1984. On October 1, 2014, RSAC released 563 fire 

assessments to the MTBS Web site. This release included 406 fires from 2013 from 

across the United States and 157 historical fires from Texas. This release brought 

the total to 18,497 fires that have been mapped across the United States and 

Puerto Rico. Another release in spring 2015 included over 1,800 historical U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service fires mapped by the USGS EROS over the past two years. 

The MTBS project provides a basis for local, regional, and national assessment of 

fire and its short- and long-term effects upon the landscape. More information is 

available online at http://www.mtbs.gov/ and http://eros.usgs.gov/landscape-dynamics/

fire-science.

Fog Frequency Map: Responding to Resource Manager Needs

In coastal California during the hot and dry Mediterranean-like summers, fog 

and low clouds strongly affect ecosystem dynamics by adding moisture and shading the land surface, thereby reducing plant evapotranspiration stress. However, 

the presence of fog and low clouds is highly variable from one nearby location 

to another and also varies from year to year. Public land managers needed maps 

to show the microclimatic conditions of the landscape to improve restoration 

and stewardship decisions. USGS scientists compressed nearly 30,000 hourly 
101 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

images derived by collaborators at the Cooperative Institute for Research in 

the Atmosphere from the Imager sensor on the Geostationary Operational 

Environmental Satellite (GOES) for June, July, August, and September over nine 

summers (1999–2009). Scientists used these data to create detailed maps showing areas with the most stable and highest probability of coastal fog cover and 

provided climate information to managers to inform their stewardship of the green 

infrastructure. More information is available online at http://climate.calcommons.

org/datasets/summertime-fog.

Groundwater Overdraft and Land Subsidence in California

USGS conducted studies in the San Joaquin Valley, in the Coachella Valley, 

and at the Army’s Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) to provide information that will allow various Federal, state, and local stakeholders to manage 

and minimize the impacts of land subsidence on both water-conveyance infrastructures and water deliveries in the two valleys and the aircraft runways at the 

NTC. The studies use conventional and persistent scatter remote sensing data 

(Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar [IfSAR]) derived from several satellites 

and GPS data to measure land surface elevation changes, which are then compared to groundwater levels and local geology. In the San Joaquin Valley, the study 

detected subsidence in nearly the entire valley, including parts of the California 

Aqueduct, the Delta-Mendota Canal, the San Joaquin River, the Eastside Bypass, 

the Friant-Kern Canal, and numerous local canals; maximum subsidence rates 

approached 12 inches (300 millimeters) per year and affected about 5,800 square 

miles (15,000 square kilometers) by at least 1 inch (25 millimeters) during 2008–10. 

In the Coachella Valley, the study measured as much as 24 inches (610 millimeters) 

of subsidence during 1995–2010 and required the realignment of the All-American 

Canal to mitigate current and potential future subsidence-induced damage. In Fort 

Irwin’s Bicycle Basin, the study measured as much as 16 inches (400 millimeters) 

of subsidence during 1992–2014 using IfSAR; the differential subsidence across the 

basin has caused ground fissuring on and near the runway. More information is 

available online at http://ca.water.usgs.gov/projects/central-valley/, http://ca.water.usgs.

gov/projects/coachella.html, and http://ca.water.usgs.gov/projects/2010-18.html.
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Landsat Seen as Stunning Return on Public Investment

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee’s Landsat Advisory Group—a 

team composed of commercial, state/local government, and nongovernmental 

organization (NGO) geospatial information experts—recently released an updated 

critical review of the value of Landsat data to the U.S. economy. The team of 

experts outlined 16 decision processes that would be substantially more expensive 

without an operational Landsat-like program. The team also included nongovernmental science applications where scarce research dollars cannot be wasted 

on inefficient technologies. Landsat is widely considered to be a crucial national 

asset, comparable in value to the satellite-based GPS system and the National 

Weather Service satellites. Ready access to Landsat imagery ensures a reliable and 

Landsat Application Estimated Annual Efficiency 

Savings

1. USDA Risk Management Agency Over $100 million

2. U.S. Government Mapping Over $100 million

3. Monitoring Consumptive Agricultural Water Use $20–$80 million

4. Monitoring Global Security $70 million

5. Landsat Support for Fire Management $28–$30 million

6. Forest Fragmentation Detection Over $5 million

7. Forest Change Detection Over $5 million

8. World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates Over $3–$5 million

9. Vineyard Management and Water Conservation $3–$5 million

10. Flood Mitigation Mapping Over $4.5 million

11. National Agriculture Commodities Mapping $1.9 million

12. Waterfowl Habitat Mapping and Monitoring $1.9 million

13. Coastal Change Analysis Program $1.5 million

14. Forest Health Monitoring $1.9 million

15. NGA Global Shoreline Over $90 million (one time)

16. Wildfire Risk Assessment $25–$50 million (one time)

This table shows estimated productivity savings from diverse uses of Landsat imagery. These 

16 Landsat applications alone produced savings of $350 million to over $436 million per year for 

Federal and state governments, NGOs, and the private sector.
103 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

standardized record of Earth conditions that contributes to the understanding 

of environmental challenges by citizens, researchers, and decision makers worldwide. More information is available online at https://www.fgdc.gov/ngac/meetings/

december-2014/ngac-landsat-economic-value-paper-2014-update.pdf.

Modeling Magma Intrusion in Hawaii with IfSAR

The Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii has been erupting continuously 

since 1983, providing volcanologists with unprecedented data on the internal 

“plumbing” of this shield volcano through which magma (molten rock) can travel. 

In early May 2015, deformation data, seismic data, and an abrupt drop in the 

level of the lava lake in Kilauea’s summit crater suggested movement of magma 

from beneath the summit to beneath its upper Southwest Rift Zone. IfSAR data 

confirmed this movement when two COnstellation of small Satellites for the 

Mediterranean basin Observation (COSMO)–SkyMed synthetic aperture radar 

images taken a few weeks apart with the same imaging geometry created an 

interferogram pinpointing the area of uplift caused by magma intrusion. IfSAR 

provided a valuable regional view of deformation on a volcano to complement 

data from ground-based monitoring instruments and provided an opportunity to 

model magma volume and depth, refining our understanding of the inner workings 

of volcanoes.

Oso Landslide: Fluvial Geomorphology

The massive Oso landslide in western Washington State deposited material over 

the entire width of the North Fork Stillaguamish River valley, causing the river 

to pool until water overtopped the landslide deposit and began incising a new 

channel. The uncertain stability of this new channel posed a potential hazard 

to the adjacent highway, while its progressive deepening and widening represented a substantial source of sediment for the river. To monitor the evolution of 

the newly formed channel, USGS scientists used a photogrammetric technique 

known as Structure from Motion (SfM). Conceptually similar to the process of 

extracting elevations from photo stereo pairs, SfM takes advantage of modern 
104Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

computational power and advances in computer vision to rapidly generate dense 

three-dimensional point clouds from photos that image a scene from multiple 

perspectives. Using a simple point-and-shoot camera mounted to a small plane, 

scientists generated 0.5-meter digital elevation models with positioning accuracies on the order of centimeters. The low cost per flight, in combination with the 

quick and straightforward processing pipeline, allowed scientists to acquire detailed 

topography every two to three weeks over the entire flood season and provide 

regular checks on changing channel alignments, as well as accurate estimates of 

erosion volumes. More information is available online at http://wa.water.usgs.gov/

projects/sr530/remotesensing.htm.

Polarimetric Radar, Oil Spill, and Gulf Coast Marshes

Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data collected by NASA’s 

Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) aircraft 

documented initial impacts and continue to monitor effects of the Deepwater 

Horizon (DWH) oil spill on Gulf Coast marshes (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.

marpolbul.2014.10.032). Researchers used ground, optical, and PolSAR data to map 

heavy shoreline oiling; however, only PolSAR mapping identified an expansive 

area of interior marsh that showed dramatic change from pre-spill conditions in 

2009 to post-spill conditions in 2010, even though no oil intrusion into the interior 

marshes was detected during the event in 2010. To determine whether the PolSAR 

change in interior marshes might be related to the DWH oil spill, researchers collected sediment samples along shorelines and within interior marshes in 2011, one 

year after the DWH spill. Analytical chemists at Louisiana State University and 

remote sensing analysts from USGS and NASA together determined that DWH 

oil extended beyond shorelines, suggesting that the oil spill could have affected 

much more of the southeastern Louisiana marshland than originally concluded 

from ground and optical surveys. Although a causal relationship cannot be proven 

in interior marshes, results also verified a spatial association between PolSAR 

change and oil occurrence. The UAVSAR system, with on-demand response, high 

spatial resolution, high repeat targeting, and high canopy-penetration capability, demonstrated its capability as a possible prototype for an oil-mapping system. 
105 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

More information is available online at http://cce.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/cce/cce_profile.

pl?project_group_id=2914.

Snow Depth Variability on Glaciers in Alaska

A quantitative understanding of snow accumulation on glaciers is essential to 

understanding glacier mass balance and provides insights into a wide range of 

scientific and resource management topics. The USGS Alaska Science Center 

continued using 500-megahertz ground penetrating radar (GPR) to map snow 

accumulation at multiple glaciers. This spatial variability allowed scientists to 

quantify the importance of regional controls, such as distance from moisture 

sources and rain-shadow effects from topographic features, as well as local controls 

that included terrain parameters such as elevation, aspect, slope, and shelter from 

prevailing winds. Multi-variable regressions with terrain parameters on a glacier-byglacier basis indicated elevation as the dominant local control, while other terrain 

parameters varied in importance. Although local parameters described much of 

the variation in snow, the models could not explain 20–40 percent of the observed 

variability, suggesting additional important processes. More information is available online at http://www.usgs.gov/climate_landuse/clu_rd/glacierstudies/default.asp.

Unveiling the Dark Side of the Moon

Permanently shadowed craters near the poles of the Moon may contain substantial ice deposits. The USGS supported the search for this ice by producing 

high-precision cartographic products from data collected by the NASA Lunar 

Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). These products included high-resolution maps of 

the polar regions in visible wavelengths and photogrammetrically corrected radar 

maps. More information is available online at http://astrogeology.usgs.gov.
106Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in concert with its international, 

Federal, tribal, state, local, and nongovernment organization partners, uses a large 

number of remote sensing technologies to find optimal solutions to monitor and 

manage fish and wildlife populations, habitats, waters, wetlands, and landscapes. 

The FWS utilizes acoustic GPS and radio telemetry sensors on fish and wildlife for 

time and location information tied to a variety of remote sensing image products, 

such as aerial and satellite optical imagery, as well as thermal, radar, sonar, and 

lidar imagery.

These images of the 20-kilometer impact crater Hermite A illustrate the challenges of mapping the 

lunar poles. At upper left is a mosaic of LRO Narrow Angle Camera images of the crater. The resolution is 0.5 meters per pixel, but the interior of the crater is permanently hidden in shadow. At the 

upper right is a preliminary mosaic of Mini-RF radar images. The radar “sees” into the entire crater, 

but errors in our knowledge of the spacecraft’s position when it took the different images in the mosaic 

result in substantial distortions. By tying the images together and solving for more accurate spacecraft 

positions, USGS cartographers produced a seamless mosaic (lower left). This image clearly depicts the 

interior of the crater in a realistic manner and aligns precisely with other kinds of data, permitting 

scientists to make detailed analyses. For example, by combining the mosaic with another one containing Mini-RF images illuminated from the opposite direction, intrinsic differences in radar brightness 

of the surface can be canceled out, producing a detailed image of the surface topography (lower right).
107 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Floodplain Inundation Frequency in the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Region

The extent and condition of large river floodplains greatly affect the quality 

of fish and wildlife habitat and the supply of important ecosystem goods and 

services. To better understand patterns of floodplain inundation, scientists used 

1,334 Landsat images over 51 Landsat scenes collected under a variety of hydrologic 

conditions from 1983 to 2011. Scientists classified each image into categories of wet 

and dry and, then, composited all images to develop a measure of relative floodplain 

inundation frequency for each Landsat scene (15–40 images per Landsat scene). 

Scientists developed an analytical methodology to link inundation frequency 

with gage measurement to develop measures of flood return frequency that could 

be tailored to the specific requirements of an individual species. Then, scientists 

merged the results from all 51 scenes to form a regional landscape mosaic of relative floodplain inundation frequency. These datasets have been used to determine 

optimal alligator gar (a giant freshwater fish) spawning locations along the lower 

Mississippi, Arkansas, and Trinity Rivers. This regional mosaic has also been used 

to inform land conservation prioritization in the Atchafalaya Basin and Mississippi 

Alluvial Valley, to estimate denitrification capacity within the Atchafalaya Basin, 

and to identify suitable environmental conditions for lidar acquisition.

Estimating Prescribed Fire Effects on Semidesert Vegetation Composition 

and Structure

National Wildlife Refuge System, Division of Biological Sciences

Semidesert grasslands in the arid Southwest have been substantially altered since 

the late 1800s by heavy livestock grazing, prolonged drought, and disrupted fire 

regimes. Prescribed fire plays a vital role in restoring the grassland vegetation and 

fuel bed conditions once maintained by frequent fire regimes. However, current fire 

management activities implemented at local to landscape scales must be compatible 

with the specific habitat requirements of threatened and endangered gallinaceous 

birds. Resource managers at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR) 

in southern Arizona juggle these dual environmental imperatives while providing 
108Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

habitat for threatened and endangered plant and animal species, with an emphasis 

on the critically endangered masked bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus ridgwayi).

FWS Southwest Fire Management and Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) 

Programs have sought to map fire perimeters greater than or equal to 9.9 acres 

(four hectares) in size using Landsat time-series imagery and pre- and post-fire normalized burned area ratio (NBR) to enhance vegetation and habitat monitoring 

efforts on southwestern refuge lands. FWS scientists used BANWR fire perimeters 

to develop fire frequency strata for sampling vegetation in areas with a frequency 

of low (0–2 fires), medium (3–4 fires), and high (5 fires or more) over the last three 

decades. Scientists also used data layers comprising three hillslope categories and 

50-meter-buffered roads to locate vegetation plots within the BANWR masked 

bobwhite management zone. Scientists categorized most fires within the zone as 

prescribed burns conducted between 1985 and 2014. Multivariate analyses indicated that semidesert vegetation composition on plots (n = 116 plots) appeared 

significantly different (A = 0.04, p-value < 0.001) among all three fire frequency 

strata. Areas with high fire frequency strongly correlated with high fine-fuel 

biomass dominated by Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana), an invasive 

perennial bunch grass introduced from South Africa in the 1930s. Areas of low to 

moderate fire frequency may favor a greater abundance of native plants or lack site 

conditions suitable for E. lehmanniana.

Mapping Dynamics of Wetlands in the Pacific Flyway

Intermountain West Joint Venture, Division of Migratory Birds

Researchers examined patterns of wetland availability and land-use practice 

within keystone migratory bird habitats in the Pacific flyway (southern Oregon 

and northeastern California). The results provided decision support for conservation partners to evaluate wetland and land-use benefits through an increased 

understanding of annual resource availability and water-use practices. Researchers 

modeled spatiotemporal dynamics in wetland productivity from freely available 

Landsat imagery to correlate satellite indices with net primary production, soil 

moisture, and open water extent over a 31-year span (1984–2015) to account for 

annual climatic variability. Images acquired from early spring through fall at 
109 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

16-day intervals measured seasonal changes in wetland condition. The results of 

this analysis identified bottlenecks in seasonal resource availability potentially 

affecting life-cycle needs of migratory birds and other wetland associated species. 

Researchers estimated the public and private land contribution to resource availability by evaluating patterns of land tenure influenced through annual and seasonal shifts in wetland condition.

MacFarlane Reservoir Bathymetric Survey, Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

The Water Resources Division of the Region 6 FWS generated elevation data for 

the creation of a storage-capacity curve for MacFarlane Reservoir, which supplies 

water to the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), located in north-central 

Colorado, and provides nesting and migration habitat for several bird species. An 

accurate storage-capacity curve is critical for design and analysis related to future 

repair work on the reservoir. The project involved collecting both bathymetric data 

and land and spillway elevations. Researchers collected bathymetric elevations of 

the reservoir bottom using the SonTek HydroSurveyor system, which consists of 

data-processing software, Real-Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTKGPS), and a five-beam depth Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) mounted to a boat. 

They collected land elevations by walking the perimeter of the lake with a Leica 

GPS 1200+ Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) base station with 1230+ 

SmartRovers. Researchers post-processed and merged all location data to create a 

dataset containing 166,000 elevation points; created a triangulated irregular network (TIN) and surface elevation rasters using Esri ArcGIS software; and, then, 

wrote a Python script to calculate the volume of water stored in the reservoir at 

different water surface elevations, yielding the storage-capacity curve.

Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requires field-based measurements to 

support management decisions covering vast expanses of land. The BLM is developing a core set of integrated and scalable remote sensing tools to provide an integrated, quantitative monitoring approach to efficiently and effectively document 
110Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

the impacts from authorized and unauthorized disturbance and land-treatment 

activities at local and regional scales.

Archaeological Site Characterization, Malta, Montana

In April 2015, the Bureau of Land Management National Operations Center 

(NOC) partnered with the BLM HiLine District Office in Montana to collect 

imagery over the Henry Smith archaeological site near the small town of Malta. 

The Henry Smith and Beaucoup sites are located in the Big Bend of the Milk 

Cultural Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which encompasses 

nearly 2,000 acres (809 hectares) in north-central Montana. The project also 

included a first-of-its-kind prescribed burn over a known cultural site to remove 

vegetation so that a more thorough and accurate aerial mapping mission could be 

accomplished. Products derived from this project included digital surface models 

and orthophotography.

Buffalo Field Office Cheatgrass Orthoimagery Project

The Wyoming State BLM continues to use digital aerial imagery to identify 

cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in a portion of the greater sage-grouse core and connectivity areas in northeastern Wyoming. Cheatgrass degrades sage-grouse habitat 

This orthophoto mosaic was derived from UAS-collected imagery of the Henry Smith Archaeological 

Site. North is oriented toward the top of the image.
111 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

mainly by carrying fire through the landscape and incinerating nests, eggs, and 

young. In 2015, the Buffalo Field Office contracted with the Wyoming Department 

of Transportation to collect digital aerial imagery for approximately 475 square 

miles (125,000 hectares) to identify cheatgrass in the cure stage and plan treatments for infestations to improve sage-grouse habitat. The 2015 area of interest 

included sections intensively developed for coalbed natural gas from 2003 to 2011, 

now being reclaimed.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) uses Landsat data to help monitor consumptive water use, map irrigated crops for estimating water demand, and monitor interstate and inter-basin water compact compliance throughout the western United 

States. Lidar data, multispectral aerial imagery, and sonar data also guide activities 

for ecological restoration of rivers in the West.

Colorado River Delta: Water for the Environment and Environmental Benefits

In 2012, the United States and Mexico signed the historic Minute 319 Agreement 

to improve binational water management of the Colorado River system. The agreement allowed for a one-time “pulse flow” release of 105,392 acre-feet (130 million 

cubic meters) of water from the Morelos Dam on the U.S. (Arizona)-Mexico border 

in March 2014 to restore the dry downstream stretch of the Colorado River Delta. 

Bureau of Reclamation scientists continued tracking the immediate and long-term 

effects of the flood pulse on the delta ecosystem using pre-pulse baseline vegetation 

information derived from WorldView-2 satellite imagery and lidar data, and they 

used Landsat and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data 

to analyze post-pulse biologic and hydrologic effects. More information is available 

online at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/feature/minute319.html.
112Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Road Planning at a Recreation Area

DOI Dakotas Area Office Reclamation Rural Water Division, Facilities and 

Engineering Division, Operations and Maintenance, and Environmental 

Resource Division

The DOI Dakotas Area Office (DKAO) used IfSAR point cloud data to create a 

new 1-foot (0.3-meter ) contour map to assist with a facilities engineering project to 

construct a recreational vehicle (RV) turnaround and cleaning station that could 

handle six RVs at one time, with an access road at least 150 feet (45.7 meters) from 

a county road corner for safety. The map also identified a section of an existing 

BOR gravel road that is too steep for maintenance and durability, prompting its 

closure and the diversion of traffic onto an alternate roadway.

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) remote 

sensing program provides high-resolution satellite imagery, aerial photography, and 

lidar data to analyze terrain, vegetation, and hydrologic function on active mine 

sites to ensure that reclamation is consistent with the approved mining permit. 

These data also support inventory, monitoring, and assessment of abandoned mine 

land features to ensure that there is no threat to the environment or to health and 

human safety.

Underground Coal Fires in New Mexico

Underground coal fires can burn for years, presenting a serious health and environmental hazard. The New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Program (NMAMLP) 

has contracted for several coal-fire assessments to assist with the development of 

mitigation/extinguishment plans for four underground coal fires in northern New 

Mexico: two in close proximity to Gallup, one north of Farmington, and one south 

of Raton. OSMRE funded the program and its reclamation projects through grants 

in accordance with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). 
113 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

In 2014–15, NMAMLP contracted Koveva, Ltd., to characterize the coal fires, 

including identifying local sources of fuel, estimating the extent and direction 

of fire propagation, and providing fire mitigation options derived from decision 

tree analysis methods. The contractor conducted ground surveys using a Trimble 

handheld GPS to map surface features such as mine workings, surface fissures, 

subsidence, and borehole locations; a Landtec GEM 5000 gas analyzer to identify 

combustion gases; a Picarro H0101 to measure methane flux from the ground above 

the suspected combustion zones; and a Geometric G-859 magnetometer to measure 

changes in magnetite minerals in rocks composing the overburden above the burning coal seam to map three detection regions: burned and cooled, actively burning, 

and unaltered. At the Biava (Gallup) site, the surveys indicated two distinct coal 

fires, a north fire and a south fire. Koveva data indicated that the south fire likely 

started at the ash outcrop in the southwest, burned into the formation to ignite 

coal underground, and moved northeast.

National Park Service

The National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program conducts 

baseline inventories for more than 270 parks across the Nation, using remote sensing data for information regarding geology, soils, vegetation, and infrastructure. 

Aerial photography and satellite imagery have been utilized to compile vegetation maps, a monumental task given that the agency has responsibility for over 

30 million acres (over 12 million hectares) and particularly critical for the remote 

and vast expanses of public land in Alaska. The NPS takes advantage of the free 

Landsat archive to quantify decadal changes in glacier ice cover and document 

land-cover change in national park units. NPS has sponsored the DOI Monitoring 

Trends in Burn Severity project to map all large wildland and prescribed fires 

using the Landsat archive. GPS also supports field data collection, navigation, and 

search-and-rescue operations conducted by the agency.
114Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Monitoring Coastal Change with High-Resolution Satellite Imagery in Alaska’s 

Arctic National Parks

Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network

The NPS continued using WorldView-2 high-resolution satellite imagery to 

monitor coastal change in Alaska’s arctic national parks with the help of the 

University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). The well-documented decrease in arctic 

sea ice cover in recent decades has raised concerns that the extensive coastlines of 

Cape Krusenstern National Monument and Bering Land Bridge National Preserve 

could be experiencing accelerated erosion and other detrimental impacts. The NPS 

obtained high-resolution satellite imagery in 2013 and 2014 through the USGS 

Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy (CRSSP) program (http://crssp.usgs.gov/) 

and used volunteers at UAF to compare shoreline positions and coastal landforms 

on these images with those from earlier satellite images and historical aerial photographs. Preliminary results showed interesting changes, such as the rapid erosion 

of ice-rich permafrost bluffs, large overwash events on low-lying barrier islands, spit 

formation, and lagoon breaching. More information is available online at http://

science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/arcn/vitalsign.cfm?vsid=7.

National Hydrography Dataset Update in Glacier Bay National Park 

and Preserve

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Team conducted a comprehensive 

update and densification of interior National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) data 

features for Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA). The GLBA NHD 

updates required a traditional image interpretation and manual data-editing process with key layers using Pleiades-1A, 0.5-meter resolution, color infrared (CIR) 

satellite imagery for visual validation of hydrography features, and IfSAR elevation 

data for validating water flow paths across the landscape surface. The CIR image 

captures reflectance data in the visible green through near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, helping interpreters to more effectively identify locations of water features 

since water clearly appears as black areas in the NIR wavelengths.
115 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Between 2003 and 2014, high waves breached the beach ridge on this barrier island in Bering Land 

Bridge National Preserve, Alaska, to form a new overwash feature.
116Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Bureau of Indian Affairs

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) applies remote sensing to activities such as 

planning land use, responding to non-point-source pollution affecting subsistence 

hunting and fishing, ameliorating climate-change effects such as sea-level rise for 

coastal tribes, locating and identifying potential dam hazards, and generating digital terrain data for the use of open-channel hydraulics.

Classifying Forest Types Using Remotely Sensed Imagery

The Penobscot Nation in Maine, a federally recognized Indian tribe, utilized 

remote sensing imagery to map forest resources on their reservation. The tribe 

hired a contractor to capture aerial color imagery at a scale of 1:15,840. After postcollection analysis of the acquired imagery, the contractor created a forest cover 

map for the 14,000-acre (5,666-hectare) Lakeville parcel. The map incorporated 

minor and major tree species (hardwoods and softwoods), stand density, and forest 

floor cover. This forest map enables the Penobscot Nation Forestry Program to 

determine which areas require silvicultural treatments.

Improving Tribal Land Management Through Remote Sensing

In 2015, the USGS program TEchnical training in Support of Native American 

Relations (TESNAR) sponsored the USGS Western Geographic Science Center 

(WGSC) in providing training to staff of the San Carlos Apache Tribe on landmanagement applications of airborne laser scanning (lidar) and field-based 

multispectral imaging and monitoring. The 1.8-million-acre San Carlos Apache 

Reservation in east-central Arizona, the third largest reservation in the U.S. 

Southwest, encompasses diverse topography and ecology that support a broad 

array of vegetation types and habitats, from forest and woodland to grassland and 

desert. The San Carlos Apache Tribe’s economy depends on sustainable forestry 

and ranching, making effective land management critical because of the challenges of persistent drought and climate change, along with limited personnel and 

financial resources.
117 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Federal Communicati

Commission

FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formulates rules to facilitate 

the provision of commercial satellite services in the United States. It also issues 

licenses for the deployment and operation of all nongovernmental U.S. satellites. 

Internationally, the FCC coordinates satellite radio-frequency usage with other 

countries. The FCC’s accomplishments for FY 2015 related primarily to commercial communications and remote sensing satellites, as well as amateur and experimental satellites.

In FY 2015, the FCC authorized a number of commercial communication satellite deployments and operations. These authorizations included the following:

• January 22, 2015: To Intelsat License, LLC, to construct, deploy, and operate a C- and Ku-band satellite at the longitude 55.5° west orbit location, 

which will take over service from the Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11 satellites.

• March 4, 2015: To DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC, to construct, deploy, 

and operate a Ku-band satellite at the longitude 45.2° west orbit location. 

DIRECTV plans to provide high-definition programming to Brazil.

• March 12, 2015: To DISH Operating, LLC, to construct, deploy, and operate a direct broadcast service satellite at the longitude 109.9° west orbit 

location, which will take over service from the EchoStar 10 satellite.

• April 2, 2015: To SES Americom, Inc., to operate a C- and Ku-band satellite at the longitude 103° west orbit location, as a replacement for the 

AMC-1 satellite. The portion of the satellite capable of operating in the 

17/24-gigahertz band is also separately authorized by Industry Canada.
118Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

• May 11, 2015: To Skynet Satellite Corporation, to deploy and operate a 

Ku- and Ka-band satellite at the longitude 15° west orbit location.

• May 20, 2015: To DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC, to construct, deploy, and 

operate a Ka-band satellite at the longitude 102.75° west orbit location.

• May 21, 2015: To Intelsat License, LLC, to construct, deploy, and operate 

a C-, Ku-, and Ka-band satellite at the longitude 50° west orbit location, 

which will take over service from the Intelsat 1R satellite.

The FCC saw an increase in the number of applications it received for experimental operations by nongovernmental small satellites—from 44 in FY 2014 to 

59 in FY 2015. These satellites operate in low-Earth orbit. Many of the experimental grants by the FCC for small-satellite operations went to universities and 

institutions conducting research and developing new spacecraft technologies. The 

satellites’ missions included data transmission demonstrations, Earth and space 

imaging, weather monitoring, atmospheric measurements, and the testing of spacecraft hardware and software in development for future missions.

The FCC continued to authorize commercial small-satellite operations as well. 

During FY 2015, Planet Labs, Inc., completed deployment of all the small satellites 

it had requested to deploy and operate under its initial FCC commercial authorization. On October 23, 2014, the FCC granted authority to Planet Labs to expand its 

constellation of Earth-imaging satellites by adding up to 500 new small satellites, 

to be deployed from the International Space Station.

In FY 2015, the FCC also granted experimental authority to Orbital ATK for the 

testing of a spacecraft antenna system.

The FCC granted a number of license modifications and Special Temporary 

Authorizations for satellite networks. Many involved routine testing or redeployment of satellites within a multi-satellite system. Several of these actions, however, 

warrant particular mention:

• November 26, 2014, and April 30, 2015: The FCC granted the request 

of XM Radio, LLC, to drift the XM-1 satellite to the longitude 39° west 

orbit location before beginning the process of raising the satellite to 

disposal orbit.

• May 28, 2015: The FCC granted authority to SES Americom, Inc., to 

operate its AMC-1 satellite at the longitude 129.15° west orbit location, 
119 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

in accordance with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 

filings of Gibraltar.

• July 30, 2015, and September 10, 2015: The FCC granted the requests of 

Satellite CD Radio, LLC, to operate its FM-1, FM-2, and FM-3 nongeostationary satellites with relaxed orbital parameters in order to conserve fuel 

for eventual satellite disposal maneuvers.

The FCC also added two non-U.S.-licensed space stations to its permitted list to 

allow these space stations to provide domestic and international satellite service to 

U.S. earth stations that have routine technical parameters:

• November 20, 2014: The FCC added Hispasat, S.A.’s Amazonas-1 satellite 

to the permitted list, operating under the authority of Spain and using 

the Ku-band at the longitude 55.5° west orbit location. Amazonas-1 had 

previously been on the permitted list at a different orbit location.

• June 11, 2015: The FCC added Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.’s Eutelsat 

115 West B satellite to the permitted list, operating under the authority 

of Mexico and using the C- and Ku-bands at the longitude 114.9° west 

orbit location. Eutelsat 115 West B was authorized to replace the service 

provided by Eutelsat 115 West A at the same orbit location.

In addition, the FCC took several actions on requests for non-U.S.-licensed 

space stations to provide service in the United States on a nonroutine basis:

• January 8, 2015: At the request of Inmarsat plc, the FCC made a modification to the “ISAT List,” a list of approved satellites in the Inmarsat system 

for U.S. earth stations to access, by changing the listed location of the 

Inmarsat-4 F3 satellite to the longitude 98° west orbit location.

• March 30, 2015: The FCC granted Inmarsat Mobile Network, Inc.’s application to construct and operate an earth station facility in Minnesota to 

communicate with the recently deployed Inmarsat-5 F2 satellite, operating 

under the authority of the United Kingdom and using the Ka-band at the 

longitude 55° west orbit location.

• June 23, 2015: The FCC granted the request of Hughes Network Systems, 

LLC, to modify its grant of market access to the United States for its 

planned Jupiter 97W satellite, using the Ka-band at the longitude 97.1° west 

orbit location. Hughes had requested to change the licensing authority 
120Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

for Jupiter 97W from the United Kingdom to Papua New Guinea and 

to access the United States market using additional Ka-band frequencies.

• August 20, 2015: The FCC granted authority to Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. 

de C.V., to access the United States market using its planned Satmex 9 satellite, operating under the authority of Papua New Guinea and using the 

L-band at the longitude 117° west orbit location. Satmex 9’s operations in 

the L-band will provide support to the Federal Aviation Administration’s 

Wide Area Augmentation System for air navigation.
121 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

U.S. Departme

Agricult

USDA

Farm Service Agency

Since the 1930s, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) has been tasked with administering farm commodity, credit, conservation, disaster, and loan programs as laid 

out by Congress through a network of Federal, state, and county offices. Because 

everything FSA does is tied to the land, geospatial systems and data have played a 

fundamental role in FSA’s program delivery.

FSA’s core spatial dataset, the Common Land Unit (CLU) layer, is a dynamically 

updated, nationally consistent digital dataset representing farm and field boundaries. Integrated with associated nonspatial farm data in a common foundational 

system, it allowed producers to provide core information once and, leveraging 

advancements in geospatial technology, helped the agency ensure accurate and 

consistent information. FSA used geospatial data, including the CLU, to support 

producer crop-reporting activities and the administration of conservation, commodity, and lending programs.

Remotely sensed data, such as Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 

(MODIS), Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS), and other high-resolution aerial 

and satellite imagery collected as a result of interagency coordination, are examples 

of imagery sources used during periods of 2015 disaster recovery to support disaster 

programs such as the Emergency Loan and Emergency Conservation Programs.

As the primary source of aerial imagery for the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA), FSA administered the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP), 
122Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

leveraging partnership funds from other Federal, state, and local entities to acquire 

imagery during the growing season over the contiguous United States. In 2015, 

FSA acquired nearly 1.8 million square miles of four-band (natural color and nearcolor infrared) imagery in 25 states. FSA also advanced the Early Access Web 

Services (EAWS) out of initial pilot status in 2014. EAWS provided minimally 

processed NAIP imagery Web services, direct from the flying contractor to the 

end customer, between two and seven days after acquisition. This allowed FSA 

and partner agencies to perform time-sensitive work with the most current imagery 

available months in advance of receiving production-level NAIP imagery. In addition to distributing the most up-to-date NAIP imagery, FSA also hosted a large 

imagery archive that was accessible to Federal agencies and the public through the 

USDA Geospatial Data Gateway.

Foreign Agriculture Service

The Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Office of Global Analysis (FAS/OGA) 

served as a major source of objective and reliable global agricultural production 

information to the USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand 

Estimates (WASDE) report, the primary source of USDA’s global commodity 

outlook. The monthly WASDE reports provided public access to information 

affecting world food security and crucial to decisions affecting U.S. agriculture, 

trade policy, and food aid. FAS/OGA used satellite imagery at regional, national, 

and subnational scales to monitor and analyze the impact of weather events that 

affected crop production, area, and yield worldwide. FAS archived and displayed 

global monthly crop production, supply, and distribution (PSD) data from USDA’s 

WASDE report on the FAS PSD Online Web site (http://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/

psdhome.aspx).

The International Production Assessment Division (IPAD) operated the remote 

sensing program at FAS/OGA. Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 served as the primary 

satellites utilized by FAS/OGA/IPAD for mapping crop area and type for numerous countries worldwide, whereas and NASA’s MODIS sensor on board the Aqua 

and Terra satellites monitored crop conditions and relative crop yields. The 

USDA-NASA Global Agricultural Monitoring (GLAM) Web system displayed 
123 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

and archived historical MODIS-Terra (i.e., 2000–present) and MODIS-Aqua (i.e., 

2002–present) imagery, and the GLAM Web interface easily allowed public users 

to analyze and compare current crop conditions with past years’.

FAS/OGA also maintained several public global agricultural datasets by 

processing, archiving, and displaying on the Web a variety of satellite imagery 

products. The FAS/OGA Crop Explorer Web system monitored and displayed 

rainfall, temperature, soil moisture, and vegetation conditions by utilizing satellite imagery from NASA’s Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), NASA’s 

Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), and NOAA’s Polar-orbiting Operational 

Environmental Satellites (POES). In addition, the Global Reservoir and Lake 

Monitor (G-REALM) monitored and displayed reservoir and lake water heights by 

utilizing satellite radar altimeter data from NASA’s Ocean Topography Experiment 

(TOPEX)/Poseidon, Jason-1, and Jason-2 satellites.

FAS/OGA also managed USDA’s Satellite Imagery Archive (SIA) program 

and displayed all moderate-resolution satellite imagery archived via SIA’s Archive 

Explorer (AE). In 2000, the USDA’s Remote Sensing Coordinating Committee 

(RSCC) established the SIA program, which is chaired by the USDA’s Remote 

Sensing Advisor. During 2015, the USDA/FAS purchased satellite imagery with 

22-meter spatial resolution from the Deimos-1 and UK-DMC2 satellites, then 

archived it via SIA’s AE. FAS/OGA used the Deimos-1 and UK-DMC2 satellite 

imagery covering the lower 48 U.S. states to map crop type for the 2015 United 

States crop season and to monitor crop damage caused by natural disasters such as 

drought, fires, diseases, or insects.

Forest Service

As the primary forestry agency of the United States and the largest agency in 

the USDA, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) continues to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands. This work encompasses 

partnerships with states, tribes, and other Federal agencies to address forestry and 

natural resource issues; administration and management of 155 national forests and 

20 national grasslands collectively known as National Forest System (NFS) lands, 

totaling 193 million acres; and assistance to private land owners and state, tribal, 
124Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

and community forestry agencies in the stewardship of approximately 500 million 

acres of non-Federal forest lands.

In FY 2015, the USFS collaborated with NASA, NOAA, the USGS, and other 

agencies to apply operational satellite and airborne imagery and the most advanced 

remote sensing and geospatial technologies. Specific accomplishments included 

the following:

• Collected comprehensive Earth Observing System (EOS), MODIS, and 

Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) Visible Infrared 

Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) direct-broadcast data and Landsat 8 

Operational Land Imager (OLI) data via the USGS’s Earth Resources 

Observation Systems (EROS) for the United States and Canada. Provided 

operational processing and dissemination of near-real-time fire mapping 

and geospatial data products to fire managers and the general public. 

(http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us)

• Continued activities with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Direct 

Readout Laboratory under a USFS-NASA interagency agreement to test 

and operationally implement direct-readout technologies, including land, 

atmospheric, and ocean science processing algorithms for EOS and Suomi 

NPP sensors, to support evolving resource management and operational 

information needs. (http://directreadout.fs.fed.us)

• Continued operational processing and analysis of MODIS and Landsat 

imagery for systematic detection of forest damage and changing forest 

health conditions in our Nation’s forests. (http://foresthealth.fs.usda.gov/

portal/Flex/FDM?dL=0)

• Continued to distribute 250-meter forest attribute data surfaces derived 

from MODIS imagery and other geospatial predictor data using nearest neighbor imputation methods. (http://data.fs.usda.gov/geodata/

rastergateway/forest_type/index.php)

• Continued to distribute 250-meter forest carbon estimates derived from 

MODIS imagery and other geospatial predictor data using nearest neighbor imputation methods. (http://data.fs.usda.gov/geodata/rastergateway/

biomass/index.php)
125 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

• Continued conducting limited operational wildfire mapping missions 

using the Autonomous Modular Sensor (AMS) via coordination between 

the USFS and NASA Ames Research Center’s Airborne Science Program.

• Coordinated with Ames Research Center to further develop the AMS 

onboard processing system capabilities and user interface to support additional testing and integration flights on USFS aircraft.

• Continued coordination with Goddard Space Flight Center on testing and evaluation of the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric 

Correction (MAIAC) for MODIS, along with its potential use for land 

and atmospheric remote sensing applications.

• Operationally applied Earth Observing 1 Advanced Land Imager 

Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) and Landsat 8 OLI imagery to respond to approximately 188 requests to map the location, extent, 

and severity of large wildfires in 2014 and 2015 to support post-fire emergency stabilization/hazard mitigation activities and forest restoration planning/management activities. (http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/baer and http://

www.fs.fed.us/postfirevegcondition)

• Continued to operationally apply Landsat 4/5 Thematic Mapper (TM) 

and Landsat 7 ETM imagery to inventory, map, and characterize historical large fires to assess the effectiveness of national fire management policies as part of the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) project. 

MTBS mapping activities through FY 2015 include the completion of 

19,200 historical fires (~142 million burned acres) spanning from 1984 to 

2014. (http://www.mtbs.gov)

• Coordinated with the University of Maryland and NASA under the auspices of a NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 

(ROSES) A35 Wildfires Project to implement the 375-meter VIIRS I-band 

active fire detection product as part of operational USFS strategic fire 

detection and monitoring program activities. (http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us)

• Coordinated with the University of Maryland, NASA, and the USGS 

under the auspices of a NASA ROSES A35 Wildfires Project to execute 

and test Landsat 8 prototype active fire detection algorithms and evaluate 

derived output products to support USFS operational fire support activities.
126Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

• Continued technology transfer activities between the USFS and Ames 

Research Center regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and 

related technologies under the auspices of the NASA-USFS Wildfire 

Research Applications Partnership and a USFS-NASA interagency agreement. (http://geo.arc.nasa.gov/sge/WRAP/index.html)

• Coordinated with Ames Research Center on advancing the Thermal 

Mapping Airborne Simulator (TMAS) (developed under the NASA 

Small Business Innovation Research [SBIR] program) and the Staring 

Wide Area Imager (StareWAI) to higher Technology Readiness Levels 

(TRLs), as well as phasing into USFS tactical fire-mapping operations in 

the future.

• Used imagery from Landsat 5 TM and from Landsat 8 OLI and NAIP to 

initiate, complete, and update mid-level vegetation-mapping products for 

national forest lands and adjacent land areas throughout the country.

• Completed Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) data for the continental United 

States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands using 

imagery from Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 OLI and NAIP as part of the 

Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC) National 

Land Cover Database (NLCD) 2011 update and also initiated production 

on NLCD TCC 2016.

• Expanded the use of Landsat TM/ETM/OLI time-series stacks to detect 

and monitor forest land-cover change from the mid-1980s to the present 

in the watersheds of the Great Lakes and all national forests in the Pacific 

Northwest. This activity is now being conducted using automated changedetection capabilities in the Google Earth Engine.

• Used Landsat TM/ETM/OLI and NAIP imagery in conjunction with 

other core geospatial datasets to conduct ecological and soil-type mapping on NFS lands in the northeast and western United States, which 

the USFS, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and other 

agencies apply to resource management, planning, and decision making. 

(http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/rsac/programs/teui/about.html)

• Progressed toward a comprehensive and consistent land-cover/land-use 

monitoring system, the Landscape Change Monitoring System (LCMS), 
127 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

for the continental United States. LCMS utilizes Landsat TM/ETM/OLI 

time-series stacks to detect and monitor land-cover/land-use change from 

the mid-1980s to the present across all administrative ownerships. This 

effort is being conducted in collaboration with several Federal and academic partners. (http://larse.forestry.oregonstate.edu/lcms-landscape-changemonitoring-system and http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/?p=10868)

• Continued to develop standards and practices for integrating light 

detection and ranging (lidar) into forest and resource management (i.e., 

defining acquisition specifications, data-quality assessment, analysis/modeling procedures for forest parameters, etc.). Continued to expand USFS 

involvement in the USGS 3D Elevation Program to ensure consistent 

acquisition specifications and to minimize redundant collections by partnering with other state and Federal entities on data acquisitions.

• Continued working with the NASA Applied Remote Sensing Training 

(ARSET) program to enhance NASA and Forest Service remote sensing 

training programs and leverage existing Forest Service training investments to increase awareness about emerging technologies and practical 

resource applications.

National Agricultural Statistics Service

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) used remote sensing data 

to construct and sample area frames for agricultural statistical surveys, to estimate 

crop area and yield, and to continue contributing to a NASA science grant on fallowed California agricultural land. Additionally, NASS published papers describing 

a new area frame stratification method based on geospatial crop-planting frequency 

data layers and an interdisciplinary methods paper on crop yield.

NASS used Landsat imagery, digital NAIP orthophoto quadrangles, and other 

remotely sensed inputs for the contiguous United States and Puerto Rico to select 

the yearly area-based samples for the June Agricultural Survey. In addition, NASS 

updated new area-based sampling frames for Nebraska and Wisconsin.

NASS fully implemented the geospatial Cropland Data Layer (CDL)–based 

automated stratification method into area frame operations, resulting in new state 
128Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

area frames being built at reduced cost with improved objectivity, efficiency, and 

accuracy. The CDL data are used as the basis for the objective stratification of 

NASS area frame primary sampling units rather than visual interpretation of aerial 

photography or satellite data.

The remote sensing acreage estimation program used Disaster Monitoring 

Constellation (DMC) and Landsat data to produce crop acreage estimates for crops 

at the state and county levels during the 2015 crop year. Acreage estimates were 

created for all market-sensitive crops and states. NASS’s Agricultural Statistics 

Board (ASB) was able to utilize the remote sensing acreage indications as independent input for setting the official estimates for its monthly Crop Production 

Reports. Analysts derived remote sensing–based acreage indications from the 

CDL. The primary satellite imagery inputs were from the Foreign Agricultural 

Service’s Satellite Imagery Archive, which provided growing-season coverage 

with DMC imagery through a cooperative partnership while utilizing growingseason Landsat 8 imagery. In addition, NASS distributed the CDL for 48 states 

to stakeholders for the previous 2014 crop season via the USDA Geospatial Data 

Gateway and the CropScape data visualization portal at http://nassgeodata.gmu.

edu/CropScape.

NASS utilized NASA MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 

products for modeling corn and soybean yield indications over the 12 largest production states. Updated yield estimates were delivered operationally to the ASB 

as an independent indication for setting official August, September, and October 

yield estimates by state, district, and county. MODIS Land Surface Temperature 

(LST) products served as an independent variable for yield estimation.

NASS is developing a Decision Support System, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Nebraska, to improve 

yield forecasts using crop indicators obtained during critical stages of the crop’s 

growing season. A study is being conducted that focuses on the evaluation of the 

potential use of satellite data, crop simulation models, and/or mathematical models 

to develop critical crop indicators. Research objectives include 1) the determination of corn and soybean phenological critical stages; 2) how critical stages can 

be predicted or identified using remote sensing, mathematical models (i.e., crop 

simulation models), and/or a combination of these techniques; 3) how to retrieve 
129 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

and relate information about soil moisture, spectral reflectance, and other available 

products during critical stages; and 4) how to develop metrics at critical stages or 

critical crop indicators to improve corn and soybean yield forecasts.

The Web-based national vegetation condition geospatial portal VegScape (http://

nassgeodata.gmu.edu/VegScape) continued to deliver timely crop condition vegetation indices based on MODIS daily, weekly, and biweekly products throughout 

the growing season. VegScape showed crop condition/vegetation greenness and 

drought anomaly assessments. NASS continued work on a NASA science grant 

titled “Fallowed Area Mapping for Drought Impact Reporting and Decision 

Making,” to which NASS contributed monthly growing-season CDL-based fallowed land estimates for California water resource stakeholders.
130Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

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131 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

National Sc

Foundati

NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) continued to serve as the lead Federal 

agency for the support of ground-based astronomy and space science. Through the 

divisions of Astronomical Sciences, Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, Polar 

Programs, and Physics, the NSF sponsored a broad base of observational, theoretical, and laboratory research aimed at understanding the states of matter and 

physical processes in the universe. Areas of research ranged from the most distant 

reaches of the universe and the earliest moments of its existence to nearby stars 

and planets—including our own sun and planetary system—and Earth’s atmosphere and space environment.

Division of Astronomical Sciences

The Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) within the Mathematics and 

Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate supported the development of advanced 

technologies and instrumentation for astronomical sciences, in addition to providing core support for the optical and radio observatories with state-of-the-art 

instrumentation and observing capabilities accessible to the community on the 

basis of scientific merit. The NSF’s national astronomical facilities included the 

National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), the Arecibo Observatory (AO), 

the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), and the National Solar 

Observatory (NSO). The NSF also served as the executive agency for the Gemini 

Observatory—an international partnership operating optical/infrared telescopes 
132Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres—providing the United States’ 

share of support for the program.

During FY 2015, AST, in partnership with Europe, Canada, Japan, Republic of 

Korea, and Taiwan, completed construction of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an interferometer located near San Pedro de Atacama, 

Chile. Science operations continued with a steadily increasing set of capabilities, 

and researchers obtained spectacular images of planetary systems in the process 

of formation.

AST continued its oversight of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST—

previously referred to as the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope, or ATST), 

the next-generation U.S. ground-based solar telescope. DKIST is the result of a 

collaboration of scientists from more than 20 institutions representing a broad segment of the U.S. solar physics community, and it had previously earned the strong 

recommendation of the National Research Council of the National Academy of 

Sciences. When completed in 2019, DKIST will be the world’s flagship groundbased telescope designed specifically for the study of solar magnetic fields on scales 

as small as 30 kilometers. In August of 2013, the National Science Board approved 

a new baseline cost for the DKIST project of $344.13 million. The fabrication of 

the major telescope subsystems and instruments is ongoing, as is the construction 

of the facility on the Haleakala, Hawaii, site. As of the end of FY 2015, the project 

is currently on budget and scheduled to begin operations in late 2019. Construction 

of the DKIST facility is led by the National Solar Observatory (NSO). In August of 

2014, the National Science Board approved the renewal of the cooperative agreement (CA) for the operations and management of the NSO for a period of ten 

years. The renewed CA and a new cooperative support agreement (CSA) passed in 

June of 2015, with the approved budget including a funding ramp for the DKIST 

operations beginning in FY 2015 and increasing to a steady-state cost of approximately $17 million in FY 2019, with costs beyond 2019 adjusted for inflation.

The importance of the potential impacts of space weather on the Nation’s critical infrastructure has raised the level of awareness of space weather within the 

Federal Government. Personnel from MPS/AST, along with colleagues from the 

Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)/Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS), 

participated in the National Science and Technology Council’s (NSTC) Space 
133 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM) multi-agency task force. 

The NSTC tasked SWORM with developing a National Space Weather Strategy 

(NSWS) and an associated National Space Weather Action Plan. The White House 

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) hosted an event rolling out the 

NSWS entitled “Enhancing National Preparedness for Space-Weather Events.” This 

increased level of awareness of space weather has resulted in renewed interest in 

the data products provided by NSO’s Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) 

facility, which provides detailed synoptic solar data crucial to operational space 

weather forecasting. This interest led to the development of a draft Memorandum 

of Understanding (MOU) between the NSF and the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for joint funding in support of GONG 

operations and the continued production of GONG operational data products.

In FY 2015, technicians began the construction of the Large Synoptic Survey 

Telescope (LSST) project. NSF project managers negotiated and issued major 

contracts for the site and building in Chile, the telescope mount assembly (the 

major moving pieces), the dome, the mirror support systems, and many other 

parts. The innovative M1M3 (primary/tertiary mirror) mirror complex passed its 

acceptance tests and went into storage. Meanwhile, the NSF’s Federal partner, 

the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of High Energy Physics (HEP), received 

Critical Decision–3 (CD-3) approval to spend equipment funds on major items. 

LSST met their last Critical Decision milestone, which gained them full project 

support from the NSF. In its ten-year prime mission, imaging the entire accessible sky many hundreds of times, the survey will populate a science-ready database 

of unprecedented size, enabling breakthrough research in dark energy and dark 

matter, in galactic structure, and in solar system astronomy. Its relentless repeated 

observations will also open up the time domain and will revolutionize the study 

of transient events. At the end FY 2015, construction remained on schedule for 

“first light” in 2020, followed by two years of commissioning to shake down and 

tune all the complex interrelated operating systems. The NSF expects full science 

observing to start in 2022 and to generate 30–40 terabytes every night, night after 

night, for at least ten years. DOE is funding the camera in a project led by the 

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) National Accelerator Laboratory. The 

NSF funded the telescope, building, site, network and software pipelining, and 
134Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

data management systems that allow specialized access separately for research and 

for education and public outreach. Long-lead-time items and technology development essential for mitigating risks identified early in the project came from private 

funding. The NSF and DOE planned to support installation and commissioning 

together and to augment their operations funding by negotiating contributions 

from international partners.

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) is a six-meter-diameter millimeterwave telescope located at 5,200 meters (17,000 feet) on Cerro Toco in the Atacama 

Desert of northern Chile, near the ALMA site. It is designed to measure minute 

variations in the intensity of the cosmic microwave background (CMB)—the 

radiation at microwave wavelengths that is a remnant of the Big Bang—to study 

how the universe began, what it is made of, and how it evolved to its current state. 

In FY 2015, project personnel observed with and analyzed data from a new camera 

called ACT Polarimeter (ACTPol), which studies the polarization properties of 

the CMB. AST’s Mid-Scale Innovations Program (MSIP) granted a new five-year 

award to undertake development of an upgrade to the ACTPol receiver designed 

to operate at four frequencies, based upon new multi-chroic detectors (allowing 

increased sensitivity and spectral resolution) developed by the ACT team with 

NASA support.

The Polarization of Background Radiation (POLARBEAR) telescope is a 

three-meter-diameter off-axis millimeter-wave antenna designed to measure, like 

ACTPol, the polarization of CMB radiation to search for “B-modes” with a very 

large field of view. The observatory is located near the ACT and ALMA facilities 

on the Chilean Atacama plateau. In FY 2015, construction began on two additional telescopes under private funding from the Simons Foundation, including the 

pouring of concrete pads and other infrastructure developments. Also in FY 2015, 

MSIP granted a new award to support observations and data analysis with the new 

three-telescope POLARBEAR configuration.

Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences

The Geospace Section (GS) within the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace 

Sciences (AGS) supported a wide variety of research programs in space science in 
135 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

FY 2015. These included the funding of advanced radar systems to study the ionosphere and magnetosphere, ground-based optical equipment to study the aurora 

and airglow, partial support to ground-based solar telescopes and instruments, 

and a wide-ranging portfolio of basic research in space physics. Major GS-funded 

activities in FY 2015 included the Geospace Facilities (GF) program; the Space 

Weather Research (SWR) program; the Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of 

Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) program; the Geospace Environment Modeling 

(GEM) program; and the Solar, Heliosphere, and INterplanetary Environment 

(SHINE) program.

The NSF implemented the GS’s Faculty Development in Space Sciences (FDSS) 

Program in FY 2004 to ensure the health and vitality of solar and space sciences 

within university teaching faculties; it offers five-year awards for the creation of 

new tenure-track faculty positions within the intellectual disciplines that compose 

the space sciences. FDSS made two new awards in FY 2015 under this program, 

resulting in one new space physicist hired as tenure-track faculty at the University 

of Minnesota and a search process launched for another hire at the University of 

Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In FY 2015, the AGS approved the development of an airborne infrared spectrometer (AIR-Spec) for coronal emission line observations. AGS planned the 

instrument for making measurements of the solar corona in the infrared spectrum during total solar eclipses, such as the upcoming North American event on 

August 21, 2017. AGS designed AIR-Spec to fly on the NSF/National Center for 

Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Gulfstream V research aircraft, making it possible 

to avoid subpar weather conditions and water vapor absorption.

Throughout FY 2015, the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) 

for space weather research, cosponsored by the NSF (GS of AGS) and NASA and 

located at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, continued to provide the research 

community with access to state-of-the-art space weather models and conducted 

important model-validation activities necessary for transitioning research models 

into operational use.

Research facilities remained as the key component of GS efforts. The Geospace 

Facilities program in FY 2015 continued to enable basic research on the structure 

and dynamics of Earth’s upper atmosphere. In particular, the CEDAR and GEM 
136Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

programs conducted research efforts utilizing these facilities. Throughout FY 2015, 

observations made by the Advanced Modular Incoherent-Scatter Radar (AMISR) 

at Poker Flat, Alaska, demonstrated the unique capabilities of this new instrument, 

including its ability to image the ionospheric effects of auroral particle precipitation in three dimensions. These observations provided a wealth of data particularly 

useful to modelers interested in validating space weather models. A second AMISR 

system has been operating at Resolute Bay in Arctic Canada since 2009. This radar 

is ideally situated to observe the properties of the ionosphere in the polar cap, a 

region that is characterized by high ionospheric variability that often causes disruption of important navigation and communication systems.

In FY 2015, the GS continued to support its program for CubeSat-based smallsatellite science missions for geospace and atmospheric research and education. 

During FY 2015, two projects continued to operate successfully in space and two 

new missions launched. All provided high-quality observations and scientific findings. Another three exciting CubeSat science projects began in FY 2015, adding 

new capabilities and breadth to the overall CubeSat program that, with this addition, has grown the total number of past and current CubeSat projects to 15.

In FY 2015, the GS continued to support the satellite-based Active 

Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE), 

which is now in its second implementation phase, AMPERE-II. AMPERE utilized 

the 66 networked satellites of the existing Iridium constellation to create a new 

facility for collecting geomagnetic field data. The AMPERE facility has been providing the first-ever global observations of the electric currents that link Earth’s 

magnetosphere and ionosphere and the first-ever continuous global observations 

for tracking geomagnetic storm-time dynamics. Geomagnetic storms occur when 

charged particles emitted by solar flares interact with Earth’s magnetosphere. Such 

storms can cause major disruptions of power and communications systems on the 

ground. During FY 2015, the data collection for AMPERE continued, and the addition of new data and software updates to the AMPERE data server facility made 

the data freely available to researchers.

The GS solar physics community also continued to benefit from the AST’s 

ongoing efforts to develop and manage the DKIST being constructed in Hawaii. 
137 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Also in FY 2015, the GS continued to provide oversight for much-needed upgrades 

at the Owens Valley Solar Array in California.

In FY 2015, the AGS’ Atmosphere Section (AS) continued to support the 

Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate 

(COSMIC). The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and 

its collaborator, Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO), designed and 

built the COSMIC six-satellite constellation, which launched on April 14, 2006, 

with the support and assistance of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Test Program (STP). 

Shortly thereafter, data became available from the three payloads: the special 

space-based GPS radio occultation (RO) receivers, the so-called Tiny Ionosphere 

Photometers, and the Tri-Band Beacons. These data have been provided freely to 

the world scientific community.

COSMIC radio occultation data have been assimilated at many operational 

weather prediction centers, including the U.S. National Centers for Environmental 

Prediction (NCEP), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 

(ECMWF), Météo France, the United Kingdom’s Met Office, the Meteorological 

Service of Canada, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau, and others. All of these 

centers have reported that RO data had a significant positive impact on numerical weather forecasts. In ionospheric studies, COSMIC RO data accelerated the 

development of physical models for space weather prediction by providing dense, 

accurate, and global electron density measurements used for model testing and 

initialization, including the response of the global ionosphere to the impact of 

solar storms.

During FY 2015, four of the six COSMIC satellites remained operational (well 

beyond their expected life cycle), providing 1,000 to 1,500 radio occultation profiles 

per day. Approximately 90 percent of real-time processed COSMIC data are available for the users and operational weather forecasting centers within three hours. 

COSMIC supported more than 1,100 registered users from 52 countries. In collaboration with UCAR’s Unidata, COSMIC soundings have been provided in real 

time to support the university community. UCAR also reprocessed data to provide 

consistent records for the duration of the mission and produced post-processed 

and reprocessed data from several GPS radio occultation (GPSRO) missions of 

opportunity, including GPS/Meteorology (GPS/MET), CHAllenging Mini-satellite 
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Payload (CHAMP), Satélite de Aplicaciones Científic (SAC-C), Meteorological 

Operational satellite programme–A/Global navigation satellite system Receiver 

for Atmospheric Sounding (METOP-A/GRAS), METOP-B/GRAS, TerraSAR-X, 

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and Communications/

Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS). NSF and NASA officials completed a new cooperative agreement in FY 2015, through which the two agencies 

will jointly fund the COSMIC mission for the duration of its expected life cycle.

Division of Polar Programs

For FY 2015, the primary activities of the Division of Polar Programs (PLR) in 

ground-based space science and astronomy included continued full-scale observations at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station with the ten-meter off-axis 

radio telescope (South Pole Telescope, or SPT), the battery of five small-aperture 

(25-centimeter) telescopes called the Small Polarimeter Upgrade for DASI (Degree 

Angular Scale Interferometer) (SPUD)/Keck Array, and another small-aperture 

Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization 3 (BICEP3) telescope 

that observed in concert with the SPUD array. The SPT, with the SPTpol 

(polarization-sensitive) receiver, and the SPUD/BICEP3 array focused on cosmic 

microwave background B-mode polarization measurements, plus polarization 

caused by gravitational lensing of light coming from very far galaxy clusters.

The High Elevation Antarctic Terahertz (HEAT) robotic telescope, deployed at 

Ridge A at the highest point of the Eastern Antarctic Plateau, continued its successful data collection through FY 2015. The IceCube Neutrino Observatory (ICNO) 

also continued data collection of high-energy neutrino events through FY 2015.

Recent scientific results from SPT included publications on the detection of 

gravitational lensing of the CMB by galaxy clusters and respective mass maps of 

the universe from using all temperature and polarization information, the best 

constraints on the B-mode and E-mode power spectra at sub-degree scales, and the 

final Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) selected galaxy cluster catalog from the 2,500-squaredegree SPT survey.
139 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

The updated results analyzing the B-mode polarizations signal from the BICEP2 

and Keck Array ground telescopes and Planck satellite data showed that interstellar 

dust caused the announced B-mode signal excess.

At the end of FY 2015, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory (jointly operated at 

the South Pole by PLR and the NSF’s Division of Physics) had collected data for 

almost five years from a completed array of 86 strings of optical photodetectors 

deployed in the ice under the South Pole Station in Antarctica at depths between 

1.4 and 2.4 kilometers. The ICNO Collaboration reported in FY 2015 a total of 54 

high-energy neutrino events detected that exceeded 50 teraelectronvolts (TeV) and 

came from anywhere in the sky. (One electronvolt [eV] is the energy an electron 

or proton gains when it is accelerated by a voltage of one volt; one TeV is a trillion eV; two eV is about the energy of a photon in the visible orange light band.) 

These events revealed the first pixels of the first pictures of the distant neutrino 

universe—an excellent confirmation that IceCube is opening doors to a new era 

in particle astrophysics.
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141 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Department of

DOS

The Department of State (DOS) carries out diplomatic efforts to support U.S. 

space policies and programs internationally. DOS supports U.S. civil space activities through the negotiation of bilateral and multilateral agreements with partner 

countries and leads U.S. participation in numerous international space and technological activities and international organizations. DOS also maintains outreach 

programs to advance U.S. space and foreign policy objectives.

During FY 2015, DOS continued to lead the U.S. delegation to the United 

Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) plenary 

and its two subcommittees—Legal (LSC) and Scientific and Technical (STSC). 

State continued with U.S. participation in the Working Group on Long-Term 

Sustainability of Outer Space Activities (LTS). STSC tasked this Working Group 

with examining and proposing voluntary best-practices guidelines to ensure the 

safe and sustainable use of outer space for peaceful purposes and the benefit of all 

countries. The LTS Terms of Reference were finalized in 2011. The Working Group 

continued to make measured progress in FY 2015’s STSC and UNCOPUOS sessions. Most notably, the Working Group’s four expert groups completed their work 

on consensus reports containing recommendations for long-term sustainability 

guidelines. The work of the expert groups formed the basis for an extended set 

of informal and formal sessions of the full LTS Working Group during FY 2015’s 

UNCOPUOS STSC and plenary sessions. These sessions continued with the 

chair’s proposed consolidation of almost 30 guidelines submitted by various member countries. DOS plans to continue with its participation in the Working Group 

and informal meetings to seek consensus on the guidelines in FY 2016.
142Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

DOS continued to promote space weather as an important foreign-policy topic 

worldwide and during UNCOPUOS. The United States held a special one-day 

workshop titled “Space Weather Services to Build Global Resilience” on the margins of the 52nd session of the STSC in FY 2015, as part of the Space Weather 

agenda item. The workshop aimed to increase the participation of UNCOPUOS 

member states in space weather service activities, consistent with the LTS proposed 

draft guidelines. The workshop also informed discussions at the first meeting of 

the STSC’s Space Weather Expert Group. The United States proposed another 

workshop on the margins of the 53rd session of the STSC in 2016.

DOS also participated in the interagency Space Weather Operations, Research, 

and Mitigation (SWORM) Task Force, which drafted the 2015 National Space 

Weather Strategy and the National Space Weather Action Plan between 

November 2014 and September 2015. DOS organized and led the development 

of Goal 6—Increase International Cooperation, and State will contribute to its 

implementation by, for example, hosting a series of international workshops and 

meetings, coordinating sustained U.S. participation in relevant United Nations 

activities, and raising awareness for space weather as a global challenge.

The United States and Vietnam held the first bilateral civil space talks on 

December 18, 2014, in Washington, DC. Vietnam has become increasingly active 

in regional and global space activities. NASA, NOAA, and the USGS and their 

Vietnamese counterparts agreed on new projects covering space weather, space 

geodesy, the use of space technologies to manage the Mekong Delta, and the 

exchange of Earth observation data. Discussions also covered the use of global 

navigation satellite systems, orbital debris mitigation, and maritime domain awareness. The United States encouraged Vietnam to accede to the UN outer space 

treaties and develop national space legislation. The United States and Vietnam 

agreed to pursue a framework civil space agreement in the next few years. The two 

countries scheduled the second Civil Space bilateral meeting for FY 2016.

The Republic of Korea continued its discussions with the United States on 

establishing a Civil Space Framework Agreement during 2015, a potential first for 

an Asia-Pacific nation.

The United States and the European Union continued fruitful Global Navigation 

Satellite System (GNSS) Working Group talks during FY 2015. Working Group C, 
143 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

focusing on next-generation GNSS applications, including aviation applications, 

met in December 2014. The Working Group finalized its Milestone II report on 

Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM) for formal release 

by the U.S.-EU GPS-Galileo Plenary cochairs in March 2015. Working Group B, 

focusing on trade and civil applications, met in June 2015 to discuss the pending 

EU application for a waiver of U.S. Federal Communications Commission rules 

requiring licensing of all receive-only earth stations operating in the United States 

with a non-U.S.-licensed space station (Galileo satellites in this case). Continued 

discussions on the planned Galileo commercial service and market access issues 

filled out the agenda.

The United States met with high-ranking EU officials in February, April, 

and August 2015 to reiterate U.S. interest in negotiating possible access to the 

EU Public Regulated Service signal (PRS). The EU continued work on gaining 

approval for its security-related Common Minimum Standards, which is necessary 

before the EU can receive a negotiating mandate on the PRS issue.

The U.S.-Japan bilateral Technical Working Group (TWG) met in conjunction 

with the Institute of Navigation (ION) Pacific Position Navigation and Timing 

Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 20, 2015. At this meeting, the United 

States and Japan completed compatibility coordination between GPS and the 

Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) four-satellite configuration. This 

coordination, held under the auspices of the International Telecommunication 

Union, ensures that the two systems will not interfere with each other.

During September 2015, the United States met with Japan in Tokyo for the 

sixth Civil Space Dialogue. The meeting saw productive discussions on cooperative efforts in space exploration, Earth observation, space weather, and global 

navigation satellite systems. Japan reported on progress in preparing for the next 

International Space Exploration Forum (ISEF2). Japan also discussed joining the 

United States in extending International Space Station operations to 2024.

The United States and Canada held bilateral GNSS talks on May 6, 2015, in 

Ottawa. The agenda covered Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) signal 

interference detection and mitigation issues, protection of critical infrastructure 

from GPS outages, complementary PNT systems, expansion of the space geodetic 
144Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

network in Canada, space weather, and coordination on international GNSSrelated issues.

On June 4–5, 2015, the second U.S.-China Civil GNSS Cooperation Dialogue 

occurred in Washington, DC. On June 4, participants attended technical sessions 

on civil GNSS service performance, aviation augmentations and applications, and 

GNSS compatibility and interoperability. The Plenary, on June 5, saw agreement 

to establish three subgroups focused on the subjects addressed during the technical 

working session. During the Plenary, the countries also discussed broader policy, 

program, and international cooperation issues, including ongoing activities of the 

International Committee on GNSS (ICG).

At the inaugural U.S.-China Civil Space Dialogue on September 28, 2015, in 

Beijing, U.S. and Chinese officials exchanged information on their respective 

space policies. The countries discussed further collaboration related to space debris 

and the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. Both sides also exchanged 

views on issues related to satellite collision avoidance. The two sides summarized 

information on national plans related to space exploration and discussed the next 

multilateral meeting of the International Space Exploration Forum. The two sides 

talked about ways to cooperate further on civil Earth observation activities, space 

sciences, space weather, and civil GNSS.

The fifth U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group met September 23–24, 

2015, at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) headquarters in 

Bangalore. The two sides identified new potential activities to enhance a growing space relationship. The discussions had a very positive tone, with clear recognition of the expanding scope and pace of cooperation. On Earth observation, 

the two sides focused on improving data exchanges, conducting joint missions, 

collaborating on data management processes, and improving modeling and forecasting capabilities. The two sides planned to expand personnel exchanges for 

research activities on heliography, planetary science, and possibly other areas. On 

GNSS, the two sides agreed to consider increased cooperation on both technical and policy issues, including engaging private-sector actors. NASA and ISRO 

signed two International Agreements that relate to collaboration on the ISRO 

Mars Observer Mission and aircraft-based remote sensing instruments for natural 

resource management.
145 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

DOS continued to promote the use of GPS in Africa, working through the 

AfricaArray consortium and the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs. 

AfricaArray is a public-private partnership led by academic researchers at 

the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and Pennsylvania State 

University in the United States; it is focused on supporting training and research 

in Earth, atmospheric, and space sciences in Africa. At the tenth AfricaArray 

annual meeting, held in January 2015 in Johannesburg, DOS facilitated the travel 

of scientists from over 12 Sub-Saharan African countries to participate in workshops and training sessions on GPS applications on a broad spectrum of Earth and 

space sciences.
146Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

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147 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Department of En

DOE

The Department of Energy (DOE) participates in the national effort to further 

U.S. interests in space. Three organizations within DOE provide this capability: the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Defense 

Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D), the Office of 

Science (SC), and the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE).

Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research 

and Development

The Nuclear Detonation Detection program builds the Nation’s operational sensors to monitor the entire planet from space in order to detect and report surface, 

atmospheric, or space nuclear detonations (NuDets). The Space-Based Nuclear 

Detonation Detection subprogram provides much of the Nation’s capability to 

detect, report, locate, and identify nuclear explosions using orbiting satellites. DNN 

R&D develops, builds, and delivers these satellite payloads to meet interagency performance and schedule commitments and provides launch and on-orbit operational 

support for the current generation of the U.S. NuDet Detection System (USNDS).

Since the 1960 Vela satellite program, NNSA and its predecessors have provided 

the underlying science and technology capability for space-based detection of foreign nuclear weapon detonations to meet test-ban-treaty monitoring needs. This 

fiscal year, NNSA continued full-scale production and delivery of sensor packages 

to ensure that payloads are ready, as needed, to meet national security requirements. To ensure that the technologies and capabilities developed for the program 

support stakeholder needs, DNN R&D actively engaged in intergovernmental 
148Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

working groups that reduce duplication among agencies, generate new user requirements, and improve the quality of relevant technology across the funding agencies.

The NNSA weapons laboratories—specifically Los Alamos National Laboratory 

(LANL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)—supply the science, technology, and engineering required for USNDS, and Lawrence Livermore National 

Laboratory (LLNL) contributes to the end-to-end testing of USNDS. These laboratories have a unique and comprehensive understanding of nuclear weapons, as 

well as the signatures and observables associated with a nuclear detonation and the 

propagation of signals from the weapon to the sensor. Moreover, these laboratories 

have provided capabilities in the design, construction, calibration, deployment, 

and operation of satellite-based detection instruments, along with detailed modeling and analysis. As the basis for 24/7/365 global monitoring, the user/operations 

communities routinely have received analysis, insights, and computer codes based 

on this research.

Two payloads built at the NNSA laboratories accomplish the NuDets reporting 

mission—the Global Burst Detector (GBD) and the Space and Atmospheric Burst 

Reporting System (SABRS). The GBD payload is hosted on all GPS satellites, and 

the SABRS payload is carried on satellite hosts in geosynchronous orbit. In order 

to maintain a vital capability to design and implement these systems, DNN R&D 

supported demonstration-validation payloads to explore new technologies and new 

sensing modalities and to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for parts 

that might be used in future payload designs.

Office of Science

In FY 2015, the DOE Office of Science supported several activities that contribute to a broad range of space interests. These activities included SC fundamental 

research that is of mutual interest to the NASA mission and NASA researchers as 

well as to SC staff, collaborative research efforts with NASA, and the operation 

of SC scientific facilities that are available to NASA and the broader scientific 

community for space-related research.

SC supports fundamental research in plasma science that contributes to 

SC-NASA mutual interests in knowledge of heliospheric and astrophysical systems. 
149 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Some of the research supported by SC’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) 

advances the development of a comprehensive understanding of heliospheric and 

astrophysical magnetized-plasma processes, including Alfvén wave acceleration of 

auroral electrons, magnetic reconnection and turbulent processes in Earth’s magnetosphere and the solar corona, the formation and evolution of astrophysical jets, 

particle acceleration in cosmic gamma-ray bursts, and dynamo processes creating 

planetary/galactic magnetic field structures. Specific examples included 1) largescale plasma simulation codes that are applied to the study of space weather; 2) the 

Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at the Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF) at the 

University of California, Los Angeles, which enables controlled studies of Alfvén 

waves that carry energy and momentum from the sun to Earth and throughout 

the universe; 3) the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) at the Princeton 

Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), which permits laboratory studies of magnetic 

reconnection and particle energization processes in Earth’s magnetotail and solar 

flares; and 4) the Max Planck–Princeton Center for Plasma Physics, established 

in 2012 in partnership with the Max Planck Society in Germany, which specifically explores the application of plasma science to astrophysical problems and their 

connections to fusion science. In addition, FES sponsored unmagnetized plasma 

research, such as increased understanding of the role of dusty plasmas in planetary rings and interstellar media, the properties of plasmas created by hypervelocity impacts, and the properties of warm dense matter similar to that found in 

planetary cores.

SC also funds the development of experimental techniques of fundamental physics that NASA uses in space to investigate high-priority national science objectives. 

Examples of these efforts include the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and the 

Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (FGST). The AMS, also designated AMS-02, 

is a particle physics experiment designed and built with the support of DOE and 

international partners. Launched on Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-134 

in May 2011 and mounted on the International Space Station (ISS), AMS searches 

for various types of unusual matter in the cosmos through its exquisite accuracy in 

the measurement of cosmic rays. AMS science goals include a search for evidence 

of dark matter and cosmic domains of antimatter, as well as for novel features 

in cosmic-ray spectra. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between 
150Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

DOE and NASA defined NASA’s responsibilities to include provision of power, 

data handling, and other services on the ISS, while DOE’s responsibilities would 

include experiment operation and data analysis. An unexplained structure discovered by AMS in April 2015 in positron and antiproton cosmic-ray spectra hinted 

at the existence of dark matter; scientists hope that further data may confirm or 

deny this hypothesis. The Large Area Telescope (LAT), the primary instrument on 

NASA’s FGST, is a particle physics detector in space to study the gamma-ray sky for 

high-energy acceleration mechanisms generated by supermassive black holes and 

supernovae and search for dark matter. SC managed the LAT fabrication and now 

operates the LAT Science Operations Center. In 2015, FGST published limits from 

six years of data on dark matter abundances in dwarf spheroidals.

SC also made crucial contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA)–

NASA Planck cosmic microwave background satellite mission. Planck measures 

the cosmic microwave background, which allows studies of the inflationary epoch 

in the early universe, as well as dark energy, dark matter, and neutrino properties. 

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between NASA and DOE provided 

dedicated National Energy Research Supercomputing Center (NERSC) computing 

resources for the Planck mission.

SC and NASA also engaged in many collaborative research efforts in the area 

of atmospheric science and environmental phenomena. In 2015, SC’s Atmospheric 

Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility (ARM) activity provided support for the Plains Elevated Convection at Night (PECAN) experiment, which was 

a joint field campaign between NASA, DOE, the National Science Foundation, 

and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the 

goal of improving the understanding and simulation of the processes that initiate 

and maintain convection and convective precipitation at night over the central 

portion of the U.S. Great Plains. ARM also deployed a mobile measurement facility and research aircraft for CalWater2015, a joint field campaign with NOAA and 

NASA to study processes associated with atmospheric rivers, which provide a large 

percentage of winter precipitation on the U.S. West Coast.

During FY 2015, SC’s ARM and Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (TES) activities supported aircraft measurements of atmospheric trace gases in Oklahoma 

and Alaska to improve understanding of the influence of atmospheric and 
151 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

terrestrial processes on atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. DOE coordinated flights with the NASA Tropospheric Emission Sounder and Orbiting 

Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) for the testing of carbon dioxide retrievals. ARM 

and TES also provided support for ground-based measurements of carbon dioxide 

in Oklahoma and Manacapuru, Brazil, in 2015 as part of the Total Column Carbon 

Observing Network (TCCON), which will be used to validate NASA’s OCO-2 satellite. SC’s ARM activity included support for two sites (Southern Great Plains and 

Barrow, Alaska) that host measurement instrumentation providing validation of 

the Cross-track Infrared Sounder and Advanced Microwave Sounder, intended to 

fly on NASA’s National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System 

(NPOESS) satellite and to provide profiles of temperature and moisture. The TES 

activity also supported nine university awards through the interagency Carbon 

Cycle Science topic of the 2014 NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth 

Sciences (ROSES) solicitation, which closed in FY 2015. SC’s Next Generation 

Ecosystem Experiment (NGEE)–Arctic coupled real-time, ground-based measurements of soil moisture, temperature, carbon dioxide (CO2

), and methane (CH4) flux 

while the NASA Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment (CARVE) 

collected airborne measurements over Barrow, Alaska. SC’s NGEE-Arctic scientists 

also participated in the science definition team for the upcoming NASA ArcticBoreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE). Through interagency agreements, SC’s 

Atmospheric System Research (ASR) activity also supported collaboration with 

NASA scientists on studies using ARM and NASA observations to investigate 

aerosol and cloud processes and their role in Earth’s energy balance.

SC has been working with NASA in a couple of areas to help support NASA’s 

mission interests in this area of concern, and the office provides user facilities for the 

scientific community, including particle accelerators and ion beams for biological 

and electronic systems radiation studies. The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory 

(NSRL), a leading facility for radiobiology studies in the United States, was established at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to study the radiobiological effects of using beams of heavy ions (extracted from BNL’s Booster accelerator) 

that are also produced to deliver into SC’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) 

facility. An upgrade mutually beneficial to both NSRL and RHIC, and jointly 

funded by NASA and DOE, was the construction of an Electron Beam Ion Source 
152Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

(EBIS). The newly commissioned EBIS at BNL significantly extends the range of 

ion species available for both radiological effects research and fundamental nuclear 

science, advancing the NASA and SC missions. Electronics space-radiation effects 

testing that is necessary for mission assurance occurs at several DOE accelerator 

facilities, including BNL and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s 88-inch 

cyclotron. SC and NASA, along with other stakeholders, are planning to jointly 

participate in supporting a National Academy Study focused on a comprehensive 

assessment of the future needs of the electronics space-radiation effects testing 

program in the United States. SC also supports fundamental research on nuclear 

reactions of astrophysical interest, contributing to SC-NASA mutual interests in 

the knowledge of stellar evolution and the composition of interstellar space. In 

addition, since FY 2001, DOE and NASA have engaged in coordinated efforts to 

better understand and predict the health risks associated with exposure to lowdose radiation. SC’s Low Dose Radiation Research Program has coordinated with 

NASA’s Space Radiation Project within NASA’s Human Research Program. The 

SC Low Dose program focuses on doses of radiation measured at or below current 

workplace exposure limits; current collaborations are limited due to a decreasing 

emphasis on human radiation research within SC’s research portfolio.

Office of Nuclear Energy

The Office of Nuclear Energy supports NASA’s planetary science and human 

exploration programs by maintaining capabilities to develop, produce, and deliver 

radioisotope power systems (RPSs) and fission power and propulsion system technology development efforts for Federal user agencies, such as NASA. The RPS 

infrastructure capabilities, funded by NASA and managed by NE, support NE’s 

production of RPSs for current space mission applications.

NE and its predecessors have provided RPSs that have safely enabled deep space 

exploration and national security missions for over five decades. The RPSs convert 

the heat from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium (Pu)-238 into electricity. 

RPSs reliably operate for decades under the harsh conditions encountered in deep 

space or on the surfaces of other planets.
153 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

NE continued work on the next RPS-powered mission, a Mars rover mission to 

launch in 2020. NE worked on producing the MMRTG and preparing the Safety 

Analysis Reports to support the nuclear launch approval processes. With NASA 

funding support, NE also worked on making enhancements to the current RPS 

production infrastructure by upgrading equipment for more robust operations. In 

FY 2014, continuing technical issues with the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope 

Generator (ASRG) system resulted in NASA’s termination of the project for 

budgetary reasons. NE completed its closeout of the ASRG project this year. NE 

and NASA continued to investigate advances in both thermoelectric and Stirling 

power conversion technologies that could result in more efficient and capable RPSs 

for NASA’s long-term exploration goals. Advanced thermoelectric technology 

developed by NASA JPL showing promising benefits has been transferred to private industry for final development and manufacturing feasibility. DOE and NASA 

partnered to review the technology for potential insertion into the MMRTG system as a future system advancement.

NE continued working with NASA to re-establish domestic Pu-238 production at existing facilities, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National 

Laboratory, in order to ensure continued availability of RPS power systems for 

future science missions, a project that began in FY 2011 and is fully funded by 

NASA. In 2015, the project began the first end-to-end demonstration of chemical 

processing steps needed to recover Pu-238 from irradiated targets.

NE and DOE national laboratories provide key support in the areas of reactor modeling, as well as fuel development and qualification, for NASA’s Nuclear 

Cryogenic Propulsion Stage project, commonly known as Nuclear Thermal 

Propulsion (NTP). In 2015, the project successfully fabricated and heat-treated a 

graphite composite fuel element. Fabrication of the composite fuel element represented a significant step in re-establishing the fabrication processes used on previous NTP programs.
154Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

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155 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Smithsonian Insti

The Smithsonian Institution continued to contribute to national aerospace 

goals through the activities of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 

(SAO). Together, SAO and the Harvard College Observatory form the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Through this organization, more than 300 scientists engaged in a broad program of 

research in astronomy, astrophysics, Earth and space sciences, and science education. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, 

DC, also contributed to national aerospace goals through its research and education activities.

Planetary discoveries continued to dominate the news coming from SAO in 

FY 2015. At a January press conference, astronomers announced that they had 

found eight new planets orbiting in the “Goldilocks” zone of their stars. This zone, 

also known as the habitable zone, is the distance where temperatures are warm 

enough for liquid water to exist on a planet’s surface. In addition, scientists showed 

that rocky exoplanets, or planets orbiting distant stars, share a similar composition 

with Earth and that rocky exoplanets larger than Earth (known as super-Earths) 

can host long-lived oceans lasting billions of years. Astronomers also pinpointed 

the closest rocky planet to Earth that transits, or crosses the face of, its star. At a 

distance of only 21 light-years, the planet is likely to be a favorite target for nextgeneration telescopes.

Beyond our cosmic neighborhood, SAO researchers spotted 11 runaway galaxies 

that have been flung from their homes to wander the void of intergalactic space. 

These galaxies, traveling at speeds of more than six million miles per hour, face a 

lonely future exiled from the galaxy clusters they used to live in.
156Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope continued to produce exciting new views of the 

universe at infrared wavelengths. Spitzer is the fourth and final space telescope in 

NASA’s Great Observatory series. Spitzer’s Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) was 

developed at SAO and constructed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. SAO 

scientists, in collaboration with the Spitzer Science Center, continue to play an 

important role in the operation of IRAC, the data analysis, and its use for astronomical observations.

In FY 2015, SAO scientists completed and made publicly available an infrared source catalog based on the Spitzer-Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep 

Extragalactic Legacy Survey (S-CANDELS), a survey that was designed to 

detect numerous galaxies in the very early universe. S-CANDELS looked at five 

widely separated areas that had also been studied by the Hubble Space Telescope. 

Altogether, the survey examined 0.16 square degrees of the sky and detected 

approximately 135,000 galaxies as faint as 26th magnitude. Combined with the 

Hubble observations, this survey has identified some of the earliest galaxies in 

the universe and will be an important source of objects for future spectroscopic 

observations with the James Webb Space Telescope.

SAO scientists also made the first detection from the Spitzer Space Telescope 

of the infrared (4.5-micron-wavelength) variability of Sagittarius A* (A-star), the 

emitting source associated with the Milky Way’s central massive black hole. The 

objective of this study was to understand how a massive black hole feeds on the 

gas and dust disk surrounding it. Spitzer’s Infrared Array Camera obtained an 

approximately 23-hour continuous light curve, more than two times longer than 

any previous infrared observation. Scientists saw pulsed emission above the noise 

level about one-third of the time. The results also characterized the variability of 

Sagittarius A* prior to the closest approach of the tidally deformed object named 

G2, a putative infalling gas cloud that orbits close to Sagittarius A*. Scientists did 

not see evidence in the light curve for any activity attributable to the G2 cloud 

interaction at the observing epoch, which was ~100 days before the expected closest passage.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory continues to play an important role in the 

exploration of the universe. With its unrivaled ability to create high-resolution x-ray 

images, Chandra has enabled astronomers to investigate phenomena as diverse as 
157 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

comets, black holes, dark matter, and dark energy. The Smithsonian Astrophysical 

Observatory controls science and flight operations from the Chandra X-ray Center 

at its location in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

During FY 2015, astronomers used Chandra to observe the largest x-ray flare 

ever detected from Sagittarius A*, raising questions about the behavior of this giant 

black hole and its surrounding environment. In a separate finding by another group 

of researchers, Chandra provided evidence that Sagittarius A* may be producing 

mysterious particles called neutrinos. If confirmed, this would be the first time that 

scientists have traced neutrinos back to a black hole.

In June 2015, researchers published Chandra’s discovery of the largest and brightest set of rings from x-ray light echoes ever observed. These extraordinary rings, 

produced by an intense flare from a neutron star, provided astronomers with a rare 

chance to determine how far across the Milky Way Galaxy the star is from Earth.

Also during this period, astronomers announced that by combining observations 

from Chandra and the Hubble Space Telescope, they found that dark matter does 

not slow down when colliding with itself. This means that dark matter interacts 

with itself less than previously thought. Researchers say this finding narrows down 

the options for what dark matter, an invisible matter that makes up most of the 

mass of the universe, might be.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory provides better-than-HD-quality images of the 

sun’s surface and outer atmosphere. SAO is a major partner in the Atmospheric 

Imaging Assembly (AIA)—a group of four telescopes that photograph the sun in 

ten different wavelength bands, or colors, once every 12 seconds.

The Hinode mission is a joint U.S.-Japan-Europe mission designed to study the 

detailed physics of the sun’s atmosphere. SAO is the lead institution on the X-Ray 

Telescope (XRT) on the Hinode spacecraft. The XRT is a telescope that images 

energetic x-rays that are produced in the hottest parts of the sun’s corona.

In FY 2015, AIA and Hinode XRT observations formed the basis of new computer models of the sun’s magnetic field. These models show how magnetic energy 

is stored in the corona and which conditions are needed to release the energy 

quickly in flares and coronal mass ejections.

NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) satellite provided a new 

view of the sun’s mysterious chromosphere and transition regions. SAO built the 
158Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

telescope feed and has an active role in IRIS operations, calibration, and science. 

IRIS is providing information on particle acceleration in hot coronal loops, allowing us to better understand the physical processes in solar flares.

In public outreach, SAO continued its popular monthly Observatory Night lectures and observing sessions. Begun by observatory director Harlow Shapley in 

1930, these public nights offer the local community an opportunity to learn about 

the latest advances in astronomy and view the moon, stars, and planets through a 

variety of telescopes.

SAO also hosted a special program on July 14, the day that NASA’s New 

Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto. A full crowd watched and waited for NASA 

to receive a signal from the probe showing that it had survived the encounter and 

captured data.

An even larger crowd visited the observatory on September 26 to witness a total 

eclipse of the moon. Approximately 700 people viewed the lunar eclipse through 

rooftop telescopes. This event, the last total lunar eclipse until 2018, proved 

especially photogenic. SAO distributed pictures from attendees online and in its 

e-mail newsletter.

Also in FY 2015, “The Dynamic Sun,” a new exhibit conceived, designed, and 

built by SAO researchers, opened at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space 

Museum in Washington, DC. It featured a giant video wall intended to create a 

visceral impact and show visitors how an ever-changing sun affects Earth. The 

exhibit combined six 50-inch monitors to create a 7- by 6-foot field of view displaying images from AIA, which takes images of the full sun’s atmospheric layers 

every 12 seconds with an image size of 4,096 × 4,096 pixels. By comparison, a 

high-definition TV can display only 1,920 × 1,080 pixels. “The Dynamic Sun” is 

expected to remain on display through 2019.

In FY 2015, NASM continued to educate and inspire the public through exhibits, research, and education programs, including discovery stations; lecture series; 

family educational events; publications; science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics (STEM) Webcasts; and intern training. The annual Exploring Space 

Lecture Series focused on the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, with 

presentations on the significant technology, history, and science of this remarkable instrument. McGraw-Hill published a new edition of the book Introduction 
159 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

to Flight, a noted resource on aeronautical and aerospace engineering, in 2015. In 

January, NASM opened the new exhibition “Outside the Spacecraft: 50 Years of 

Extra-Vehicular Activity” on the history and technology of extravehicular activities (EVAs). NASM’s Exploring the Planets gallery presented two new exhibits, one 

called “Three Generations of Mars Rovers” and another on the New Horizons mission to Pluto, which showcases a full-scale model of the spacecraft and brings the 

latest images of Pluto and its moons to the public. “Above and Beyond,” a highly 

interactive and hands-on temporary exhibit, showcases aerospace technology.

NASM added several significant collections to its holdings this year. The Sir 

Arthur C. Clarke Collection contains papers of the noted science and science fiction writer and should be a fascinating resource for researchers. The Sally K. Ride 

Collection includes papers and objects from the estate of the first U.S. woman in 

space. The Evelyn Way Kendall Ballooning and Early Aviation Collection contains 

rare art, books, photos, and manuscripts relating to the history of flight from the 

18th to early 20th centuries.

Staff members in NASM’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies (CEPS) continued to participate in the science teams of several spacecraft missions. Dr. John 

Grant is a participating scientist for the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission 

that is currently operating on Mars. He is a chair of the MER Science Operations 

Working Group, and in that capacity, he leads day-to-day science planning for 

the Opportunity rover. In addition, he is cochair of the Mars 2020 Landing Site 

Steering Committee. CEPS staff members also serve on the science teams for the 

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and 

Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) instrument on Mars Express, both the High 

Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Shallow Subsurface Radar 

(SHARAD) instruments on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), the radar 

sounder on ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), the Lunar Reconnaissance 

Orbiter (LRO), the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and 

Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft, and the Europa Mission. CEPS continued its 

active research program in planetary and terrestrial geology and geophysics with 

research on such topics as comparative planetology; Martian fluvial, aeolian, and 

volcanic features; and radar studies of the moon, Mercury, and Mars.
160Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

This page is intentionally left blank.
161

Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

ppendice
162Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Appendix A-1

U.S. Government Spacecr

(Includes spacecraft from cooperating countries launched by U.S. launch vehicles.)

Calendar Year

Earth Orbita Earth Escapeb

Success Failure Success Failure

1957 0 1 0 0

1958 5 8 0 4

1959 9 9 1 2

1960 16 12 1 2

1961 35 12 0 2

1962 55 12 4 1

1963 62 11 0 0

1964 69 8 4 0

1965 93 7 4 1

1966 94 12 7 1b

1967 78 4 10 0

1968 61 15 3 0

1969 58 1 8 1

1970 36 1 3 0

1971 45 2 8 1

1972 33 2 8 0

1973 23 2 3 0

1974 27 2 1 0

1975 30 4 4 0

1976 33 0 1 0

1977 27 2 2 0

1978 34 2 7 0

1979 18 0 0 0

1980 16 4 0 0

1981 20 1 0 0

1982 21 0 0 0

1983 31 0 0 0

1984 35 3 0 0

1985 37 1 0 0

1986 11 4 0 0

1987 9 1 0 0

1988 16 1 0 0

1989 24 0 2 0

1990 40 0 1 0

1991 32c 0 0 0

1992 26c 0 1 0

1993 28c 1 1 0

1994 31c 1 1 0

1995 24c, d 2 1 0

1996 30 1 3 0

1997 22e 0 1 0

1998 23 0 2 0

1999 35 4 2 0

2000 31f 0 0 0

2001 23 0 3 0

2002 18 0 0 1b

2003 28c, f 0 2 0

2004 8c 0 1 0

2005 10 0 2 0

2006 20d 0 2 0

2007 16 2 2 0

2008 22f 0 0 0

2009 24f 1 0 0

2010 15 0 0 0

2011 16 1 3 0

2012 13 0 0 0

2013 18 0 1 0

2014 22 1 0 0

2015 (through September 30, 2015) 12 1 1 0

TOTAL 1,748 159 111 16

a. The criterion of success or failure used is attainment of Earth orbit or Earth escape rather than judgment of mission success. “Escape” flights 

include all that were intended to go to at least an altitude equal to lunar distance from Earth.

b. This Earth-escape failure did attain Earth orbit and, therefore, is included in the Earth-orbit success totals.

c. This excludes commercial satellites. It counts separately spacecraft launched by the same launch vehicle.

d. This counts various sets of microsatellites as a single payload.

e. This includes the Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative (SSTI) Lewis spacecraft that began spinning out of control shortly after it achieved Earth orbit.

f. This includes American spacecraft not launched in the U.S.
163 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Appendix A-2

World Record of Space Launches S

in Attaining Earth Orbit o

(Enumerates launches rather than spacecraft; some launches orbited multiple spacecraft.)a

Calendar 

Year

United

Statesb

USSR/

CIS Francec Italyc Japan

People’s 

Republic

of China Australia

United

Kingdomc

European 

Space

Agency India Israel Iran

North

Korea

South

Korea

1957 2

1958 5 1

1959 10 3

1960 16 3

1961 29 6

1962 52 20

1963 38 17

1964 57 30

1965 63 48 1

1966 73 44 1

1967 57 66 2 1 1

1968 45 74

1969 40 70

1970 28 81 2 1 1 1

1971 30 83 1 2 2 1 1

1972 30 74 1 1

1973 23 86

1974 22 81 2 1

1975 27 89 3 1 2 3

1976 26 99 1 2

1977 24 98 2

1978 32 88 3 1

1979 16 87 2 1

1980 13 89 2 1

1981 18 98 3 1 2 1

1982 18 101 1 1

1983 22 98 3 1 2 1

1984 22 97 3 3 4

1985 17 98 2 1 3

1986 6 91 2 2 2

1987 8 95 3 2 2

1988 12 90 2 4 7

1989 17 74 2 7 1

1990 27 75 3 5 5 1

1991 20 62 2 1 9 1

1992 31 55 2 3 7 2

1993 24 45 1 1 7

1994 26 49 2 5 6 2

1995 27 33 1 2 12 1

1996 32 25 1 3 10 1

1997 37 28 2 6 12 1

1998 34 24 2 6 11

1999 32 26 4 10 1

2000 30 34 5 12

2001 23 23 1 1 8 2

2002 18 23 3 4 11 1 1

2003 26 21 2 6 4 2

2004 19 22 8 3 1

2005 16 26 2 5 5 1

2006 15 16 5 3 5

2007 25 33 3 13 8 3 1

2008d 19 26 1 11 7 3

2009 25 29 3 4 9 4 1

2010 15 30 2 15 6 1 1

2011 17 33 3 18 7 3 1

2012 13 27 2 19 10 2 1 1

2013e 19 29 3 14 7 3 1

2014e 22 31 4 16 10 4 1

2015* 13 16 3 9 8 4 1

*(through September 30, 2015)

TOTAL 1,501 3,022 10 8 91 210 1 1 239 45 7 4 1 1

a. This includes commercial expendable launches and launches of the Space Shuttle as well as launches to useless orbit.

b. Launches from U.S.-Russia joint platform included in U.S. totals.

c. Since 1979, all launches for ESA member countries have been joint and are listed under ESA.

d. Since 2008, the ESA statistics include the Soyuz launches from Guiana Space Centre.

e. The data published in the FY 2014 report reflect incorrect totals and have been adjusted.
164Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Appendix B

Successful Launches to Orbit on U

October 1, 2014–September 30, 2015

Launch Date

Spacecraft Name

COSPAR* Designation

Launch Vehicle

Apogee and

Perigee (km),

Period (min),

Mission Objectives Inclination to Equator (°) Remarks

October 29, 2014

Navstar 72 GPS 2F-8

2014-068A

Atlas 5-401

Navigation 20,525

20,473

730.3

55.0

U.S. Air Force, combined military/civilian Global 

Positioning System

December 5, 2014

Orion EFT-1 

2014-077A

Delta 4 Heavy

Test flight 882

187

95.3

28.8

Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1)

December 13, 2014

NROL 35 (USA 259)

2014-081A

Atlas 5-541 

Military/communications 37,420

2,109

701.1

62.8

U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, probably 

including electronic intelligence gathering and missile 

launch detection using Space-Based Infrared System 

(SBIRS)

January 10, 2015

Dragon CRS-5

2015-001A

Falcon 9 v1.1

International Space Station 407

399

92.63

51.65

Cargo resupply 

January 21, 2015

MUOS 3

2015-002A

Atlas 5-551

Military/communications 35,900

35,800

1,436.1

Not available

Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) for the U.S. 

Navy

January 31, 2015

SMAP

2015-003A

Delta 2-7320

Earth science 683

681

98.4

98.12

Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite

Also carried CubeSats: FIREBIRD 3 (Focused 

Investigations of Relativistic Electron Burst Intensity, 

Range, and Dynamics), FIREBIRD 4, and ExoCube

February 11, 2015

DSCOVR

2015-007A

Falcon 9 v1.1

Earth observation/space 

weather

Lagrange Point 1 (L1) Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), 

formerly known as Triana

March 2, 2015

Eutelsat 115 West B 

2015-010B

Falcon 9 v1.1 

Communications 35,788

35,786

1,436.1

0.05

Also launched ABS 3A for Asia Broadcast Satellite

March 13, 2015

MMS 1-4

2015-011A-D

Atlas 5-421

Space physics 70,091

1,373

1,433.3

28.79

Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission

Note: Orbital statistics reflect MMS 1

March 25, 2015

Navstar 73 GPS 2F-9

2015-013A

Delta 4M+4,2 

Navigation 20,197

20,167

717.98

55.04

U.S. Air Force

April 14, 2015

Dragon CRS-6

2015-021-A 

Falcon 9 v1.1

International Space Station 404

399

92.6

51.64

Cargo resupply 

April 27, 2015

TurkmenAlem 52E

2015-023A

Falcon 9 v1.1

Communications 35,799

35,774

1,432.11

0.01

Launched on behalf of Turkmenistan

* U.N. Committee on Space Research
165

Launch Date

Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Spacecraft Name

COSPAR* Designation

Launch Vehicle

Apogee and

Perigee (km),

Period (min),

Mission Objectives Inclination to Equator (°) Remarks

May 20, 2015

OTV4 X37B (AFSPC 5)

2015-025A

Atlas 5-501 

Military/communications 322

309

90.83

38

U.S. Air Force

Also carried Opticube 01-03, Parkinson Satellite 

(Psat), Ballistic Reinforced Communication 

Satellite (BRICSat-P), Globalstar Experiment 

And Risk Reduction Satellite Flight Experiment 

(GEARRSAT), Aerocube 8A-B, and LightSail-A 

July 15, 2015

Navstar 74 GPS 2F-10

2015-033A

Atlas 5-401

Navigation 20,230

20,133

717.95

55.08

U.S. Air Force

July 24, 2015

WGS 7 (USA 263)

2015-036A

Delta 4M+5,4

Military/communications 36,000

36,000

1,436

0

Department of Defense

September 2, 2015

MUOS 4

2015-044A

Atlas 5-551 

Military/communications Geostationary orbit Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) for the U.S. 

Navy

Appendix B (cont.)

Successful Launches to Orbit on U

October 1, 2014–September 30, 2015
166Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Appendix C

Human Spacefli

October 1, 2014–September 30, 2015

Spacecraft Launch Date Crew

Flight Time 

(d:h:min) Highlights

Soyuz TMA 15M

(Expedition 42)

November 23, 2014 Samantha Cristoforetti 

Anton Shkaplerov

Terry Virts 

199:17:42 Began spacewalks for a major reconfiguration of 

the exterior of the International Space Station to 

prepare Commercial Crew Vehicles

Installed the Common Communications for 

Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) communications system

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) 5 completed 

the final mission of the ATV series and destructive reentry into the atmosphere on February 14, 

2015

Soyuz TMA-16M 

(Expedition 43)

March 27, 2015 Scott Kelly

Mikhail Kornienko

Gennady Padalka 

168:5:9 Began the One-Year Mission including medical, psychological, and biomedical studies with 

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and Roscosmos 

cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko

Began the Twins Study with NASA astronaut 

Scott Kelly (in space) and his brother, former 

astronaut Mark Kelly (on Earth)

Moved the Permanent Multipurpose Module from 

Node 1 to Node 3, which allows docking for two 

cargo vehicles

Loss of Progress M-27M on April 28, 2015

Dragon SpX-7/Falcon 9 rocket failure on June 

28, 2015

Soyuz TMA-17M

(Expedition 44)

July 22, 2015 Kjell Lindgren 

Oleg Kononenko

Kimiya Yui

Not available Cosmonaut Gennady Padalka set a new record for 

time in space (168 days for this mission, 879 total 

days in space)

Ate lettuce from Veggie, a plant growth system 

onboard

Soyuz TMA-18M

(Expedition 45)

September 2, 2015 Aidyn Aimbetov

Andreas Mogensen

Sergey Volkov

Not available Marked 15 years of Station occupation since 

November 2, 2000

Returned Soyuz TMA-16M to Earth
167 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Appendix D-1A

Space Activities of the U.S.

HISTORICAL TABLE OF BUDGET AUTHORITY

(in millions of real-year dollars)

FY

NASA 

Total

NASA 

Space DODa Otherb DOEc DOC DOI USDA NSFd DOT Total Space

1959 331 261 490 34 34 785

1960 524 462 561 43 43 1,066

1961 964 926 814 68 68 1,808

1962 1,825 1,797 1,298 199 148 51 3,294

1963 3,673 3,626 1,550 257 214 43 5,433

1964 5,100 5,016 1,599 213 210 3 6,828

1965 5,250 5,138 1,574 241 229 12 6,953

1966 5,175 5,065 1,689 214 187 27 6,968

1967 4,966 4,830 1,664 213 184 29 6,707

1968 4,587 4,430 1,922 174 145 28 0.2 1 6,526

1969 3,991 3,822 2,013 170 118 20 0.2 1 31 6,005

1970 3,746 3,547 1,678 141 103 8 1 1 28 5,366

1971 3,311 3,101 1,512 162 95 27 2 1 37 4,775

1972 3,307 3,071 1,407 133 55 31 6 2 39 4,611

1973 3,406 3,093 1,623 147 54 40 10 2 41 4,863

1974 3,037 2,759 1,766 158 42 60 9 3 44 4,683

1975 3,229 2,915 1,892 158 30 64 8 2 54 4,965

1976 3,550 3,225 1,983 168 23 72 10 4 59 5,376

TQ* 932 849 460 43 5 22 3 1 12 1,352

1977 3,818 3,440 2,412 194 22 91 10 6 65 6,046

1978 4,060 3,623 2,738 226 34 103 10 8 71 6,587

1979 4,596 4,030 3,036 248 59 98 10 8 73 7,314

1980 5,240 4,680 3,848 231 40 93 12 14 72 8,759

1981 5,518 4,992 4,828 234 41 87 12 16 78 10,054

1982 6,044 5,528 6,679 313 61 145 12 15 80 12,520

1983 6,875 6,328 9,019 327 39 178 5 20 85 15,674

1984 7,458 6,858 10,195 395 34 236 3 19 103 17,448

1985 7,573 6,925 12,768 584 34 423 2 15 110 20,277

1986 7,807 7,165 14,126 477 35 309 2 23 108 21,768

1987 10,923 9,809 16,287 466 48 278 8 19 112 1 26,562

1988 9,062 8,322 17,679 741 241 352 14 18 115 1 26,742

1989 10,969 10,097 17,906 560 97 301 17 21 121 3 28,563

1990 12,324 11,460 15,616 506 79 243 31 25 124 4 27,582

1991 14,016 13,046 14,181 772 251 251 29 26 211 4 27,999

1992 14,317 13,199 15,023 798 223 327 34 29 181 4 29,020

1993 14,310 13,064 14,106 731 165 324 33 25 180 4 27,901

1994 14,570 13,022 13,166 632 74 312 31 31 179 5 26,820

1995 13,854 12,543 10,644 759 60 352 31 32 278 6 23,946

1996 13,884 12,569 11,514 828 46 472 36 37 231 6 24,911

1997 13,709 12,457 11,727 789 35 448 42 39 219 6 24,973

1998 13,648 12,321 12,359 839 103 435 43 39 213 6 25,519

1999 13,653 12,459 13,203 982 105 575 59 37 200 6 26,644

2000 13,601 12,521 12,941 1,056 164 575 60 44 207 6 26,518

2001 14,230 13,304 14,326 1,062 145 577 60 36 232 12 28,692

2002 14,868 13,871 15,740 1,180 166 644 64 28 266 12 30,791

2003 15,364 14,360 19,388 1,305 191 649 74 42 337 12 35,053

2004 15,379 14,322 19,115 1,464 209 745 71 61 366 12 34,901

2005 16,198 15,234 19,690 1,551 229 807 70 73 360 12 36,475

2006 16,623 15,765 22,114 1,647 245 860 82 84 364 12 39,526

2007 16,285 15,568 22,418 1,680 200 912 87 65 404 12 39,666

2008 17,117 16,502 24,795 1,698 195 862 90 59 479 13 42,995

2009 17,775 17,275 26,528 1,868 200 1,078 64 27 485 14 45,671

2010 18,725 18,228 26,463 2,057 203 1,261 67 27 484 15 46,748

2011 18,432 17,898 27,234 2,186 229 1,444 66 20 412 15 47,318

2012 17,773 17,203 26,677 2,580 199 1,876 76 7 406 16 46,460

2013 17,395 16,865 10,818 2,578 185 1,865 84 20 409 15 30,261

2014 17,647 17,081 10,400 2,839 174 2,087 82 19 461 16 30,320

2015 18,010 17,359 10,325 3,010 182 2,223 83 19 485 18 30,694

a. DOD reported that improvements to the estimating methodology resulted in a change in estimated budget authority and outlays starting in 

FY 2013.

b. The Other column is the total of the non-NASA and non-DOD budget authority figures that appear in the succeeding columns. The total is 

sometimes different from the sum of the individual figures because of rounding. The Total Space column does not include the NASA Total 

column because the latter includes budget authority for aeronautics as well as space. For the years 1989–97, this Other column also includes small 

figures for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as $2.1 billion for the replacement of Space Shuttle Challenger in 1987.

c. DOE has recalculated its space expenditures since 1998.

d. The NSF has recalculated its space expenditures since 1980, making them significantly higher than reported in previous years.

* Transition Quarter
168Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Appendix D-1B

Space Activities of the U.S.

HISTORICAL TABLE OF BUDGET AUTHORITY

(in millions of inflation-adjusted FY 2015 dollars)

FY

Inflation 

Factors

NASA 

Total

NASA 

Space DODa Otherb DOEc DOC DOI USDA NSFd DOT Total Space

1959 6.391 2,116 1,668 3,132 217 217 5,017

1960 6.295 3,298 2,908 3,531 271 271 6,710

1961 6.208 5,984 5,749 5,053 422 422 11,224

1962 6.124 11,175 11,004 7,948 1,219 906 312 20,171

1963 6.062 22,265 21,980 9,396 1,558 1,297 261 32,933

1964 5.988 30,538 30,035 9,575 1,275 1,257 18 40,885

1965 5.916 31,057 30,395 9,311 1,426 1,355 71 41,132

1966 5.814 30,087 29,447 9,820 1,244 1,087 157 40,511

1967 5.691 28,264 27,490 9,471 1,212 1,047 165 38,172

1968 5.523 25,333 24,466 10,615 962 801 155 1 6 36,042

1969 5.340 21,312 20,409 10,749 910 630 107 1 5 166 32,068

1970 5.105 19,125 18,109 8,567 720 526 41 5 5 143 27,395

1971 4.844 16,040 15,023 7,325 785 460 131 10 5 179 23,132

1972 4.611 15,248 14,160 6,488 615 254 143 28 9 182 21,263

1973 4.401 14,989 13,611 7,142 648 238 176 44 9 182 21,402

1974 4.219 12,812 11,639 7,450 667 177 253 38 13 186 19,756

1975 3.939 12,718 11,482 7,452 621 118 252 32 8 212 19,555

1976 3.571 12,675 11,515 7,080 601 82 257 36 14 212 19,196

TQ* 3.339 3,112 2,835 1,536 144 17 73 10 3 40 4,514

1977 3.242 12,377 11,152 7,819 627 71 295 32 19 209 19,598

1978 3.115 12,646 11,285 8,528 704 106 321 31 25 221 20,516

1979 2.918 13,411 11,759 8,859 724 172 286 29 23 213 21,342

1980 2.701 14,155 12,642 10,395 624 108 251 32 38 195 23,661

1981 2.485 13,710 12,403 11,996 582 102 216 30 40 194 24,981

1982 2.263 13,680 12,512 15,118 708 138 328 27 34 180 28,338

1983 2.118 14,561 13,403 19,102 693 83 377 11 42 180 33,197

1984 2.029 15,129 13,912 20,681 801 69 479 6 39 208 35,393

1985 1.959 14,838 13,569 25,018 1,144 67 829 4 29 215 39,730

1986 1.896 14,806 13,588 26,790 904 66 586 4 44 204 41,282

1987 1.854 20,253 18,188 30,199 864 89 515 15 35 207 2 49,250

1988 1.814 16,436 15,094 32,065 1,344 437 638 25 33 209 2 48,503

1989 1.757 19,274 17,742 31,463 984 170 529 30 37 213 5 50,189

1990 1.690 20,825 19,365 26,388 855 133 411 52 42 209 7 46,608

1991 1.631 22,855 21,274 23,124 1,259 409 409 47 42 344 7 45,657

1992 1.575 22,547 20,786 23,659 1,256 351 515 54 46 285 6 45,701

1993 1.537 21,997 20,082 21,684 1,123 254 498 51 38 276 6 42,889

1994 1.502 21,877 19,553 19,769 950 111 468 47 47 269 8 40,272

1995 1.469 20,358 18,432 15,641 1,115 88 517 46 47 408 9 35,188

1996 1.439 19,978 18,086 16,568 1,191 66 679 52 53 332 9 35,846

1997 1.413 19,366 17,597 16,566 1,115 49 633 59 55 310 8 35,278

1998 1.388 18,945 17,103 17,156 1,165 143 604 60 54 296 8 35,424

1999 1.371 18,721 17,084 18,104 1,347 144 788 81 51 274 8 36,535

2000 1.354 18,416 16,954 17,523 1,429 222 779 81 60 280 8 35,906

2001 1.327 18,878 17,649 19,005 1,409 192 765 80 48 308 16 38,063

2002 1.295 19,259 17,967 20,388 1,528 215 834 83 36 345 16 39,884

2003 1.275 19,586 18,307 24,716 1,664 243 827 94 54 430 15 44,687

2004 1.251 19,238 17,916 23,911 1,831 261 932 89 76 458 15 43,659

2005 1.221 19,773 18,596 24,035 1,893 280 985 85 89 439 15 44,525

2006 1.184 19,674 18,658 26,173 1,949 290 1,018 97 99 431 14 46,780

2007 1.146 18,667 17,845 25,697 1,926 229 1,045 100 75 463 14 45,467

2008 1.116 19,104 18,417 27,673 1,895 218 962 100 66 535 15 47,985

2009 1.093 19,437 18,890 29,008 2,042 219 1,179 70 29 530 15 49,940

2010 1.081 20,238 19,701 28,601 2,223 219 1,363 72 29 523 16 50,525

2011 1.071 19,749 19,177 29,181 2,342 245 1,547 71 21 441 16 50,700

2012 1.051 18,679 18,080 28,036 2,711 209 1,972 80 7 427 17 48,827

2013 1.033 17,967 17,419 10,818 2,663 191 1,926 87 21 422 15 31,256

2014 1.015 17,647 17,081 10,400 2,839 174 2,087 82 19 461 16 30,781

2015 1.000 18,010 17,359 10,325 3,010 182 2,223 83 19 485 18 30,694

a. DOD reported that improvements to the estimating methodology resulted in a change in estimated budget authority and outlays starting in FY 2013.

b. The Other column is the total of the non-NASA and non-DOD budget authority figures that appear in the succeeding columns. The total is 

sometimes different from the sum of the individual figures because of rounding. The Total Space column does not include the NASA Total 

column because the latter includes budget authority for aeronautics as well as space. For the years 1989–97, this Other column also includes small 

figures for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as $2.1 billion for the replacement of Space Shuttle Challenger in 1987.

c. The DOE has recalculated its space expenditures since 1998.

d. The NSF has recalculated its space expenditures since 1980, making them significantly higher than reported in previous years.

* Transition Quarter
169 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

Appendix D-2

Federal Space Activiti

(in millions of dollars by fiscal year)

Federal 

Agencies

Budget Authority Budget Outlays

2013

actual1

2014

actual 

2015

actual

2016

est.

2013

 actual

2014

 actual

2015

 actual

2016

 est.

NASA2 16,865.2 17,080.5 17,359 18,645 16,989 16,558.7 17,697.4 18,346

DOD3, 4 10,818 10,400 10,325 10,333 10,299 9,600 15,895 12,581

DOE 185 174 182 187 183 174 198 204

DOC5 1,864.8 2,087.1 2,223.1 2,349.4 1,130.5 1,167.3 1,300.3 1,387.5

DOI6 84 82 83 87 81 81 82 87

USDA 19.6 19.3 18.9 18.8 17 18.7 17.3 18.7

DOT 15 16 17.6 21.8 15 16 17.6 21.8

NSF7 409 461 485.2 507.7 387 391 444.6 452.8

1. FY 2013 figures incorporate the effect of sequestration.

2. The FY 2015 estimate is based on the prior year’s Outlays versus Budget Authority.

3. Does not include Department of Defense (DOD) or Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) intelligence programs. DOD FY 2014 

and FY 2015 figures for Budget Authority and Outlays are estimated at the time of preparing this report. Improvements to the estimating methodology resulted in a change in estimated Budget Authority and Outlays starting in FY 2013. 

4. At the time of preparing this report, DOD submitted estimates as billions of dollars, so the figures are rounded to the nearest hundred million.

5. The Budget Outlays columns reflect dollars “costed” in a fiscal year specific to that same fiscal year’s appropriated dollars.

6. The numbers for FY 2014 Actual and Outlays are estimates for both satellite and aerial funding.

7. “Actual” = actual obligations.
170Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

Appendix D-3

Federal Aeronautics Activit

(in millions of dollars by fiscal year)

Federal 

Agencies

Budget Authority Budget Outlays

2013

actual1

2014

actual 

2015

actual

2016

est.

2013

 actual

2014

 actual

2015

 actual

2016

 est.

NASA2 529.5 566 651 640 558.4 538.7 578.3 587

USDA 33.1 34.4 26.7 26.8 30.2 32.6 26.7 26.7

DOD3 82,730 75,500 50,800 57,600 91,120 75,700 42,885 58,697

DOI4 29 31 31 36 28 30 31 36

DOT 2,758 2,744 2,741.8 3,004.9 2,990 2,851 2,761.1 2,895.8

1. FY 2013 figures incorporate the effect of sequestration.

2. The FY 2015 estimate is based on the prior year’s Outlays versus Budget Authority.

3. DOD FY 2014 and FY 2015 figures for Budget Authority and Outlays are estimated at the time of preparing this report. Improvements to the estimating methodology resulted in a change in estimated Budget Authority and Outlays starting in FY 2013.

4. At the time of preparing this report, DOD submitted estimates as billions of dollars, so the figures are rounded to the nearest hundred million.

5. The numbers for FY 2014 Actual and Outlays are estimates for both satellite and aerial funding.
171 c Fiscal Year 2015 Activiti

ronyms

3D-MAT 3-Dimensional Multifunctional Ablative Thermal Protection Systems

A

AAFEX Alternative Aviation Fuel Experiment

ABoVE Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment

ABS Asia Broadcast Satellite

ACCESS Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions

ACE Advanced Composition Explorer

ACEC Area of Critical Environmental Concern

ACES Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space

ACT Atacama Cosmology Telescope

ACTPol ACT Polarimeter

ADP Acoustic Doppler Profiler

ADS-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast

AE Archive Explorer

AEFS Advanced Electronic Flight Strips

AEHF Advanced Extremely High Frequency

AES Advanced Exploration Systems

AFIT Air Force Institute of Technology

AFOTEC Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center

AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory

AFSPC Air Force Space Command

AFTA Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets

AGS Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences

AIA Atmospheric Imaging Assembly

AIR-Spec airborne infrared spectrometer

APXS Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer

ALMA Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array

AMC Additive Manufacturing Consortium

AMISR Advanced Modular Incoherent-Scatter Radar

AMPERE Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment

AMS Autonomous Modular Sensor; Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

ANWR Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge

AO Arecibo Observatory

APL Applied Physics Laboratory

ARAIM Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

ARM Asteroid Redirect Mission; Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility

ARMD Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

ARSET Applied Remote Sensing Training

ARTCC air route traffic control center

AS Atmosphere Section

ASB Agricultural Statistics Board

ASBU Aviation System Block Upgrade

ASDE-X Airport Surface Detection Equipment–Model X

ASR Atmospheric System Research

ASRG Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator

ASSC Airport Surface Surveillance Capability System

AST Office of Commercial Space Transportation; Division of Astronomical Sciences
172Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

ASTAR Airborne Spacing for Terminal Arrival Routes

ASU Group on the Sector Understanding on Export Credits for Civil Aircraft (also called Aircraft 

Sector Understanding)

ATST Advanced Technology Solar Telescope

ATV Automated Transfer Vehicle

AUVSI Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

AWiFS Advanced Wide Field Sensor

B

BAA Broad Agency Announcement

BANWR Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

BaPSF Basic Plasma Science Facility

BEAM Bigelow Expandable Activity Module

BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs

BICEP Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization

BIS Bureau of Industry and Security

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BNL Brookhaven National Laboratory

BOR Bureau of Reclamation

BRICSat Ballistic Reinforced Communication Satellite

C

C2V2 Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles

CA cooperative agreement

CAL Cold Atom Laboratory

CALET CALorimetric Electron Telescope

CARVE Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment

CAS close air support

CATS Cloud-Aerosol Transport System

CCAFS Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

CCMC Community Coordinated Modeling Center

CCS Counter Communications System

CCSDS Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems

CCtCap Commercial Crew Transportation Capabilities

CD-3 Critical Decision–3

CDD Capabilities Development Document

CDL Cropland Data Layer

CDR Critical Design Review

CEDAR Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions

CEPS Center for Earth and Planetary Studies

CfA Center for Astrophysics

CH4 methane

CHAMP CHAllenging Mini-satellite Payload

CIR color infrared

CLU Common Land Unit

CMB cosmic microwave background

CNES Centre Nationale d’Études Spatiales

C/NOFS Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System

CO2 carbon dioxide

COE CST Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation

COSMIC Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate

COSMO-SkyMed COnstellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation

COSPAR U.N. Committee on Space Research
173 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

COSPAS-SARSAT Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking

CPGS Conventional Prompt Global Strike

CPT Command Post Terminal

CREAM Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass

CRP Commercialization Readiness Program

CRSSP Commercial Remote Sensing Space Policy

CS Commercial Service

CSA cooperative support agreement

CSLI CubeSat Launch Initiative

CSP Cold Spray Process

CubeSat cube-shaped satellite

CYGNSS Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System D

DAA Detect-and-Avoid

DASC Deep Space Atomic Clock

DASI Degree Angular Scale Interferometer

Data Comm Data Communications

DKAO Dakotas Area Office

DKIST Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope

DLR German Aerospace Center

DMC Disaster Monitoring Constellation

DNN Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

DOC Department of Commerce

DOD Department of Defense

DOE Department of Energy

DOI Department of the Interior

DOS Department of State

DPR Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar

DRS Disturbance Reduction System

DSCOVR Deep Space Climate Observatory

DSN Deep Space Network

DVE-M Degraded Visual Environment Mitigation

DWH Deepwater Horizon E

EAWS Early Access Web Services

EBIS Electron Beam Ion Source

ECLIF Emissions and Climate Impacts of Alternative Fuels

ECMWF European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

EDL Entry, Descent, and Landing

EDSN Edison Demonstration of SmallSat Networks

EELV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle

EFSTS Electronic Flight Strip Transfer System

EFT-1 Exploration Flight Test–1

EGS Exploration Ground Systems

EIS Environmental Impact Assessment

ELSO Equivalent Lateral Spacing Operations

EM-1 Exploration Mission–1

EMC Evolvable Mars Campaign

EOS Earth Observing System

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

EPS Enhanced Polar System
174Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

ERAM En Route Automation Modernization

ERAU Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

ERCDM Eastern Range Command Destruct Modernization

EROS Earth Resources Observation and Science; Earth Resources Observation Systems

ESA European Space Agency

ESD Earth Science Division

ESI Exploration Systems Integration

ETM Enhanced Thematic Mapper

EU European Union

EUMETSAT European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

EUV extreme ultraviolet

eV electronvolt

EVA extravehicular activity

EVE EUV Variability Experiment

EVI-3 Earth Venture Instrument–3

EVM-2 Earth Venture Mission–2

Ex-Im Export-Import

F

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FAB-T Family of Advanced Beyond Line of Sight Terminals

FACO Final Assembly and Check Out

FAS Foreign Agricultural Service

FAS/OGA Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Global Analysis

FCC Federal Communications Commission

FDSS Faculty Development in Space Sciences

FES Office of Fusion Energy Sciences

FGST Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

FIREBIRD Focused Investigations of Relativistic Electron Burst Intensity, Range, and Dynamics

FOALS Fuel Optimal and Accurate Landing System Test Flights

FOC Full Operational Capability

FRAME Fundamental Rotorcraft Acoustic Modeling for Experiments

FSA Farm Service Agency

FTI Federal Telecommunications Infrastructure

FWS Fish and Wildlife Service

G

Gal/Xgal U/LDB Galactic/Extragalactic Ultra-Long Duration Balloon

GaN gallium nitride

GAO Government Accountability Office

GBD Global Burst Detector

GBSD Ground Based Strategic Deterrent

GBU Guided Bomb Unit

GCD Game Changing Development

GEARRSAT Globalstar Experiment And Risk Reduction Satellite Flight Experiment

GEDI Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation

GEM Geospace Environment Modeling

GEO Geosynchronous Earth Orbit; Directorate for Geosciences

GEODSS Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance

GF Geospace Facilities

GIS Geographic Information Systems

GLAM Global Agricultural Monitoring
175 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

GLBA Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment

GMI GPM Microwave Imager

GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System

GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

GOES-R Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R

GOLD Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk

GONG Global Oscillations Network Group

GPHS General Purpose Heat Source

GPIM Green Propellant Infusion Mission

GPM Global Precipitation Measurement

GPR ground penetrating radar

GPS Global Positioning System

GPS/MET GPS/Meteorology

GPSRO GPS radio occultation

GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment

GRACE-FO Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On

GRC Glenn Research Center

G-REALM Global Reservoir and Lake Monitor

GS Geospace Section

GSDO Ground Systems Development and Operations

GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center

GT-1 Ground Tournament

GUSTO Gal/Xgal U/LDB Spectroscopic–Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory

H

HCT Hall Current Thruster

HEAT High Elevation Antarctic Terahertz

HEEET Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology

HEO Highly Elliptical Orbit

HEOMD Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate

HEP Office of High Energy Physics

HiRISE High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment

HIWC High Ice Water Content

HOPE Hands-On Project Experience

HPD Heliophysics Division

HRP Human Research Program

HRS Human Robotic Systems

HTV H-II Transfer Vehicle

HX Heat Exchanger

I

I&M Inventory and Monitoring

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization

ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile

ICE-Cap Integrated Communications Extension Capability

ICG International Committee on GNSS

ICNO IceCube Neutrino Observatory

ICON Ionospheric Connection Explorer

IDEX International Defense Exhibition and Conference

IDIQ2 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity

IFAR International Forum for Aviation Research
176Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

IfSAR Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar

InSight Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport

IOC Initial Operational Capability

ION Institute of Navigation

IPAD International Production Assessment Division

IPCC Internet Protocol Companion Contract

IRAC Infrared Array Camera

IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph

ISECG International Space Exploration Coordination Group

ISEF2 International Space Exploration Forum

ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation

ISS International Space Station

ISS-RapidScat International Space Station–Rapid Scatterometer

IST Integrated Systems Test

ITA International Trade Administration

ITU International Telecommunication Union

IXPE Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

J

JASD Joint Agency Satellite Division

Jason Joint Altimetry Satellite Oceanography Network

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

JCTD Joint Capability Technology Demonstration

JMR Joint Multi-Role

JMS JSpOC Mission System

JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory

JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System

JSC Johnson Space Center

JSF Joint Strike Fighter

JSpOC Joint Space Operations Center

JUICE Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

JWST James Webb Space Telescope

K

KDP Key Decision Point

KSC Kennedy Space Center

KUS Kennedy Uplink Station

L

LAAD Latin America Aerospace and Defence

LANL Los Alamos National Laboratory

LAPD Large Plasma Device

LAT Large Area Telescope

LCH4 liquid methane

LCMS Landscape Change Monitoring System

LCRD Laser Communication Relay Demonstration

LCS Launch Communications System

LDSD Low Density Supersonic Decelerator

lidar light identification detection and ranging

LISA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
177 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

LORRI Long Range Reconnaissance Imager

LOX liquid oxygen

LRO Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

LSC Legal Subcommittee

LSP Launch Services Program

LSST Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

LST Land Surface Temperature

LTS Working Group on Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities

Lunar CATALYST Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown

M

M&S modeling and simulation

MAIAC Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction

MARS Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

MARSIS Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding

MARSOC Marine Special Operations Command

MAVEN Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution

MDA Missile Defense Agency

MEDA Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer

MEDLI Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation

MEN Modernization Eastern Range Network

MEP Manufacturing Extension Partnership

MER Mars Exploration Rover

MESSENGER MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging

MetOp Meteorological Operational Satellite Program

METOP-A/GRAS Meteorological Operational satellite programme–A/Global navigation satellite system 

Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding

MEU Marine Expeditionary Units

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MMRTG Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator

MMS Magnetospheric Multiscale

MOA Memorandum of Agreement

MOBY Marine Optical Buoy

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MOPS Minimum Operational Performance Standards

MOT&E Multi-Service Operational Test and Evaluation

MOU Memorandum of Understanding

MOXIE Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization Experiment

MPE Mission Planning Element

MPS Mathematics and Physical Sciences

MRLC Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium

MRO Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

MRP Mineral Resources Program

MRX Magnetic Reconnection Experiment

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center

MSIP Mid-Scale Innovations Program

MSL Mars Science Laboratory

MTBS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity

MUOS Mobile User Objective System

N

NAICS North American Industry Classification System
178Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

NAIP National Agriculture Imagery Program

NAS National Airspace System

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASM National Air and Space Museum

NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service

NATCA National Air Traffic Controllers Association

NBR normalized burned area ratio

NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research

NCEP National Centers for Environmental Prediction

NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index

NE Office of Nuclear Energy

NEA Near-Earth Asteroid

NEN Near Earth Network

NEO near-Earth object

NERSC National Energy Research Supercomputing Center

NextGen Next Generation Air Transportation System

NextSTEP Next Space Technology Exploration Partnerships

NFS National Forest System

NGEE Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment

NGO nongovernmental organization

NHD National Hydrography Dataset

NIAC NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts

NICER Neutron star Composition and Interior Explorer

NIR near-infrared

NISAR NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

NISTAR NIST Advanced Radiometer

NLCD National Land Cover Database

NMAMLP New Mexico Abandoned Mine Land Program

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAO National Optical Astronomy Observatory

NOC National Operations Center

NPOESS National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System

NPS National Park Service

NRAO National Radio Astronomy Observatory

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRA NASA Research Announcement

NRL Naval Research Laboratory

NSF National Science Foundation

NSO National Solar Observatory

NSPO National Space Organization

NSRL NASA Space Radiation Laboratory

NSS national security space

NSTC National Science and Technology Council

NSWS National Space Weather Strategy

NTC National Training Center

NTP Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

NuDets space nuclear detonations

NWP numerical weather prediction

O

OCO-2 Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2

ODNI Office of the Director of National Intelligence
179 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OFII Office of Finance and Insurance Industries

OIB Operation IceBridge

OIG Office of Inspector General

OLI Operational Land Imager

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OPIR Overhead Persistent Infrared

ORS Operationally Responsive Space

OSD Office of the Secretary of Defense

OSMRE Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

OSP-3 Orbital/Suborbital Program–3

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy

OTM Office of Transportation and Machinery

OTV Orbital Test Vehicle

OVERFLOW OVERset grid FLOW solver P

PACE Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem

PBN Performance Based Navigation

PBS Plum Brook Station

PCAS Persistent Close Air Support

PCM Phase Change Material

PCM HX Phase Change Material Heat Exchanger

PDL Ponce De Leon

PDR Preliminary Design Review

PECAN Plains Elevated Convection at Night

PLR Division of Polar Programs

PNT Positioning, Navigation, and Timing

POES Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites

POLARBEAR Polarization of Background Radiation

PolSAR Polarimetric synthetic aperture radar

PPPL Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

PRAXyS Polarimeter for Relativistic Astrophysical X-ray Sources

PRS Public Regulated Service

Psat Parkinson Satellite

PSD Planetary Science Division; production, supply, and distribution

Pu plutonium Q

QZSS Quasi-Zenith Satellite System R

R&D Research and Development

RapidScat Rapid Scatterometer

REDDI-2014 Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2014

RERP Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program

RHIC Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

RHU radioisotope heater unit

RNAV Area Navigation

RNP Required Navigation Performance

RO radio occultation

ROD Record of Decision
180Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

ROSES Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences

Rp refined petroleum

RP-1 liquid kerosene

RPS radioisotope power system

RPT Rocket Propulsion Test

RRM-P2 Robotic Refueling Mission Phase 2

RSAC Remote Sensing Applications Center

RSCC Remote Sensing Coordinating Committee

RSIWG Remote Sensing Interagency Working Group

RTCA-SC228 Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics–Special Committee 228

RTG Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator

RTK-GPS Real-Time Kinematic Global Positioning System

RV recreational vehicle

S

S&CD Strategic and Commerce Dialogue

SABRS Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System

SAC-C Satélite de Aplicaciones Científic

SAM Sample Analysis at Mars

SAME Smoke Aerosol Measurement Experiment

SAO Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar

SATCOM Satellite Communications

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

SBIRS Space Based Infrared System

SBSS Space Based Space Surveillance Follow-On

SC Office of Science

SCaN Space Communications and Navigation

S-CANDELS Spitzer-Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey

SDB Small Diameter Bomb

SDO Solar Dynamics Observatory

SEP Solar Electric Propulsion

SfM Structure from Motion

SGSS Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment

SHARAD Shallow Subsurface Radar

SHINE Solar, Heliosphere, and INterplanetary Environment

SIA Satellite Imagery Archive

SIAD Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator

SIR Systems Integration Review

SLAC Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

SLEP Service Life Extension Program

SLS Space Launch System

SM Service Module

SM-6 Standard Missile–6

SMAP Soil Moisture Active Passive

SMC Space and Missile Systems Center

SMCRA Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

SMD Science Mission Directorate

SN Space Network

SNL Sandia National Laboratories

SNSPD superconducting nanowire single-photon detector

SOC Space Optical Clock

SOFEX Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference

SOFIA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
181 Fiscal Year 2015 Activities

SP-9 Service Pack 9

SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corporation

SPAWAR Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command

SPB super-pressure balloon

SPD supersonic particle deposition

SPHEREx Spectrophotometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer

SPP Solar Probe Plus

SPT South Pole Telescope

SPTpol SPT polarization-sensitive

SPUD Small Polarimeter Upgrade for DASI

SQUID Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices

sRLV suborbital reusable launch vehicle

SSA Space Situational Awareness

SSC Stennis Space Center

SSDP Space Security and Defense Program

SST Space Surveillance Telescope

SSTI Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative

SSTP Small Spacecraft Technology Program

StareWAI Staring Wide Area Imager

STB SCaN Testbed

STDDS SWIM Terminal Data Distribution System

STE Special Test Equipment

STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

STIM Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching

STMD Space Technology Mission Directorate

STP Space Test Program

STSC Scientific and Technical Subcommittee

STTR Small Technology Transfer Research

Suomi NPP Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership

SURF Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility

SVT Surface Visualization Tool

SWIM System Wide Information Management

SWORM Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation

SWPC Space Weather Prediction Center

SWR Space Weather Research

SwRI Southwest Research Institute

SXS Soft X-ray Spectrometer

SZ Sunyaev-Zel’dovich

T

TAP Traffic Aware Planner

TCAS Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System

TCC Tree Canopy Cover

TCCON Total Column Carbon Observing Network

TD Technology Demonstrator

TDRSS Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System

TES transition-edge sensor; Terrestrial Ecosystem Science

TESNAR TEchnical training in Support of Native American Relations

TESS Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite

TeV teraelectronvolt

TFDM Terminal Flight Data Manager

TFMS Traffic Flow Management System

TIN triangulated irregular network

TM Thematic Mapper
182Aeronautics and Space Report of the President

TMAS Thermal Mapping Airborne Simulator

TMRR Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction

TOPEX Ocean Topography Experiment

TPS Thermal Protection Systems

TRACON Terminal Radar Approach Controls

TRL Technology Readiness Level

TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

TSAS Terminal Sequencing and Spacing

TWG Technical Working Group

U

UAF University of Alaska Fairbanks

UAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems

UAVSAR Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar

UCAR University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

UCC Unified Combatant Commander

UHF Ultra-High Frequency

ULA United Launch Alliance

USAF United States Air Force

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USFS United States Forest Service

USGS United States Geological Survey

USIP Undergraduate Student Instrument Project

USNDS U.S. NuDet Detection System

UTM UAS Traffic Management

V

VAC Vertical Assembly Center

VAFB Vandenberg Air Force Base

VCLS Venture Class Launch Service

VIIRS Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite

VIPR Vehicle Integrated Propulsion Research

VTOL Vertical Take-Off and Landing

W

WASDE World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates

WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

WFIRST Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope

WGS Wideband Global SATCOM

WGSC Western Geographic Science Center

WRCDM Western Range Command Destruct Modernization

WSGF Weather System Gap Filler

WSTF White Sands Test Facility

X

XRT X-Ray Telescope

Y

Yb ytterbium
NP-2016-03-2136-HQ