National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-1 

Fiscal Year 

Operating 

Plan CR PBR Notional 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 

NASA Total 19,653.3 19,519.8 19,892.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 

Deep Space Exploration 

Systems 4,184.0 4,222.6 4,558.8 4,859.1 4,764.5 4,752.5 4,769.8

Exploration Systems 

Development 3,929.0 -- 3,669.8 3,790.5 3,820.2 3,707.5 3,845.6 

Advanced Exploration 

Systems 97.8 -- 889.0 1,068.6 944.3 1,045.0 924.1 

Exploration Research 

and Development 157.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Exploration Research and 

Technology 826.5 820.8 1,002.7 912.7 912.7 912.7 912.7

LEO and Spaceflight 

Operations 4,942.5 4,850.1 4,624.6 4,273.7 4,393.3 4,430.3 4,438.0

International Space 

Station 1,450.9 -- 1,462.2 1,453.2 1,471.2 1,466.2 1,451.2 

Space Transportation 2,589.0 -- 2,108.7 1,829.1 1,858.9 1,829.2 1,807.3 

Space and Flight Support 

(SFS) 902.6 -- 903.7 841.4 888.2 934.9 954.6 

Commercial LEO 

Development -- -- 150.0 150.0 175.0 200.0 225.0 

Science 5,762.2 5,725.8 5,895.0 5,859.9 5,841.1 5,822.4 5,803.6

Earth Science 1,907.7 -- 1,784.2 1,784.2 1,784.2 1,784.2 1,784.2 

Planetary Science 1,827.5 -- 2,234.7 2,199.6 2,180.8 2,162.1 2,143.3 

Astrophysics 1,352.3 -- 1,185.4 1,185.4 1,185.4 1,185.4 1,185.4 

Heliophysics 674.7 -- 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 

Aeronautics 656.0 655.5 633.9 608.9 608.9 608.9 608.9

Education 100.0 99.3 -- -- -- -- --

Safety, Security, and Mission 

Services 2,768.6 2,749.8 2,749.7 2,744.8 2,738.6 2,732.3 2,726.1

Center Management and 

Operations 1,986.5 -- 1,949.6 1,945.4 1,939.8 1,934.1 1,928.5 

Agency Management and 

Operations 782.1 -- 800.1 799.4 798.8 798.2 797.6 

Construction and 

Environmental Compliance 

and Restoration 

375.6 358.3 388.2 293.8 293.8 293.8 293.8

Construction of Facilities 305.4 -- 305.3 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

Environmental 

Compliance and 

Restoration 

70.2 -- 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 

Inspector General 37.9 37.6 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3

NASA Total 19,653.3 19,519.8 19,892.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as executed under the Agency's current 

FY 2017 Operating Plan. 

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is 

operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the 

annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-2 

Fiscal Year 

Operating 

Plan CR PBR Notional 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 

NASA Total 19,653.3 19,519.8 19,892.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 4,184.0 4,222.6 4,558.8 4,859.1 4,764.5 4,752.5 4,769.8

Exploration Systems 

Development 3,929.0 -- 3,669.8 3,790.5 3,820.2 3,707.5 3,845.6 

Orion Program 1,330.0 -- 1,163.5 1,137.7 1,134.2 1,117.8 1,117.8 

Orion Program 

Integration and Support 10.5 -- 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 

Crew Vehicle 

Development 1,319.5 1,330.3 1,153.0 1,127.2 1,123.7 1,107.3 1,107.3 

Space Launch System 2,127.1 -- 2,078.1 2,062.9 2,165.1 2,131.0 2,276.0 

Launch Vehicle 

Development 2,072.0 2,079.3 2,027.2 2,001.8 2,104.3 2,071.4 2,216.2 

SLS Program 

Integration and Support 55.1 -- 50.9 61.2 60.9 59.6 59.8 

Exploration Ground 

Systems 471.9 -- 428.2 589.9 520.8 458.7 451.9 

EGS Program 

Integration and Support 13.4 -- 5.0 14.9 15.7 15.7 9.6 

Exploration Ground 

Systems Development 458.5 426.1 423.2 575.0 505.1 443.0 442.3 

Advanced Exploration 

Systems 97.8 -- 889.0 1,068.6 944.3 1,045.0 924.1 

Lunar Orbital Platform - 

Gateway -- -- 504.2 662.0 540.0 558.9 459.1 

Advanced Cislunar and 

Surface Capabilities -- -- 116.5 146.0 163.7 300.0 320.3 

Exploration Advanced 

Systems 97.8 -- 268.2 260.7 240.6 186.1 144.7 

Exploration Research and 

Development 157.2 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Exploration Research and 

Technology 826.5 820.8 1,002.7 912.7 912.7 912.7 912.7

Early Stage Innovation 

and Partnerships 89.7 -- 108.4 103.0 107.0 107.0 107.0 

Technology Maturation 135.0 -- 216.5 178.6 180.8 183.3 183.5 

Technology 

Demonstration 262.8 -- 332.7 293.1 286.9 284.4 284.2 

Laser Comm Relay 

Demo (LCRD) 25.7 21.5 17.2 -- -- -- -- 

Restore/In-Space 

Robotic Servicing 

(ISRS)

130.0 -- 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3 

Solar Electric 

Propulsion (SEP) 23.4 -- 48.1 24.6 18.4 4.9 -- 

Small Spacecraft, Flight 

Opportunities & Other 

Tech Demonstration

83.6 -- 222.2 223.2 223.2 234.2 238.9 

Human Research 

Program 140.0 -- 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-3 

Fiscal Year 

Operating 

Plan CR PBR Notional 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 

SBIR and STTR 199.0 -- 205.0 198.0 198.0 198.0 198.0 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 4,942.5 4,850.1 4,624.6 4,273.7 4,393.3 4,430.3 4,438.0

International Space Station 1,450.9 -- 1,462.2 1,453.2 1,471.2 1,466.2 1,451.2 

International Space 

Station Program 1,450.9 -- 1,462.2 1,453.2 1,471.2 1,466.2 1,451.2 

ISS Systems Operations 

and Maintenance 1,103.5 -- 1,105.5 1,105.5 1,105.6 1,105.6 1,105.6 

ISS Research 347.3 -- 356.7 347.7 365.6 360.6 345.6 

Space Transportation 2,589.0 -- 2,108.7 1,829.1 1,858.9 1,829.2 1,807.3 

Crew and Cargo Program 1,404.2 -- 1,935.6 1,793.2 1,822.6 1,792.8 1,771.0 

Commercial Crew 

Program 1,184.8 -- 173.1 35.8 36.3 36.3 36.3 

Space and Flight Support 

(SFS) 902.6 -- 903.7 841.4 888.2 934.9 954.6 

Space Communications 

and Navigation 630.1 -- 634.1 568.8 615.6 652.9 670.6 

Space Communications 

Networks 546.9 -- 523.4 454.8 504.3 549.8 567.4 

Space Communications 

Support 83.2 -- 110.8 114.1 111.3 103.1 103.2 

Human Space Flight 

Operations 123.1 -- 135.4 136.4 136.4 145.9 147.8 

Launch Services 85.7 -- 86.6 88.6 88.6 88.6 88.6 

Rocket Propulsion Test 43.7 -- 47.6 47.6 47.6 47.6 47.6 

21st Century Space 

Launch Complex 20.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Commercial LEO 

Development -- -- 150.0 150.0 175.0 200.0 225.0 

Science 5,762.2 5,725.8 5,895.0 5,859.9 5,841.1 5,822.4 5,803.6

Earth Science 1,907.7 -- 1,784.2 1,784.2 1,784.2 1,784.2 1,784.2 

Earth Science Research 462.0 -- 451.4 457.4 483.8 507.7 537.8 

Earth Science Research 

and Analysis 332.5 -- 305.2 299.2 318.0 321.0 325.0 

Computing and 

Management 129.5 -- 146.1 158.2 165.8 186.7 212.8 

Earth Systematic Missions 929.7 -- 788.1 729.5 689.1 646.5 595.0 

Ice, Cloud, and land 

Elevation Satellite 

(ICESat-2)

86.5 70.9 23.1 17.6 17.6 17.3 17.3 

GRACE Follow-On 33.7 4.7 11.3 12.3 12.2 12.5 12.5 

Surface Water and 

Ocean Topography 

Mission (SWOT)

61.7 97.9 114.3 85.0 63.9 32.8 11.5 

NASA-ISRO Synthetic 

Aperature Radar 

(NISAR)

101.4 58.4 131.9 118.6 93.2 89.9 32.4 

Landsat 9 198.7 175.8 162.4 114.9 94.2 10.8 2.9 

Sentinel-6 54.7 49.2 59.6 64.5 40.4 14.9 35.3 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-4 

Fiscal Year 

Operating 

Plan CR PBR Notional 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 393.1 -- 285.6 316.7 367.7 468.4 483.2 

Earth System Science 

Pathfinder 208.8 -- 235.0 273.7 268.2 274.3 287.7 

Venture Class Missions 146.6 -- 167.5 205.2 199.1 204.0 213.4 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 62.3 -- 67.5 68.6 69.0 70.3 74.3 

Earth Science MultiMission Operations 204.9 -- 196.9 208.7 225.0 231.6 237.1 

Earth Science Technology 62.9 -- 59.7 61.6 64.2 67.8 69.6 

Applied Sciences 39.4 -- 53.1 53.3 53.9 56.3 57.0 

Planetary Science 1,827.5 -- 2,234.7 2,199.6 2,180.8 2,162.1 2,143.3 

Planetary Science 

Research 230.1 -- 258.0 247.6 247.6 247.6 247.6 

Planetary Science 

Research and Analysis 178.1 -- 210.3 190.7 190.2 184.1 182.9 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 52.0 -- 47.7 56.9 57.4 63.5 64.7 

Planetary Defense 60.0 -- 150.0 150.0 150.0 150.0 150.0 

DART -- -- 90.0 71.0 48.0 8.0 2.0 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 60.0 -- 60.0 79.0 102.0 142.0 148.0 

Lunar Discovery and 

Exploration 19.0 -- 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 19.0 -- 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 

Discovery 194.6 -- 381.2 476.6 375.0 355.6 348.5 

InSight 32.3 109.4 22.3 11.8 9.0 9.0 9.0 

Lucy 54.5 -- 153.3 209.8 154.7 56.4 16.5 

Psyche 47.3 -- 171.2 214.6 173.3 163.0 40.1 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 60.5 -- 34.4 40.4 38.0 127.2 282.9 

New Frontiers 134.0 -- 130.2 163.7 245.0 327.6 388.4 

Mars Exploration 647.0 -- 601.5 529.7 371.9 290.8 215.3 

Mars Rover 2020 408.0 374.3 348.0 296.9 154.8 133.0 60.4 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 239.0 -- 253.5 232.7 217.1 157.8 154.9 

Outer Planets and Ocean 

Worlds 359.5 -- 285.6 213.8 373.3 372.5 375.5 

Europa Clipper 275.0 -- 264.7 200.2 359.5 358.9 361.0 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 84.5 -- 20.9 13.6 13.8 13.6 14.5 

Technology 183.3 -- 210.2 200.2 200.0 200.0 200.0 

Astrophysics 1,352.3 -- 1,185.4 1,185.4 1,185.4 1,185.4 1,185.4 

Astrophysics Research 190.1 -- 259.2 280.8 321.5 318.4 310.0 

Astrophysics Research 

and Analysis 73.5 -- 83.4 86.6 90.2 92.2 94.2 

Balloon Project 34.0 -- 39.2 41.7 40.4 40.5 40.6 

Science Activation 37.0 -- 44.6 44.6 44.6 44.6 44.6 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-5 

Fiscal Year 

Operating 

Plan CR PBR Notional 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 45.6 -- 92.0 108.0 146.4 141.1 130.7 

Cosmic Origins 779.4 -- 491.4 354.5 311.9 312.7 312.7 

James Webb Space 

Telescope 569.4 533.7 304.6 197.2 149.8 150.0 150.0 

Hubble Space 

Telescope Operations 97.3 -- 78.3 88.3 93.3 98.3 98.3 

Stratospheric 

Observatory for Infrared 

Astronomy (SOFIA)

85.2 -- 74.6 39.8 16.6 -- -- 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 27.5 -- 33.9 29.1 52.2 64.4 64.4 

Physics of the Cosmos 106.2 -- 136.8 139.1 113.3 108.3 105.0 

Exoplanet Exploration 152.6 -- 52.4 44.5 44.6 44.4 44.9 

Astrophysics Explorer 124.1 -- 245.6 366.5 394.0 401.6 412.8 

Transiting Exoplanet 

Survey Satellite (TESS) 74.0 36.9 27.5 3.8 -- -- -- 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 50.0 -- 218.1 362.8 394.0 401.6 412.8 

Heliophysics 674.7 -- 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 

Heliophysics Research 180.8 -- 242.7 234.3 226.7 217.9 220.6 

Heliophysics Research 

and Analysis 39.4 -- 71.2 66.6 58.6 58.6 58.6 

Sounding Rockets 53.3 -- 61.1 63.1 68.1 60.1 65.1 

Research Range 24.3 -- 29.6 27.3 25.6 25.6 25.6 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 63.8 -- 80.9 77.2 74.4 73.5 71.3 

Living with a Star 368.4 -- 247.8 103.4 83.5 93.2 127.8 

Parker Solar Probe 232.5 241.6 107.2 30.6 22.1 22.2 21.2 

Solar Orbiter 

Collaboration 79.9 59.2 62.3 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 56.0 -- 78.2 68.7 57.2 66.7 102.3 

Solar Terrestrial Probes 38.8 -- 91.0 89.9 177.7 175.6 247.9 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 38.8 -- 91.0 89.9 177.7 175.6 247.9 

Heliophysics Explorer 

Program 86.7 -- 109.2 263.1 202.9 204.1 94.4 

Other Missions and 

Data Analysis 86.7 -- 109.2 263.1 202.9 204.1 94.4 

Aeronautics 656.0 655.5 633.9 608.9 608.9 608.9 608.9

Aeronautics 656.0 -- 633.9 608.9 608.9 608.9 608.9 

Airspace Operations and 

Safety Program 140.6 -- 90.8 96.2 120.4 122.7 122.9 

Advanced Air Vehicles 

Program 274.6 -- 230.6 248.5 257.1 257.8 258.3 

Integrated Aviation 

Systems Program 125.0 -- 189.2 154.1 106.6 103.3 102.5 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-6 

Fiscal Year 

Operating 

Plan CR PBR Notional 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 

Low Boom Flight 

Demonstrator 18.5 -- 88.3 80.0 45.8 30.0 30.0 

Integrated Aviation 

Systems Program 106.4 -- 100.9 74.1 60.8 73.3 72.5 

Transformative Aero 

Concepts Program 115.8 -- 123.3 110.1 124.9 125.1 125.1 

Education 100.0 99.3 -- -- -- -- --

Safety, Security, and Mission 

Services 2,768.6 2,749.8 2,749.7 2,744.8 2,738.6 2,732.3 2,726.1

Center Management and 

Operations 1,986.5 -- 1,949.6 1,945.4 1,939.8 1,934.1 1,928.5 

Center Institutional 

Capabilities 1,534.9 -- 1,513.6 1,509.4 1,503.8 1,498.1 1,492.5 

Center Programmatic 

Capabilities 451.6 -- 436.0 436.0 436.0 436.0 436.0 

Agency Management and 

Operations 782.1 -- 800.1 799.4 798.8 798.2 797.6 

Agency Management 359.2 -- 359.5 358.8 358.2 357.6 357.0 

Safety and Mission 

Success 176.3 -- 175.8 175.8 175.8 175.8 175.8 

Safety and Mission 

Assurance 49.6 -- 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.5 

Chief Engineer 83.4 -- 83.0 83.0 83.0 83.0 83.0 

Chief Health and 

Medical Officer 4.2 -- 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 

Independent 

Verification and 

Validation

39.1 -- 38.9 38.9 38.9 38.9 38.9 

Agency IT Services 

(AITS) 219.8 -- 238.1 238.1 238.1 238.1 238.1 

IT Management 15.9 -- 18.3 18.3 18.3 18.3 18.3 

Enterprise IT 203.9 -- 219.8 219.8 219.8 219.8 219.8 

Strategic Capabilities 

Asset Program 26.8 -- 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 

Construction and Environmental 

Compliance and Restoration 375.6 358.3 388.2 293.8 293.8 293.8 293.8

Construction of Facilities 305.4 -- 305.3 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

Institutional CoF 253.2 -- 250.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

Exploration CoF 8.8 -- 25.9 -- -- -- -- 

Space Operations CoF 36.7 -- 18.9 -- -- -- -- 

Science CoF 2.7 -- 9.6 -- -- -- -- 

Aeronautics CoF 4.0 -- -- -- -- -- -- 

Environmental Compliance 

and Restoration 70.2 -- 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 

Inspector General 37.9 37.6 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3

NASA Total 19,653.3 19,519.8 19,892.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 19,592.2 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST SUMMARY

BUD-7 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as executed under the Agency's current 

FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the budget assumes this account is 

operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the 

annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC-1

Overview

Agency Summary

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR ............................................................SUM-2

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS..........................................................................................SUM-5

NOTES ON THE BUDGET ...................................................................................SUM-10

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES ..................................SUM-11

Exploration Campaign ........................................................EXC-1

Deep Space Exploration Systems .................................. DEXP-2

Exploration Systems Development............................................................. DEXP-4

ORION PROGRAM ..............................................................................................DEXP-6

Crew Vehicle Development [Development].................................................................... DEXP-7

SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ................................................................................DEXP-20

Launch Vehicle Development [Development] .............................................................. DEXP-22

EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS................................................................DEXP-33

Exploration Ground Systems Development [Development] ......................................... DEXP-34

Advanced Exploration Systems ................................................................ DEXP-43

LUNAR ORBITAL PLATFORM - GATEWAY.......................................................DEXP-45

ADVANCED CISLUNAR AND SURFACE CAPABILITIES ..................................DEXP-51

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS............................................................DEXP-55

Exploration Research and Technology.............................ERT-2

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS ........................................... ERT-9

TECHNOLOGY MATURATION ............................................................................ ERT-17

TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION .................................................................... ERT-26

TDM Laser Comm Relay Demo (LCRD) [Development].................................................ERT-35

TDM RESTORE-L [Formulation] .....................................................................................ERT-41

TDM Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) [Formulation]........................................................ERT-46

HUMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM......................................................................... ERT-51

SBIR AND STTR .................................................................................................. ERT-60
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC-2

LEO and Spaceflight Operations .......................................LSO-2

International Space Station

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM................................................... LSO-4

ISS Systems Operations and Maintenance.......................................................................LSO-6

ISS Research...................................................................................................................LSO-12

Space Transportation....................................................................................LSO-23

CREW AND CARGO PROGRAM ......................................................................... LSO-24

COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM ...................................................................... LSO-31

Space and Flight Support (SFS)

SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION ................................................ LSO-39

Space Communications Networks ..................................................................................LSO-42

Space Communications Support.....................................................................................LSO-50

HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS.............................................................. LSO-57

LAUNCH SERVICES............................................................................................ LSO-63

ROCKET PROPULSION TEST ............................................................................ LSO-71

COMMERCIAL LEO DEVELOPMENT.......................................................................... LSO-76

Science............................................................................. SCMD-4

Earth Science

EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH .................................................................................ES-2

EARTH SYSTEMATIC MISSIONS...........................................................................ES-14

Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2) [Development] ..................................ES-16

GRACE Follow-On [Development] ....................................................................................ES-22

Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission (SWOT) [Development].........................ES-27

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperature Radar (NISAR) [Development] ....................................ES-33

Landsat 9 [Development]...................................................................................................ES-38

Sentinel-6 [Development] ..................................................................................................ES-44

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................ES-50

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE PATHFINDER.............................................................ES-67

Venture Class Missions .....................................................................................................ES-68

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................ES-79

EARTH SCIENCE MULTI-MISSION OPERATIONS ................................................ES-84
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC-3

EARTH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY..........................................................................ES-90

APPLIED SCIENCES ..............................................................................................ES-95

Planetary Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH ........................................................................PS-3

Other Missions and Data Analysis ...................................................................................... PS-7

PLANETARY DEFENSE .........................................................................................PS-11

Double Asteroid Redirection Test [Formulation]................................................................PS-13

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-19

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION ............................................................PS-23

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-27

DISCOVERY ...........................................................................................................PS-29

InSight [Development] .......................................................................................................PS-32

Lucy [Formulation] .............................................................................................................PS-38

Psyche [Formulation].........................................................................................................PS-43

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-48

NEW FRONTIERS...................................................................................................PS-51

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-54

MARS EXPLORATION............................................................................................PS-58

Mars Rover 2020 [Development].......................................................................................PS-60

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-69

OUTER PLANETS AND OCEAN WORLDS.............................................................PS-76

Europa Clipper [Formulation].............................................................................................PS-78

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-85

TECHNOLOGY .......................................................................................................PS-87

Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH.......................................................................... ASTRO-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. ASTRO-9

COSMIC ORIGINS.......................................................................................... ASTRO-12

James Webb Space Telescope [Development] ........................................................ ASTRO-14

Hubble Space Telescope Operations [Operations] ................................................... ASTRO-23

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) [Operations]................. ASTRO-26

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-31

PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS .......................................................................... ASTRO-34
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC-4

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-36

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION......................................................................... ASTRO-41

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-43

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER ........................................................................ ASTRO-48

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) [Development] .................................. ASTRO-52

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-57

Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH .............................................................................HELIO-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis ................................................................................ HELIO-9

LIVING WITH A STAR .......................................................................................HELIO-14

Parker Solar Probe [Development].............................................................................. HELIO-16

Solar Orbiter Collaboration [Development]..................................................................HELIO-23

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-29

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PROBES .....................................................................HELIO-35

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-38

HELIOPHYSICS EXPLORER PROGRAM.........................................................HELIO-42

Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) [Development] ........................................... HELIO-45

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS.................................................................HELIO-51

Aeronautics ......................................................................AERO-2

AIRSPACE OPERATIONS AND SAFETY PROGRAM .......................................AERO-18

ADVANCED AIR VEHICLES PROGRAM ...........................................................AERO-28

INTEGRATED AVIATION SYSTEMS PROGRAM ..............................................AERO-40

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator [Formulation]..............................................................AERO-46

TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM ........................................AERO-52

Education..........................................................................EDUC-2

Safety, Security, and Mission Services..........................SSMS-2

Center Management and Operations ..........................................................SSMS-7

Agency Management and Operations.......................................................SSMS-12

AGENCY MANAGEMENT..................................................................................SSMS-16
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC-5

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS ...................................................................SSMS-21

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) ..........................................................................SSMS-28

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSET PROGRAM...............................................SSMS-36

HEADQUARTERS BUDGET BY OFFICE...........................................................SSMS-40

HEADQUARTERS WORKFORCE BY OFFICE ..................................................SSMS-42

Construction and Environmental Compliance and 

Restoration .......................................................................CECR-2

Construction of Facilities.............................................................................CECR-8

INSTITUTIONAL COF ........................................................................................CECR-10

EXPLORATION COF..........................................................................................CECR-20

SPACE OPERATIONS COF...............................................................................CECR-24

SCIENCE COF...................................................................................................CECR-29

Environmental Compliance and Restoration............................................CECR-32

Inspector General................................................................... IG-2

Supporting Data

Funds Distribution by Installation....................................................................SD-2

Civil Service Full-Time Equivalent Distribution...............................................SD-5

Working Capital Fund........................................................................................SD-7

Budget by Object Class................................................................................... SD-11

Status of Unobligated Funds .......................................................................... SD-12

Reimbursable Estimates ................................................................................. SD-13

Enhanced Use Leasing.................................................................................... SD-14

National Historic Preservation Act................................................................. SD-16

Budget for Microgravity Science.................................................................... SD-18

Budget for Safety Oversight ........................................................................... SD-20

Physicians’ Comparability Allowance............................................................ SD-22

Budget for Public Relations............................................................................ SD-27
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOC-6

Consulting Services ........................................................................................ SD-28

E-Gov Initiatives and Benefits ........................................................................ SD-30

Comparability Adjustment Tables.................................................................. SD-39

Rebaselined Projects....................................................................................... SD-45

Cost and Schedule Performance Summary .....................CSP-1

Proposed Appropriations Language.................................PAL-1

Reference.............................................................................REF-1
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

FY 2019 BUDGET REQUEST EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SUM-1 

Overview

Agency Summary 

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR (ACTING) ............................................ SUM-2 

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS .......................................................................................... SUM-5 

NOTES ON THE BUDGET ................................................................................... SUM-10 

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES .................................. SUM-11 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR (ACTING)

SUM-2

As NASA enters its 60th year, it is my privilege to present President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2019 

budget request of $19.9 billion for NASA.

NASA is renewing its focus on its core exploration mission and the many ways that returns value 

to the U.S. through knowledge and discoveries, and by strengthening our economy and security, 

deepening partnerships with other nations, and providing solutions to tough problems and 

inspiration for the next generation. This budget places NASA once again at the forefront of a 

global effort to advance humanity’s future in space and draws on our Nation’s great capacity for 

innovation and exploration to raise the bar of human potential and improve life across the globe.

The President’s request for FY 2019 gives NASA the resources and a clear focus on the 

exploration and development of the Moon and deep space by leading innovative new commercial 

and international partnerships to leverage and advance the work we have already been doing in 

low-Earth orbit (LEO) and in our exploration systems. The budget includes funding for the 

NASA workforce and facilities necessary to support our future endeavors and charges human 

exploration, science, and technology efforts to work together as never before to achieve our 

challenging goals.

Our successful investment with a strong and continually growing U.S. space industry in LEO 

allows us to focus our energies on farther horizons as private companies continue their successful 

cargo missions to low-Earth orbit, and move purposefully toward once again launching 

astronauts from American soil, beginning with test flights this year. This proven strategy is 

creating jobs and increasing our Nation’s security as our industry partners harness their immense 

innovation and use the energy of a new space economy. 

The International Space Station (ISS) is a cornerstone of our integrated approach to deep space. 

We are dedicated to using the full potential of the station to demonstrate critical technologies, 

learn about human health in space, and focus commercial energies on the growing LEO 

economy. We are proposing to end direct Federal funding for the ISS in 2025 and starting this 

year, we will accelerate the process of transitioning to commercial approaches to ensure a 

seamless transition to this new operating paradigm as NASA leads a coalition of international 

and commercial partners to the Moon and then Mars and beyond.

Using the partnership and innovation models we are pioneering in LEO, as well as our 

exploration systems such as the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, we 

will develop new opportunities on and around the Moon. 

The SLS and Orion are the critical backbone elements of our future in deep space, and their 

momentum continues this year toward the first integrated launch of the system in fiscal year 

2020 around the Moon and a mission with crew in 2023. In 2019, we’ll have an Orion Launch 

Abort System test to advance critical safety knowledge for the coming missions.

We also will begin to build the in-space infrastructure for long-term exploration and 

development of the Moon by accelerating our plans to deliver to lunar orbit a power and 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR (ACTING)

SUM-3

propulsion element as the foundation of a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway. This Gateway to the 

Moon and beyond will give us a strategic presence in cislunar space that will drive our activity 

with commercial and international partners and help us further explore the Moon and its 

resources and translate that experience toward human missions to Mars.

Our plan will draw on the interests and capabilities of our industry and international partners as 

we develop progressively complex robotic missions to the surface of the Moon with scientific 

and exploration objectives in advance of human return there. In collaboration with our robust 

scientific activity across the NASA portfolio, these new lunar robotic missions will stretch the 

capabilities of industry and international partners, while returning science and knowledge we can 

use for human missions. As NASA leads the way in cislunar space, we will build on and develop 

partnerships with private industry and other nations to engage the best minds around the world.

These robotic missions of gradually increasing size and scope will advance technology and also 

support the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway as a place to live, learn, and work around the 

Moon. The Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway will expand what humans can do in the lunar 

environment and provide opportunities to support those commercial and international missions to 

the surface that will help us pioneer new technologies such as spaceflight systems, habitation, 

crew mobility, vehicle and autonomous systems, and robotic precursors for future human 

missions beyond Earth orbit. All of this work will build infrastructure and knowledge 

strategically toward humans returning to the Moon and deeper into space.

NASA’s incredible science portfolio will continue to increase understanding of our planet and 

our place in the universe, pursue civilization-level discoveries such as whether or not there is life 

elsewhere in the universe, and scout for knowledge to inform future human advancement into 

space. Our robust scientific activity will include lunar surface missions that leverage commercial 

capabilities; diverse Earth and planetary missions, including continuing Mars robotic missions; 

and spacecraft to study the Sun and how it influences the very nature of space. Powerful 

observatories will study other solar systems and their planets and peer back to the dawn of time 

through other galaxies. 

Technology drives exploration, both human and robotic, and helps us solve problems in space 

and on Earth. It lays the groundwork for our future missions and addresses many needs, 

including how we’ll live in space and how we’ll get there, and will support the growing U.S.

commercial space industry. We will focus on applications of technology toward deep space 

exploration and innovative ways to further our goals from concept to testing and flight. 

NASA’s work has always strengthened our security and the economy, and our ongoing research 

and testing of new aeronautics technologies is critical in these areas. It will help us lead the 

world in a global aviation economy with increasing benefits worldwide. Commercial supersonic 

flight, unmanned aviation systems, advanced hypersonics technologies, and the next generation 

of aircraft are some of the critical focuses of this important program for our Nation.
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary 

MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR {ACTING) 

NASA's mission successes will continue to inspire the next generation to pursue science, 

technology, engineering, and mathematics studies, join us on our journey of discovery, and 

become the diverse workforce we'll need for tomorrow's critical aerospace careers. We will use 

every opportunity to engage learners in our work and the many ways it encourages educators, 

students, and the public to continue making their own discoveries. 

This budget funds ongoing operations of NASA Centers and ensures core services are optimized 

to achieve a safe and healthy workplace. It also strengthens cybersecurity capabilities by 

safeguarding critical data and systems. 

We can't do everything, and as always, we've had to make hard choices, but we will continue to 

forge new paths and partnerships that strengthen our industrial base and our engagement with 

other nations to achieve challenging goals that advance our capabilities and increase our security 

and economic strength. This work will build on our successful history as an exploring Nation and 

support a dynamic strategy going forward. 

NASA will continue to deliver on the promise of U.S. ingenuity and proven leadership in space. 

This budget moves us toward those goals today. 

1L��,1'- Robert M. Lightfoot, Jr. 

Acting Administrator 

SUM-4 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary 

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

SUM-5 

The President’s strong support and vision for NASA are reflected in the FY 2019 President’s 

Budget, which will drive new exploration while ensuring that we maintain our continuity of 

purpose. NASA’s historic and enduring purpose is captured in three major strategic thrusts: 

Discover, Explore, Develop. These correspond to our missions of scientific discovery of our 

world, of other worlds, and of the cosmos as a whole; missions of exploration in our solar system 

with humans and robotic probes that expand the frontiers of human experience; and missions that 

develop and advance new technologies in exploration and aeronautics that allow American 

industry to increase market share and create new markets on Earth and the near-Earth region of 

space. 

EXTENDING THE HUMAN PRESENCE INTO THE SOLAR SYSTEM

One of NASA’s key goals is opening the space frontier with the objective of extending human 

presence deeper into the solar system starting with returning humans to the Moon through a 

sustainable human and robotic spaceflight program. The Agency has developed a strategic, 

pioneering approach to expand the distance and duration of human space exploration, building 

off the research happening today on the International Space Station. NASA is pushing human 

presence deeper into space while making new discoveries and strengthening the Nation’s 

diplomatic posture. 

The FY 2019 budget request includes $10.5 billion to pursue an exploration campaign that will 

focus on transitioning LEO operations to commercial providers and returning humans to the 

Moon and cislunar space, with eventual missions to Mars and beyond. NASA will evolve its core 

capabilities through continued technical advancements and new approaches and industrial 

partnerships to maintain the U.S.’s leadership role in human spaceflight. The Agency has 

developed a phased approach for this activity, starting with ISS and progressing to cislunar 

space, the lunar surface, then to Mars and beyond. The campaign will be enabled by pursuing 

near-term milestones for lunar exploration, such as the commercial launch of the power 

propulsion element, a key element of the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway. A new Lunar 

Discovery and Exploration program would support innovative approaches to achieve human and 

science exploration goals by funding contracts for commercial transportation services and the 

development of small rovers and instrument to meet lunar science and exploration needs. 

The Exploration Systems Development programs are creating critical components of the 

architecture for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. Orion will take humans to cislunar 

space atop the Space Launch System (SLS), the heavy-lift rocket that is also supported by 

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) for integration and launch. NASA will conduct lunar 

missions to test systems and concepts, paving the way for long-duration human space 

exploration. Opening the space frontier requires expansion of technical and scientific knowledge 

to tackle complex problems and creative new solutions to meet demands never before 

encountered by humans. 

To further enable these goals, the FY 2019 budget realigns the Space Technology Mission 

Directorate’s work to directly support NASA’s exploration goals as part of a new Exploration 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

SUM-6

Research and Technology organization. Exploration Research and Technology rapidly develops, 

demonstrates, and infuses revolutionary, high-payoff technologies through transparent, 

collaborative partnerships, expanding the boundaries of NASA’s exploration capability. These 

transformative technologies enable NASA’s exploration missions by increasing capabilities to

meet human space exploration needs, as well as fostering commercial expansion in low-Earth 

orbit, cislunar space, and beyond. Technology drives innovation and exploration, as such 

Exploration Research and Technology supports the following Exploration Campaign’s key 

technology focus areas: Advanced environmental control and life support systems and in-situ 

resource utilization; Power and propulsion technology; Advanced materials; Communications, 

Navigation and avionics; Entry, Descent and landing; Autonomous operations; In-space 

manufacturing and on-orbit assembly; and Research to enable humans to safely and effectively 

operate in various space environments. NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) is also 

developing technologies and maturing systems required for deep-space missions by identifying 

and pioneering new solutions to technical and human challenges. Exploration Research and

Technology also contributes to growing the U.S. industrial and academic base to continue the 

Nation’s economic leadership and strengthen our national security. 

The Agency plans to incorporate high-power, solar-electric propulsion technology in its human 

exploration architecture for deep-space missions. In addition, over the next year, Exploration 

Research and Technology will conduct several in-space demonstrations, including a deep space 

atomic clock for advanced navigation and flight testing of a high performing propellant 

alternative to highly toxic hydrazine. Exploration Research and Technology will complete flight 

hardware development for the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration and four 

technologies for the Mars 2020 mission. Through public-private partnerships, Exploration 

Research and Technology will complete In-Space Robotic Manufacturing and Assembly ground 

tests to reduce the risk associated with robotic manipulation of structures and remote 

manufacturing of structural trusses and will initiate a flight demonstration phase. NASA will also 

continue to restructure its investment in satellite servicing technology to reduce its cost and 

better position it to support a nascent commercial satellite servicing industry. Additionally, 

NASA will continue to conduct research on the ISS to understand and mitigate the effects of 

long-term human exposure to space and the Human Research Program.

In addition, Exploration Research and Technology has developed a diverse portfolio of earlystage research and technology creating a technology pipeline to solve the Agency and Nation’s 

most difficult exploration challenges by partnering with researchers across academia and 

industry. Exploration Research and Technology will use a combination of unique in-house 

activities, procurements, NASA Research Announcements, and public-private partnerships to 

develop and test technologies to enable space exploration missions. Public-private partnerships 

will enable NASA to share the risk and financial interest with private sector industry to better 

leverage Government investments. These shared risks and gains include incentivizing technical 

performance and spurring future commercial markets in the process of developing new 

capabilities. Technological leadership remains vital to our national security, economic

prosperity, and global competitiveness. The Nation's continued economic leadership is, in part, 

due to the technological investments made in earlier years, through the work of the engineers, 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

SUM-7

scientists, and policy makers who had the wisdom and foresight to make investments our country 

required to emerge as a global technological leader. That commitment accelerated the economy 

with the creation of new industries, products, and services that yielded lasting benefits. A 

technology-driven NASA will continue to fuel our Nation’s economic engine for decades to 

come.

LIVING AND WORKING IN SPACE

NASA capabilities create pathways for discovery and human exploration of space, making 

discoveries, creating economic and commercial markets and applications, while addressing 

societal challenges.

 

These capabilities include research on, or operation of, crew and cargo transportation to the ISS; 

rocket propulsion testing; safe, reliable, and affordable access to space for NASA science 

missions and communications satellites, as well as other civil sector missions such as weather 

satellites for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and secure, dependable 

communications with crewed and robotic missions across the solar system and beyond. 

ISS is an unparalled global project that exhibits national leadership and engages the pubic and 

students. It offers a unique platform for NASA and its international partners to learn how to live 

and work in space. Research, technology demonstrations, tests, and experiments on the ISS 

continue to advance the capabilities required for future long-duration missions. NASA is making 

technological advances aboard the ISS in autonomous rendezvous and docking, advanced 

communications systems, human health and behavior in space, life support systems for habitats, 

and space suit systems, as well as in basic research in biological and physical sciences. The ISS 

National Laboratory, managed by the non-profit Center for the Advancement of Science in Space 

(CASIS), is making great strides in getting new users to the ISS, including private industry and 

other U.S. Government agencies. These entities are using the ISS for research into 

pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and in-space manufacturing, among others, as well as being 

able to iterate on technology design before moving to operational production.

NASA and the U.S. space transportation industry are well on the way to developing an 

affordable capability to carry crew to the ISS by the end of 2019, bolstering American leadership 

while eliminating reliance on the Russian Soyuz to transport American astronauts. This 

competitive commercial approach, distinct from a traditional NASA-owned and operated system, 

allows the Agency to reduce costs, improve affordability and sustainability, and stimulate the 

private sector space industry. With U.S. commercial industry providing cargo resupply services 

to ISS, NASA is funding development activities for the commercial crew systems. The Agency 

will purchase commercial crew transportation services using the same model used for cargo 

services.

Importantly, the FY 2019 budget proposes to end direct U.S. financial support from NASA for 

the ISS by 2025, and transition to a commercially-operated Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) capability. 

NASA will continue to bring on new international and commercial partners to ensure a seamless 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

SUM-8

transition to this new operating paradigm for LEO and is providing an additional $150 million in 

FY19 to support the emergence of new commercial platforms and capabilities. 

SCIENCE IS ANSWERING ENDURING QUESTIONS IN, FROM, AND ABOUT SPACE

NASA’s Science account funds ongoing discovery and exploration of our planet, other planets 

and planetary bodies, our star system in its entirety, our galaxy, and the universe beyond. 

Through the development of space observatories and probes, NASA will continue to inspire the 

next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers, provide national leadership in space, and 

expand human knowledge. 

This budget proposes a new Lunar Discovery and Exploration program that partners with 

industry to go to the Moon and advance science and exploration objectives. It provides full 

funding for launch in 2018 of the InSight mission to study the deep interior of Mars, the Mars 

2020 rover mission, and the recently selected Discovery asteroid missions (Lucy and Psyche). It 

also supports a Europa Clipper mission launching in 2025 and a new Planetary Defense program 

that will detect potential asteroid threats to the Earth.

NASA missions continue to enhance our understanding of the Earth. The Sustainable Land 

Imaging program will provide U.S. users with high-quality, global, land-imaging measurements 

that are compatible with the existing 45-year Landsat record. This budget supports launch of 

Landsat 9 as early as FY 2021. The request fully funds Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 

(ICESat-2); Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE-FO); Surface Water and Ocean 

Topography (SWOT); NASA-ISRO Strategic Aperture Radar (NISAR); and many other future 

Earth Science missions.

The request fully funds several major missions to advance our understanding of the Sun and its 

impact on the Earth, including Parker Solar Probe (PSP) and Solar Orbiter Collaboration (SOC). 

The request also funds the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) and Global-scale 

Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) Explorer missions. ICON’s goal is to understand the 

tug-of-war between Earth’s atmosphere and the space environment, in the "no man’s land" of the 

ionosphere, while GOLD will measure densities and temperatures in Earth's thermosphere and 

ionosphere. The request also supports interagency efforts to improve space weather predictive 

capabilities. In astrophysics, the James Webb Space Telescope, a successor to the Hubble Space 

Telescope, will launch in the second quarter of 2019. 

The budget also supports initiatives that use smaller, less expensive satellites and/or publicprivate partnerships to advance science. A Science-wide CubeSat/SmallSat initiative is 

implementing the recommendations from a recent study of the National Academies that 

concluded that, with ongoing technological progress in both private sector and through Federal 

investments, these small satellites are on a path to address specific high-priority science goals. A 

targeted investment strategy focuses technology development on CubeSats/SmallSats in all four 

SMD science themes to exploit this value and will provide novel partnership opportunities 

between commercial partners and NASA. 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

SUM-9

AERONAUTICS RESEARCH TO ADDRESS AVIATION’S CHALLENGES

The air transportation system of today is a vital part of the U.S. and global economies. It 

enhances our national security and the industrial base and provides a key catalyst to the Nation’s 

economic development and growth. Aviation is the primary mechanism for connecting major 

population centers in the U.S. and countries across the world for people and cargo. NASA 

conducts aeronautics research to bring transformational advances in the safety, capacity, and 

efficiency of the air transportation system and to enable breakthroughs in the speed and 

efficiency of transport aircraft that are the backbone of today’s aviation system as well as 

innovative new aircraft concepts and technologies that will enable new aviation markets. 

The FY 2019 budget request for NASA Aeronautics supports development of a supersonic Xplane, referred to as the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD), scheduled for first flight in FY 

2021. The LBFD will demonstrate quiet overland supersonic flight which will enable U.S. 

industry to open a new market. The request supports cutting edge research to demonstrate and 

validate new aircraft configurations and propulsion systems. NASA will continue to advance 

new subsonic aircraft technologies that will dramatically reduce fuel consumption, noise, and 

emissions. NASA will also continue exploring new hybrid and all-electric propulsion 

technologies including a flight demonstration of the X-57 Maxwell, a general aviation scale allelectric X-plane. 

The request supports a robust investment in air traffic management improvements that will safely 

increase air traffic capacity and reduce flight delays. In cooperation with the Federal Aviation 

Administration NASA will conduct a series of flight tests to demonstrate new concepts and 

technologies that will increase the rate of airport arrivals and departures. NASA Aeronautics will 

develop and test key technologies that will integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) 

operations in the National Air Space, as well as realize safe, low-altitude operations of small 

UAS. The request increases support for hypersonics research which will enhance development of 

tools and methods to more efficiently design future hypersonic vehicles. With the request, NASA 

will complete the Advanced Composites project which will deliver a variety of computational 

tools and guidance that will significantly reduce the time needed to develop and certify new 

composite structures for aerospace applications.

MANAGING NASA’S PEOPLE AND CAPABILITIES TO SAFELY ACCOMPLISH OUR 

MISSION

NASA’s mission support directly enables NASA’s portfolio of missions in space exploration, 

science, and aeronautics. The Safety, Security, and Mission Services account funds the essential 

day-to-day technical and business operations required to safely operate and maintain NASA 

Centers and facilities and the independent technical authority required to reduce risk to life and 

program objectives for all missions. These mission support activities provide the proper services, 

tools, and equipment to complete essential tasks, protect and maintain the security and integrity 

of information and assets, and ensure that personnel work under safe and healthy conditions. 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

SUM-10

Planning, operating, and sustaining this infrastructure and our essential services require a number 

of critical institutional capabilities including management of: human capital; finance; 

information technology; infrastructure; acquisitions; security; real and personnel property; 

occupational health and safety; equal employment opportunity and diversity; small business 

programs; external relations; strategic internal and external communications; stakeholder 

engagement; and other essential corporate functions. In FY 2019, NASA will strengthen 

cybersecurity capabilities, safeguarding critical systems and data. NASA will continue to provide 

strategic and operational planning and management over a wide range of services to help NASA 

operate in a more efficient and sustainable manner. 

The Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration account enables NASA to 

manage the Agency’s facilities with a focus on reducing infrastructure, implementing efficiency 

and high performance upgrades, and prioritizing repairs to achieve the greatest return on 

investment. In FY 2019, NASA continues to consolidate facilities via institutional construction 

projects to achieve greater operational efficiency, replacing old, obsolete, costly facilities with 

fewer, high performance facilities. Programmatic construction of facilities projects provide the 

specialized technical facilities required by the missions. NASA will decommission and continue 

preparations to dispose of property and equipment no longer needed for missions. To protect 

human health and the environment, and to preserve natural resources for future missions, 

environmental compliance and restoration projects will clean up pollutants released into the 

environment during past NASA activities. 

Pending Congressional action on this budget request, the Office of Education will use the 

remaining unobligated funds to shutdown the office.
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

NOTES ON THE BUDGET

SUM-11

NASA’S WORKFORCE

NASA’s workforce continues to be its greatest asset for enabling missions in space and on Earth. 

The civil service staffing levels proposed in the FY 2019 Budget support NASA’s scientists, 

engineers, researchers, managers, technicians, and business operations workforce. It includes 

civil service personnel at NASA Centers, Headquarters, and NASA-operated facilities. The mix 

of skills and distribution of workforce across the Agency is, however, necessarily changing.

NASA will continue to explore opportunities across the Agency to find efficiencies in workforce 

productivity, especially in mission support functional areas. The Agency will apply the valued 

civil service workforce to priority mission work, adjusting the mix of skills where appropriate. 

Centers will explore cross-mission opportunities for employees whenever possible, use the range 

of tools available to reshape the workforce, and continue to identify, recruit, and retain a multigenerational workforce of employees who possess skills critical to the Agency.
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES

SUM-12

NASA presents the FY 2019 budget request in full-cost, where all project costs are allocated to 

the project, including labor funding for the Agency’s civil service workforce. Note that budget 

figures in tables may not sum because of rounding.

OUTYEAR FUNDING ASSUMPTIONS

At this time, funding lines beyond FY 2019 should be considered notional.

EXPLANATION OF FY 2017 AND FY 2018 BUDGET COLUMNS

FY 2017 Column

All FY 2017 budget figures reflect funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, 

Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017, as executed under the Agency’s FY 2017 Operating 

Plan. The FY 2017 Actual column in budget tables is consistent with the approved Agency 

spending plan (i.e., operating plan) control figures at the time of the budget release. Budget 

structure and figures are adjusted for comparability to the FY 2019 request. 

FY 2018 Column

The FY 2018 Enacted column in budget tables displays appropriations enacted in the Continuing 

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 

FY 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution. As of budget release, 

an initial FY 2018 operating plan has not been developed and submitted to the Congress. As a 

result, budget tables show only account-level appropriations per the continuing resolution. 

Tables also show tentatively planned FY 2018 funding for projects in development (subject to 

change pending finalization of the FY 2018 initial operating plan). Budget structures and figures 

are adjusted for comparability to the FY 2019 budget structure. 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES

SUM-13

EXPLANATION OF PROJECT SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS AND KEY MILESTONES

Programs and projects follow their appropriate life cycle. The life cycle is divided into phases. 

Transition from one phase to another requires management approval at Key Decision Points 

(KDPs). The phases in program and project life cycles include one or more life-cycle reviews, 

which are considered major milestone events.

A life-cycle review is designed to provide the program or project with an opportunity to ensure 

that it has completed the work of that phase and an independent assessment of a program or 

project’s technical and programmatic status and health. The final life-cycle review in a given 

life-cycle phase provides essential information for the KDP that marks the end of that life-cycle 

phase and transition to the next phase if successfully passed. As such, KDPs serve as gates 

through which programs and projects must pass to continue.

The KDP decision to authorize a program or project’s transition to the next life-cycle phase is 

based on a number of factors, including technical maturity; continued relevance to Agency 

strategic goals; adequacy of cost and schedule estimates; associated probabilities of meeting 

those estimates (confidence levels); continued affordability with respect to the Agency’s 

resources; maturity and the readiness to proceed to the next phase; and remaining program or 

project risk (safety, cost, schedule, technical, management, and programmatic). At the KDP, the 

key program or project cost, schedule, and content parameters that govern the remaining lifecycle activities are established.

For reference, a description of schedule commitments and milestones is listed below for projects 

in Formulation and Implementation. A list of common terms used in mission planning is also 

included.

Formulation

• Phase A: concept and technology development; and 

• Phase B: preliminary design and technology completion.

Implementation

• Phase C: final design and fabrication; 

• Phase D: system assembly, integration, test, launch and checkout; 

• Phase E: operations and sustainment; and 

• Phase F: closeout. 
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES

SUM-14

Formulation

NASA places significant emphasis on project Formulation to ensure adequate preparation of 

project concepts and plans and mitigation of high-risk aspects of the project essential to position 

the project for the highest probability of mission success. During Formulation, the project 

explores the full range of implementation options, defines an affordable project concept to meet 

requirements, and develops needed technologies. The activities in these phases include 

developing the system architecture; completing mission and preliminary system designs; 

acquisition planning; conducting safety, technical, cost, and schedule risk trades; developing 

time-phased cost and schedule estimates and documenting the basis of these estimates; and 

preparing the Project Plan for Implementation.

Formulation 

Milestone Explanation

KDP-A

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of a program or 

project to transition into Phase A and authorizes Formulation of the project. Phase A is the 

first phase of Formulation and means that: 

 The project addresses a critical NASA need;

 The proposed mission concept(s) is feasible;

 The associated planning is sufficiently mature to begin activities defined for 

formulation; and

 The mission can likely be achieved as conceived.

System 

Requirements 

Review (SRR)

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates whether the functional and 

performance requirements defined for the system are responsive to the program’s 

requirements on the project and represent achievable capabilities.

System Definition 

Review or 

Mission 

Definition 

Review 

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the credibility and 

responsiveness of the proposed mission/system architecture to the program requirements 

and constraints on the project, including available resources, and determines whether the 

maturity of the project’s mission/system definition and associated plans are sufficient to 

begin the next phase, Phase B.

KDP-B

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of a program or 

project to transition from Phase A to Phase B. Phase B is the second phase of Formulation 

and means that:

 The proposed mission/system architecture is credible and responsive to program 

requirements and constraints, including resources;

 The maturity of the project’s mission/system definition and associated plans is 

sufficient to begin Phase B; and 

 The mission can likely be achieved within available resources with acceptable risk.

Preliminary 

Design Review 

(PDR)

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the 

completeness/consistency of the planning, technical, cost, and schedule baselines developed 

during Formulation. This review also assesses compliance of the preliminary design with 

applicable requirements and determines if the project is sufficiently mature to begin Phase 

C.
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES

SUM-15

Implementation

Implementation occurs when Agency management establishes baseline cost and schedule 

commitments for projects at KDP-C. The projects maintain the baseline commitment through the 

end of the mission. Projects are baselined for cost, schedule, and programmatic and technical 

parameters. Under Implementation, projects are able to execute approved plans development and 

operations.

Implementation 

Milestone Explanation

KDP-C

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of a program or 

project to begin the first stage of development and transition to Phase C and authorizes the 

Implementation of the project. Phase C is first stage of development and means that:

 The project’s planning, technical, cost, and schedule baselines developed during 

Formulation are complete and consistent;

 The preliminary design complies with mission requirements;

 The project is sufficiently mature to begin Phase C; and 

 The cost and schedule are adequate to enable mission success with acceptable risk.

Critical Design 

Review (CDR)

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the integrity of the project 

design and its ability to meet mission requirements with appropriate margins and acceptable 

risk within defined project constraints, including available resources. This review also 

determines if the design is appropriately mature to continue with the final design and 

fabrication phase.

System 

Integration 

Review (SIR)

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the readiness of the project 

and associated supporting infrastructure to begin system assembly, integration, and test. The 

life cycle review also evaluates whether the remaining project development can be 

completed within available resources, and determine if the project is sufficiently mature to 

begin Phase D.

KDP-D

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of a project to 

continue in Implementation and transition from Phase C to Phase D. Phase D is a second 

phase in Implementation; the project continues in development and means that:

 The project is still on plan;

 The risk is commensurate with the project’s payload classification; and 

 The project is ready for assembly, integration, and test with acceptable risk within 

its Agency baseline commitment.

Launch Readiness 

Date (LRD)

The date at which the project and its ground, hardware, and software systems are ready for 

launch.
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES

SUM-16

Other Common Terms for Mission Planning

Term Definition

Decision Authority The individual authorized by the Agency to make important decisions on programs and 

projects under their authority.

Formulation 

Authorization 

Document

The document that authorizes the formulation of a program whose goals will fulfill part of 

the Agency’s Strategic Plan and Mission Directorate strategies. This document establishes 

the expectations and constraints for activity in the Formulation phase. 

Key Decision Point 

(KDP)

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of a program 

or project to progress to the next phase of the life cycle. The KDP also establishes the 

content, cost, and schedule commitments for the ensuing phase(s). 

Launch Manifest

The list that NASA publishes (the “NASA Flight Planning Board launch manifest”) 

periodically, which includes the expected launch dates for NASA missions. The launch 

dates in the manifest are the desired launch dates approved by the NASA Flight Planning 

Board, and are not typically the same as the Agency Baseline Commitment schedule dates. 

A launch manifest is a dynamic schedule that is affected by real-world operational 

activities conducted by NASA and multiple other entities. It reflects the results of a 

complex process that requires the coordination and cooperation by multiple users for the 

use of launch range and launch contractor assets. Moreover, the launch dates are a mixture 

of “confirmed” range dates for missions launching within approximately six months, and 

contractual/planning dates for the missions beyond six months from launch. The NASA 

Flight Planning Board launch manifest date is typically earlier than the Agency Baseline 

Commitment schedule date to allow for the operationally driven delays to the launch 

schedule that may be outside of the project’s control. 

Operational 

Readiness Review 

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the readiness of the project, 

including its ground systems, personnel, procedures, and user documentation, to operate 

the flight system and associated ground system(s), in compliance with defined project 

requirements and constraints during the operations phase.

Mission Readiness 

Review or Flight 

Readiness Review 

(FRR)

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the readiness of the project, 

ground systems, personnel, and procedures for a safe and successful launch and 

flight/mission.

KDP-E

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of a project to 

continue in Implementation and transition from Phase D to Phase E. Phase E is a third 

phase in Implementation and means that the project and all supporting systems are ready 

for safe, successful launch and early operations with acceptable risk.

Decommissioning 

Review 

The life-cycle review in which the decision authority evaluates the readiness of the project 

to conduct closeout activities. The review includes final delivery of all remaining project 

deliverables and safe decommissioning of space flight systems and other project assets. 

KDP-F

The life-cycle gate at which the decision authority determines the readiness of the project’s 

decommissioning. Passage through this gate means the project has met its program 

objectives and is ready for safe decommissioning of its assets and closeout of activities. 

Scientific data analysis may continue after this period.
FY 2019 Budget Request Executive Summary

EXPLANATION OF BUDGET TABLES AND SCHEDULES

SUM-17

For further details, go to:

 NASA Procedural Requirements 7120.5E - NASA Space Flight Program and Project 

Management Requirements: 

http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?t=NPR&c=7120&s=5E.

 NASA Procedural Requirements NPR 7123.1B - NASA Systems Engineering Processes 

and Requirements: 

http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/npg_img/N_PR_7123_001B_/N_PR_7123_001B_.pdf.

 NASA Launch Services Web site: 

http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/launch_services/index.html.
EXPLORATION CAMPAIGN

ExC-1

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019

Deep Space Exploration Systems 4184.0 4222.6 4558.8 4859.1 4764.5 4752.5 4769.8

Exploration Research & Technology 826.5 820.8 1002.7 912.7 912.7 912.7 912.7

LEO & Spaceflight Operations 4942.5 4850.1 4624.6 4273.7 4393.3 4430.3 4438.0

Exploration Campaign COF 45.5 22.4 44.8 -- -- -- --

Elements of Science 39.0 36.0 268.0 268.0 268.0 268.0 268.0

Total Exploration Campaign 10037.5 9951.9 10498.9 10313.5 10338.5 10363.5 10388.5

Change from FY 2018 547.0

Percentage change from FY 2018 5.5%

NASA will lead an innovative and sustainable 

program of exploration with commercial and 

international partners to enable human expansion 

across the solar system, and to bring new 

knowledge and opportunities back to Earth. 

Beginning with missions beyond low Earth orbit 

(LEO), the United States will lead the return of 

humans to the Moon for long-term exploration 

and utilization, followed by human missions to 

Mars and other destinations. 

Building on the Space Launch System, Orion, 

and emerging commercial capabilities, this 

Budget expands exploration by 1) initiating 

planning to transition low earth orbit operations 

to viable and stable industry partners and 2) 

pursuing a cis-lunar strategy that establishes U.S. 

preeminence to, around, and on the Moon. 

NASA will engage with partners through nontraditional partnerships, commercial service 

purchases, and expanded international 

cooperative agreements. In order to implement 

this ambitious program of exploration, NASA’s FY2019 budget prioritizes human exploration and related 

activities. 

With the funding requested in the FY 2019 budget, NASA will: 

 increase utilization of the International Space Station (ISS), taking full advantage of a 

fourth U.S. Operating Segment crew member;

 partner with industry to establish a greater commercial presence in low Earth orbit in 

support of a transition to NASA use of commercial capabilities – potentially including

sustainable use of elements of the ISS – by 2025;

 implement a U.S.-led strategy utilizing industry and international partner capabilities to 

enable human exploration of the lunar surface;

Following the initial meeting of the National 

Space Council in October 2017, President Trump 

signs Space Policy Directive One, charging NASA 

to develop an innovative and sustainable program 

of exploration. NASA will return humans to the 

Moon for the first time in nearly 50 years for longterm exploration and utilization, followed by 

robotic & human missions to Mars.
EXPLORATION CAMPAIGN

ExC-2

 complete development activities for an uncrewed test flight of the integrated Space 

Launch System & Orion Crew Vehicle, strengthening American capabilities to launch 

astronauts, cargo, and spacecraft with a crewed flight by 2023;

 initiate a series of industry and government led robotic lunar missions as early as 2019, 

establishing a continual human presence on and around the lunar surface;

 launch the first element of a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway in 2022, establishing the 

initial exploration infrastructure orbiting the Moon; 

 focus investments in research and technologies applicable to deep-space exploration

opportunities with industry and international partners; and

Through these activities, NASA’s budget will realize exploration opportunities in the near-term and set 

the stage for America space leadership decades to come. 
EXPLORATION CAMPAIGN

ExC-3

Exploration at NASA will continue to be a cross-functional effort at Headquarters and across the Centers. 

The FY19 budget structure aligns Exploration Campaign work under four major accounts.

LEO & Spaceflight Operations 

Centralizing space access in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Spaceflight Operations account enables NASA 

to better plan for both government and commercial access to space, and lays the foundation to support 

future commercial operations in LEO. These activities support existing and future space operations, 

commercialization, and space and flight support capabilities for all NASA and non-NASA missions. 

NASA’s industry partners have proven themselves capable of successfully launching and returning cargo 

to and from Earth, and NASA is building upon that partnership with commercial crew launches to and 

from the ISS beginning in 2019. 

NASA will continue its existing operations and further expand partnerships on the ISS. Direct federal 

support for ISS will end in 2025, though industry could potentially continue to operate certain elements or 

capabilities. NASA will expand international and commercial partnerships over the next seven years in 

order to ensure continued human access to and presence in low Earth orbit. NASA will encourage the 

emergence of an environment in LEO where NASA is one of many customers of a non-governmental 

human space flight enterprise. A new Commercial LEO Development effort, initially funded with $150 

million in FY 2019, will provide the resources needed for NASA to assist industry in the near term to 

develop a commercial low Earth orbit presence, with and without crews. 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 

NASA will establish a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway in cislunar space, to include a power and 

propulsion element by 2022, and habitation, airlock, and the required logistics capabilities soon after. 

NASA will use this infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to explore and utilize the Moon and its 

surface. 

As part of this strategy to accelerate exploration, NASA will utilize a multitude of launch capabilities. 

Additionally, the first un-crewed test flight of the SLS/Orion system will occur in mid-2020, leading to 

crewed missions in 2023. SLS and Orion will allow crewed exploration further into space than ever 

before.

In parallel, NASA is planning to develop a series of robotic lunar missions to the surface of the Moon. 

NASA will use innovative acquisition approaches to engage U.S. industry capabilities as the agency 

moves toward human exploration of the lunar surface. NASA will also work with international partners 

in this endeavor. 

Exploration Research & Technology 

Research & development of new technologies and capabilities lays the groundwork that enhances and 

enables deep space exploration. Exploration Research and Technology will consolidate the technology 

development program content previously funded by Space Technology Mission Directorate and 

Advanced Exploration Systems, integrating and refocusing these activities toward Space Exploration. 

This will enable NASA’s workforce, in concert with industry and academia, to focus on innovative ways 

to further humankind’s exploration from conception to testing to spaceflight. 
EXPLORATION CAMPAIGN

ExC-4

The Human Research Program (HRP) will continue to conduct cutting edge research on the effect of 

spaceflight and the space environment on the human body, including experiments on the ISS and other 

acceptable private low-Earth orbit platforms in microgravity. HRP will support the development of Deep 

Space Exploration habitat concepts to ensure crew health and performance risks are adequately addressed. 

Scientific Exploration 

The final element of exploration comes from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), which will 

see no organizational changes – but will refocus its efforts around exploration and scientific discovery. 

SMD will partner with industry to send robotic lunar missions to further explore and utilize the surface of 

the Moon. SMD will also continue to study and explore Mars. As it prepares for a potential sample return 

mission, it will explore technologies that will inform future crewed missions and launches. 

Restructure 

NASA will restructure the Agency to align with our focus on accelerating human exploration beyond 

low-Earth orbit. There are two options currently under review:

1) Creation of two new exploration-focused mission directorates, eliminating the current HEO and 

STMD structure –

a. An Exploration Operations Mission Directorate that will focus ISS, LEO operations, and 

cross cutting support areas required to support exploration such as communications, and 

propulsion testing, etc. 

b. An Exploration Systems and Technology Mission Directorate that will focus on deep 

space mission elements and technology developments needed for sustainable human 

exploration.

2) Creation of a single exploration-focused mission directorate, consolidating all the explorationfocused content in the current HEOMD and STMD organization.

NASA will assess these two options (and any hybrid options that may arise), and prepare for 

implementation at the start of the FY 2019 budget year. 

As NASA works through the details of implementing these changes, we expect further refinement to the 

ideas, budgets, and specifics of these exploration proposals, and NASA will keep the Congress apprised 

of its work. 

Taken together, NASA’s FY 2019 budget proposal lays out an aggressive exploration program of work

for NASA, and includes $10.5 billion in funding to achieve those objectives. This funding will empower 

American global leadership, spur innovation and economic growth, and return the United States to the 

forefront of space exploration. 
DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

DEXP-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Exploration Systems Development 3929.0 -- 3669.8 3790.5 3820.2 3707.5 3845.6

Advanced Exploration Systems 97.8 -- 889.0 1068.6 944.3 1045.0 924.1

Exploration Research and Development 157.2 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 4184.0 4222.6 4558.8 4859.1 4764.5 4752.5 4769.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

In prior years, Exploration R&D included both AES and Exploration R&D. Amounts shown in the Exploration R&D 

line reflect funding that is now reflected in the Exploration Research and Technology account as well as the 

Advanced Exploration Systems account.

Deep Space Exploration Systems .................................. DEXP-2

Exploration Systems Development............................................................. DEXP-4

ORION PROGRAM ..............................................................................................DEXP-6

Crew Vehicle Development [Development].................................................................... DEXP-7

SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ................................................................................DEXP-20

Launch Vehicle Development [Development] .............................................................. DEXP-22

EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS................................................................DEXP-33

Exploration Ground Systems Development [Development] ......................................... DEXP-34

Advanced Exploration Systems ................................................................ DEXP-43

LUNAR ORBITAL PLATFORM - GATEWAY.......................................................DEXP-45

ADVANCED CISLUNAR AND SURFACE CAPABILITIES ..................................DEXP-51

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS............................................................DEXP-55
DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

DEXP-2

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Exploration Systems Development 3929.0 -- 3669.8 3790.5 3820.2 3707.5 3845.6

Advanced Exploration Systems 97.8 -- 889.0 1068.6 944.3 1045.0 924.1

Exploration Research and Development 157.2 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 4184.0 4222.6 4558.8 4859.1 4764.5 4752.5 4769.8

Change from FY 2018 336.2

Percentage change from FY 2018 8.0%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

In prior years, Exploration R&D included both AES and Exploration R&D. Amounts shown in the Exploration R&D 

line reflect funding that is now reflected in the Exploration Research and Technology account as well as the 

Advanced Exploration Systems account.

NASA has been charged with leading an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with 

commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system, starting with a 

return to the Moon. The Agency has developed an approach to incrementally expand the distance and 

duration of human space exploration by building upon the work happening today on the International 

Space Station. Beginning with new missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), the U.S. will lead a return of 

humans to the Moon and lunar surface for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human 

missions to Mars and other destinations. 

The FY 2019 President's Budget includes a new account structure for human space exploration and 

technology program to improve alignment of funding with NASA's new strategic space exploration 

objectives. It renames the Space Operations, Exploration, and Space Technology accounts as LEO and 

Spaceflight Operations, Deep Space Exploration Systems, and Exploration Research and Technology, and 

realigns some program funding. As part of this realignment, NASA also plans to restructure the Human 

Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) and Space Technology Mission Directorate.

The Deep Space Exploration Systems account consists of two programs, Exploration Systems 

Development (ESD) and Advanced Exploration Systems (AES), which provide for the development of 

systems and capabilities needed for human exploration of space. 

The ESD programs include the Orion crew capsule, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the 

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) that support integration and launch. This space transportation system

is a key component of NASA's strategy for exploration in cislunar space and will have a first un-crewed

test flight in FY 2020 and a first crewed test flight in 2023. 

The AES division focuses on integrating and testing technologies needed for living and working in 

cislunar space and for future human deep space exploration, and pursues these goals using a combination 
DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS

DEXP-3

of unique in-house activities and public-private partnerships. In the FY 2019 President's Budget, NASA 

proposes three major initiatives: (1) to establish a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G) in cislunar 

space, to include a power and propulsion element (PPE) by 2022, and habitation, airlock, and the required 

logistics elements thereafter; (2) a new campaign in Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities (ACSC) 

that will focus on engaging non-traditional U.S. industry partners and sectors in the space program and 

using innovative approaches to combine lunar robotics, a cislunar presence, and lunar landing capabilities, 

involving commercial and international participation; and (3) investment in Exploration Advanced 

Systems, which includes next generation habitation capabilities, and ground test habitation prototypes 

developed by private-public partnership to evaluate human factors for different habitat configurations, 

assess how the various systems interact together and with other capabilities like propulsion modules and 

airlocks, and provide platforms to test and ensure that the standards and common interfaces being 

considered are well designed. AES will have close collaboration and partnering between HEOMD, Space 

Science Mission Directorate, and other programs.

All of these efforts are focused on the Exploration Campaign supporting human exploration of deep 

space. 

For more programmatic information, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/index.html.
Deep Space Exploration Systems 

EXPLORATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 

DEXP-4

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Orion Program 1330.0 - 1163.5 1137.7 1134.2 1117.8 1117.8

 Crew Vehicle Development 1319.5 1330.3 1153.0 1127.2 1123.7 1107.3 1107.3

 Orion Program Integration and Support 10.5 - 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5

Space Launch System 2127.1 - 2078.1 2062.9 2165.1 2131.0 2276.0

 Launch Vehicle Development 2072.0 2079.3 2027.2 2001.8 2104.3 2071.4 2216.2

 SLS Program Integration and Support 55.1 - 50.9 61.2 60.9 59.6 59.8

Exploration Ground Systems 471.9 - 428.4 589.9 520.8 458.7 451.9

 Exploration Ground Systems Development 458.5 426.1 423.2 575.0 505.1 443.0 442.3

 EGS Program Integration and Support 13.4 - 5.2 14.9 15.7 15.7 9.6

Construction & Envrmtl Compl Restoration 8.8 5.8 25.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

 Exploration CoF 8.8 5.8 25.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 3937.8 3908.1 3695.9 3790.5 3820.1 3707.5 3762.3

Change from FY 2018 -212.2

Percentage change from FY 2018 -5.43%

FY 2017 Enacted reflects the funding amounts specified in Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, 

P.L. 115-31. Table does not reflect emergency supplemental funds also appropriated in FY 2017, totaling $184 

million.

Total budget in FY 2017-2019 exceeds appropriated amount because it is a combination of the Exploration portion 

of the CECR account and the ESD account.
Deep Space Exploration Systems 

EXPLORATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 

DEXP-5

NASA's Exploration Systems Development programs are 

working together to build the space transportation system 

made up of the Orion crew vehicle, Space Launch System 

(SLS) rocket, and the Exploration Ground Systems. This 

system will enable the Agency's bold new missions to extend 

human presence into the solar system, starting with a return 

to the Moon. 

NASA's Orion spacecraft is designed to support human 

exploration missions to deep space with a crew of four for 

periods of 21 days. Building upon more than 50 years of 

spaceflight research and development, Orion is designed to 

meet the evolving needs of our nation's deep space 

exploration program for decades to come. Its versatile design 

will be able to carry crew to space, provide emergency abort 

capability, sustain crew during space travel, and provide safe 

reentry at deep-space-return velocities. With modifications 

and the addition of new modules, most of the Orion capsule 

systems could be capable of operations in deep space for 

periods of time up to 1,000 days. The Orion systems are 

designed to operate in a contingency mode to augment life 

support systems in other space transport systems.

The SLS rocket is a heavy-lift launch vehicle for a new era of exploration beyond Earth’s orbit into deep 

space. SLS will launch astronauts in the Orion spacecraft on missions to cislunar space and other 

destinations. With the highest-ever payload mass and volume capability and energy to speed missions 

through space, SLS is designed to be flexible and evolvable, to meet a variety of crew and cargo mission 

needs.

The objective of exploration ground systems is to prepare KSC to process and launch next-generation 

vehicles and spacecraft. To achieve this transformation, NASA is developing new ground systems while 

refurbishing and upgrading infrastructure and facilities to meet tomorrow's demands. This modernization 

effort keeps maximum flexibility in order to accommodate a multitude of government, commercial and 

other customers. Drawing on five decades of excellence in processing and launch, NASA is paving the 

way to the spaceport's future. KSC is now the multi-user spaceport that was envisioned post Shuttle 

retirement. 

As NASA works towards building a sustainable exploration program, the agency is focused on looking at 

ways to reduce production and operations costs. Through reduction in costs, the Agency can focus on 

capabilities needed for future deep space systems and successful exploration missions.

A view of the Mobile Launcher under 

construction at NASA’s Kennedy Space 

Center in Florida in January 2018.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Exploration Systems Development

ORION PROGRAM

DEXP-6

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Crew Vehicle Development 1319.5 1330.3 1153.0 1127.2 1123.7 1107.3 1107.3

Orion Program Integration and Support 10.5 -- 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5

Total Budget 1333.0 -- 1163.5 1137.7 1134.2 1117.8 1117.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

FY 2018 reflects funding amounts enacted in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, reduced 

by .6791% as specified in Division D of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, P.L. 115-56.

The Orion Program is continuing to take major steps toward transporting humans safely to deep space and

back. Orion will serve as an exploration vehicle that will carry crew to space, provide emergency abort 

capability, sustain crew during space travel, and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities.

This capsule-shaped vehicle has a familiar look, but it incorporates numerous technology advancements 

and innovations. The spacecraft will enable extended duration missions beyond Earth orbit and into deep 

space. 

Orion design, development, and testing (including the flight tests) will have the spacecraft ready to carry 

crew no later than FY 2023. Future flights of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft 

into cislunar space will extend our capability for human deep space exploration operations, reducing the 

overall risk as mission durations extend.

For further programmatic information, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/orion.

Program Elements

ORION PROGRAM INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT

Orion program integration and support activities manage the SLS and Exploration Ground System (EGS)

program interfaces. This effort is critical to ensuring Orion’s performance meets technical and safety 

specifications, and supports programmatic assessments key to achieving integrated technical, cost, and 

schedule management. In addition, the Orion integration effort is vital to managing interfaces with other 

HEOMD activities, including strategic studies, feasibility studies, and small-scale research tasks that feed 

into future human exploration. Coordination and timely integration across the three programs enables the 

Agency to avoid potential design overlaps, schedule disconnects, and cost issues.

CREW VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

See the Crew Vehicle Development section.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Exploration Systems Development: Orion Program

CREW VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

Formulation Development Operations

DEXP-7

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 4666.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4666.7

Development/Implementation 1534.4 1281.6 1321.4 1160.1 821.7 306.5 126.6 20.0 0.0 6572.3

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 6201.1 1281.6 1321.4 1160.1 821.7 306.5 126.6 20.0 0.0 11239.0

Total Budget 6210.9 1319.5 1330.3 1153.0 1127.2 1123.7 1107.3 1107.3 0.0 14479.2

Change from FY 2018 -177.3

Percentage change from FY 2018 -13.3%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The difference between the total budget and the MPAR LCC estimate is the total budget includes content outside of 

EM-2 and excludes CoF; LCC only includes EM-2 content, including CoF.

The total budget prior line represents FY 2011 pre-formulation and FY 2012 - FY2016 budgets, excluding CoF and 

additional expenditures from 2005-2011 under the Constellation program.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Exploration Systems Development: Orion Program

CREW VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

Formulation Development Operations

DEXP-8

PROJECT PURPOSE

Orion will be capable of transporting humans to 

the Moon and into deep space, sustaining them 

longer than ever before, and returning them 

safely to Earth. Drawing from more than 50 

years of human spaceflight Research and 

Development (R&D) and stimulating new and 

innovative manufacturing and production 

capabilities, Orion’s design will meet the 

evolving needs of our Nation’s space program.

For further programmatic information, go to 

http://www.nasa.gov/orion.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES 

IN FY 2019

After completing a comprehensive review of the 

launch schedule, NASA has established an EM1 integrated launch date of no earlier than 

December 2019. This date represents a time 

frame where it is anticipated that a majority of the hardware will be ready to support final launch 

integration and flight activities. While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule 

indicate a launch date of June 2020, the Agency is managing to December 2019. Mitigation strategies to 

protect the December 2019 date are principally focused on critical path areas related to the Space Launch 

System (SLS) core stage production and European Space Agency service module delivery.

NASA will test the Orion’s launch abort system, known as Ascent-Abort 2, ahead of the EM-1 launch. 

The test is targeted for April 2019 and will evaluate the launch abort system’s ability to get crew to safety 

if needed during ascent.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

Orion will be able to carry a crew of four astronauts to cis-lunar space and beyond, and provide habitation 

and life support for up to 21 days. The spacecraft’s three components are the Crew Module, European 

Service Module (ESM), and Launch Abort System (LAS), with a separate adapter to connect the

spacecraft and launch vehicles. Although the module has a familiar visual shape, its interior and exterior 

capabilities far exceed any geometrically similar predecessors. The state of the art crew systems will 

provide a safe environment within which to live and work for long durations far from Earth. Orion’s 

advanced heat shield will protect the crew from reentry heating during a high-speed return from the lunar 

vicinity – heating that will exceed that experienced by any human spacecraft in over four decades. The 

service module comprises a crew module adapter and the ESA-designed and developed service module. 

Together they provide in-space power, propulsion, and other life support systems. On a tower atop the 

crew module sits the LAS, which in the event of an emergency during launch or climb to orbit, will 

October 23, 2017 Orion heat shield for EM-1 moves 

toward the thermal chamber in Neil Armstrong 

Operations and Checkout building at NASA's KSC in 

Florida. It will undergo a thermal cycle test to verify 

acceptable workmanship and material quality. 
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activate within milliseconds to propel the crew module away from the launch vehicle to safety. The abort 

system also provides a protective shell that shields the crew module from dangerous atmospheric loads 

and heating during ascent. Once Orion is out of the atmosphere and safely on its way to orbit, the 

spacecraft will jettison the LAS.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The vast majority of program content is on track for EM-1, and work is rapidly being transitioned to 

future flights and planned upgrades. As previously discussed, the program has experienced delays and 

issues that required a replan of program schedules for EM-1. Some of the most critical issues include the 

integrated manufacturing, test, and processing schedules based on projection of the ESM delivery. Early 

production issues are not unprecedented for an activity of this scope and ambition. 

The Orion Program completed and shipped the ESM Structural Test Article inside NASA's Super Guppy 

aircraft from NASA’s KSC in Florida to a Lockheed Martin facility near Denver in April 2017 where it is 

part of the integrated CSM structural test program. This structure is a full-scale replica of the EM-1 Orion 

spacecraft, and this series of tests will ensure the space-bound article is ready to withstand the pressure 

and loads it will endure during launch, flight and landing.

At Promontory, Utah, engineers successfully tested the abort motor for Orion's launch abort system firing 

the 17-foot-tall motor for its full five-second burn. The motor was fastened to a vertical test stand with its 

nozzles pointed toward the sky for the qualification test. It produced enough thrust to lift 66 large SUVs 

off the ground. The launch abort system is positioned on top of the Orion Crew Module and is designed to 

activate within milliseconds to protect astronauts if a problem arises during launch and ascent by pulling 

the spacecraft away from a failing rocket, and positioning it for a safe landing. 

Orion's ESM Propulsion Qualification Module (PQM) was successfully installed at NASA’s White Sands 

Test Facility, New Mexico in February 2017. The all-steel PQM structure is used to test the propulsion 

system on Orion, including hot firing of the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS), engine and thrusters. 

Orion completed hot-fire acceptance testing of eight auxiliary engines that will be used on the first flight 

of Orion spacecraft with the SLS rocket. The auxiliary engines, which will be located in four pairs on the 

outside of the ESM, work in concert with the main OMS engine to propel the Orion spacecraft to and 

from the deep space destinations. 

In July 2017, NASA and Department of Defense team tested Orion exit procedures in a variety of 

scenarios in the waters off the coast of Galveston, Texas. These tests provide valuable information on 

recovery team procedure and hardware, as they ensure that future Orion astronauts will be safely 

recovered after splashdown off of the California coast upon completion of their missions.

The Program conducted several successful Orion parachute tests at the U.S. Army Proving Ground in 

Yuma to qualify the Orion capsule for human flight. In the most recent test, the capsule was dropped out 

of a C-17 aircraft at more than 4.7 miles in altitude and free fell for 20 seconds, which was required to 

provide a maximum dynamic pressure test condition for the parachutes.
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Engineers at the Space Power Facility at GRC's Plum Brook station in Sandusky, Ohio successfully 

conducted acoustic testing on the ogive panels. The ogive panels protect Orion's crew module from harsh 

aerodynamic and acoustic conditions which occur during launch or in case of an abort. 

Production of the EM-1 Crew Module and Crew Module Adapter (CMA) at the KSC Neil Armstrong 

Operations and Checkout Center has made significant progress. Both the Crew Module and CMA 

successfully completed initial power on tests where engineers and technicians connected the vehicle 

management computers to Orion’s power and data units to ensure the systems communicated precisely 

with one another to accurately route power and functional commands throughout the spacecraft for the 

duration of a deep space exploration mission. 

A key step of the heat shield assembling process, Avcoat blocks have been fitted around the Orion EM-1 

Crew Module heat shield inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay at KSC. 

The heat shield protects the spacecraft and the astronauts inside from searing temperatures experienced 

during re-entry through Earth's atmosphere on the return home from the vicinity of the Moon.

In addition, the Orion Program began manufacturing of components for the EM-2 mission, including the 

crew module forward and aft bulkheads, the crew module cone panel, solar cells, and EM-2 motors. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In support of EM-1, the Orion Program will complete testing of the flight software functions, such as: 

ascent aborts, safe mode, fault detection, isolation and recovery, optical navigation, maneuver plan 

management, and propulsion failure detection. These tests are essential for identifying software problems 

and validating proper functionality and performance of the spacecraft.

Orion will complete production of the EM-1 CMA. Orion will install the heat shield on the Crew Module 

and take delivery of the ESM at KSC in FY 2018 and mated the ESM to the CMA to complete the 

Service Module assembly. The completed Service Module will be subsequently joined to the Crew 

Module, resulting in the combined Crew and Service Module. 

In parallel to EM-1 launch preparation, Orion will continue building the spacecraft for the first crewed 

mission, EM-2. FY 2018 funding also supports missions beyond EM-2. Orion will complete Crew 

Module primary structure welding and deliver it to KSC; start CMA assembly and integration; and start 

LAS fabrication and assembly.

Orion will complete assembly of the AA-2 Crew Module and Separation Ring in preparation for the 

FY 2019 launch of the AA-2 test flight.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Orion will ship the integrated EM-1 Crew Module and Service Module to Plum Brook Station for thermal 

vacuum, acoustics, and electromagnetic interference testing. Once that is completed, the mated Crew 

Module/Service Module will be returned to KSC for final launch processing. Orion will begin stacking 

and integrating the CSM in the LAS Facility and mate the LAS to Orion Crew and Service Module. After 
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the mating, it will be delivered to Ground Operations at KSC for final preparation and stacking in the 

Vehicle Assembly Building.

Orion will release the EM-1 final software and complete the test campaign that will verify and validate 

the software for use during the EM-1 mission. 

Orion will complete the structural test campaign in Denver and ship the test article to LaRC for 

subsequent water impact testing.

Orion will deliver the AA-2 test article to KSC and complete the final assembly and stacking operations 

in support of the test flight in FY2019, which will demonstrate the ability to safety separate the Crew 

Module from the SLS during an ascent abort scenario. 

Orion will complete Crew Module secondary structure and component assembly for EM-2 and will 

complete heatshield to lower backshell pre-fit, and start Crew Module Clean Room Operations for 

propulsion and Environment Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) welding.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

System Design Review (SDR) Aug 2007

PDR Aug 2009

Key Decision Point (KDP)-A Feb 2012 Feb 2012

Resynchronization Review Jul 2012

KDP-B Q1 FY 2013 Jan 2013

Delta PDR Q4 FY 2013 Aug 2014

EFT-1 Launch Dec 2014 Dec 2014

KDP-C, Project Confirmation FY 2015 Sep 2015

CDR Oct 2015 Oct 2015

Abort Ascent (AA)-2 Flight Test FY 2020 FY 2019

EM-1 Launch Readiness FY 2018 FY 2020

EM-2 Launch Readiness* FY 2023 FY 2023

* The program is currently reviewing cost and schedule impacts based on the change to the EM-1 launch readiness 

date. 
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Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 6,768.4 70 2018 6,616.6 -2.2 EM-2 Apr 2023 Apr 2023 0

The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic estimation 

techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. Estimates that 

include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs (confidence 

levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes on cost. 

The Current Year Development Cost Estimate and Milestone data reflects the planning for the EM-2 mission based 

on the Agency Baseline Commitment (ABC) established for the program in September 2015. The program is 

currently reviewing cost and schedule impacts based on the change to the EM-1 launch readiness date. The cost 

change amount reflects a transfer of funding to formulation costs and does not represent a reduction in the lifecycle 

cost estimates.

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 6,768.4 6,616.6 -151.8

Mission Operations 281.6 273.3 -8.3

Program Management 671.5 634.4 -37.1

Safety and Mission 

Assurance 191.4 182.4 -9.0

Spacecraft 3,205.1 3,200.5 -4.6

Systems Engineering and 

Integration 539.3 501.7 -37.6

Test and Verification 460.6 426.9 -33.7

Other Direct Project 

Costs 1,418.9 1,397.4 -21.5

The Current Year Development Cost Estimate and Milestone data reflects the planning for the EM-2 mission based 

on the Agency Baseline Commitment (ABC) established for the program in September 2015. The program is 

currently reviewing cost and schedule impacts based on the change to the EM-1 launch readiness date. The cost 

change amount reflects a transfer of funding to formulation costs and does not represent a reduction in the lifecycle 

cost estimates.
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Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Crew Module

The transportation capsule 

provides a safe habitat for the 

crew as well as storage for 

consumables and research 

instruments, and serves as the 

docking port for crew 

transfers.

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): Ames Research 

Center (ARC), GRC, JSC, and Langley 

Research Center (LaRC)

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

Service Module 

The service module supports 

the crew module from launch 

through separation before 

reentry.

Provider: ESA

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, JSC, 

and LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA

None

Launch Abort 

System

The LAS maneuvers the crew 

module to safety in the event 

of an emergency during 

launch or climb to orbit.

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): JSC, LaRC, and 

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: ESM delivery schedule delays

Then: There is a possibility that the 

integration of the ESM and Crew Module 

will be delayed, delaying the handover of the 

CSM to GSDO impacting the ESD 

Enterprise Schedule.

ESA and Airbus provide weekly reports with schedule risks. In 

addition, the ESM schedule is updated quarterly and schedule 

risks are assessed with probabilistic risk assessment. 
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Acquisition Strategy

NASA is using a competitively awarded contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation for Orion’s design 

development, test, and evaluation. The contract was awarded in 2006, and reaffirmed in 2011 as part of 

reformulating the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle as the Orion program. Orion adjusted this contract to 

meet NASA and HEOMD requirements to include the current flight test plan and the EM-2 flight 

readiness date. The Orion Program has successfully acquired a Justification for Other than Open 

Competition for Production and Operations (P&O) beginning with EM-3 and expecting the contract to be 

in place in FY 2018. The Orion Program released a Request for Proposal from Lockheed Martin for the 

P&O effort in January 2018.

NASA signed an Implementing Arrangement with ESA to provide service modules for the Orion 

spacecraft for EM-1 and EM-2. Incorporating the partnership with ESA also required a contract 

modification with Lockheed Martin to integrate the ESA-provided service module with the Lockheed 

Martin portion of the spacecraft. Orion is discussing with ESA about their contribution for EM-3 and 

subsequent missions.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Orion Design and Development Lockheed Martin Littleton, CO

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

System Readiness 

Review (SRR)

Standing 

Review 

Board 

(SRB)

Mar 2007

To evaluate the 

program’s functional 

and performance 

requirements 

ensuring proper 

formulation and 

correlation with 

Agency, and 

HEOMD’s strategic 

objectives; assess 

the credibility of the 

program’s estimated 

budget and schedule.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A
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Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

SDR SRB Aug 2007

To evaluate the 

proposed program 

requirements and 

architecture; 

allocation of 

requirements to 

initial projects; 

assess the adequacy 

of project preformulation efforts; 

determine if 

maturity of the 

program’s definition 

and plans are 

sufficient to begin 

implementation.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A

PDR SRB Sep 2009

To evaluate 

completeness and 

consistency of the 

program’s 

preliminary design, 

including its 

projects, is meeting 

all requirements 

with appropriate 

margins, acceptable 

risk, and within cost 

and schedule 

constraints; 

determine the 

program’s readiness 

to proceed with the 

detailed design 

phase.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A
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Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Resynchronization 

Review SRB Jul 2012

The purpose of the 

review is to realign 

the program’s 

preliminary design 

to the current 

Exploration system 

development

requirements. 

NASA policies 

allow changes to a 

program’s 

management 

agreement in 

response to internal 

and external events. 

An amendment to 

the decision 

memorandum signed 

at the KDP-B review 

held before PDR if a 

significant 

divergence occurs.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A

Delta PDR SRB Aug 2014

To update the 

program’s 

preliminary design; 

ensures 

completeness and 

consistency; 

determine the 

program’s readiness 

to proceed with the 

detailed design 

phase.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A
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Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

CDR SRB Oct 2015

To evaluate the 

integrity of the 

program integrated 

design. This 

includes its projects 

and ground systems, 

its ability to meet

mission 

requirements with 

appropriate margins 

and acceptable risk, 

planned within cost 

and schedule 

constraints; 

determine if the 

integrated design is 

appropriately mature 

to continue with the 

final design and 

fabrication phase for 

EM-1.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A

ESM CDR SRB Oct 2016

To evaluate the 

integrity of the 

program integrated 

design. This 

includes its projects 

and ground systems, 

its ability to meet 

mission 

requirements with 

appropriate margins 

and acceptable risk, 

planned within cost 

and schedule 

constraints; 

determine if the 

integrated design is 

appropriately mature 

to continue with the 

final design and 

fabrication phase for 

EM-1.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A
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Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

CIR/System Integration 

Review (SIR) N/A Nov 2016

To evaluate the 

readiness of the 

program, including 

its projects and 

supporting

infrastructure, to 

begin system AI&T 

with acceptable risk,

and within cost and

schedule constraints.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next 

phase.

N/A

EM-2 CDR SRB Nov 2018

To evaluate the 

integrity of the 

program integrated 

design. This 

includes its projects 

and ground systems, 

its ability to meet 

mission 

requirements with 

appropriate margins 

and acceptable risk, 

planned within cost 

and schedule 

constraints; 

determine if the 

integrated design is 

appropriately mature 

to continue with the 

final design and 

fabrication phase for 

EM-2.

N/A N/A

System Integration 

Review (SIR) NA Feb 2019

To assess risks and 

plans for starting 

integration of all 

hardware into the 

structure to build up 

the flight vehicle

N/A N/A
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Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

System Acceptance 

Review/Design (SAR) 

Certification Review

N/A Apr 2019

The purpose of this 

review is to evaluate 

whether a specific 

end item is 

sufficiently mature 

for shipment from 

the supplier to its 

designated 

operational facility 

or launch site.

N/A N/A
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Launch Vehicle Development 2072.0 2079.3 2072.2 2001.8 2104.3 2071.4 2216.2

SLS Program Integration and Support 55.1 56.1 50.9 61.2 60.9 59.6 59.8

Total in FY19 Budget Structure 2127.1 2135.4 2078.1 2062.9 2165.1 2131.0 2276.0

Programmatic CoF in CECR Account 8.8 5.8 25.9 0 0 0

Exploration Ground Systems 471.9 426.1 428.4 589.9 520.8 458.7 451.9

Total in FY12 Budget Structure 2607.8 2567.3 2532.4 2652.8 2685.9 2589.7 2727.9

Change from FY 2018 -34.9

Percentage change from FY 2018 -1.36%

FY 2016 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 114-113, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2016 Operating Plan.

FY 2017 Enacted reflects the funding amounts specified in Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, 

P.L. 115-31. Table does not reflect emergency supplemental funds also appropriated in FY 2017, totaling $184 

million.

As NASA seeks to expand the boundaries of human space exploration, Space Launch System (SLS) is 

preparing to carry humans, infrastructure, supporting equipment, and science missions farther into deep 

space than ever before. 

SLS is a critical national capability for exploring the solar system and continuing U.S. leadership in 

science, technology, and exploration for decades to come. The vehicle’s capabilities will evolve using a 

block upgrade approach. This will allow the program to increase its initial lift capability from 70 metric 

tons to over 130 metric tons to beyond Earth orbit and deep space when all upgrades are completed. The 

Agency will continue to identify and implement affordability strategies to ensure SLS can be a

sustainable exploration capability for decades to come.

For further programmatic information, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/index.html.

Program Elements

SLS PROGRAM INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT

SLS program integration and support activities manage the Orion and EGS program interfaces. This effort 

is critical to ensuring SLS systems’ performance meets technical and safety specifications, and supports 

programmatic assessments key to achieving integrated technical, cost, and schedule management. In 

addition, the SLS integration effort is vital to managing interfaces with other HEOMD activities, 

including strategic studies, feasibility studies, and small-scale research tasks that feed into future human 

exploration. Coordination and timely integration across the three programs enables the Agency to avoid 

potential design overlaps, schedule disconnects, and cost issues.
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LAUNCH VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

See Launch Vehicle Development section.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Exploration Systems Development: Space Launch 

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 2674.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2674.0

Development/Implementation 4698.7 1198.4 949.0 182.8 30.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7058.9

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 7372.7 1198.4 949.0 182.8 30.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9732.9

Total Budget 7951.8 2072.0 2079.3 2027.2 2001.8 2104.3 2071.4 2216.2 0.0 22523.9

Change from FY 2018 -52.1

Percentage change from FY 2018 -2.5%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The difference between the total budget and the MPAR LCC 

estimate is the total budget includes content outside of EM1 and excludes CoF; LCC only includes EM-1 content, 

including CoF.

PROJECT PURPOSE

As NASA expands its focus for human spaceflight to 

destinations across the solar system, the Launch 

Vehicle Development project will enable deep space 

exploration with the Space Launch System (SLS) 

launch vehicle. For the first time since the Apollo 

program in 1972, American astronauts will be able to 

explore space beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) and 

return astronauts to the Moon.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY

2019 

After completing a comprehensive review of the launch schedule, NASA has established an EM-1 

integrated launch date of no earlier than December 2019. This date represents a time frame where it is 

anticipated that a majority of the hardware will be ready to support final launch integration and flight 

Four RS-25 flight engines with their new Engine 

Controller Units (ECU) preparing for shipment to 

NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New 

Orleans. 
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activities. While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule indicate a launch date 

of June 2020, the agency is managing to December 2019. Mitigation strategies to protect the December 

2019 date are principally focused on critical path areas related to core stage production and European 

Space Agency service module delivery.

PROJECT PARAMETERS 

Launch Vehicle Development continues work to achieve cost, schedule, and performance goals by 

leveraging hardware designed for previous programs, including adapted Space Shuttle main engines, fivesegment Shuttle-derived solid rocket boosters, and an interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS) using a 

derivative of the Delta cryogenic second stage. Additionally, development has started for an advanced 

Exploration Upper Stage (EUS), which will add significantly to the vehicle’s lift and in-space capabilities. 

The program benefits from NASA’s half-century of experience with liquid oxygen and hydrogen heavylift vehicles, large solid rocket motors, and advances in technology and manufacturing practices.

SLS vehicle design will be flexible and evolvable based on mission requirements. In an effort to achieve

schedule and cost efficiencies, each evolution shares the same core stage and while adding an improved 

upper stage and booster upgrades to increase capability to accommodate more challenging crew and cargo 

missions. Initially, SLS will exceed its required 70 metric ton lift capability to LEO, and will use its 

Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI) performance to send nearly 30 metric tons to cislunar space. Current 

estimates of lift capability to LEO are at 85 metric tons. The first upgrade, adding the EUS, will improve 

vehicle lift performance to 105 metric tons to LEO and more than 40 metric tons to cislunar space, which 

will be utilized by launching the Orion crew capsule and co-manifested payloads. Ultimately, with the 

addition of advanced boosters, SLS could evolve to carry over 130 metric tons to LEO and 45 metric tons 

to cislunar space. SLS enables an increasing capability to demonstrate deep space technologies and 

hardware needed for future missions independent of Earth. 
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ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The vast majority of program content is on track for EM-1, and work is rapidly being transitioned to 

future flights and planned upgrades. As previously discussed, the program has experienced delays and 

issues that required a replan of program schedules for EM-1. Some of the most critical issues include 

first-time production issues for the SLS core stage. Early production issues are not unprecedented for an 

activity of this scope and ambition. 

In FY 2017, SLS completed significant activities, including all major welding operations of the core stage 

structural sections using the Vertical Assembly Center at Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF). This 

includes the 130+ foot tall flight liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank that will feed the four RS25 rocket engines during SLS ascent. At Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), SLS also completed 

welding the Launch Vehicle Stage Adapter (LVSA) that connects the ICPS to the core stage. SLS 

continued conducting multiple development engine tests on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center 
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(SSC). The combined lab testing, and hot-fire testing on the A-1 test stand advanced the flight 

certification of the Engine Controller Units (ECU), which completed in early FY 2018. 

SLS continued to develop, test, and integrate flight avionics in the software integration laboratory,

allowing development and testing of avionics in an accurate flight-like configured system. Manufacturing 

and assembly of the flight ICPS was completed and the ICPS shipped to KSC for processing. 

Construction of test stands for new core stage structural test article facilities at MSFC was completed with 

the exception of minor punch list items verifying completion. Additionally, the completed core stage 

engine section structural test article (STA) shipped by barge from MAF to MSFC for testing. Core stage 

STA testing, using the new test stands validates adequate structural capability prior to launch. Successful 

integration and testing of the combined STA LVSA, Orion Stage Adapter (OSA) and the STA ICPS in 

late spring 2017 led to certification of structural flight worthiness. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

During FY 2018, SLS continues to progress towards EM-1 and concurrently, develop the Block 1B. 

EM-1 launch vehicle stage adapter and the Orion stage adapter will complete assembly and check out and 

will ship to KSC in preparation for integration. The EM-1 RS-25 engines, which are now fully completed, 

will ship for integration to the core stage. The core stage sections will be outfitted with avionics, tested, 

and begin joining into the full flight core stage.

In addition to making considerable progress towards EM-1 fabrication, qualification, and assembly of 

flight elements, SLS is making strides towards Block 1B and the EUS that will provide additional power 

for deep space exploration missions. Ensuring future capabilities, solid rocket motor segments for the 

EM-2 flight began production and casting of booster segments. Additionally work began on developing 

the new RS-25 engines for future missions. The RS-25 engines are based on the Space Shuttle Program 

heritage but achieve a 33 percent cost reduction with innovative and advanced manufacturing methods. 

The full scale core stage mock up, a Pathfinder for major core stage handling maneuvers, completed in 

early FY 2018 and will deliver to SSC for B2 test stand confirmation of Core Stage test fit. The remaining 

minor punch list items of the B2 test stand at SSC will complete and the test stand readied for the 

Pathfinder and ultimately flight hardware core stage hot fire test. Flight software and related avionic 

components will continue testing in the software integration laboratory at MSFC. The EUS, a critical 

component for Block 1B, will complete its Critical Design Review (CDR) and fabrication for future deep 

space missions will continue. All of the EM-1 booster components including, aft skirt assemblies, and 

forward assemblies will complete and (along with the already completed segments and nozzle assemblies) 

will be readied for delivery to KSC. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

FY 2019 will begin with release of the SLS flight software for formal review and certification in 

preparation for the EM-1 flight. In parallel, the EM-1 Booster flight hardware will deliver to KSC for

integration. The EM-1 core stage components including RS-25 engines, the engine section, hydrogen 

tank, inter-tank, and oxygen tank will complete joining and ship from MAF to SSC for hot fire green run 
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testing. Green run is the term used for the hot fire testing of the flight core stage with it fully fueled, 

secured in the test stand at SSC, and tested for the full duration of time as if during real flight. The EM-1 

certification for flight relies on the core stage hot fire green run testing scheduled for spring 2019. Upon 

the successful green run test, the core stage will ship to KSC and complete vehicle certification with the 

conclusion of the Design Certification Review Board in preparation for the EM-1 Flight Readiness 

Review.

With all EM-1 SLS hardware at KSC, SLS will support Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) integration 

operations using a co-developed Design Center concept. SLS will provide subject matter expertise as 

needed to support vehicle build-up and Integrated Test and Checkout, but will have limited VAB floor 

presence to minimize potential obstructions to integration flow operations. SLS and EGS will conduct 

daily meetings to communicate and coordinate integration operations.

With delivery of EM-1 hardware, the SLS program will shift emphasis and the focus to EM-2 and 

beyond. Payload integration requirements will mature in support of the cargo manifest for long-term 

exploration and utilization of cislunar space. Fabrication and testing of elements of EM-2 will continue, to 

include Core Stage, EUS, and certification of restarted production line RS-25 engines, solid rocket 

booster components, Universal Stage Adapter, and the Payload Adapter. SLS will also deliver four RL-10 

engines for integration with EUS. SLS will continue fabrication of the redesigned, more affordable RS-25 

engines. A Block 1B major event in FY 2019 is the EM-2 CDR setting the design of components for 

EM-3, and beyond.

Schedule Commitments/Key Milestones

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-A Nov 2011 Nov 2011

Formulation Authorization May 2012 May 2012

SRR/S May 2012 May 2012

KDP-B Agency Project 

Management Council (APMC) Jul 2012 Jul 2012

PDR Board Jun 2013 Jun 2013

KDP-C APMC Jan 2014 Jan 2014

CDR Board Jul 2015 Jul 2015

Design Certification Review Sep 2017 Oct 2019

EM-1 Launch Readiness Nov 2018 Dec 2019

While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule indicate a launch date of June 2020, the 

agency is managing to December 2019. 
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Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 7,021.4 70 2019 7058.9 .005

EM-1

Launch 

Readiness

Nov 2018 Dec 2019 13

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule indicate a launch date of June 

2020, the agency is managing to December 2019. 

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 7,021.4 7058.9 37.5

Stages Element 3,138.7 3708.2 569.5

Liquid Engines Office* 1,198.3 402.1 -796.2

Booster Element 1,090.3 997.9 -92.4

Other 1,594.2 1950.6 356.4

The Agency Baseline Commitment previously included fixed and shared costs with the RS-25 production restart 

activity (in the Liquid Engines Office) which supports EM-1 and later missions. SLS removed those costs from the 

estimate and significantly lowered the EM-1 Liquid Engines Office and Current Year Development Cost Estimate.
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Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Booster

Responsible for development, 

testing, production, and 

support for the five-segment 

solid rocket motor to be used 

on initial capability flights

Provider: MSFC

Lead Center: MSFC

Performing Center(s): MSFC 

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Engines

Responsible for development 

and/or testing, production, 

and support for both core 

stage (RS-25) and upper stage 

liquid engines

Provider: MSFC

Lead Center: MSFC

Performing Center(s): MSFC and SSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Stages

Responsible for development, 

testing, production, and 

support of hardware elements, 

including core and upper 

stages, liquid engine

integration, and avionics 

integration

Provider: MSFC

Lead Center: MSFC

Performing Center(s): MSFC/MAF, and 

SSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Spacecraft 

Payloads and 

Integration

Responsible for development, 

testing, production, and 

support of hardware elements 

for integrating the Orion and 

payloads onto SLS, including 

the ICPS, Orion stage adapter, 

LVSA, universal stage 

adaptor and payload fairings

Provider: MSFC

Lead Center: MSFC

Performing Center(s): MSFC, LaRC, 

GRC, and KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
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Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

Given new Propellant, Liner, and Insulation 

(PLI) materials requirements levied for SLS, 

and new design and stress state information 

identified during the QM-1 Aft Segment 

Investigation, there is the risk that structural 

& fracture concerns may prevent 

development of acceptable flight rationale.

New PLI materials have properties that are very different from 

historical materials. The recent QM-1 Aft Segment Investigation 

resulted in a PLI system design change to the barrier coating, and 

found that the cure process may result in insulation mechanical & 

fracture properties where acceptable EM-1 flight rationale cannot 

be developed. HEOMD accepted a SLS proposal to remove the 

barrier coating on future flight segments, complete analysis of 

the no-barrier design for review at the SLS Design Certification 

Review (DCR), and continue work on flight rationale for 

completed segments with the barrier.

Given multiple schedule-related challenges 

(timeliness of component deliveries, rate of 

infrastructure development progress, testing 

impacts, quality structural article testing and 

hot fire Green Run, and barge availability), 

one or more of these challenges will result in 

a schedule delay and associated cost 

overruns.

Stages process for schedule risk identification, assessment, 

tracking, and reporting of all top level schedule critical path 

drivers (with days of negative or positive slack) are reported 

monthly. Updated mitigation actions are employed as necessary 

preserving and improving schedule margin. Actions include 

reallocating budget, increasing activity to parallel paths (schedule 

resequencing), multi-shifting, later installation, etc. for in-house 

activities as well as prime contract based efficiencies. Early 

FY 2018 analysis shows improving trends. Threats and 

opportunities are addressed on a daily basis.

Given that the SLS program is employing a 

dynamic test philosophy and methodology

different from heritage programs using an 

integrated dynamic test of the vehicle stack, 

there is a possibility that prior to EM-1 flight, 

element or vehicle analyses or tests reveal 

that math models are insufficient. This 

characterization model uncertainty may 

result in the need to repeat virtual modeling 

analysis and lead to a potential launch delay.

Mitigation is through a building block testing including static & 

modal tests of Stages, ICPS & MPCV. These individual elements 

are then integrated into vehicle modal tests including Partial 

Stack Modal Test (PSMT), Integrated Modal Test (IMT), and 

Dynamic Rollout Test (DRT). In addition, planning is under way 

for a full-scale Mobile Launcher only modal test. Results of this 

test will correlate and update the dynamic flex models to assess 

impact, if any, on design of the integrated vehicle loads and 

control systems of the vehicle. If negative impacts arise, they will 

be assessed as part of flight dynamics risk assessment and 

mitigated accordingly.
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Acquisition Strategy

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Procurement for SLS launch vehicle development meets the Agency’s requirement to provide an 

evolvable vehicle within a schedule that supports various mission requirements. Procurements include use 

of existing assets to expedite development, and further development of technologies and future 

competitions for advanced systems and key technology areas specific to SLS vehicle needs.

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Boosters Orbital ATK Magna, UT

Core Stage Engine Aerojet Rocketdyne Desoto Park, CA and SSC

ICPS United Launch Alliance under 

contract to Boeing Aerospace

Huntsville, AL

Stages Boeing Aerospace New Orleans, LA

Upper Stage Engines Aerojet Rocketdyne West Palm Beach, FL
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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

NASA established an SRB to perform the independent reviews of the Space Launch Vehicle project as 

required by NPR 7120.5.

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

PDR SRB Aug 2013

To evaluate the 

completeness/ 

consistency of the 

planning, technical, 

cost, and schedule 

baselines developed 

during formulation; 

assess compliance of 

the preliminary 

design with 

applicable 

requirements; and 

determine if the 

project is sufficiently 

mature to begin 

Phase C.

The SRB evaluated 

the project and 

determined the 

project is sufficiently 

mature to begin 

Phase C and begin 

final design and 

fabrication.

N/A

CDR SRB Jul 2015

To evaluate the 

integrity of the 

project design and its 

ability to meet 

mission requirements 

with appropriate 

margins and 

acceptable risk 

within defined 

project constraints, 

including available 

resources. To 

determine if the 

design is 

appropriately mature 

to continue with the 

final design and 

fabrication phase.

The SRB evaluated 

the project and 

determined the 

project is sufficiently 

mature to progress to 

major manufacturing, 

assembly and 

integration. 

N/A
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Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

DCR SLS Independent 

Review Team Oct 2019 

To certify the 

implemented design 

complies with 

applicable 

requirements and 

necessary 

verification activities 

are satisfactorily 

completed.

Certification of the 

SLS Block 1 design

is completed.

N/A

Block 1B 

Delta CDR

HEOMD 

Independent 

Review Team (IRT)

NET Oct 

2020

To evaluate the 

integrity of the Block 

1B design and its 

ability to meet 

mission requirements 

with appropriate 

margins and 

acceptable risk. To 

determine if the 

design is 

appropriately mature 

to continue with the 

final design and 

fabrication phase.

The IRT will 

evaluate Block 1B

content to assess if 

the program has 

achieved sufficient

maturity to progress 

to major 

manufacturing, 

assembly and 

integration.

N/A
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 471.9 -- 428.2 589.9 520.8 458.7 451.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Exploration Ground System (EGS) program enables integration, processing, and launch of the Space 

Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft. EGS is making all required facility and ground support 

equipment modifications at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to enable assembly, test, launch, and recovery 

of the SLS and Orion flight elements. EGS is also modernizing communication and control systems to 

support these activities. Upon completion, the KSC launch site will be able to provide a more flexible, 

affordable, and responsive national launch capability compared to prior approaches. 

Program Elements

EGS PROGRAM INTEGRATION AND SUPPORT

EGS program integration and support activities manage the SLS and Orion program interfaces. This effort 

is critical to ensuring ground systems' performance meets technical and safety specifications and supports 

the programmatic assessments key to achieving integrated technical, cost, and schedule management. In 

addition, the EGS integration effort is vital to managing interfaces with other Human Exploration and 

Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) activities, including strategic studies, feasibility studies, and 

small-scale research tasks that feed into future human exploration. Coordination and timely integration 

across the three programs enable the Agency to avoid potential design overlaps, schedule disconnects, and 

cost issues.

EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

See the Exploration Ground Systems Development.
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 965.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 965.8

Development/Implementation 934.7 450.0 422.9 291.1 79.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2178.6

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 1900.5 450.0 422.9 291.1 79.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3144.4

Total Budget 1671.9 458.5 426.1 423.2 575.0 505.1 443.0 442.3 0.0 4945.2

Change from FY 2018 -2.9

Percentage change from FY 2018 -0.7%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The difference between the total budget and the MPAR LCC estimate is the total budget includes content outside of 

EM-1 and excludes CoF; LCC only includes EM-1 content, including CoF.
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PROJECT PURPOSE

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) is preparing 

and launching the Space Launch System (SLS) and 

Orion space transportation systems. EGS is 

developing the necessary ground systems while 

refurbishing and upgrading infrastructure and 

facilities required for assembly, test, and launch of

SLS and Orion, along with the landing and recovery

activities of Orion. This includes Pad 39B, the 

Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), the Mobile 

Launcher and other smaller facilities to move from 

Space Shuttle focused to support exploration 

missions. The modernization efforts maintains 

flexibility on Pad 39B and in the VAB in order to 

accommodate other potential users. Additionally, 

following the EM-1 launch of SLS and Orion, the 

Mobile Launcher, VAB, and Pad will undergo 

modifications to accommodate the upgraded SLS 

Block 1B. 

For more programmatic information, go to 

http://go.nasa.gov/groundsystems.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

After completing a comprehensive review of the launch schedule, NASA has established an EM-1 

integrated launch date of no earlier than December 2019. This date represents a time frame where it is 

anticipated that a majority of the hardware will be ready to support final launch integration and flight 

activities. While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule indicate a launch date 

of June 2020, the agency is managing to December 2019. Mitigation strategies to protect the December 

2019 date are focused in critical path areas related to core stage production and European Space Agency 

service module delivery.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

EGS is modernizing and upgrading KSC’s ground systems and facilities required to enable integration of

SLS and Orion, move the integrated vehicle to the launch pad, and launch it successfully into space. For 

the Exploration Missions (EMs), EM-1 and EM-2, the EGS team is developing procedures and protocols 

to process the spacecraft, rocket stages, and launch abort system before assembly into one vehicle. 

Additional work required to launch astronauts into space includes modifying the Mobile Launcher and 

crawler-transporters; preparing Launch Complex (LC)-39B at KSC, modernizing computers, tracking 

systems, and other networks.

NASA's upgraded crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2), 

carrying mobile launcher platform 1, moves slowly 

along the crawlerway at KSC. The crawler's upgrades 

and modifications will be monitored and tested to 

confirm it is ready to support the load of the mobile 

launcher carrying the SLS with Orion atop for EM-1.
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ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The vast majority of program content is on track for EM-1, and work is rapidly being transitioned to 

future flights and planned upgrades. As previously discussed, the program has experienced delays and 

issues that required a replan of program schedules for EM-1. Issues include software development in EGS 

that are affected by schedule changes from the flight elements. Early production issues are not 

unprecedented for an activity of this scope and ambition. 

At KSC, EGS completed installing and outfitting access platforms in the VAB. The renovation of Launch 

Pad 39B is progressing well and includes upgrading and modifying the flame trench and environmental 

control system and installing a new flame deflector. The program successfully tested upgrades to the 

Crawler-Transporter 2, which included new generators, gear assemblies, jacking, equalizing and leveling 

hydraulic cylinders, roller bearings and brakes. 

The Program is progressing with Verification and Validation (V&V) of the Multi-Payload Processing 

Facility (MPPF). The MPPF will be used for offline processing and fueling of the Orion spacecraft and 

service module stack before launch. 

The program completed installing five of eight sets of umbilical attach points on the Mobile Launcher

including the Orion Service Module Umbilical, Core Stage Intertank Umbilical, Core Stage Forward Skirt 

Umbilical, Vehicle Support Posts, Aft Skirt Electrical and Pneumatic Umbilicals, completing more than 

70 percent of the umbilical and launch accessory deliveries to the Mobile Launcher from the Launch 

Equipment Test Facility. 

The first major integrated operation at Launch Pad 39B at KSC began in September 2017 with the initial 

filling of the liquid oxygen sphere, a giant sphere that can hold about 900,000 gallons of liquid oxygen. 

Filling of the liquid hydrogen sphere will start in early November. Hardware delivered to EGS this year 

included left forward skirt for SLS solid rocket boosters, service platforms for SLS booster engines, and 

the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS). 

The program completed upgrades at LC-39B including installing a new communication system; installing 

new heating, ventilation and cooling systems; replacing water system piping; and installing new ignition 

overpressure/sound suppression bypass valves. The program completed structural and facility 

modifications on the Mobile Launcher, and will finish installing ground support equipment in FY 2018.

Additionally, the program began initial tanking of a cryogenic fuel into a giant sphere at launch pad 39B 

to support the launch of Orion spacecraft. 

EGS began studies on requirements to support SLS upgrades for EM-2 on the communication systems, 

the Mobile Launcher, and requiring additional liquid hydrogen capacity at the launch pad. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The program will complete the System Integration Review, which will evaluate readiness for multielement V&V. MPFF V&V will be completed in June 2018. Once the program has completed the system 
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verification and validation phase, the program will begin the operations and integration phase in 

preparation for multi-element V&V for the Mobile Launcher, Pad, and VAB.

Spacecraft offline processing will begin in the third quarter of 2018. During this process, the program will 

validate all systems hardware and software in order to determine the system readiness for a safe and 

successful launch. 

The program completed the launch accessories remote and end to end testing of the five sets of umbilical 

attach points on the Mobile Launcher verifying readiness to support the first SLS rocket launch.

During the fourth quarter of FY 2018, the Mobile Launcher will roll into VAB High Bay 3 to start multielement verification and validation testing with the platforms. Integration operation will begin after the 

required 24-hour cool-down period on the Mobile Launcher. 

Mobile launcher Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and umbilical installation, testing and V&V will be 

completed in May leading to an integrated multi-element V&V.

Underway Recovery Test (URT) -6, which is the last engineering development URT, occurred off the 

coast of San Diego in January 2018 aboard a Landing Platform Dock class ship. This will be the first 

URT to attempt night operations. The test will allow NASA and the U.S. Navy to continue to demonstrate 

and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, and hardware before committing to conducting actual 

recovery operations of the Orion spacecraft and crews at the end of each mission.

The program is continuing to conduct studies on the requirements to support SLS upgrades for EM-2 on 

communication systems, the Mobile Launcher, VAB and requirements for additional liquid hydrogen 

capacity at the pad. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Multi-element V&V of the ground systems will be completed to support the EM-1 launch. The SLS Core 

Stage and Orion Crew Service Module will be turned over to EGS for ground processing operations and 

integrated testing. To prepare for the EM-1 launch and operations, the program will complete flight 

hardware assembly, integration, and testing as well as conduct spacecraft and VAB stacking Operations 

Readiness Reviews (ORR) and launch pad ORR in anticipation of a certification of flight readiness. 

The program will also complete two Underway Recovery Tests to ensure safe recovery of the Orion crew 

module post the EM-1 mission. In addition, EGS will continue ground systems development efforts in 

support of SLS Block 1B for EM-2. Designs efforts for Mobile Launcher structural modifications, 

installation of GSE, VAB HB3/HB4 platforms and Environmental Control System will be completed. 

Upon design completions, construction activities for the new VAB platforms and the Pad B LH2 new 

storage tank will begin, as well as fabrications of the new umbilicals necessary to support the new SLS 

vehicle configuration. 
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Schedule Commitments/Key Milestones

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2018 PB Request

KDP-A Feb 2012 Feb 2012

Formulation Authorization Apr 2012 Apr 2012

SRR/SDR Aug 2012 Aug 2012

KDP-B APMC Nov 2012 Nov 2012

PDR Board Mar 2014 Mar 2014

KDP-C APMC May 2014 May 2014

CDR Board Dec 2015 Dec 2015

SIR Mar 2018 Mar 2018

EM-1 Launch Readiness Dec 2019 Dec 2019

While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule indicate a launch date of June 2020, the 

agency is managing to December 2019. 
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Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milesto

ne Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 1,843.5 70 2018 2,178.7 18%

EM-1

Readiness

Nov 

2018 Dec 2019 13

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. While the review of the possible manufacturing and production schedule indicate a launch date of June 

2020, the agency is managing to December 2019. 

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 1,843.5 2,178.7 335.2

Mobile Launcher 213.1 396.2 183.1 

LC-39B Pad 77.5 72.7 (4.8)

VAB 92.7 77.5 (15.2)

Command, Control, and 

Communications 198.0 395.9 197.9 

Offline Processing and 

Infrastructure 110.2 86.0 (24.2)

Other 1,152.0 1,150.5 (1.5)

*Other includes Crawler Transporter, Launch Equipment Test Facility, Integrated Operations, Program 

Management, Logistics, S&MA, and SE&I
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Project Management & Commitments

EGS balances customer requirements among SLS, Orion, and other Government and commercial users. 

EGS is developing ground systems infrastructure necessary to assemble, test, launch, and recover Orion 

elements.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Ground Systems 

Implementation 

(GSI)

GSI is responsible for design, 

development, build, 

hardware/software 

integration, verification and 

facility systems, and GSE. 

Provider: KSC

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): ARC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Operations and 

Test 

Management

(O&TM)

O&TM is responsible for 

conducting overall planning 

and execution of both flight 

hardware and ground systems 

processing activities.

Provider: KSC

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Command, 

Control, 

Communication 

(C3) 

C3 is responsible for 

development, operation, and 

sustainment of End-to-End 

Command and Control and 

Communications services. 

Provider: KSC

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Program 

Management 

Team (PMT)

PMT includes project 

management, safety and 

mission assurance, logistics, 

systems engineering, utilities 

and facility operations, and 

maintenance.

Provider: KSC

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): NA

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
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Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: There is insufficient time to perform all 

V&V activities,

Then: There is a possibility of a schedule 

delay to the EGS Operations Readiness Date.

Mobile Launcher team started overlaying updated construction 

schedule with the V&V schedule. Rescheduling a significant 

portion of the park site V&V to the VAB, which would affect the 

overall V&V schedule completion. 

If: The Ground Flight Application Software 

Team (GFAST) internal/external 

dependencies on GSE subsystems, SCCS, 

Models and Emulators, SLS, Orion and ICPS 

to provide requirements, data products and 

hardware are not within the currently defined 

GFAST schedule, 

Then: There is the possibility GFAST will 

not be ready to perform integrated processing 

with flight hardware and GSE in the 

VAB/Pad and MPPF in time to meet CrossProgram objective and schedules while 

remaining within allocated budgets. 

The program approved additional funding for Firing Room 

assets, which will lower the risk when hardware is installed and 

available for GFAST use. 

If: The programmatic baseline schedule has 

insufficient time and funding allotted to 

perform all Launch Accessory testing at the 

LETF including rework, redesign, regression 

testing and problem resolution,

Then: There is a possibility of not meeting 

the scheduled program delivery to Mobile 

Launcher milestone.

Through schedule analysis, LETF has incorporated a work 

schedule for Launch Accessories with contractor support to 

mitigate this risk. Monitoring of the risk will continue.

If: The Mobile Launcher GSE installation 

design is running in parallel with ground 

subsystem GSE and vehicle designs, 

Then: There is a possibility that unplanned 

revisions to the GSE Installation Design will 

be required and installation construction 

contract cost and schedules may be 

significantly impacted. This has a significant 

impact to the Mobile Launcher operational 

readiness date to support launch.

Acceleration Schedule is under review by Mobile Launcher team 

and contractors. 

Acquisition Strategy

To retain flexibility and maximize affordability, EGS serves as its own prime contractor for development 

activities. EGS executes SLS and Orion ground infrastructure and processing requirements by leveraging 
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Exploration Systems Development: Exploration 

Ground Systems

EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

Formulation Development Operations

DEXP-42

center and programmatic contracts. For more routine work, EGS also uses pre-qualified Indefinitedelivery, Indefinite-quantity contractors while exercising full and open competition for larger or more 

specialized projects, such as facility systems construction contracts, and associated GSE fabrication firmfixed-price contracts. A fixed-price contracting approach is the first choice whenever possible, as it 

provides maximum incentive for contractors to control costs, since they are subject to any losses incurred. 

In addition, it imposes a minimal administrative burden upon the contracting parties.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

EGS development activities will encompass projects of varying content and size. EGS does not have a 

prime contract; it uses the center’s institutional contracts to execute the development, engineering, 

construction and programmatic activities. If the project size or scope falls outside existing center 

capabilities, then a competitively bid firm-fixed-price contract will be used. 

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Mobile Launcher Structural and 

Facility Support Modification 

Contract

J.P. Donovan Construction, Inc. KSC

VAB High Bay Platform 

Construction Hensel Phelps Construction, Inc. KSC

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

All SRB Nov 2012

To provide independent 

assessment of program 

technical plan, cost 

estimates, schedules, and 

risks at KDP-B

Program cleared to 

proceed to next phase N/A 

PDR SRB Mar 2014

To evaluate 

completeness and 

consistency of program 

preliminary design; 

determine readiness to 

proceed with detailed 

design phase

Program cleared to 

proceed to next phase N/A
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Ground Systems

EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

Formulation Development Operations

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Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

CDR SRB Mar 2016

To demonstrate that 

program design is 

mature; support fullscale fabrication, 

assembly, integration, 

and test; and meet 

overall performance 

requirements within cost 

and schedule constraints.

Program cleared to 

proceed to next phase N/A

SIR

KSC 

Independent 

Review 

Team (IRT)

Mar 2018

To evaluate the readiness 

of the program, including 

its projects and 

supporting infrastructure, 

to begin system 

Assembly, Integration, 

and Test with acceptable 

risk and within cost and

schedule constraints. 

Program cleared to 

proceed to next phase N/A

Block 1B 

Delta CDR

HEOMD 

Independent 

Review 

Team (IRT)

NET May 2019 To evaluate the integrity 

of the Block 1B design 

and its ability to meet 

mission requirements 

with appropriate margins 

and acceptable risk. To 

determine if the design is 

appropriately mature to 

continue with the final 

design and fabrication 

phase.

The IRT will 

evaluate Block 1B 

content to assess if 

the program has 

achieved sufficient 

maturity to progress 

to major 

manufacturing, 

assembly and 

integration.

N/A
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway 0.0 -- 504.2 662.0 540.0 558.9 459.1

Advanced Cislunar and Surface 

Capabilities

0.0 -- 116.5 146.0 163.7 300.0 320.3

Exploration Advanced Systems 97.8 -- 268.2 260.7 240.6 186.1 144.7

Total Budget 97.8 -- 889.0 1068.6 944.3 1045.0 924.1

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

In FY 2019, $140M was transferred from AES to Exploration Research and Technology (ER&T) in support of the 

HRP and $44.680M was transferred to ERT in support of AES Core activities.

The Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) 

division infuses technologies and develops highpriority capabilities using a combination of 

unique in-house activities and public-private 

partnerships to develop and test prototype 

systems that will form the basis for future human 

spaceflight missions. Public-private partnerships 

are agreements and contracts that enable NASA 

and private sector industry and academia to

share in the risk and gain of Government 

investments. These shared risks and gains 

include incentivizing technical performance, 

building future commercial markets and a shared 

financial interest in developing capabilities.

AES will focus on integrating and testing the 

systems needed for future human deep space 

exploration. These core areas are funded through three areas: Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway (LOP-G), 

Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities, and Exploration Advanced Systems. 

The new Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway (LOP-G) will serve as a platform in cislunar to mature 

necessary short and long-duration deep space exploration capabilities through the 2020s. The LOP-G will 

be assembled in orbit around the Moon where it can also be used as a staging point for exploration, 

science, commercial and international partner missions to the lunar surface and to destinations in deep 

space. Astronauts on the LOP-G can directly operate rovers and scientific instruments on the Moon. The 

LOP-G is an important piece of lunar infrastructure and will allow for reusable landers on the surface of 

the moon and as a location to transfer lunar and possibly Martian samples for return to the Earth. In 

support of the LOP-G, AES will continue to mature and test capabilities such as habitation capabilities, 

NASA team test SAFFIRE II and III components
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airlock capabilities, and power and propulsion to provide communication to support astronaut 

Extravehicular Activity.

In order to enable the cislunar platform, AES will invest in development and demonstration of exploration 

capabilities to reduce risk, lower life cycle cost and validate operational concepts for future human 

missions. Under Exploration Advanced Systems (EAS) ground habitation prototypes developed by 

private-public partnership will be tested to evaluate human factors for different habitat configurations;

assess how the various systems interact together and with other capabilities like propulsion modules and 

airlocks; and provide platforms to test and ensure that standards and common interfaces being considered 

are well designed.

AES will also invest in Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities (ACSC) to help establish a U.S 

presence on the Moon. Working in parallel with scientific lunar exploration, NASA is planning to 

develop a series of progressively more capable robotic lunar missions to the surface of the Moon. This 

will also serve as a foundational training ground to prepare for later missions to Mars. ACSC will utilize 

public-private partnerships and international participation to promote innovative approaches to lunar 

robotics, a cislunar presence, and lunar landing capabilities to enhance U.S. leadership. ACSC will have 

close collaboration and partnering between HEOMD, Science Mission Directorate, and the new 

Exploration Research & Technology (ER&T) organization.

The technology capabilities and processes pioneered by AES will enable the first intrepid crews of the 

new space age to cross countless frontiers, stay safe and healthy, deliver scientific discoveries, and sustain 

new homes away from home, for the benefit of all humankind. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

In FY 2019, Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) is initiating major new program areas to establish a 

lunar orbital platform - gateway, invest in cislunar and surface capabilities to return humans to the Moon, 

and advance key capabilities for human habitation. 

AES will no longer focus on lower level technology developments for exploration. Low Technology 

Readiness Level technologies will now be developed through the Exploration Research and Technology 

organization.
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 0.0 -- 504.2 662.0 540.0 558.9 459.1

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA proposes to establish a Lunar Orbital 

Platform - Gateway (LOP-G) as a platform to 

mature necessary short- and long-duration deep 

space exploration capabilities through the 2020s. 

The LOP-G will be assembled in orbit around 

the Moon where it can also be used as a staging 

point for missions to the lunar surface and to 

destinations in deep space, providing a flexible

human exploration architecture. The LOP-G can 

evolve depending on mission needs, and 

although there are various concepts for its 

configuration, current analysis suggests that the 

initial functionality will include four main 

elements: a Power and Propulsion Element 

(PPE), habitation element, airlock element to 

enable docking and Extra-Vehicular Activities 

(EVA), and a logistics element for cargo 

delivery, science utilization, exploration 

technology demonstrations, and potential commercial utilization. 

The PPE is the initial element of the LOP-G, and it will be placed around the Moon by 2022. NASA 

intends to launch the PPE through a competitive commercial launch contract. The PPE is being developed 

through partnership with U.S. commercial companies and will demonstrate more powerful solar-electric 

power (SEP) and propulsion bus systems that will support both NASA and commercial applications. The 

PPE is intended to supply power and propulsion for additional elements and systems on the LOP-G as 

well as communication to and from Earth, space-to-space, space-to-lunar, and in support of astronaut 

EVA. PPE will be refuelable and could support cislunar operations for more than a decade. Once the PPE,

habitation, airlock capabilities and sufficient logistics have been delivered to cislunar space, a crew of 

four - launched on Orion - will visit the LOP-G on missions initially lasting 30 days. As additional 

habitation capabilities are incorporated (e.g., volume, life support systems, and logistics resupply), crew 

visits may increase in duration. 

Current formulation for the LOP-G includes systems requirements definition, concept of operations, and 

documentation of a configuration for crew-tended habitation in cislunar space. In addition, the LOP-G

will be used as a test bed for critical deep space capabilities such as habitation, life support, radiation 

Orion approaching the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway 

in lunar orbit (notional).
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protection, logistics management, and autonomous mission operations. The LOP-G is an important piece 

of lunar infrastructure that will allow for reusable landers to the surface of the Moon and as a location to 

transfer lunar samples for return to the Earth. The operational concepts needed for crew to operate and 

perform research on the LOP-G will serve as a training ground to develop the knowledge for humans to 

move into deep space. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

While some aspects of the LOP-G program, such as PPE, had been previously funded in Advanced 

Exploration Systems (AES), this is a new funding line established in the FY 2019 Budget. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

NASA transitioned away from the Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) and all relevant work previously 

conducted on power and propulsion was continued to advance toward a demonstration of that capability 

in deep space. Activities transitioned from ARM include low-thrust mission design, advanced SEP-based

spacecraft bus requirements development, industry spacecraft design studies, and human/robotic mission 

integration. These activities provide important ground work for the LOP-G PPE and other future deep 

space exploration objectives.

Using the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) Broad Agency 

Announcement (BAA), NASA solicited inputs from U.S. industry on their current capabilities and plans 

that could be leveraged to provide an advanced SEP- based spacecraft bus for the cislunar LOP-G. The 

request identified 23 topic areas including potential commercial synergies to support development of a 

PPE. These studies will provide data on U.S. commercial capabilities for PPE while NASA continues to 

define objectives and requirements as well as how to reduce risk for a new powerful and efficient SEP 

technology in deep space that will be used on future exploration missions. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

PPE selected five proposals for further industry study from the inputs received in FY 2017. Other 

progress includes developing PPE requirements and planning for acquisition and partnership approaches 

in coordination with the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). PPE will award a contract for 

PPE spacecraft development in FY 2018 and mature design with industry to baseline the preliminary 

design in early 2019. Critical to this selection process is realization of a deep space operational power and 

propulsion capability that is directly applicable to wide range of commercial, robotic, and human 

spaceflight missions.

The NextSTEP Phase 2 Habitation contracts, funded in Exploration Advanced Systems (EAS), to develop 

prototype deep space habitats are directly applicable to the Lunar Orbital Transport - Gateway. NASA is 

formulating the LOP-G by defining system requirements, developing design and interoperability 

standards, establishing program and system-level control boards, developing strategy and execution 

mechanisms to acquire a PPE, and developing an integrated ground test plan for prototype habitats. The 

ground prototypes will allow NASA and the NextSTEP habitation partners to: 1) evaluate configurations 

and habitability attributes of the habitat, 2) assess how the various systems interact together and with 

other capabilities such as propulsion modules and airlocks, and 3) provide platforms to test and ensure 
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LUNAR ORBITAL PLATFORM - GATEWAY

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standards and common interfaces being considered are comprehensive and enable the intended 

interoperability.

At the end of NextSTEP Phase 2 study contracts, the industry partners will provide the functional habitat 

ground prototype units to NASA for testing. The intended outcome of these activities is a complete set of 

long-duration deep space architecture designs (including standards, common interfaces, and testing 

approaches) from the awarded contractors as well as development and test of full-size ground prototypes.

While the NextSTEP Habitation activities are identifying potential U.S. industry implementation 

approaches and partnerships for the LOP-G, concurrent assessments are underway by the International 

Space Station (ISS) partners to evaluate alternative approaches for implementation but focusing on 

international capabilities and contributions as a strategy for the LOP-G buildup in cislunar space. 

ISS partner studies provide data on the spacecraft design/interfaces, a cislunar concept of operations, and 

potential opportunities for international collaboration leveraging current ISS and other partnerships. 

Results of these studies will inform the development of initial LOP-G requirements and evaluation of 

potential commercial and/or international approaches.

The acquisition and partnership phase for additional functions/elements of the LOP-G will begin after 

being informed by NextSTEP-2 contracts and the ongoing discussions with international partners on 

potential contributions.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will continue working with the newly-selected PPE industry provider to enable successful delivery 

of their development schedule. The expected milestones will include design reviews and procurement of 

long lead items. PPE will work with NASA internal partners to codify deliverables and ensure 

confirmation baseline is achieved.

Early 2019 ground testing of habitation prototypes will further enable LOP-G habitation design through a 

demonstrated consistent test and verification approach, allowing NASA to incorporate and test 

subsystems, facilities, crew training approaches, and receive feedback on human factors. 

During FY 2019, NASA will further relationships with both its public and international partners to 

solidify acquisition and partnership plans. These plans will allow NASA to begin formulation of the 

remaining functions/elements of the LOP-G.

Program Elements

POWER AND PROPULSION ELEMENT

PPE is the first element of the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G). It will provide deep space 

power and propulsion capability through a public-private partnership that is directly applicable to a wide 

range of NASA, commercial, robotic, and human spaceflight missions. PPE will leverage U.S. 

commercially available spacecraft development and launch capability and align with anticipated industry 

needs. It will provide transportation for the LOP-G between cislunar orbits with the option to perform any 
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needed orbital maintenance. It will provide attitude control for the LOP-G in multiple configurations,

communication to and from Earth, space-to-space communication, space-to-lunar communication, and in 

support of astronaut EVA. PPE will also deliver systems necessary for deep space navigation, docking, 

and refueling. At the end of the LOP-G operational life, PPE will move the integrated LOP-G stack to a 

disposal orbit. 

PPE works with U.S. industry to utilize deliverables from STMD (which will be part of the new 

Exploration Research & Technology [ER&T] organization) in Advanced Electric Propulsion Systems 

(AEPS). It will demonstrate an advanced SEP system, including ER&T- developed 12.5 kW AEPS 

thrusters and power processing units, and advanced high power solar array systems. PPE will use SEP 

technology to insert itself into cislunar orbit and provide overall station-keeping for the LOP-G and will 

move the LOP-G into different low gravity lunar orbits depending on mission requirements and will 

provide high-bandwidth communications. PPE has a targeted launch readiness of 2022.

HABITATION ELEMENT

The LOP-G habitation element provides a livable section and short-duration life support functions for the 

crew in cislunar space. The docking ports allow for attachment to the PPE, other elements and visiting 

vehicles. The habitat also provides attach points for external robotics, external payloads or rendezvous 

sensors; thermal radiators provide heat rejection and micro-meteoroid protection; and additional habitat 

systems provide accommodations for crew exercise, science/utilization and stowage. Some functions may 

be outfitted via future logistics flights.

LOGISTICS ELEMENT(S)

NASA is currently assessing specific configurations and strategy for unpressurized logistics delivery, 

refueling, commercial launch vehicle pressurized logistics, and the Space Launch System (SLS) 

pressurized logistics. All potential concepts deliver cargo to the LOP-G to enable extended crew mission 

durations, science utilization, exploration technology demonstrations, potential commercial utilization, 

and other supplies. 

AIRLOCK ELEMENT(S)

The airlock element provides the LOP-G with the capability to enable astronaut EVAs as well as the 

potential to accommodate docking additional elements, observation ports, or a science utilization airlock.

Multiple concepts are currently being assessed and feasibility studies have identified several different 

approaches ranging from small, single chamber airlocks to large, dual chamber airlocks with inflatable 

crew locks. 
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Program Schedule

The LOP-G elements and final configuration are still in the formulation phase. During FY 2018, NASA 

will make significant progress on the establishing milestones, program implementation assignments, and 

acquisition strategy.

Date Significant Event

Q2-3 FY 2019 PPE Design Milestone I

Q1-2 FY 2020 PPE Design Milestone II

Aug 2022 PPE Launch Readiness Date (LRD)

Program Management & Commitments

HEOMD executes LOP-G activities, and the Directorate’s Associate Administrator has delegated 

management authority, responsibility, and accountability of the habitation element, airlock element(s), 

and logistics element(s) to the AES Division at NASA Headquarters. The management authority, 

responsibility, and accountability of the PPE is delegated to the PPE Program Director. 

The AES Division has established cross directorate control boards to manage the direction of scope, 

budget, and resource allocation for all activities. These control boards include representation by the PPE 

Program, ISS Program and the Exploration Systems Division (ESD) programs. Cross program systems 

integration is managed through the extensive use of ESD program board and review processes and 

membership.

Program Element Provider

Power and Propulsion Element

Provider: NASA Centers

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): GRC and JSC

Cost Share Partner(s):

Habitat

Provider: TBD

Lead Center: TBD

Performing Center(s): TBD

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

Logistics

Provider: TBD

Lead Center: TBD

Performing Center(s): TBD

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

Airlock

Provider: TBD

Lead Center: TBD

Performing Center(s): TBD

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD
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Acquisition Strategy

PPE selected industry studies from the umbrella NextSTEP BAA Appendix C submittals. NASA will

acquire a PPE during FY 2018 through full and open competition for a public-private partnership to 

demonstrate advanced SEP capability for both NASA and U.S. industry objectives. NASA intends to 

launch the PPE through a competitive commercial launch contract. Acquisition plans for the additional

functions/elements of the LOP-G will be determined over the course of FY 2018 and 2019 as required 

and will utilize full and open competition, public-private partnerships, and international partnerships.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

PPE (planned for FY 2018)

Habitat (planned for FY 2019)

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

PPE 

Independent 

Review

GSFC-chaired, 

NASA members Jul 2017

Independent review 

to support HEOMD 

DPMC decision to 

proceed

Passed PPE SRR
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 0.0 -- 116.5 146.0 163.7 300.0 320.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA is pursuing a new campaign in Advanced 

Cislunar and Surface Capabilities (ACSC) that 

will once again establish U.S. preeminence to, 

around, and on the Moon. Working in parallel 

with scientific lunar exploration, and in addition 

to the initial flights of the Space Launch 

Systems (SLS), Orion, and the elements of the 

Lunar Orbital Platform – Gateway, NASA is 

planning to develop a series of progressively 

greater robotic lunar missions to the surface of 

the moon. This will also serve as a foundational 

training ground to prepare for later missions to 

Mars. Utilizing commercial and international 

participation to enhance U.S. leadership, ACSC

will focus on engaging non-traditional U.S. 

industry partners and sectors in the space 

program and will use innovative approaches to 

combine lunar robotics, a cislunar presence, and lunar landing capabilities. NASA will also partner with 

international partners as appropriate in this endeavor.

Partnering with the Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) new Lunar Discovery and Exploration 

Program’s activities, including support for commercial landed services, ACSC activities will focus on 

continued growth of emerging commercial capabilities to further enhance lunar lander capabilities and 

utilization of our nearest neighbor. ACSC will also partner with the Space Technology Mission 

Directorate (STMD) (which will be part of the new ER&T organization) to acquire lower level 

commercial technologies that can continue to be developed for future lunar missions.

This will be accomplished through public-private partnerships with the emerging commercial industry 

and innovative approaches to achieving human and science exploration goals. The Exploration Campaign

under the SMD Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program will support activities such as establishing

initial commercial contracts for transportation services with a maximum payload range likely up to 200

kg, developing small rovers to be delivered via commercial landers, as building and launching 

instruments that serve lunar science, long-term exploration and utilization needs. ACSC will solicit, 

engage, and nurture growing capabilities beyond those initial landing capabilities and progress to a large 

commercial lander in the 5000kg class, heading towards lunar utilization and a human landing long term.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks in front of the space 

shuttle Discovery at the National Air and Space Museum's 

Udvar-Hazy Center to open the first meeting of the 

reconstituted National Space Council. Credit: NASA/Joel 

Kowsky
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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

AES is pursuing a new campaign in Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities (ACSC) that will with 

other Exploration Campaign activities establish U.S. preeminence to, around, and on the Moon.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

N/A.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018, ACSC will partner with SMD on a Request for Information (RFI) regarding emerging 

commercial capabilities, short and long term mission plans, information on what commercial sector 

opportunities there are that would be enabled through regular access to the lunar surface, and innovative 

public-private partnership acquisition approaches.

This RFI will be followed by a solicitation to support joint risk reduction activities. Using a new appendix 

under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) Phase 2 Broad Agency 

Announcement, NASA will solicit from industry lander risk reduction activities and concepts that start 

with an initial capability of landing a minimum of 500kg payload(s) to the lunar surface. The solicitation 

will also seek to identify how these activities are extensible to larger lander capabilities in excess of 5-

6000kg payload(s) to the lunar surface including what human landing risk reduction can be accomplished 

with the proposed landers.

These activities will be closely coordinated with SMD and the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program 

so that NASA ensures continued options to on-ramp new commercial landing capabilities as the readiness 

of those services becomes available and economically sustainable.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Accomplishments from the AES division's Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown 

(Lunar CATALYST) partnerships will be assessed to evaluate efforts that are likely directly linked to 

ACSC. The CATALYST partnerships encourage development of robotic lunar landers that can be 

integrated with U.S. commercial launch capabilities to deliver payloads to the lunar surface. 

In 2019 ACSC will incorporate results of the 2018 industry RFP for Commercial Lunar Payload Services 

being led by SMD, Lunar CATALYST outcomes, and the planned FY 2018 RFI regarding emerging 

commercial capabilities to support initial risk reduction activities. Through a NextSTEP solicitation in 

FY 2018 ACSC will begin initial planning of a series of robotic demonstration missions expected to start 

at the 500kg payload class in the early half of 2020, with an expectation to start developing larger (5-

6000kg) class payloads in the latter 2020s. This timeline will be adjusted based on results from industry 

feedback and inputs from the previously noted industry engagements.
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Program Elements

LUNAR ROBOTIC LANDERS

While we have extensive orbital information about the lunar surface and potential resources, landing on 

the Moon validates prior observations and is essential to prepare for utilization by NASA, international 

partners, and the commercial sector, including landing humans. Robotic landers will play an instrumental 

role in obtaining this "ground truth" data. Not only can landers be outfitted with sensor packages, they can 

also provide lunar surface access for rovers that can explore the surface more extensively, as well as carry

instruments such as In-Situ Resource Utilization experiments that will provide detailed information on 

extraction of usable resources such as oxygen. In addition to obtaining this information, robotic landers 

can provide critical risk reduction activities for the human-scale lander descent stage and utilization 

capabilities.

To accomplish these exploration activities, demonstration landers will be needed, with the capability to 

deliver payloads in the ~500 kg range to the lunar surface to obtain information on a diverse set of surface 

locations to be identified for potential utilization. These landings will be in addition to extensive landing 

missions to be planned and conducted by the SMD led Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program. These 

demonstration missions will also prove out key requirements such as landing precision, long-term 

survivability, guidance and navigation for larger-class size landers.

After landing the 500kg class landers, NASA is envisioning a ~5-6000 kg lander that will be capable of

preparing for more extensive exploration and utilization of the lunar surface. This class of lander is 

required for larger scale exploration and utilization and systems, and also supports progress toward 

human ascent vehicles.

Program Schedule

The specific schedule for the Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities efforts is still in the formulation 

phase and needs to be informed primarily by commercial responses to planned industry engagements. 

During FY 2018, NASA will make significant progress on establishing milestones, program 

implementation assignments, and acquisition strategy beyond the initial engagements.

Date Significant Event

Feb 2018 Issue RFI with SMD Lunar Exploration Discovery Program

March 2018 Issue NextSTEP BAA Appendix for initial risk reduction capabilities

2019 Award proposals from NextSTEP BAA
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Program Management & Commitments

HEOMD will execute the Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities activities.

SMD will lead the Agency’s Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program.

Program Element Provider

TBD

Provider: TBD

Lead Center:

Performing Center(s): JSC, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

Acquisition Strategy

NASA plans to use a variety of options to engage U.S. domestic industry and international partners.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

N/A and TBD

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

N/A
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 97.8 -- 268.2 260.7 240.6 186.1 144.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Exploration Advanced Systems (EAS) focuses

on design, development, and demonstration of 

exploration habitation capabilities technologies

to reduce risk, lower life cycle cost and validate 

operational concepts needed for future deep 

space habitation elements, including the Lunar 

Orbital Platform-Gateway (LOP-G). EAS leads 

development of new approaches to project and 

engineering management, such as rapid systems 

development or alternative management 

concepts, open innovation, and collaboration.

The Agency identifies and addresses potential 

risks by performing early validation and 

ground/flight testing of new capabilities prior to 

integration into planned operational systems. Early risk reduction can minimize cost growth and improve 

affordability of future space exploration. For example, NASA is advancing a phased approach to 

habitation systems development that includes initial ground testing of capabilities and subsequent 

demonstration and operations of fully realized systems on the International Space Station (ISS). NASA 

continues to leverage core capabilities, technology developments, and innovative approaches among 

Agency organizations including Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD), 

Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) (which will be part of the new Exploration Research & 

Technology [ER&T] organization), Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), Science Mission Directorate 

(SMD), and implementing field centers nationwide, to maximize combined capabilities and future 

outcomes. EAS performs an integrating function drawing from the entire cross-cutting technology 

development activities that support LOP-G. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

EAS concentrates on development of systems, sub-systems, and fundamental capabilities for Orion, SLS, 

Exploration Ground Systems (EGS), LOP-G and Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities programs

(ACSC). It relies on STMD for lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL) options for integration and 

infusion to increase system maturation. 

Astronaut Peggy Whitson installing 1 of 24 RFID-Enabled 

Autonomous Logistics Management (REALM)-1 antennas 

to track inventory on ISS.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-56

EAS is no longer pursuing a potential independent Resource Prospecting (RP) mission, but integrating the 

RP measurement objectives with SMD Lunar Discovery Exploration Program and lander capability 

advancements under the Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities programs. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Released in April 2016, NASA issued an omnibus Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnership

(NextSTEP)-2 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), in which Appendix A sought continued 

development of habitation system concepts and technologies with the goal of developing full-size cislunar 

habitat ground prototypes by 2019. Additionally, NextSTEP-2 seeks to: 

• Mature design of the overall deep space integrated system(s) and, at a minimum, develop a full size, 

ground prototype for integrated testing of form, fit, and partial functions of the design.

• Achieve level of fidelity in concepts for confidence that protoflight vehicle(s)/modules can be 

produced for flight in the early to mid-2020s.

• Stimulate commercial capabilities for low Earth orbit (LEO), enable capability development that 

intersects NASA long-duration deep space habitation requirements and commercial LEO habitation.

• Develop long-duration deep space habitation capabilities that lead toward a deep space habitat and 

can be flown on SLS flight(s) (or alternative launch vehicles) starting by the early to mid-2020s.

• Develop and mature Government-furnished equipment (GFE) for ECLSS, avionics, exercise 

equipment, soft goods, radiation detection and protection, and windows. 

Throughout the NextSTEP-2 performance phase, NASA is providing GFE and systems, as well as NASA 

personnel expertise to each of the performers. During this phase, NASA is leading the effort to develop 

standards and common interfaces, and will develop an internal reference architecture to support the next 

acquisition phase. 

The intended outcome of activities under Appendix A is a diverse set of complete deep-space architecture 

designs (including standards, common interfaces, and testing approaches) from the awarded contractors, 

and development and test of full-size ground prototypes of selected units using co-developed and agreed 

upon standards and common interfaces. 

EAS completed three NextSTEP Phase 1 concept studies for various aspects of ECLSS. The ECLSS

Modularity Study identified top-level technology candidates and developed a concept for modularized, 

palletized ECLSS architecture to develop system-level efficiencies. A Hybrid Life Support System study 

developed a Green wall system that is a prototype fresh food production system that also augments life 

support systems needed for long duration exploration missions. A third effort encompassed development 

of a microfluidics based technology to separate CO2 from spacecraft cabin air.

EAS also demonstrated an evolvable Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Enabled Autonomous 

Logistics Management (REALM-1) system on ISS to autonomously track inventory and locate missing 

items. 

EAS successfully completed the first three Saffire (Spacecraft Fire Safety) series of experiments, to better 

understand large-scale fire propagation in space. In FY 2017, EAS also completed the Concept Design 

Review of the next series of Saffire experiments that will focus on fire suppression and detection options 

for future exploration missions.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-57

EAS continued Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown (Lunar CATALYST) 

partnerships with three companies to develop commercial lunar landing capabilities. The purpose of these 

partnerships is to encourage development of robotic lunar landers for integration with U.S. commercial 

launch capabilities and deliver payloads to lunar surface. Lunar CATALYST represents another step in 

the Agency's effort to spur growth in both the commercial space and lunar sectors. These partnerships 

were extended two years (through 2019) to support subsequent ACSC milestone.

EAS completed a flight test of a Navigation Doppler Lidar and a Lander Vision System on a STMD 

sponsored Flight Opportunities Program lander to enable autonomous precision landing capabilities for 

future robotic and manned missions.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

As NASA works to extend human space exploration to the Moon, EAS will continue developing reliable 

life support systems, deep space habitats, landing capabilities, and overall capabilities to reduce logistics 

requirements to support future human spaceflight missions. A portion of the overall Habitation Systems 

development includes technology options for atmosphere revitalization that includes carbon dioxide 

(CO2) removal and reduction, as well as oxygen generation activities. EAS will develop and demonstrate 

a Condensing Heat Exchanger to remove water from the air and work other upgrades to the ISS water 

recovery system such as mature technologies for brine water recovery. Demonstrating miniaturized 

atmosphere monitoring systems will enhance monitoring capabilities on ISS and will be extensible to 

future exploration missions. Trace contamination control measures will be implemented using a 

combination of charcoal/HEPA filters. 

EAS will integrate an RFID Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management (REALM-2) mobile 

measurement system with the STMD developed Astrobee free flyer to track inventory and locate missing 

items on board ISS. Also, to be demonstrated on ISS, EAS will continue development and integration of 

the Universal Waste Management System, which is a compact toilet for use on Orion and the Lunar 

Orbital Platform-Gateway.

Building on the data acquired through the first three Spacecraft Fire Safety (Saffire) experiments, EAS 

will continue maturing the next set of experiments to demonstrate large-scale fire suppression, detection 

and post-fire clean up.

EAS will complete a flight unit of an amine based carbon dioxide removal system that is an alternate 

approach to the current zeolite-based sorbent systems. This thermal amine based system is capable of 

recovering water while removing CO2.

EAS will continue to support development of Orion by delivering Ascent Abort-2 (AA-2) flight test 

article in summer of 2018. AA-2 flight test in April 2019 will demonstrate the launch abort system as the 

spacecraft breaks through the speed of sound while using AES approach for lean project management, 

and testing AES-developed avionics and core flight software planned as systems for future capabilities.

EAS will continue managing GFE items for integration with NextSTEP Habitation Phase 2 contractors 

including avionics, windows materials, and radiation analysis and managing NASA-developed 

node/airlock and/or habitation mockups for testing with the contractor modules during NextSTEP ground 

testing in FY 2019.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-58

The avionics GFE effort is providing hardware and expertise in areas of architecture definition and 

simulation and test support. The team will develop reference avionics and software architecture that is 

highly reliable and fault-tolerant, and can be scaled and customized to support NASA goals beyond LEO.

This architecture will support modular integration of multi-vendor and international partner avionics 

components, by leveraging open interface standards, both wired and wireless, and human-rated, 

reconfigurable and open-source software.

The ECLSS GFE effort will entail completing cislunar ECLSS schematic, control architecture and pallet 

designs while defining impacts to Interface Standards and Specifications. 

A potential breakthrough on habitation structures is currently being researched by EAS. Bigelow 

Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) experiment is currently flying on ISS and collecting data on the 

characteristics of inflatable structures in space. Further research (e.g., burst tests, creep tests) is required 

to better understand properties of softgood structures. In addition, EAS is developing modeling 

approaches that will support human rating certification of these new structures.

Another NextSTEP-2 GFE area is establishing a windows material database for use by internal NASA 

and external users. The overall goal of this activity is to produce a material properties database which will 

allow for transition of technology to spacecraft designers and enable them to produce lightweight window 

systems in future spacecraft.

Radiation GFE work is focused on advancing protections against solar particle events and galactic cosmic

radiation in habitation and vehicle systems design by providing assistance and subject-matter expertise to 

contractors performing radiation analysis and design trades for radiation protection. Through these 

exchanges, NASA will also provide background materials related to methods for performing radiation 

analysis; previous NASA radiation storm shelter studies; and guidance for storm shelter design.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

EAS will deliver highly reliable life support systems to deploy on ISS and Orion such as a Brine 

Processor to recover water from urine and a Spacecraft Atmospheric Monitor to measure atmospheric 

constituents and contaminants in the ISS air. 

NASA selected six proposals under the NextSTEP-2 BAA to develop prototype cislunar habitats and to 

further study exploration enabling strategies for habitation. The estimated period of performance begins in 

FY 2018 and extends until FY 2019. Over the course of NextSTEP-2, NASA teams will also be working 

in parallel with contractor teams to achieve Phase 2 scope of work and prepare for receipt of the 

prototypes. These areas of activity include architecture analyses, ground test planning, advancing NASAdeveloped habitation subsystems, and collaboration on development of standards and common interfaces.

One of the primary goals for NextSTEP Habitation Phase 2 is to develop a deep space habitat with 

representative systems for ground-based testing. Ground prototypes will allow NASA and NextSTEP-2 

habitation partners to: 1) evaluate habitat configurations, 2) assess how systems interact together and with 

other capabilities such as propulsion modules and airlocks, and 3) provide platforms to test and ensure 

standards and common interfaces being considered are well designed. At the end of Phase 2, the full-size 

ground prototype units will be delivered by NextSTEP contractors to NASA Centers. 
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-59

Once delivered, NextSTEP will manage integration of NASA-developed habitation systems and sharing 

of government developed testing data – GFE items including exercise equipment, avionics, softgoods, 

ECLSS, windows materials, radiation analysis – and may also use a NASA-developed node/airlock 

and/or habitation mockups for testing with contractor modules.

The NextSTEP phase 2 ECLSS will deliver a fully functional prototype of a control architecture with 

intelligent systems incorporated, along with a full set of high fidelity form and fit mockups that 

demonstrate reparability, as well as a functional Air Revitalization System (ARS) prototype. The effort 

also includes system engineering support to the other habitation teams and support in defining exploration 

systems development standards

Another facet of NextSTEP Phase 2 habitation work is developing standards and common interfaces for 

deep space habitation systems. The systems and elements that are required for Phase 1 and 2 missions in 

deep space will need to work together and be certified for spaceflight. NASA is working to define a set of 

standards that will enable NASA, commercial and international partners to contribute systems for deep 

space. An iterative process is planned to develop a set of standards that includes external feedback from 

industry and international partners. The set includes interoperability, engineering, safety and mission 

assurance, and human system standards. 

NASA is leveraging the ISS partnerships with other countries to gather international input in the 

standards development as well as NextSTEP industry partnerships for domestic commercial inputs. 

Internal to NASA, a cross-functional working group is leveraging lessons learned from existing efforts 

such as Commercial Crew and ISS programs with a focus on existing standards and their applicability to 

deep space habitation and transportation architecture. 

The working group and standards development process will take an iterative approach that will include an 

external feedback loop from industry as well as international partners throughout NextSTEP-Phase 2.

Program Elements

Strategic technology infusion element areas drive NASA’s Exploration Advanced Systems program 

within the AES Division, each focusing on a specific capability required for future human space 

exploration.

HABITAT CAPABILITIES AND SYSTEMS

Habitation Capabilities and Habitation Systems provide fundamental support to ensure a safe place for 

astronauts to carry out NASA’s missions in space and on other worlds, with integrated life support 

systems, radiation protection, fire safety, and systems to manage food, waste, clothing, and tools. NASA’s 

AES division oversees the Agency’s habitation strategy and serves as the central management authority 

for LOP-G and EAS program. In this capacity, EAS has significant interfaces between the external 

NextSTEP partners and internal stakeholders, including STMD (which will be part of the new ER&T)

and the ISS, Orion SLS and Space Communications and Navigation programs.

EAS focuses on developing key habitation systems to enable the crews to live and work safely in deep 

space for missions lasting up to one thousand days. Activities include the Bigelow Expandable Activity 

Module (BEAM), NextSTEP deep space habitation efforts, reliable life support systems, logistics 
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-60

reduction, and radiation measurements and protection. These investments will progressively move from 

habitation subsystems to integrated systems and then transition to capabilities to define, design, and 

develop future habitation capabilities and systems for use in exploration missions.

Through NextSTEP Habitation effort, NASA and industry will establish public-private partnerships 

allowing NASA to leverage their capabilities and investigate enabling NASA habitation needs from LEO 

commercialization activities through development and testing of a deep space habitation systems. The 

multiple phases of NextSTEP are informing NASA’s acquisition strategy for its deep space, long-duration 

habitation capability to be completed and executed under the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway 

implementation. 

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

In the area of EAS, technologies are enhancing the transport of people and payloads across the solar 

system. Technologies include multiple destination extensible lander technology and module crew launch 

abort systems These activities which will benefit future robotic and human missions by improving 

autonomous precision landing on planetary surfaces, as well as potential new propellants and/or 

propulsion systems. NASA shares these landing capabilities through public-private partnerships with 

industry through multiple partnership and contract mechanisms.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

CY 2018-2019 First flight of Lunar CATALYST partner lander(s)

Feb 2019 Deliver five NextSTEP prototype habitats to NASA centers for ground 

testing

Mar 2019 Complete ground testing of NextSTEP prototype habitats

Apr 2019 Ascent Abort – 2 flight test for Orion

Feb 2019 Complete in-flight component change out design, Build/Test Brass Board & 

Air Revitalization System Demonstrator ECLS Pallet

Mar 2019 Deliver flight units of life support technologies for air revitalization, water 

recovery and environmental monitoring 

Program Management & Commitments

HEOMD executes EAS activities, and the Directorate’s Associate Administrator has delegated 

management authority, responsibility, and accountability to the AES Division at NASA Headquarters. 

AES Division establishes overall direction and scope, budget, and resource allocation for activities 

implemented by the NASA centers.
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-61

AES, STMD (which will be part of the new ER&T), and the Planetary Science Division within SMD 

jointly fund robotic precursor activities, developing instruments to include on NASA’s science and 

international missions. EAS coordinates with the STMD and SMD on Robotic Precursors planning and 

execution.

Program Element Provider

Habitation Capabilities and 

Systems

Provider: NASA Centers

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): JSC, MSFC and JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): Bigelow Aerospace, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital 

ATK, Sierra Nevada, and NanoRacks (NextSTEP)

Exploration Advanced Systems

Provider: NASA Centers

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): JSC, MSFC, and JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): 

Acquisition Strategy

EAS selected initial activities through an internal competition in which NASA centers submitted 

proposals specifically to address the highest priority capabilities for human exploration beyond LEO. 

Each year, EAS evaluates how the portfolio aligns with human exploration priorities and technology gaps, 

and either terminates activities that do not demonstrate adequate progress or realigns them, and/or adds 

new activities to the portfolio as appropriate. Teams are provided limited procurement funding to 

purchase materials, equipment, and access and coverage of NASA test facilities. EAS strives to maximize 

specialized skills within the civil service workforce, but may also utilize a small amount of contractor 

effort in areas where NASA can cost effectively leverage external skills and knowledge.

EAS continues to increase the use of competitively selected external awards and public-private 

partnerships. For example, in FY 2015 EAS awarded 12 NextSTEP BAAs, allowing NASA to pursue 

public-private partnerships for advanced habitation and life support, high-power electric propulsion 

systems testing, and small satellites for launch on SLS. EAS continued with additional Phase-2 

competitive awards in 2016 for development of prototype habitats.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Habitat Systems: Universal Waste 

Management System

United Technologies Aerospace 

Systems JSC

Habitat Systems: Inflatable Module Bigelow Aerospace North Las Vegas, JSC

Habitation Systems: Brine Water 

Processor Paragon Tucson Arizona, MSFC
Deep Space Exploration Systems: Advanced Exploration Systems

EXPLORATION ADVANCED SYSTEMS

DEXP-62

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Vehicle Systems: Lander 

Capabilities

Moon Express, Astrobotic 

Technologies, and Masten Space 

Systems

MSFC, JSC, and KSC 

NextSTEP BAA Awards Boeing, Bigelow Aerospace, 

Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK, 

Dynetics, 

JSC, MSFC, KSC

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

EAS undergoes quarterly Directorate Program Management Council reviews and periodically, 

representatives from the Office of Chief Engineer, the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, and the 

Office of Chief Financial Officer will assess EAS performance during Agency-level Baseline 

Performance Reviews (BPR). In addition, EAS provides briefing reports to, and seeks feedback on 

planning and development activities from the NASA Advisory Council Human Exploration and 

Operation Committee and the Technology Committee. 
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships 89.7 -- 108.4 103.0 107.0 107.0 107.0

Technology Maturation 135.0 -- 216.5 178.6 180.8 183.3 183.5

Technology Demonstration 262.8 -- 332.7 293.1 286.9 284.4 284.2

Human Research Program 140.0 -- 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0

SBIR and STTR 199.0 -- 205.0 198.0 198.0 198.0 198.0

Total Budget 826.5 820.8 1002.7 912.7 912.7 912.7 912.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Exploration Research and Technology.............................ERT-2

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS ........................................... ERT-9

TECHNOLOGY MATURATION ............................................................................ ERT-17

TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION .................................................................... ERT-26

TDM Laser Comm Relay Demo (LCRD) [Development].................................................ERT-35

HUMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM......................................................................... ERT-41

SBIR AND STTR .................................................................................................. ERT-50
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-2

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships 89.7 -- 108.4 103.0 107.0 107.0 107.0

Technology Maturation 135.0 -- 216.5 178.6 180.8 183.3 183.5

Technology Demonstration 262.8 -- 332.7 293.1 286.9 284.4 284.2

Human Research Program 140.0 -- 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0

SBIR and STTR 199.0 -- 205.0 198.0 198.0 198.0 198.0

Total Budget 826.5 820.8 1002.7 912.7 912.7 912.7 912.7

Change from FY 2018 181.9

Percentage change from FY 2018 22.2%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Exploration Campaign will be enhanced and 

enabled by new technologies. NASA’s workforce, 

in concert with industry and academia, will focus 

on innovative ways to further humankind’s 

exploration from conception to testing to 

spaceflight.

The FY 2019 President's Budget includes a new 

account structure for NASA's human space 

exploration and technology programs to improve 

alignment of funding with the Administration's 

new strategic space exploration objectives. The 

new Exploration Research and Technology account 

consolidates and refocuses the technology 

development program content previously funded in 

the Space Technology and Exploration accounts, 

including the Human Research Program and 

elements of Advanced Exploration Systems. 

A driving requirement of the Exploration Research 

and Technology strategy is to serve as a key technology and risk reduction provider for NASA's 

exploration missions. This means investment in research and development across the Technology 

Readiness Level spectrum and developing technologies to a flight hardware readiness state with the

objectives of increasing performance, reducing risk, and increasing affordability and reliability. It also 

means developing the scientific and technological expertise to send humans into deep space for longer 

durations through cutting edge research on space flight and the space environment on the human body.

An engineer examines the gimbal and latch assembly 

component of one of the Laser Communication Relay 

Demonstration's two optical module assembly. The 

optical module, when combined with the modems and 

controller electronics, make up the flight payload. The 

demonstration mission payload is slated for delivery in 

June 2019, with a NET Nov. 2019 launch. 
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-3

Exploration Research and Technology activities will focus primarily on the following areas, which are 

central to the Exploration Campaign:

 Advanced environmental control and life support systems & in-situ resource utilization (ISRU);

 Power and propulsion technology (including space fission reactors, nuclear thermal propulsion, 

and high powered solar electric propulsion);

 Advanced materials;

 Communications, navigation and avionics (including laser communication, disruption tolerant 

networking and high performance spaceflight computing);

 Entry, descent and landing (including Lander technologies);

 Autonomous operations;

 In-space manufacturing and on-orbit assembly; and 

 Research to enable humans to safely and effectively operate in various space environments.

This account will use a combination of unique in-house activities, procurements, NASA Research 

Announcements and public-private partnerships to develop and test technologies to enable space 

exploration missions. Public-private partnerships will enable NASA to share the risk and financial 

interest with private sector industry to better leverage government investments. These shared risks and 

gains include incentivizing technical performance and spurring future commercial markets in the process 

of developing new capabilities. U.S. technological leadership remains vital to our national security, 

economic prosperity, and global competitiveness. The Nation's continued economic leadership is, in part, 

due to the technological investments made in earlier years, through the work of the engineers, scientists, 

and policy makers who had the wisdom and foresight to make investments our country required to emerge 

as a global technological leader. That commitment accelerated the economy with the creation of new 

industries, products, and services that yielded lasting benefits. A technology-driven NASA will continue 

to fuel our Nation’s economic engine for decades to come.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Exploration Research and Technology consolidates the technology development content previously 

funded in the Space Technology account with Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) and the Human 

Research Program (HRP), into a single account, integrating these activities toward supporting deep space 

exploration. The FY 2019 budget is restructured to align with the Administration’s new space exploration 

policy by consolidating and refocusing existing NASA technology development activities on space

exploration. The technology focus areas noted above will be prioritized within the portfolio as FY 2018 

and FY 2019 activities are phased out or otherwise concluded, and will tilt the portfolio emphasis towards 

technologies that benefit deep space exploration. The image below represents the consolidation of content 

within the Exploration Research and Technology as it stands today. This structure will be further refined 

once NASA finalizes the restructuring to align with our focus on accelerating human exploration beyond 

low-Earth orbit.
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-4

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Successfully entered into the implementation phase for Laser Communication Relay Demonstration to 

support a 2019 Launch Readiness Date. Set to fly as a hosted payload on the Air Force STPSat-6 mission, 

this project will demonstrate an order of magnitude leap in communications capability that could be used 

for the architecture that succeeds NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) or by other 

government agencies and commercial space communications providers. 

AES demonstrated on-demand manufacturing, recycling, and sanitizing of a urine funnel using the 

ReFabricator, an SBIR phase III technology developed by Tethers Unlimited, Inc, that produces feedstock 

from recycled plastic parts for an integrated 3D printer. In-space manufacturing can greatly reduce the 

inventory of spare parts and tools that are needed on long missions. The Human Research Program (HRP) 

conducted approximately 18 ISS biomedical research investigations during each ISS mission increment, 

completed seven flight investigations, and initiated three new research investigations. In addition, HRP 

delivered a real-time crew performance assessment tool, which should prove useful in gathering near realtime human factors and habitability data during spaceflight missions that can be applied to the designs of 

next generation spacecraft and habitats.

In FY 2017, Space Technology Mission Directorate completed ground testing of the Deep Space Optical 

Communications technology to retire risk for its demonstration flight. This technology will provide high 

bandwidth communications for deep space on an upcoming Discovery Program mission. technology. 

Flew 17 technology payloads across eight Flight Opportunities campaigns: three parabolic, three highaltitude balloon and two low-altitude rocket-powered entry, descent and landing tests. One of which 

included a flight test of a Navigation Doppler Lidar and a Lander Vision System to enable autonomous 

precision landing capabilities for future robotic and manned missions.

The Space Technology Mission Directorate selected the Boeing Company in St. Louis for the High 

Performance Spaceflight Computing Processor contract. This processor will provide 75 times the 

computing power over the current state-of-the-art radiation hard computers while enabling more effective 

power and fault management. Boeing will provide prototype radiation hardened multi-core computing 
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-5

processor Chiplets, system software which will operate on them, and evaluation boards to allow Chiplet 

test and characterization.

Centennial Challenges awarded more than $1.5 million in FY 2017 for solutions toward the Cube Quest, 

3D Printed Habitat and the Space Robotics Challenges.

The Space Technology Mission Directorate selected two Space Technology Research Institutes led by a 

consortium of universities that will focus on the development of technologies critical to extending human 

and robotic exploration deeper into our solar system. These institutes will bring together researchers from 

various disciplines and organizations to collaborate on the advancement of cutting-edge technologies in 

bio-manufacturing and high performance space structures utilizing transformative composite materials, 

with the goal of creating and maximizing Earth-independent, self-sustaining exploration mission 

capabilities.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The Solar Electric Propulsion project is fabricating engineering development units for the high power, 

magnetically-shielded Hall effect thrusters. As part of ongoing work under the NextSTEP-1 awards, AES 

plans to conduct vacuum chamber tests of high-power electric propulsion systems operating for 100 

continuous hours and power levels 20 times greater than current technology. 

Made in Space Inc., Orbital ATK, and Space Systems Loral will complete the ground based portion of the 

In-Space Robotic Manufacturing & Assembly public-private partnerships aimed at reducing risks 

associated with robotic manipulation of structures and remote manufacture of structural trusses. NASA 

will evaluate the progress and determine readiness to proceed with a Phase II flight demonstration.

The Space Technology Mission Directorate (which will be part of the new Exploration Research & 

Technology (ER&T) organization) will complete testing of a 1kW nuclear fission reactor that is scalable 

to a 10kW-class system that would provide abundant energy for surface exploration. The Kilopower 

project will conduct full ground testing at design temperatures in early FY 2018 at the Nevada National

Security Site.

Upon a successful launch in FY 2017, the Station Explorer for X-Ray Timing and Navigation project will 

demonstrate deep space navigation capability in FY 2018. 

Building off the successful FY 2016 demonstration of an integrally stiffened cylinder on a sounding 

rocket, the Space Technology Mission Directorate (which will part of the new ER&T) will characterize a 

scaled up, 10-foot diameter integrally stiffened cylinder using the Advanced Near Net Shape technology. 

This technology uses innovative metal forming techniques to manufacture integrally stiffened aerospace 

structures such as cryogenic tanks. The resulting product is 50 percent lower cost and 10 percent lighter 

weight due to fewer welds and minimized machining.

Astrobee will complete ground testing and will deliver a flight unit to the International Space Station 

(ISS). Once on-orbit commissioning is complete, Astrobee will replace the Synchronized Position Hold, 

Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES). Astrobee builds on the success of SPHERES, 

NASA’s first generation free-flyer now aboard the ISS that can take on research, housekeeping, and 

monitoring duties without astronaut supervision.
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-6

Among a host of supported activities, the Space Technology Mission Directorate delivered spacecraft for 

three small satellite missions enabling advanced communications technologies for NASA and industry 

application. The Optical Communications and Sensory Demonstration and the Integrated Solar Array and 

Reflectarray Antenna satellites began their mission in December 2017 after successful launch via OA-8 

Cygnus (Orbital ATK) in November. The CubeSat Proximity Operations Demonstration will launch later 

in FY 2018 to demonstrate autonomous rendezvous and docking capabilities for small spacecraft. 

The Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) is a small, low-mass atomic clock based on mercury-ion trap 

technology that will be demonstrated in space, providing unprecedented stability needed for nextgeneration deep space navigation and radio science. DSAC offers the promise of 50 times greater 

accuracy than today’s best deep space navigation clocks and will rideshare as part of the U.S. Air Force 

STP-2 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster. Riding along is NASA's Green Propellant 

Infusion Mission that will demonstrate a propulsion system using a significantly less toxic propellant than 

hydrazine provides 40% higher performance by volume. The launch of both DSAC and GPIM is slated 

for mid-2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

FY 2019 will serve as a transition year to allow for evaluating existing investments and prioritize new 

investments in order to maximize alignment to the Agency's Exploration Campaign, with emphasis on: 

 advanced environmental control and life support systems & ISRU;

 power and propulsion technology (including space fission reactors, 

 nuclear thermal propulsion, and high powered Solar Electric Propulsion); 

 advanced materials technology; communications, navigation and avionics technology (including 

laser communication, disruption tolerant networking and high performance spaceflight 

computing); 

 entry, descent and landing (including lander technologies);

 autonomous operations;

 in-space manufacturing and on-orbit assembly technology; and 

 research to enable humans to safely and effectively operate in various space environments.

In addition, NASA will initiate the following Technology Demonstrations within this five year budget 

horizon. (These technologies recently completed major milestones indicating maturity for the next level 

of technology readiness.) 

 Cryogenic Fluid Management, 

 Precision Landing, 

 Rapid Transit Propulsion, and 

 Kilopower. 

Upon completion of hardware build, system integration and test in FY 2018, the Laser Communications 

Relay Demonstration project will deliver the completed mission payload to support a FY 2019 Launch 

Readiness Date. 
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-7

NASA will build on its ground demonstration of In-Space Robotic Manufacturing and Assembly through 

the continued use of public-private partnerships to conduct a flight demonstration for new technologies 

used to build large structures in a space environment. 

The eCryo project will complete its Structural Heat Intercept-Insulation-Vibration Evaluation Rig 

(SHIIVER) testing in May 2019 before handing off that technology to interested stakeholders in support 

of NASA's Exploration activities and industry. This test will demonstrate the effectiveness of new multilayer insulation and evaluate the potential benefit of using vapor vented from a propellant tank to 

intercept heat coming into the tank through structural elements. 

Upon a successful launch and on-orbit operations of the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, the Space 

Technology Mission Directorate (which will be part of the new ER&T) will complete demonstration of 

the Air Force developed hydroxyl ammonium nitrate propellant formula, thrusters, and the integrated 

propulsion system, establishing a higher performing, safe alternative to highly toxic hydrazine. In 

addition, Deep Space Atomic Clock project will demonstrate space clock navigational accuracy 

improvements for deep space and provide a technology to improve gravity science measurements. 

NASA will complete and deliver ten CubeSats including eight which will fly as secondary payloads on 

SLS. NASA will also deliver a NASA-sponsored instrument for the Korean Aerospace Research Institute 

(KARI) lunar mission, Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), This instrument, ShadowCam, will 

capture low-light images of the Moon's permanently shadowed regions to search for evidence of frost or 

ice deposits.

In FY 2019, NASA will implement the ISS flight research plan critical to mitigation crew health and 

performance risk for exploration and will complete ground testing of an advanced exploration exercise 

system in preparation for ISS deployment as part of exploration system maturation plans. The Human 

Research Program will also continue to work with Deep Space Exploration’s Habitation development to 

define and evaluate deep exploration system habitats. Additionally, NASA will continue to leverage 

resources through multiple partnerships including international partnering on isolation, confinement and 

physiology studies with Russia, NASA/German Aerospace Center (DLR) and European Space Agency. 

NASA will complete a number of Mars 2020 technology developments including Terrain Relative 

Navigation, Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment, Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, and the Mars 

2020 Entry, Descent and Landing Instrumentation with deliveries between Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 to 

support the Mars 2020 schedule. 

NASA will continue to partner with researchers across academia and industry, and explore transformative 

technologies and approaches. Upcoming Early Stage Innovation activities will investigate areas such as 

breakthrough propulsion, challenges in deep space human habitation, space-optimized energy systems, 

radiation protection, and materials. These areas are part of a comprehensive approach to efficiently 

support innovative discovery, progress toward important goals, and the development of exciting new 

capabilities.
EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

ERT-8

Programs

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

This program funds early stage research and development sourced from academia, industry, 

entrepreneurs, and from the NASA workforce to bring pioneering approaches to the Agency’s difficult 

and far reaching exploration challenges. It also supports several Agency integration functions, including 

technology transfer and technology commercialization activities, extending the benefits of NASA’s 

technology investments so they have a direct and measurable impact. By leveraging industry for 

technology development that could aid NASA’s missions, this approach ensures that NASA technologies 

energize the commercial space sector and provide the greatest benefit to the United States.

TECHNOLOGY MATURATION

Within Technology Maturation, NASA focuses on advancing disruptive space technologies from a proof 

of concept to demonstration, maturing transformational technologies across the critical gap that resides 

between early stage research and flight demonstration. Technologies are prioritized for alignment with 

NASA's Exploration Campaign objectives.

TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

The Technology Demonstration portfolio supports ground-based testing to determine feasibility, and 

technology flight demonstrations in relevant environments to effectively transition technologies for 

NASA missions and for use by other government agencies and industry. Ground and flight 

demonstrations are prioritized to enhance and enable deep space human exploration.

HUMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM

The Human Research Program is responsible for understanding and mitigating the highest risks to 

astronaut health and performance to ensure crews remain healthy and productive during long-duration 

missions beyond low Earth orbit.

SBIR AND STTR

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer continues to support earlystage research and mid-Technology Readiness Level (TRL) development, performed by small businesses 

through competitively awarded contracts. These programs produce innovations for both government and 

commercial applications. SBIR and STTR provides the high technology, small business sector with 

opportunities to develop space technology for NASA and commercialize those NASA-funded 

technologies that have the potential to address national needs in the aerospace industry and other sectors. 

Annual solicitations will align subtopics to exploration focus areas to draw on small business support of 

NASA's Exploration Campaign objectives.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

ERT-9

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 89.7 -- 108.4 103.0 107.0 107.0 107.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

In support of the Exploration Campaign, 

Exploration Research & Technology (ER&T)

integrates the early stage technology research

and development previously funded within the 

Space Technology account and foundational 

activities of the Human Exploration and 

Operations Mission Directorate's Advanced 

Exploration Systems (AES) division with a 

primary focus on exploration requirements. This 

integrated program consists of investments in 

Early Stage Innovation, Technology Transfer, 

Prizes and Challenges (including Centennial 

Challenges) and Agency Technology and 

Innovation (AT&I). Together, these efforts spur 

collaboration with innovators across the Nation, 

to capitalize on the ideas, talent and experience 

of a diverse set of contributors to achieve 

NASA's exploration objectives.

Early Stage Innovation supports applied 

research, and early technology development to 

spur innovation and transform future 

capabilities. By leveraging the technical 

capabilities of the experts across the nation, 

from academia, industry, entrepreneurs, to the 

NASA Centers, the Agency gains new ideas and alternative approaches to solving NASA’s difficult and 

far reaching exploration challenges.

NASA funds prize competitions and challenges as well as citizen science and other open innovation tools 

as appropriate to support NASA’s R&D objectives and to enhance the agency’s connections with the 

American and global public. This includes Centennial Challenges, the NASA Tournament Lab, NASA 

Solve, and Innovation Connector (iTech) to leverage high public interest and support on NASA's 

Exploration objectives. 

The Foster + Partners | Branch Technology team from 

Chattanooga, Tennessee, with their 3D-printed dome 

structure after it was strength tested Aug. 26, 2017, at 

Caterpillar Inc.'s Edwards Demonstration and Learning 

Center in Peoria, Illinois. The team won first place and 

$250,000 at Phase 2: Level 3 of NASA’s 3D-Printed 

Habitat Challenge.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

ERT-10

NASA responds to Administration priorities and legislative requirements to promote technology transfer,

including commercialization of technologies that emerge from NASA’s research and development 

activities. 

NASA's AT&I funds the operations of the Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), which manages 

Agency technology strategy, and promotes innovative culture and partnerships within and outside of 

NASA.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The new ER&T organization's Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships integrates content from STMD's 

early stage technology R&D and foundational activities in AES division (including NASA Tournament 

Lab and Space Synthetic Biology research). Investments will be focused on Exploration Campaign 

support, which includes research and technologies applicable to deep-space exploration, prioritizing 

environmental control and life support; power and propulsion; advanced materials; communications; 

navigation and avionics, robotic assembly and manufacturing; entry, descent and landing; autonomous 

systems and enabling humans to live and work in the space. In order to focus resources on the exploration 

key focus areas, the Regional Economic Development activity will be discontinued.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 Selected two multi-disciplinary university-led research institutes to increase collaboration and 

advance technologies in bio-manufacturing for deep space exploration, and high-performance 

materials development for ultra-high strength lightweight structures. 

 Selected two Early Career Initiative proposals, each led by an early career civil servant. One is a 

space byproduct recycling project at the Kennedy Space Center, and the other is an Autonomous 

Guidance and Control System for Deployable Entry Vehicles at the Ames Research Center.

 Received national recognition through the work of Dr. Marco Pavone from Stanford University 

who was named a recipient of the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and 

Engineers in January 2017 for his novel guidance framework. His work included real-time, 

efficient and dependable algorithms for spacecraft autonomous maneuvering, with a focus on 

dynamic and highly cluttered environments.

 Through continuous improvement of the Technology Transfer program, accelerated and increased

the amount of technology shared with industry through streamlined and automated processes, a 

reduction in policy hurdles, amplified interactions with industry, and new tool deployment. With 

year-after-year increases in the technology transfer to the public, NASA has managed a 341

percent increase in annual licensing totals and a 373 percent increase in software release since FY 

2011. Last year, there were 109 patent licenses and 5,054 software releases. These outcomes 

represent a significant return on the taxpayer investment in NASA technology: jobs created, 

revenue generated, new products to market, and improved quality of life. 

 The Office of the Chief Technologist established the NASA Technology Executive Council 

Working Group, to provide a forum for representatives from across NASA to jointly work in 

developing collaborative products addressing crosscutting technology policy, portfolio and other 

issues related to agency technology.

 Centennial Challenges awarded more than $1.5 million in FY 2017 for solutions toward the Cube 

Quest, 3D Printed Habitat and the Space Robotics Challenges.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

ERT-11

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 As of FY 2018 first quarter, there are approximately 430 Early Stage technologies, each with, 

potential to enable or enhance the next generation of capabilities within and beyond NASA. 

Recently awarded Early Stage Innovation grants included: Advanced Coating Technology for 

Space Fission Power and Propulsion Systems; Crosscutting Technologies for Extremely High 

Frequency Band Space Applications; and Lightweight Multifunctional Lattice Materials for 

Space Structures. Additional solicitations, aligned with the Exploration key focus areas, will be 

awarded in all Early Stage elements.

 Centennial Challenges will initiate a challenge targeting the manufacture of "food" for microbial 

bioreactors from CO2 and hydrogen molecules (CO2 to Sugar Challenge). 

 NASA’s iTech initiative identified 10 finalists to present innovative ideas that address important 

problems here on Earth and also holds great potential to overcome critical technology hurdles in 

future space exploration. NASA facilitated a forum for these entrepreneurs to present their 

solutions to the Agency and potential industry partners. Over the last 12 months, many of the top 

18 companies that have participated in past NASA iTech forums have reportedly raised more than 

$50 million in private investments to further develop their technologies.

 Technology Transfer will continue to streamline and automate internal processes in order to 

increase ability to conduct outreach to industry. Technology Transfer also intends to work to 

broaden outreach to areas that have typically not felt the NASA presence, as well as continue to 

improve and explore new existing tools to maximize use of online marketing of our portfolios. 

 The Office of the Chief Technologist continues to coordinate the interagency Science and 

Technology Partnership Forums, bringing together leaders from the aerospace, defense, science 

and technology federal teams to look for areas to partner of mutual interest and priority. Through 

collaborations, NASA is gaining insight into other federal science and technology policy and 

investment priorities, using that knowledge to forge federal and American commercial 

partnerships. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

For solicitations announced in FY 2019, NASA will prioritize investments towards proposals that align 

with NASA's Exploration Campaign objectives, with emphasis on: advanced environmental control and 

life support systems and ISRU; power and propulsion technologies for exploration; advanced materials 

technology; communications, navigation and avionics technologies; entry decent and landing (including 

lander) technologies; autonomous operations; and in-space manufacturing and on-orbit assembly 

technologies.

 In addition to issuing the annual solicitations for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), 

Space Technology Research Grants and Center Innovation Fund, NASA will select up to two 

additional research institutes to enable new technologies and capabilities that lay groundwork to

enhance and enable deep space exploration. Early Stage Innovation will be aligned with the 

Exploration focus areas, investigating areas such as breakthrough propulsion, challenges in deep 

space human habitation, space-optimized energy systems, radiation protection, and materials.

 NASA plans to introduce additional Centennial Challenges with potential topics aligned to deep 

space exploration focus areas, such as scalable solutions to support humans inside a lunar or 

planetary habitat, and autonomous monitoring technology for detection and identification of 

microorganisms in spacecraft. 
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

ERT-12

 In FY 2019, the Office of the Chief Technologist will refine the Agency's space technology 

taxonomy and Technology Integration Framework that will be used to inform the next NASA 

Strategic Technology Investment Plan and any future technology roadmaps. By assuring a 

consistent technology taxonomy among the NASA directorates and offices, the OCT will help to 

better coordinate and guide the agency's aerospace technology investment strategy. 

 The Technology Transfer Program will continue to streamline and automate internal processes in 

order to increase our ability to conduct outreach to industry as well as continue to explore new 

and improve existing tools to maximize use of online marketing of our portfolios. 

Program Elements

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION

It is not always clear which efforts will result in breakthroughs, effective improvements, or exciting new 

approaches. This process is nonlinear and takes time. This is why a balance of Early Stage, midTechnology Readiness Level (TRL), and technology demonstration investments is critical for an effective

technology development portfolio.

Exploration Research and Technology's Early Stage Innovation activities employ various approaches to 

engage technical experts at universities, companies, independent labs, NASA centers, and other 

government agencies. Through a steady cadence of competitive solicitations, NASA continuously 

develops new and innovative high-risk/high-payoff technologies. Early Stage studies cultivate new ideas 

and alternative approaches, and leverage the technical capabilities of the experts across the nation can fuel 

economic growth. Technologies are often developed with support and coordination between NASA and 

various external partners, and will primarily focus on innovative ways to further humankind’s exploration 

from conception to testing to spaceflight. NASA awards early stage efforts through Space Technology 

Research Grants (STRG), NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), and the Center Innovation 

Fund (CIF), which are described more in depth below: 

 Space Technology Research Grants conducts a series of annual and biannual competitive 

solicitations targeting high-priority technology areas that challenge the entire spectrum of 

academic researchers, from graduate students to early career and senior faculty members, making 

space activities more effective, affordable, and sustainable. In the process, close collaborations 

between U.S. universities and NASA are fortified. Since its inception, Space Technology 

Research Grants has funded exciting space technology research via 525 grants - at 106 

universities across 43 states and one U.S. Territory. In FY 2017, NASA made 13 Early Stage 

Innovations awards, eight Early Career Faculty awards and 64 NASA Space Technology 

Research Fellowship awards. One success from these awards was the work done by Scott Hall 

from the University of Michigan who demonstrated three new records (101 kW thruster power, 

250A operating current and 5.3N thrust) for Hall thruster operations using the new 100kW X3 

nested, three-ring thruster. In addition, NASA awarded the inaugural Space Technology Research 

Institutes; these multi-university, multidisciplinary institutes strengthen NASA’s ties to the 

academic community through long-term, sustained investment in research and technology 

development critical to NASA’s future. The Center for Utilization of Biological Engineering in 

Space, led by the University of California, Berkeley, is advancing research into an integrated, 

multi-function, multi-organism bio-manufacturing system to produce fuel, materials, 
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

ERT-13

pharmaceuticals and food in space. The Institute for Ultra-Strong Composites by Computational 

Design, led by Michigan Technological University, aims to develop and deploy a carbon 

nanotube-based, ultra-high strength, lightweight aerospace structural material within five years.

Exploration Research and Technology plans to release another research institute solicitation in 

FY 2018, with awards made in early FY 2019. 

 NASA is making investments today to shape the building blocks needed for the missions of 

tomorrow. As such, NASA will continue to enable exploration through its investment in synthetic 

biology applications. This effort was previously managed by Advanced Exploration Systems. As 

existing efforts conclude, this subject matter will be strategically integrated within the rest of the 

early stage portfolio. 

 NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts executes annual solicitations seeking exciting, unexplored, 

technically credible new concepts that could one day “change the possible” in space and 

aeronautics. These efforts improve the Nation’s leadership in key research areas, enable far-term 

capabilities, and spawn disruptive innovations that make space exploration more effective, 

affordable, and sustainable. Phase I and continuation Phase II solicitations are open to NASA 

centers, other government agencies, universities, industry, and individual entrepreneurs. In 2017, 

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts made 15 Phase I and seven Phase II awards across 

industry, academia, and NASA centers, while completing 13 Phase I and seven Phase II studies. 

The 2016 Phase II Fellow Robert Youngquist continued to show promising results for an in-space 

fuel tank coating that enables passive cryogenic propellant storage. If successful, this could 

change the way NASA plans future missions.

 Center Innovation Fund provides annual seed funding to all ten NASA Centers to stimulate 

aerospace creativity and grassroots innovation to transform future missions and advance the 

Nation’s capabilities. Center Innovation Fund activities are competitively selected to explore 

alternative approaches or develop enhanced capabilities that will feed into NASA's Deep Space 

Exploration objectives. Partnerships with academia, private industry, individual innovators, as 

well as other NASA Centers and government agencies are highly encouraged. An integrated 

review of all Center Innovation Fund candidates is conducted to ensure a strategic and 

coordinated portfolio. These investments have led to multiple successful NASA and commercial 

applications. One such project is the VESGEN 2D project. VESGEN 2D (VESsel GENeration 

Analysis 2D) is an interactive piece of software that provides visualization of small blood vessels 

and surrounding tissue. The project has led to enhanced examinations of astronauts’ eyes on orbit 

and better understanding of the results through improved visualization. One CIF project led to the 

conversion of VESGEN from a 2D to 3D visualization tool, leading to even better understanding 

of the medical data. The project has advanced beyond Center Innovation Fund to the Technology 

Maturation project to both improve the software and improve the medical scans that feed the 

software. This combination will not only improve astronaut ocular health but it will provide better 

medical visualization tools for use throughout the world.

NASA continues to enhance its involvement with academia and its field centers to access unique ideas 

with breakthrough potential. In upcoming solicitations, NASA will place an emphasis on selecting topics 

that align and enhance the Exploration focus areas. It is expected that this comprehensive approach will 

most efficiently lead to discovery and development of exciting new capabilities.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

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PRIZES AND CHALLENGES (INCLUDES CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES)

NASA seeks to advance space exploration and aeronautics technologies using a variety of methods. In 

addition to developing technologies in-house as well as through grants, contracts, cooperative agreements

and public-private partnerships, NASA has recognized the value of incentivizing new technology 

advancement and problem solving through “open innovation” approaches including the use of prize 

competitions and challenges open to the public. Government and non-government organizations have 

demonstrated the value of prize competitions for their ability to tap into new sources of talent they have 

not typically reached as well as to make payments only once they have received satisfactory solutions to 

meet their needs. To further enhance program effectiveness, NASA integrates the Advanced Exploration 

Systems (AES) NASA Tournament Lab (NTL) and the Prizes and Challenges activities previously funded 

within the Space Technology account. 

NASA utilizes the NASA Tournament Lab (NTL) to facilitate the use of crowdsourcing to tackle Agency

challenges. NTL offers a wide variety of open innovation platforms that engage the crowdsourcing 

community in challenges to create the most innovative, efficient and optimized solutions for specific, 

real-world challenges being faced by NASA and other Federal Agencies.

NASA works to promote strategic use of prize competitions and challenges as well as citizen science and 

other open innovation tools as appropriate to support NASA’s R&D objectives and to enhance the 

agency’s connections with the American and global public. NASA achieves this by examining and taking 

actions to strengthen NASA policies and infrastructure to support prizes and challenges and other open 

innovation approaches. 

Centennial Challenges offers incentive prizes to generate revolutionary solutions aimed to support future 

NASA missions. The program seeks innovations from diverse and non-traditional sources by directly 

engaging the public in the process of developing advanced technology. Competitors are not provided 

government funding for their development; rather, awards are only made to successful teams when the 

challenges are met. The program partners with organizations inside and/or outside of NASA to manage 

challenges with the goal of maximizing return on investment to the agency.

The Centennial Challenges program is formulating additional challenges with available prize funding, and 

requests an additional $2 million in new prize authority (no-year funding). In the near-term, the team is 

finalizing formulation of a challenge that seeks to incentivize the development of technologies needed to 

manufacture "food" for microbial bioreactors from CO2 and hydrogen molecules, abundant on Mars and 

in space habitats, to produce the sugar glucose. Producing glucose will allow in situ microbial production 

systems to generate products needed to support future missions, such as food, nutrients, fuels, medicines, 

plastics and adhesives. 

Other potential challenge topics include demonstrating scalable solutions to support humans inside a lunar 

or planetary habitat, and designing and building autonomous monitoring technology for detection and 

identification of microorganisms in a spacecraft during a long duration mission.

The following Centennial Challenges are funded and in progress:

 Cube Quest Challenge - NASA’s first in-space challenge, the objective of this challenge is to 

advance communication and propulsion technologies for small spacecraft. Prizes will be awarded 

based on the distance the cubesats go in space, and how long they can communicate with Earth as 

they travel. Before getting a ride to space, participants faced a series of four Ground Tournaments 
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

ERT-15

that will assess cubesat communication and propulsion technologies capable of operating in lunar 

orbit and deep space. The winners of Ground Tournament Four, the last phase of the ground part 

of the challenge, were announced in June 2017. Three teams won $30,000 each and were selected 

to join 10 other cubesats as secondary payloads on the first integrated flight of NASA’s Orion 

spacecraft and SLS rocket. The next phase of the challenge will start once the cubesats reach 

lunar or deep space orbits. Teams will be competing for a share of more than $4 million to be 

awarded to the cubesats that communicate for the longest period of time with Earth and/or travel 

the farthest from Earth.

 3D Printed Habitat Challenge - The purpose of the 3D Printed Habitat Challenge is to advance 

additive construction technology to create sustainable housing on Earth and beyond. Phase 2 of 

the challenge was opened in 2016 with Bradley University as the Allied Organization. Caterpillar, 

Bechtel, and Brick & Mortar Ventures are providing the facilities and required funding support 

for the competition. Three qualifying teams met at the Caterpillar Testing Facility in Peoria, IL in 

August 2017 for competition focused on the core 3D-Printing fabrication technologies and 

materials properties needed to manufacture structural components from indigenous materials 

combined with recyclables, or indigenous materials alone. Prize money totaling $701,000 was 

awarded. In November 2017, the 3D Printed Habitat Challenge entered Phase 3 with a prize purse 

of $2 million where habitats will be fabricated using autonomous additive manufacturing 

technology.

 Vascular Tissue Challenge - The purpose of the challenge is to produce viable thick-tissue assays 

that can be used to advance research both on earth and in space environments. The challenge 

opened in June 2016 and awards will be made to the first three teams to achieve the goals within 

a three-year timeframe. Eleven teams have signed up for the competition.

Technology Transfer and Partnerships

Technology Transfer provides Agency-level management and oversight of NASA-developed and NASAowned intellectual property, and manages transfer of these technologies to external entities. Activities 

include active collection and assessment of all NASA inventions, strategic management and marketing of 

intellectual property, negotiation and management of licenses, software release, development of 

technology transfer-focused partnerships, and the tracking and reporting of metrics related to these 

activities (i.e., numbers of new inventions, patents, licenses, cooperative research and development 

agreements, and software use agreements). Several specific initiatives of NASA’s Technology Transfer 

Program launched this year include:

 ATLAS: NASA launched its Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS), 

which allows high-tech entrepreneurs to apply for NASA patent licenses online using a simple, 

intuitive guided process. This new initiative is yet another step in NASA’s process of 

modernizing and streamlining its technology commercialization efforts, making it simpler and 

faster for companies to find and use NASA technologies 

 E-NTR: NASA has made reporting new inventions (New Technology Reports) easier than ever 

before with the launch of e-NTR system. The new system has standardized and streamlined the 

agency’s invention disclosure process, reducing to a third the number of questions asked. The 

system is entirely online and accessible from anywhere. 

 Software Catalog Release: NASA released its third Software Catalog in 2017. First launched in 

2013, this is a comprehensive inventory of the modern software tools NASA has created in the 

course of its work, to make available to industry, academia and other government agencies. 
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

EARLY STAGE INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

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Agency Technology and Innovation

Agency Technology and Innovation funds the operations of the Office of the Chief Technologist and 

Agency activities for promoting innovative culture and partnerships within and outside of NASA, 

including with industry and commercial partners.

The NASA Chief Technologist serves as the Agency's principal advisor and advocate on matters 

concerning Agency-wide technology policy and programs to internal and external stakeholders. The 

office also communicates and helps strategically integrate technology efforts within the Agency. The 

office conducts an annual review and assessment of technology investments across NASA, including the 

mission-focused investments made by the Agency's mission directorates, performing strategic technology 

integration. The organization also assesses and communicates the societal and economic impact of 

technology investments at NASA and outside the Agency.

For example, the Office of the Chief Technologist held several Technical Interchange Meetings in support 

of NASA's participation in the interagency Science and Technology Partnership Forum activity, including 

topics such as In Space Assembly and Cybersecurity. The exchanges with the Department of Defense, the 

intelligence community, and other federal agencies shared progress on these topics of mutual interest. 

These exchanges are working to leverage synergies and influence portfolios through partnerships that 

reduce duplication of effort and investment across government, while advancing the technology readiness 

levels of technology applications that will benefit Agency missions. This innovative interagency 

collaboration combines the expertise, experiences and perspectives of the national space technology 

development community and leverages sharing of resources. The activity has created new opportunities 

for advancing technology while reducing costs to the taxpayer. 

The Office of the Chief Technologist is also working on developing a new Technology Strategic 

Integration Framework, to more efficiently identify and connect technology investments to needs in order 

to help NASA achieve its aeronautics, science, and human exploration missions, including future deep 

space exploration to destinations such as the moon, Europa and Mars and strengthen the US industrial 

base. This effort will better inform future versions of the Space Technology Implementation Plan and 

technology roadmaps.

In addition, the Office of the Chief Technologist is the Agency champion for promoting a culture of 

innovation at NASA, particularly in regard to workforce development. The office identifies innovative 

technology partnerships and initiates collaboration to reduce costs and increase the return on investment 

through innovative partnerships. The office also serves as the NASA lead for the interagency Science and 

Technology Partnership Forum, an ongoing activity that brings leaders in government aerospace, defense, 

and national security communities together to better coordinate federal investments and activities based 

on mutual critical needs and future plans. For more information about the Office of the Chief 

Technologist, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/oct.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

TECHNOLOGY MATURATION

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 135.0 -- 216.5 178.6 180.8 183.3 183.5

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA is advancing disruptive space 

technologies from proof of concept to 

demonstration, maturing transformational 

and foundational technologies that primarily 

reside between early stage research and 

flight demonstration. Development of new 

technologies and capabilities lays the 

groundwork that enhances and enables space 

exploration beyond low earth orbit. 

Exploration Research and Technology 

integrates the programmatic technology 

development content previously funded by 

Space Technology and Advanced 

Exploration Systems, and refocuses these 

activities toward Deep Space Exploration. In 

addition, Technology Maturation 

investments will support the Science 

Mission Directorate on exploration-related 

technology and research that also have

relevance to achieving science goals. 

In order to maintain a broad and diverse 

range of solutions for NASA's toughest 

challenges, the Technology Maturation 

portfolio utilizes the NASA workforce, 

commercial industry, and academia to develop and test prototype systems that will form the basis for 

meeting exploration mission requirements. Through public-private partnerships, NASA matures 

technologies to advance the emerging space economy while developing capabilities for NASA’s 

exploration missions.

The Technology Maturation portfolio is organized to support the following exploration focus areas:

 Advanced environmental control and life support systems & in-situ resource utilization (ISRU);

 Power and propulsion technology (including space fission reactors, nuclear thermal propulsion, 

and high powered solar electric propulsion);

The Kilopower prototype power system was designed and 

developed by NASA’s Glenn Research Center in collaboration 

with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the Los Alamos 

National Laboratory, while the reactor core was provided by the 

Y12 National Security Complex. The team at the National 

Security Complex connected the power system to the core and 

began end-to-end checkouts at the end of January 2018. A fullpower test will be conducted in late March 2018. If successful, 

the system could provide abundant energy anywhere humans or 

robots travel including the shadowed craters of the moon, or 

manage power through the dust storms on Mars.
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 Advanced Materials;

 Communications, navigation and avionics (including laser communication, disruption tolerant 

networking and high performance spaceflight computing);

 Entry, descent and landing (including Lander technologies);

 Autonomous operations;

 In-space manufacturing and on-orbit assembly; and 

 Research to enable humans to safely and effectively operate in various space environments.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This program is restructured to align with NASA's Exploration Campaign and the associated technology 

areas of focus under the new Exploration Research & Technology (ER&T) organization. The content in 

the Technology Maturation portfolio consolidates projects funded previously within the Space 

Technology account, as well as content from Advanced Exploration Systems (AES), including Vehicle 

Systems and Foundational Systems, into a single account -- integrating and re-focusing these activities 

toward supporting Deep Space Exploration. 

As FY 2018 and FY 2019 activities are phased out or otherwise concluded, this portfolio will increase its 

emphasis on technologies that benefit deep space exploration. For example, once the Station Explorer for 

X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) demonstration is completed, the Space 

Technology Mission Directorate (which will be part of the new Exploration Research & Technology 

organization) will discontinue Space System Observatory and Robotics technology development efforts 

under this program, but will continue to collaborate with the Science Mission Directorate to advance 

exploration science technologies where appropriate. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 NASA awarded a contract to Boeing Co. for the development of the next generation, high 

performance spaceflight computer processors that will allow for flexible operations, lower power 

computers for space operations with 75x-improved performance over the state of the art RAD750. 

 NASA selected Johns Hopkins/APL and Orbital ATK to advance the photovoltaic technologies in 

support of he Extreme Environment Solar Power project, which will provide reliable power for 

deep space missions, including those in the general vicinity of Jupiter.

 Commissioned and transitioned the SEXTANT demonstration to Science Operations Mode as 

part of the Neutron Start Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) science experiment on the 

International Space Station.

 Completed sounding rocket flight testing of carbon nanotube reinforced Composite Overwrapped 

Pressure Vessel to assess its durability during launch. 

 Installed the Conformal Ablative Thermal Protection System on a small probe flight article 

provided by Terminal Velocity Aerospace (TVA), and launched on Orbital ATK’s commercial 

resupply services mission to conduct an orbital entry test of the conformal ablator heat shield 

material.

 Down-selected the fuel and reactor design for nuclear thermal propulsion as part of risk 

mitigation activities to establish a safe and affordable propulsion system that will enable faster 

trip times.
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 Three companies conducted initial ground tests of high-power (> 100 kW) electric thrusters as 

part of ongoing work under Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) 

Phase 1 to enable next generation in-space propulsion systems. Those companies completed their 

year one milestones to assemble subsystems and upgrade test facilities. 

 NASA demonstrated on-demand manufacturing, recycling, and sanitizing of a urine funnel by 

demonstrating a Refabricator that will recycle plastic parts to produce feedstock for an integrated 

3D printer. In-space manufacturing can greatly reduce the inventory of spare parts and tools that 

are needed on long missions. A Broad Agency Announcement was also released to solicit 

proposals for a multi-material fabrication laboratory (FabLab) which is a small-scale workshop 

offering advanced in-space fabrication.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 Complete the full power test of the 1kW kilopower fission reactor at the Nevada National 

Security Site. This technology will aid in the future design of a modular 10kW-class system that 

would provide abundant energy for surface exploration. 

 Complete detailed design of all components and subsystems for the Mars Entry, Descent and 

Landing Instrumentation (MEDLI2) and Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) 

technology instrument projects.

 Refine the nuclear thermal propulsion fuel element and reactor conceptual design to include 

reactor general design, performance analysis, mechanical design, core fabrication development, 

and fuel fabrication development.

 Complete the Engineering Test Unit (ETU) for the Heatshield for Extreme Entry Environment 

Technology (HEEET) project to support exploration and science missions to extreme 

environments.

 Complete life testing of Bulk Metallic Glass Planetary Gears and Strain Wave Gears to enable 

more robust mobility systems for future extreme environment exploration and science missions.

 Using Advanced Near Net Shape Technology, a novel metal forming technique to manufacture 

integrally stiffened aerospace structures, NASA will complete charaterization of a 10-ft. diameter 

integrally stiffened cylinder. The resulting product is 50 percent lower cost and 10 percent lighter 

weight than traditionally machined and welded parts due to fewer welds and minimized 

machining requirements.

 Continue to develop advanced in-space propulsion, landing capabilities, in situ resource 

utilization and overall capabilities to support future human spaceflight missions. NASA plans to 

conduct vacuum chamber tests of high-power electric propulsion systems operating for 100 

continuous hours under the NextSTEP-1 awards.

 In an effort that reduce logistic requirements and improve operational flexibility, NASA will 

continue to maintain investments in in-space manufacturing technology development and 

demonstration on ISS. NextSTEP BAA contracts will be awarded to develop a multi-material 

fabrication laboratory (FabLab) that will be demonstrated on ISS.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Starting in FY 2019, NASA prioritizes its investments to maximize alignment with the new 

Exploration Campaign with an emphasis on: advanced environmental control and life support systems

& ISRU; power and propulsion technology (including space fission reactors, nuclear thermal 
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propulsion, and high powered Solar Electric Propulsion); advanced materials; communications, 

navigation and avionics technology (including laser communications, disruption tolerant networking 

and high performance spaceflight computing); entry, descent and landing (including lander 

technologies); and autonomous operations.

 In the area of advanced environmental control and life support systems and ISRU, NASA will 

deliver oxygen recovery brassboards capable of at least 75 percent oxygen recovery from carbon 

dioxide. NASA will also deliver a NASA-sponsored instrument for the Korean Aerospace 

Research Institute (KARI) lunar mission, Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO). This 

instrument, ShadowCam, will capture low-light images of the Moon's permanently shadowed 

regions to search for evidence of frost or ice deposits.

 In the area of power and propulsion, NASA will complete integrated xenon system testing within 

the sub-kilowatt electric propulsion project, and prototype a detailed design review for Extreme 

Environments Solar Power, 

 In the area of communications, avioncs and navigation, NASA will conduct a critical design 

review planned for high performance spaceflight computing, and initiate Advanced Memory 

project in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory to target volatile and non-volatile 

memory devices to support processor and digital devices.

 In the area of advanced materials, NASA will conduct a flat floor functional deployment test for 

Deployable Composite Boom project that focus on maturing deployable composite boom 

technology for small volume, CubeSat/EELV Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) class satellite 

deployable systems. In addition, NASA will complete testing of longitudinal and circumferential 

joints for the Composite Technology for Exploration project. This project develops and 

demonstrates critical composites technologies, specifically bonded joint technology for Space 

Launch System scale composite hardware. In addition, Rapid Analysis Manufacturing Propulsion 

Technologies will complete hot fire test and material testing and subscale Phase I testing.

 NASA will complete hardware build and deliver the MEDLI-2 and Mars Environmental 

Dynamics Analyzer for launch on the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Mars 2020 mission. 

MEDLI-2 technology instrument will acquire data that will enable improved designs of future 

Mars entry systems for robotic and crewed missions, while MEDA will measure Mars weather 

conditions.

Program Elements

NASA will execute a technology portfolio that enables human exploration across the solar system, and 

bring new knowledge and opportunities back to Earth enabled by the high priority technology focus areas 

described in further detail below. Within these activites, NASA will utilize public-private partnerships

where advantageous. These agreements enable NASA and private sector industry to share in the risk and 

benefit of government investments. These shared risks and benefits include incentivizing technical 

performance, the building of future commercial markets, and a shared financial interest in the 

development of capabilities. 

SPACE POWER AND PROPULSION

NASA is making critical advancements in power generation and energy storage technologies for science 

and human exploration missions. Propulsion investments focus on higher thrust and efficiency, including 

alternatives to traditional chemical propulsion systems for deep space exploration spacecraft systems. 
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Specific investments include development of solar array technology that can generate energy in extreme 

environments including low light intensity and low temperature; development and testing of a scalable 

1kW surface fission power generation system; and rapid transit nuclear thermal propulsion technology 

utilizing low-enriched uranium that could potentially provide 20 percent shorter travel time to Mars while 

substantially improving mission flexibility. Key projects that support this thrust area include the 

following: 

 Kilopower: Through a partnership with Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security 

Administration and Los Alamos National Lab, and small businesses Sunpower, Inc and Advanced 

Cooling Technologies, NASA is developing a 1kW prototype of a fission power subsystem that is 

scalable and will potentially provide surface power capability for space exploration. The 

Kilopower assembly went through vacuum testing at Glenn Research Center for thermal cycling 

checkout, and will conduct full power test in early FY 2018 at the Nevada National Security Site. 

If successful, NASA will advance this effort to a flight demonstration, and ultimately a 10 kW 

system for surface power.

 Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP): Investments will enable more efficient spaceflight by 

developing improved fuel element sources to support potential future nuclear thermal propulsion 

efforts. In FY 2018, the nuclear thermal propulsion project will continue to refine the NTP 

technology maturation and ground demonstration plan; complete assessment of a NTP Mars 

transportation architecture; continue feasibility analysis based on cermet fuel element/reactor 

conceptual design; update and deliver a final Low-Enriched-Uranium (LEU)-based nuclear

thermal propulsion system cost analysis; and refine the fuel element reactor conceptual design. 

Industry and government involvement include Aerojet Rocketdyne, AMA, Aerospace, BWXT, 

and Department of Energy. Risk mitigation activities will complete in FY 2019, culminating in a 

concept review and determination of whether to proceed with a ground demonstration phase.

 Sub Kilowatt Electric Propulsion: NASA will demonstrate a ~0.5 kW Hall electric propulsion 

thruster to be used on ESPA class spacecraft that support exploration and science missions. 

Recent advances in Hall thruster technology at the 13-kW power level can be applied to 0.5 kW 

device to drastically alter the spacecraft market with low development risk. The project plans to 

deliver an engineering qualification model thruster and PPU design in FY 2019 and eventually 

complete an integrated (xenon and iodine) thruster testing.

 600W Hall Thruster Qualification Life Test: Through an Announcement of Collaborative 

Opportunity (ACO) in FY 2018, NASA awarded Busek a three-year project to perform life 

testing of the BHT-600 Hall Effect Thruster and BHC-1500 Hollow Cathode Assembly (HCA) 

coupled to a Power Processing Unit. This technology could be infused into sub-KW power level 

Electric Propulsion systems.

 Modular Power Systems will demonstrate a modular power architecture composed of 

technologies for power generation, energy storage, power distribution and health management 

that will reduce the cost of future space systems.

 Other ongoing initiatives include work on advanced propulsion under the NextSTEP BAA awards 

and modular power for multiple exploration vehicles and systems such as fuel cells.

ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS, NAVIGATION AND AVIONICS

NASA will fundamentally transform spacecraft systems through investment in high payoff technologies 

that increase communication data rate and advance deep space navigation and flight avionics. Key 

projects within this portfolio include the following:
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 High Performance Spaceflight Computing: With the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA is 

developing a next generation high performance space flight computing system that will lead to 

vastly improved in-space computing performance, energy management, and increased radiation 

fault tolerance. The new radiation tolerant microprocessor will offer a 75 times improvement in 

performance relative to the current state of the art RAD750 processor while requiring the same 

power. 

 Software Defined Reliability for Mission Critical Operations: through an FY 2018 ACO, awarded 

to Astrobotic Technology, this two-year project will mature Astrobotic’s software-defined 

reliability system for computing. 

 Communicating from Earth to any spacecraft is a complex challenge, largely due to the extreme 

distances involved. When data are transmitted and received across thousands and even millions of 

miles, the delay and potential for disruption or data loss is significant. Delay/Disruption Tolerant 

Networking (DTN) is NASA’s solution to reliable internet working for space missions.

 Ka-Band Objects Observation and Monitoring (KaBOOM) will use three 12-meter diameter 

antennas at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to demonstrate a Ka-Band phased array of 

widely separated antennas that can instantly compensate for atmospheric twinkling to improve 

what is seen. 

ADVANCED MATERIALS 

NASA supports innovation in materials development and low-cost manufacturing that enables increased

mission cargo capacity by reduction of structural mass. NASA looks for opportunities to improve the 

manufacturing technologies, processes, and products prevalent in the aerospace industry. NASA’s unique 

needs enable a network of collaboration and partnerships with industry, academia, and other government 

agencies to accelerate innovative manufacturing methods and technologies. Key projects within this 

portfolio include the following:

 Advanced Near Net Shape Technology: This technology uses innovative metal forming 

techniques to manufacture integrally stiffened aerospace structures such as cryotanks. The 

resulting product is 50 percent lower cost and 10 percent lighter due to fewer welds and 

minimized machining. NASA will build on previous prototyping efforts focusing on scaling up 

the process for commercial launch vehicles. Industry partners include MT Aerospace, Lockheed 

Martin, and Leifeld Metal Spinning, in Ahlen, Germany. 

 Additive Construction for Mobile Emplacement: will develop full-scale hardware to 3D print 

infrastructure components using analog planetary in-situ materials, while developing full-scale 

hardware with the United States Army Corps of Engineers for terrestrial applications. 

 Bulk Metallic Glass: Bulk Metallic Glass gears improve rover mobility performance at low 

temperatures by eliminating the need for gear lubricant and associated heaters. This project will 

deliver planetary gears and strain wave gears that will enable planetary surface missions where 

temperatures drop below the freezing point of typical lubricants. 

 Composite Technology for Exploration: By developing new analytical methods to design, build 

and test innovative hardware, NASA looks to enable a significant increase in the use of new 

composite materials for the next generation of rockets and spacecraft needed for space 

exploration. 

 The Rapid Analysis Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT) project will develop and 

advance large-scale light weight manufacturing techniques and analysis capabilities required to 

reduce design and fabrication cycles for regenerative-cooled liquid rocket engine components. 
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RAMPT impacts all phases of the thrust chamber life cycle by reducing design, fabrication, 

assembly schedules (60%) and allowing for reduced parts, increased reliability, and significant 

weight reduction (70%). RAMPT will partner with industry through a public-private partnership 

to design and manufacture component parts of the thrust chamber.

 Deployable Composite Boom: The objective of this project is to mature deployable composite 

boom technology for use in low-cost, small volume, CubeSat/ESPA class spacecraft deployable 

systems. A technology gap has been identified for deployable composite booms that are 5-20m 

long and capable of packing into a 0.5-3 U volume. These types of booms enable high power 

solar arrays, antennas for high data rate communications, and high Delta-V propulsion systems to 

be included on small CubeSat/ESPA class spacecraft. 

 In an effort to provide efficient mission and ground operations with reduced dependence on Earth 

resource, NASA is continuing to invest in in-space manufacturing technologies, including the 

development of the FabLab for ISS.

ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND IN 

SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION

NASA will fundamentally transform spacecraft systems through investment in high payoff technologies 

that advance atmospheric capture and conversion aspects of in-situ resource utilization technologies, 

closed-loop life support systems, and develop capabilities to mitigate space radiation. Key projects within 

this portfolio include the following:

 Advanced Radiation Protection: Insufficient data exists to validate thick shield space radiation 

exposure predictions. The Advanced Radiation Protection project will validate the shielding 

efficiency of spacecraft materials and verify an optimum Galactic Cosmic Ray shield thickness 

needed for minimal mass vehicle design. To this end, the project team will work with the NASA 

Space Radiation Laboratory to design and build radiation detector stands and targets to support a 

testing of various materials (aluminum, polyethylene, combination). This effort will result in data 

that will inform deep space habitat construction. This project can be viewed as the necessary first 

step in the development of a vehicle optimization capability for long duration, heavily shielded 

vehicles.

 Spacecraft Oxygen Recovery: Oxygen recovery systems are critical when oxygen resupply from 

Earth is not available, and will be enabling for long-duration human missions. NASA awarded

two contracts, Honeywell Aerospace and UMQUA Research Co., to develop technologies that 

will increase the oxygen recovery rate aboard human spacecraft to at least 75 percent while 

achieving high reliability. Future maturation of these technologies may be used by the ISS as a 

proving ground to retire risk and gain experience with capabilities needed for deep-space 

exploration.

 The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) spacecraft will carry a total of five instruments to 

lunar orbit—four from South Korea and one from NASA (developed by Arizona State University 

and Malin Space Science Systems). ShadowCam, the US provided instrument, will map the 

reflectance within the permanently shadowed regions to search for evidence of frost or ice 

deposits. The instrument’s optical camera is based on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Narrow 

Angle Camera, but is 800 times more sensitive, allowing it to obtain high-resolution, high signalto-noise imaging of the moon’s permanently shadowed regions. ShadowCam will observe these 

regions monthly to detect seasonal changes and measure the terrain inside the craters, including 

the distribution of boulders. ShadowCam will address strategic knowledge gaps, or lack of 
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information required to reduce risk, increase effectiveness, and improve the designs of future 

human and robotic missions.

COMMUNICATIONSAUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

Autonomous systems are critical when exploring or operating in an extreme environment, on Earth or in 

space (especially for outer planets exploration). This portfolio supports technologies that benefit space 

exploration and also support manufacturers, businesses and other entities. Key technology efforts include:

 Autonomous Medical Operations: The objective of this project is to develop a “medical decision 

support system” to enable astronauts on long-duration exploration missions to operate 

autonomously while independent of Earth contact. Such a system is not intended to replace a 

“Chief Medical Officer” (CMO), but rather to support the CMO’s medical actions by providing 

advice and procedure recommendations during emergent care and clinical work. The 

Autonomous Medical Operations system will enable rapid, assured acquisition and analysis of 

sensor data to support differential diagnosis; analysis from medical on-board notes and on-board 

databases (including tailoring to individual astronauts); and automated reasoning using structured 

and unstructured data.

 Autonomous Pop Up Flat Folding Exploration Robot: The objective of this project is to enable 

the “Pop-Up Flat Folding Explorer Robots” (PUFFER) to operate autonomously, both 

individually and as a multi-robot team. PUFFER is a miniature mobile robot that is designed as a 

low-volume, low mass, low-cost mission enhancement for accessing new high interest extreme 

terrains. PUFFER is capable of supportingfuture lunar, Mars and icy moon missions, as well as 

extreme terrains on Earth.

ENTRY, DESCENT AND LANDING (EDL) SYSTEMS

In order for NASA to land more mass, more accurately on planetary bodies, as well as improve 

capabilities to return spacecraft from low Earth orbit and deep space, the Agency must develop more 

capable entry, descent, and landing systems, materials, and modeling capabilities. NASA invests in 

technologies focused on the design, analysis, and testing of advanced materials for thermal protection and 

aeroshell architectures required for future exploration vehicles and planetary entry missions. Key projects 

within the Entry, Descent and Landing Systems include: 

 Safe and Precised Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE), a precision landing and 

hazard avoidance technology, will be infused into future robotic science missions. The project 

will strive to tie entry uncertainty to a safe & precise landing. By the end of the project, the goal 

is to reach 200m/s with Line of Sight Velocity and greater than 4 km in Line of Sight Range.

 Heat Shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET) is an advanced thermal 

protection system that consists of a high-density all-carbon surface layer below which is a lower 

density layer composed of a blended carbon phenolic yarn which is then infused with a middensity level of phenolic resin. The mass efficiency of HEEET permits exploration and science 

missions to target much lower entry g-load compared to current state-of-the-art. 

 NASA will emphasize technologies to enhance lander technology and improve autonomous 

precision landing with hazard avoidance on lunar and planetary surfaces. NASA shares these 

landing capabilities through public-private partnerships with industry through multiple 

partnership and contract mechanisms.
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 Mars 2020 Entry, Descent and Landing Instrumentation: HEOMD, SMD, and STMD (which will 

be part of the new Exploration Research & Technology organization) are collaborating to develop 

the second-generation sensor suite for incorporation into the mission heat shield. This effort will 

further improve our understanding of entry system performance by acquiring flight data from an 

actual Mars mission, informing NASA designs for future exploration missions.
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Laser Comm Relay Demo (LCRD) 25.7 21.5 17.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Restore/In-Space Robotic Servicing (ISRS) 130.0 -- 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3 45.3

Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) 23.4 -- 48.1 24.6 18.4 4.9 0.0

Small Spacecraft, Flight Opportunities & 

Other Tech Demonstration

83.6 -- 222.2 223.2 223.2 234.2 238.9

Total Budget 262.8 -- 332.7 293.1 286.9 284.4 284.2

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Technology Demonstration portfolio conducts both 

ground-based testing to determine feasibility, and space 

flight demonstrations to transition new capabilities, to

NASA exploration missions, and potentially to other 

government agencies and industry.

Current and future projects in this portfolio are being

aligned to NASA’s new Exploration Campaign 

technology areas of focus, with an emphasis on the nearterm lunar exploration goals. The areas of technology 

focus include: power and propulsion technologies, 

including cryogenic fluid management and solar electric 

propulsion; advanced communications and navigation

demonstrations; in-situ resource utilization; entry, descent 

and landing; and in-space manufacturing and on-orbit 

assembly technologies.

While these technologies primarily benefit space 

exploration, several of these technologies offer the potential for commercial benefits, as well. Where this 

potential is high, public-private partnerships will be used to enable NASA to share the risk and financial 

interest with private sector industry and better leverage government investments. For example, in-space 

manufacturing and assembly offers a broad range of potential benefits while entry, descent and landing 

technologies required for exploration could provide the capability to return large payloads to Earth 

enabling the re-use of space systems and potentially the affordable return to Earth of objects 

manufactured in space. 

This account also supports platforms that enable technology demonstrations in relevant environments 

through Flight Opportunities suborbital flights and to demonstrate capabilities and acquire strategic 

knowledge through Small Spacecraft platforms (including Cubesats) and the Cubesat Launch Initiative. 

Innovative NASA robotic technologies such as 

TALISMAN, seen here during calibration tests 

at NASA's Langley Research Center, are 

critical to the CIRAS project, which seeks to 

enable space-based, robotic assembly of flight 

hardware and space systems. This is one of 

three concepts being developed. 
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Examples include using vertical takeoff, vertical landing rockets to demonstrate precision landing and 

hazard avoidance software and avionics, and using CubeSat robotic precursor activities to acquire 

strategic knowledge about potential destinations for human exploration such as prospecting for lunar ice.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The Technology Demonstration program is restructured and consolidated to align with NASA’s 

Exploration Campaign and the associated technology areas of focus. The content consolidates projects 

previously funded under the Space Technology account (including Technology Demonstration Missions, 

Flight Opportunities, and Small Spacecraft Technology), and from the Human Exploration and 

Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Robotic Precursor 

Domain. This consolidation creates a single portfolio, integrating and re-focusing these activities toward 

supporting Deep Space Exploration. As FY 2018 and FY 2019 activities are phased out or otherwise 

concluded, this portfolio will invest resources in technologies that benefit deep space exploration.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 Solar Electric Propulsion completed a Preliminary Design Review under the Advanced Electric 

Propulsion Subsystem contract with Aerojet Rocketdyne. This electrically propelled propulsion 

system will use 10 times less propellant than a comparable, conventional chemical propulsion system, 

and can provide enough force over a period of time to move cargo and perform orbital transfers.

 In-Space Robotic Manufacturing and Assembly completed its first year of design, development, and 

ground testing with three contractors - Made-In-Space, Inc, Orbital ATK, and Space Systems Loral. 

NASA and its commercial partners are developing methods to manufacture, assemble and repair large 

structures in space.

 The Restore-L project awarded the spacecraft bus contract to Space Systems Loral and completed a 

System Requirements Review and passed Key Decision Points A and B. 

 Seventeen technology payloads were flown across eight Flight Opportunities campaigns: three 

parabolic, three high-altitude balloon and two low-altitude rocket-powered entry, descent and landing 

tests. This included a laser-guided navigation sensor that could help future landers and rovers make 

safe, precise landings on the moon, Mars or destinations beyond was tested in April 2017 in 

California’s Mojave Desert. The Navigation Doppler Lidar and Lander Vision System were flight 

tested aboard Masten Space Systems' rocket-powered Vertical Take-off, Vertical Landing (VTVL) 

platform. 

 Selected experiments to fly on the Materials International Space Station Experiments (MISSE) to the 

ISS beginning in FY 2018 include six material samples for MISSE-09, four experiments for MISSE10 and five for MISSE-11. The harsh environment of low-Earth orbit exposes the materials to a 

vacuum, atomic oxygen, ultraviolet radiation, direct sunlight and extreme heat and cold. The 

experiments provide a better understanding of material durability, from coatings to electronic sensors, 

which could be applied to future spacecraft designs.

 Through HEOMD/AES NextSTEP Phase 1 activities, three small satellites called Cubesats were 

selected to fly on Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1); the first planned flight of the Space Launch System 

(SLS) and the Orion spacecraft.

 The Jet Propulsion Laboratory completed testing of the Deep Space Atomic Clock and successfully 

integrated and tested the flight unit onto the Orbital Test Bed Spacecraft. 
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 The Evolvable Cyrogenics (eCryo) project made its final delivery of the Radio Frequency Mass 

Gauge to the Goddard Space Flight Center for integration with the Robotic Refueling Mission #3. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 Two small spacecraft missions were successfully launched on November 12, 2017 from NASA’s 

Wallops Flight Facility aboard Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft. The Integrated Solar Array and 

Reflect Antenna mission will demonstrate enhanced radio communications, and the two Optical 

Communications and Sensory Demonstration spacecraft will test optical laser communications and 

formation flight. The CubeSat Proximity Operations Demonstration will demonstrate rendezvous and 

docking capabilities for small spacecraft in late 2018.

 NASA will launch two payloads aboard the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program-2 Launch, the Deep 

Space Atomic Clock, which will demonstrate precision navigation for six months; and the Green 

Propellant Infusion Mission, which will have a one year mission to prove the performance of this 

low-toxicity monopropellant alternative to hydrazine. 

 As part of ongoing work under the NextSTEP-1 awards, NASA plans to conduct vacuum chamber 

tests of high-power electric propulsion systems operating for 100 continuous hours. 

 NASA will maintain investments in efforts that reduce logistics requirements, including in-space 

manufacturing technology development and demonstration on ISS. NextSTEP BAA contracts will be 

awarded to develop a multi-material fabrication laboratory (FabLab) that will be demonstrated on 

ISS.

 eCryo will continue to prepare for the test of the Structural Heat Intercept Integration Vibration 

Evaluation Rig (SHIIVER) tank to be conducted at the Glenn Research Center Plum Brook Station. 

The tank will be used to demonstrate advanced insulation blankets, foam insulation and vapor-based 

cooling that are needed to help maintain very cold liquid propellants to be used as fuel for deep space 

missions.

 The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) project will complete its Preliminary Design 

Review and Key Decision Point-C to align with the Science Mission Directorate Psyche mission 

schedule. This system will be capable of delivering information rates at least 10 times faster than 

conventional systems that use comparable mass and power.

 The three In-Space Robotic Manufacturing and Assembly contractors will complete the ground based 

development and testing phase and prepare for a potential follow-on flight demonstration. 

 The Restore-L project held a Preliminary Design Review in early FY 2018 while continuing to make 

steady progress on robotics, propellant transfer, avionics, and rendezvous and proximity operations 

subsystem technologies. An Industry Day was held to help enable transfer of the critical satellite 

servicing technologies to aid the nascent commercial satellite servicing industry.

 UP Aerospace SpaceLoft-12, to be flown in late FY 2018 from Spaceport America in New Mexico, 

will test both the Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) and Affordable 

Vehicle Avionics (AVA) technologies under development at the Ames Research Center.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Starting in FY 2019, NASA is prioritizing its investments to maximize alignment with the new 

Exploration Campaign objectives with an emphasis on: advanced environmental control and life support 

systems & ISRU; power and propulsion technology (including space fission reactors, nuclear thermal 

propulsion, and high powered Solar Electric Propulsion); advanced materials; communications, 
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navigation and avionics technology (including laser communications, disruption tolerant networking and 

high performance spaceflight computing); entry, descent and landing (including lander technologies); and 

autonomous operations.

 In the area of advanced communications technologies, NASA will complete and launch the Laser 

Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) in mid-2019. LCRD is the next step in implementing 

NASA’s vision of using optical communications for both near-Earth and deep space missions, which 

will help NASA understand the best ways to operate laser communications systems and enable much 

higher data rates for connections between spacecraft and Earth, such as scientific data downlink and 

astronaut communications. In addition, the Deep Space Optical Communications project will conduct 

its Critical Design Review. 

 The Solar Electric Propulsion Project will complete the Critical Design Review for the electric 

propulsion subsystem, conduct ground testing of the Solar Electric Propulsion engineering 

development units for the high power, magnetically-shielded Hall effect thrusters and begin 

fabrication of the flight qualification hardware to support a space demonstration.

 Upon completion of the ground demonstration of the public-private partnership on the In-Space 

Robotic Manufacturing and Assembly projects, NASA will enter into a formulation phase to flight 

demonstrate the technology capabilities needed to build large structures in space. 

 MOXIE and Terrain Relative Navigation will deliver their payloads for integration and testing with 

the rover for launch on the Mars 2020 Mission. 

Program Elements

POWER AND PROPULSION

Solar Electric Propulsion:

The Glenn Research Center (GRC) will continue

development of Solar Electric Propulsion with 

higher-power, longer-life thrusters and power 

processing units. The use of electric thrusters on 

commercial satellites continues to increase, and 

previous NASA advancements in deployable solar 

array structures, with half of the mass and onethird of the packaging volume compared to the 

best current arrays, are already being incorporated 

into commercial satellite product lines. 

GRC successfully developed and tested technology demonstration units for Hall-effect thrusters operating 

at approximately 13 kilowatts and with magnetic shielding to permit years of continuous operations 

without degradation. A three-year contract for engineering and qualification unit delivery of thrusters and 

power processing units was awarded in Spring 2016 to Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. In FY 2018, NASA will 

begin ground testing of the engineering development units for the thrusters and begin fabrication of the 

qualification units in FY 2019. Once proven, high-powered Solar Electric Propulsion can efficiently 

propel more ambitious, robotic science and human exploration missions beyond the Earth and into deep 

Advanced ROSA solar array demonstration on ISS, July 2017
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space. Furthermore, Solar Electric Propulsion will enable more efficient orbit transfer of spacecraft and 

accommodate the increasing power demands for government and commercial satellites.

Evolvable Cryogenics/Cryogenic Fluid Management 

The Evolvable Cryogenics project is conducting a series of ground demonstrations at Marshall Space 

Flight Center (MSFC) and GRC to validate the performance of propellant storage tanks designed for 

long-term on-orbit storage. In addition to managing the propellant boil-off by validating the effectiveness 

of advanced multi-layer insulation, the team is evaluating the reduction of ancillary system mass and 

complexity. The project will also investigate the utilization of remaining boil-off gases to replace existing 

pressurization and attitude control systems, and to provide electrical power for the Space Launch System 

(SLS) Exploration Upper Stage and other launch vehicle systems. The team is also developing new 

cryogenic monitoring instrumentation and analytical models to assist in determining cryogenic system 

health during in space operations. For NASA, these technologies enable beyond low-Earth orbit 

exploration missions, while industry will likely infuse the technologies on next generation launch vehicles

and on-orbit stages, making them more efficient and capable. By taking an incremental ground test 

approach, NASA is prioritizing technologies needed by Exploration, including SLS upper stage 

development, and the long-term needs of the aerospace industry as a whole. The project will build on the 

knowledge gained from previous investments and utilize existing Agency assets and test facilities capable 

of maturing cryogenic propellant transfer and storage technologies. NASA intends to initiate a Cryogenic 

Fluid Management (CFM) flight demonstration phase, using the results of an internal NASA CFM roadmapping activity, a 2017 Cryogenic Fluid Management Request for Information, and direct discussions 

with industry partners to formulate the technology demonstration priorities and acquisition approach.

Green Propellant Infusion Mission 

Green Propellant Infusion Mission is a dedicated spacecraft to demonstrate non-toxic propellant 

propulsion with the goal to provide an alternate to hydrazine propellant applicable to a small to mediumsized spacecraft. Higher performing and safer propellant alternatives are at a tipping point. Once 

demonstrated in-space, rapid incorporation could occur into a variety of spacecraft. NASA selected AFM315E as an innovative, low-toxicity monopropellant alternative with improved performance over 

hydrazine. The AF-M315E propulsion system is expected to improve overall vehicle performance by 40 

percent and processing efficiency while decreasing operational costs by reducing health and 

environmental hazards. The green propellant formula, thrusters, and related systems will perform a series 

of in-space demonstration tests. NASA has secured a rideshare opportunity for technology demonstration 

through the STP-2 launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, which is scheduled to launch in mid-2018. In 

addition, the Space Technology Mission Directorate (which will be a part of the new Exploration 

Research & Technology) continues to work with Aerojet Rocketdyne to revise the one-Newton thruster 

design to implement improvements to better enable commercial infusion potential following the in-space 

demonstration, through a public-private partnership collaboration.
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TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

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ROBOTIC IN-SPACE MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY OF SPACECRAFT AND 

SPACE STRUCTURES 

In-Space Robotic Manufacturing and Assembly

In partnership with commercial industry, NASA develops and demonstrates technologies required to 

manufacture, assemble, and aggregate large and/or complex systems in space utilizing robotic and 

additive manufacturing technology. Presently, launch-shroud size, lift capacity, and launch 

loads/environments limit the size and capabilities of systems pre-assembled on the ground and deployed 

using a single launch. With advances in ultra-lightweight materials, additive manufacturing, robotics, and 

autonomy, in-space manufacturing, assembly, and aggregation concepts are now at a tipping point. The 

following competitively awarded proposals were selected in November 2015 to conduct ground 

development of robotic manufacturing and assembly technologies:

 Public-Private Partnership for Robotic In-Space Manufacturing and Assembly of Spacecraft and 

Space Structures—Orbital ATK of Dulles, VA;

 Versatile In-Space Robotic Precision Manufacturing and Assembly System—Made in Space, Inc. of 

Moffett Field, CA; and

 Dragonfly: On-Orbit Robotic Installation and Reconfiguration of Large Solid Radio Frequency (RF) 

Reflectors—Space Systems Loral of Palo Alto, CA.

All three are on track to complete ground demonstrations in ambient or thermal vacuum conditions by the 

end of FY 2018. This disruptive capability could transform the traditional spacecraft-manufacturing 

model by enabling in-space creation of large spacecraft systems. No longer will developing, building, and 

qualifying a spacecraft focus so heavily on an integrated system that must survive launch loads and 

environments. These crosscutting technologies could also greatly reduce cost while increasing capabilities 

for both NASA and commercial space applications. The FY 2019 budget request includes funding to 

conduct follow-on activities for an affordable flight demonstration of in-space manufacturing and robotic 

assembly technologies.

RESTORE-L/SATELLITE SERVICING

NASA will continue to restructure its investment in the development of satellite servicing technologies to 

reduce its overall cost. Public private partnerships will be further explored, as well as completion of the 

spacecraft bus contracted effort. This project will build off of the Restore-L preliminary design completed 

in FY 2018 and support technologies that will feed into NASA’s needs for human exploration. The 

These artist's renderings depict Archinaut (left) and Dragonfly (right) Archinaut uses additive manufacturing to produce 

new or replacement structures including lengthy beams and struts. Dragonfly enables satellite self-assembly in orbit.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

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project will target technology development and subsequent flight demonstration of critical satellite 

servicing technologies of benefit to the nascent commercial satellite servicing industry. 

ADVANCED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND IN 

SITU RESOURCE UTILIZATION 

Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Experiment (MOXIE)

The Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) will demonstrate in-situ resource 

utilization technologies to enable propellant and consumable oxygen production from the Martian 

atmosphere for future exploration missions. Specifically, MOXIE will produce oxygen from a Mars 

atmosphere, demonstrate the feasibility of ISRU on Mars, validate analytical models for scaling up of 

future ISRU systems, and provide valuable knowledge needed for future mission development. MOXIE 

will fly on the Science Mission Directorate's Mars 2020 mission.

ENTRY DESCENT AND LANDING

Terrain Relative Navigation 

The Terrain Relative Navigation project will improve targeting accuracy for landing and provide hazard 

avoidance to enable access to scientifically compelling sites with acceptable risk. All of NASA's current 

human and robotic precursor mission architectures for planetary surface exploration require this 

technology. Using Terrain Relative Navigation, the Mars 2020 powered descent vehicle will estimate its 

location while descending through the Martian atmosphere. This allows the vehicle to determine its 

position relative to the ground with an accuracy of about 200 feet (60 meters) or less. Upon successful 

demonstration, this technology will provide capability to land near pre-deployed assets, provide the 

capability to avoid large scale landing hazards during entry, descent, and landing operations, and will 

reduce post-landing surface drive distances. 

Low Earth Orbit Flight Test of Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID)

NASA, in partnership with United Launch Alliance, will conduct a flight test of inflatable entry vehicle 

technology in the Earth's atmosphere to determine the feasibility of this technology in supporting high 

mass Entry Descent and Landing. This project will also demonstrate capabilities for a high mass return to 

Earth from Low Earth Orbit that could enable commercial applications such as flight hardware re-use and 

return of products manufactured in space for terrestrial use. The reentry vehicle will be flown as a 

secondary payload on a ULA Atlas V launch vehicle and used to deliver a primary payload to Earth orbit. 

After the primary payload is released, the Atlas V Centaur upper stage will orient and de-orbit the reentry 

vehicle for an Earth re-entry. The flight will test High Mass Entry Descent and Landing technology at a 

scale (6m) and at conditions relevant to identified Earth and Mars mission infusion opportunities. By 

conducting this effort with an industry cost-sharing partnership, NASA is significantly reducing the 

overall cost of this technology while enabling a potential commercial capability to achieve efficient, high 

mass return to Earth from Low Earth Orbit. 
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Precision Landing

NASA will begin pre-formulation activities for a Precision Landing flight demonstration that includes the 

technologies to develop a capability which enables robotic and human missions to land safely in 

hazardous terrain, and/or in specified locations of scientific interest or near pre-deployed assets. 

Technologies for precision landing include low-Size, Weight, and Power optical, Light Detection and 

Ranging, and other sensors; guidance, navigation and control algorithms; and high-performance, real-time 

computational hardware and software. 

COMMUNICATIONS, NAVIGATION AND AVIONICS 

In addition to the projects below, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration seeks to change the 

way we send and receive data, video and other information, using lasers to encode and transmit data at 

rates 10 to 100 times faster than today's fastest radio-frequency systems, using significantly less mass and 

power. This project in development is described further in a separate section that follows.

Deep Space Optical Communication

The Deep Space Optical Communications project led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) will develop 

key technologies for the demonstration of a deep space optical flight transceiver and ground receiver that 

will provide greater than 10 times the data rate of a state of the art deep space RF system (Ka-band). This 

capability will enable future advanced instruments, live high definition video, tele-presence, and deepspace human exploration of the solar system. Deep Space Optical Communication technologies are 

considered essential for future human missions to Mars and have a wide range of applications for

planetary science missions including those to Mars and the Jovian systems.

NASA successfully completed and reduced significant risks on technologies including a low mass 

spacecraft disturbance isolation assembly, a flight qualified photon counting detector array, a high 

efficiency flight laser amplifier, and a high efficiency photon counting detector array for the ground-based 

receiver. Deep Space Optical Communication will demonstrate a high bandwidth flight laser optical 

communication terminal on the Science Mission Directorate's Psyche mission. 

Deep Space Atomic Clock 

The Deep Space Atomic Clock project led by JPL has the objective to validate a miniaturized, mercuryion, atomic clock that is 100 times more accurate than today’s state of the art space clocks used for 

spacecraft navigation systems. To be launched in FY 2018, the Deep Space Atomic Clock will 

demonstrate ultra-precision timing in space and its benefits for one-way radio-based navigation. If 

successful, it will free up precious deep space communications bandwidth to perform greater scientific 

data return. The enhanced navigation and increased communications bandwidth permitted by the new 

clock will dramatically improve the exploration mission requirement for advanced communication 

capabilities. Precision timing and navigation provided by the new clock will also have the potential to 

improve the Nation’s next generation GPS system. The demonstration is planned for launch via rideshare 

on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy (STP-2), and is funded in a partnership with SCaN.
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FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES 

Flight Opportunities strives to mature innovative technologies of interest to NASA while simultaneously 

supporting the development and use of commercial services and capabilities in the U.S. aerospace

industry. Flight Opportunities matures promising technologies by competitively selecting payloads 

through NASA Research Announcements from the broader U.S. space technology community—

composed of researchers from academia, institutes, and private industry—as well as from within NASA 

and across other government agencies. Once technology payloads are selected, Flight Opportunities 

enables flight testing in relevant environments on commercial suborbital vehicles. This approach takes 

technologies from a laboratory environment and advances their maturity through flight demonstrations, 

while also supporting the small launch industry, suborbital flights and flight providers, and public-private 

partnerships. Currently flying for the program are UP Aerospace, Near Space Corporation, World View, 

Zero Gravity Corporation, and Masten Space Systems. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are anticipated to 

perform their first flight tests for the program in FY 2018. 

Flight Opportunities supports technology development of interest to both NASA and the commercial 

space industry, and by enabling demonstration and test of new technologies using commercial flight 

opportunities, the program helps fulfill the goal of advancing space technology to meet future NASA 

exploration mission needs while simultaneously fostering the growth of the commercial spaceflight 

market. UP Aerospace will test both the Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology 

(ADEPT) and Affordable Vehicle Avionics (AVA) technologies, both under development at the Ames 

Research Center.

For solicitations announced in FY 2019, NASA will prioritize Flight Opportunities to align with NASA's 

Exploration Campaign objectives.

SMALL SPACECRAFT TECHNOLOGY 

To rapidly expand the U.S. capability to execute missions, NASA uses 

small spacecraft technology to develop and demonstrate capabilities 

needed to achieve exploration missions in unique and more affordable 

ways. NASA invests to enable new mission architectures through the 

use of small spacecraft, expand the reach of small spacecraft to new 

destinations and challenging new environments, and to enable the 

augmentation of existing assets and future missions with supporting 

small spacecraft. Technologies demonstrated include thrusters, 

communications, proximity operations, and radiation sensors. NASA 

supports and harnesses the rapid pace of innovation in the small 

spacecraft community through public-private partnerships, leveraging 

of advances in industry and universities, and technology transfer that 

supports new companies and creates new lines of business. CubeSats 

provide a very low-cost platform to address Exploration strategic 

knowledge gaps. 

NASA has established the Small Spacecraft Systems Virtual Institute (S3VI), hosted at NASA’s Ames 

Research Center in Moffett Field, California, to leverage the growing small spacecraft community, 

promote innovation, identify emerging technology opportunities, and provide an efficient channel for 

communication about small spacecraft systems with industry, academia, and other government agencies.
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In FY 2019, NASA will complete and deliver two CubeSats selected via the NextSTEP Phase 1: 

Lockheed Martin, LunIR will test an infrared sensor through a Moon flyby, and Morehead State 

University’s Lunar IceCube will make infrared measurements of lunar volatiles. In addition to three 

Centennial Challenges CubeQuest Challenge awardees, NASA will deliver three additional secondary 

CubeSat payloads which will also fly on SLS in 2019: Lunar Flashlight CubeSat will look for lunar 

volatiles in shadowed craters, the BioSentinel CubeSat will study the effects of the deep space radiation 

environment on yeast DNA, and the Near Earth Asteroid Scout CubeSat will visit a candidate asteroid for 

future human exploration using a solar sail. Through industry partnership, NASA will deliver two 

Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator missions to expand small spacecraft capabilities for the Agency

through in-space testing of new propulsion, communications, and control technologies.

NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative provides opportunities for small satellite payloads built by 

universities, high schools and non-profit organizations to fly on upcoming launches. Through innovative 

technology partnerships NASA provides these CubeSat developers a low-cost pathway to conduct 

scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space, thus enabling students, teachers and 

faculty to obtain hands-on flight hardware development experience.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology: 

Technology Demonstration

TDM LASER COMM RELAY DEMO (LCRD)

Formulation Development Operations

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 165.5 3.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 169.5

Development/Implementation 5.1 34.8 31.8 20.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 91.8

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5

2017 MPAR LCC Estimate 170.6 38.7 31.8 21.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 262.7

Total STMD Budget 157.6 25.7 21.5 17.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 222.0

Change from FY 2017 0

Percentage change from FY 2017 0

Total NASA Budget 170.6 38.7 31.8 21.6 262.7

FY 2016 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 114-113, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2016 Operating Plan.

FY 2017 Enacted reflects the funding amounts specified in Division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, 

P.L. 115-31. Table does not reflect emergency supplemental funds also appropriated in FY 2017, totaling $184 

million.

LASER COMM RELAY DEMONSTRATION

The goal of the Laser Communications Relay 

Demonstration project is to prove the utility of bidirectional optical communications relay services 

between geosynchronous orbit and Earth. The project 

supports the advanced communications, naviation, and 

avionics exploration key focus area. The outcome of 

this effort will prove optical communications 

technology in an operational setting, providing data 

rates up to 100-times faster than today’s radio 

frequency based communication systems. The 

demonstration will measure and characterize the 

system performance over a variety of conditions, 

develop operational procedures, assess applicability for 

future missions, and provide an on orbit capability for 

test and demonstration of standards for optical relay 

communications. This capability will have major 

implications for NASA missions, as well as 

crosscutting application for other agencies, and U.S. 

satellite manufacturers and operators given the rising 

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration 

seeks to prove the utility of bi-directional optical 

communications relay services between 

geosynchronous orbit and Earth.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology: 

Technology Demonstration

TDM LASER COMM RELAY DEMO (LCRD)

Formulation Development Operations

ERT-37

demand for bandwidth, consistent with the responses NASA received from the industry through a Request 

for Information. Set to fly as a hosted payload, this project will demonstrate an order of magnitude leap in 

communications capability that could be used for the architecture that succeeds today’s Tracking and 

Data Relay Satellite satellites, and enable new capabilities and services for other government agencies 

and commercial space communications providers. Upon a successful flight demonstration, NASA will 

provide the communications industry access to the integrated system to test these new capabilities for 

commercial application.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

With application to both commercial and NASA operations, LCRD will conduct a minimum two year 

flight demonstration to advance optical communications technology toward infusion into Near Earth 

operational systems, while growing the capabilities of industry sources. Objectives include: 

 Demonstrating bidirectional optical communications between geosynchronous Earth orbit and

Earth; 

 Measuring and characterizing the system performance over a variety of conditions; 

 Developing operational procedures and assessing applicability for future missions; and 

 Providing an on orbit capability for test and demonstration of standards for optical relay 

communications. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

With application to both commercial and NASA operations, STMD completed Critical Design Review 

(CDR) and Key Decision Point C (KDP-C) for the LCRD mission. 

After accomplishing environmental testing on the flight units, the project delivered one (of two) flight 

modems, both Optical Assemblies, Controller Electronics, and Space Switching Units to payload 

integration and test for integration to the flight payload on the LCRD Support Assembly, which was 

delivered to LCRD by Orbital ATK.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The project began the physical integration of the flight payload on the LCRD Support Assembly in FY 

2017 and will complete integration, perform functional and environmental testing, and deliver the flight 

payload to the spacecraft integrator to support a July 2018 pre-ship review.
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Technology Demonstration

TDM LASER COMM RELAY DEMO (LCRD)

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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The project will support space vehicle integration and test, including end-to-end testing with the LCRD 

Mission Operations Center, as well as support launch and early on-orbit checkout of the LCRD flight 

payload.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Feburary 2017 Feburary 2017

CDR December 2016 December 2016

System Integration Review May 2018 July 2018

KDP-D September 2018 August 2018

KDP-E June 2019 June 2019

Operational Readiness Review March 2019 March 2019

Launch Readiness Review November 2019 June 2019

Launch (or equivalent) November 2019 June 2019
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Development Cost and Schedule

The development cost estimate includes HEOMD/SCaN ($28.6M) funding as well as STMD ($63.1M).

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2017 63.1 

(STMD) 70 2018 63.1 0 Launch Nov 2019

June 

2019 -5

2017 91.8 

(NASA) 70 2018 91.8 0 Launch Nov 2019

June 

2019 -5

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 91.8 91.8 0.0

Aircraft/Spacecraft 9.9 17.3 7.4

Payloads 20.2 26.3 6.1

Systems I&T 4.1 5.7 1.6

Launch Vehicle 0.0 0.0 0.0

Ground Systems 6.3 4.7 -1.6

Science/Technology 2.6 4.1 1.5

Other Direct Project 

Costs 48.7 33.7 -15.0
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Technology Demonstration

TDM LASER COMM RELAY DEMO (LCRD)

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Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Program 

Management

Project Management, LCRD 

Payload, LCRD Mission 

Operations Center 

Goddard Space Flight Center No change

Optical Ground 

Station

Optical Ground Stations, RF 

Ground Station and STPSat-6 

Mission Control Center

HEOMD/SCaN No change

Technology 

Transfer

Technology Transfer for 

Payload

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 

Lincoln Laboratory No Change

Ground Station Optical Ground Station 1 Jet Propulsion Lab No Change

Spacecraft and 

Launch Vehicle

STPSat-6 Spacecraft and 

Launch Vehicle

USAF & Orbital ATK (Spacecraft 

vendor); ULA (Launch Vehicle) No Change

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

Given that the launch date slipped two 

months prior to the Air Force selection of a 

launch vehicle provider, there is risk with 

additional slippage beyond the 70% schedule 

confidence level will occur.

NASA (Project team and Space Network) is on the Senior 

Steering Committee for the space vehicle. This position will 

enable additional insight and advocacy unavailable in most 

hosted spacecraft arrangements. As a mission partner, NASA 

also has some influence on spacecraft cost increases.

Acquisition Strategy

All major acquisitions are in place.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Technology Transfer for Payload 

and Optical Ground Station

Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology: Lincoln Laboratory Lexington, MA 
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Technology Demonstration

TDM LASER COMM RELAY DEMO (LCRD)

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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Completed Independent assessment prior to KDP-C.

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Joint 

Confidence 

Level (CL)

Tecolote Oct 2016

Determine realistic 

50/70 percent CL 

budget and 

schedule IAW 

Agency 

requirements 

70 percent CL used 

to define Programheld UFE above 

project for KDP-C

N/A

Standing 

Review 

Board/Indep

endent 

Readiness 

Team

Various subject 

matter experts

December 8-9 

(technical 

presentation); 

December 14, 

2016 

(Programmatic)

Provide STMD and 

GSFC Center 

Director 

programmatic 

assessment

Project has sound 

programmatic and 

technical approaches, 

risk plan and 

milestone 

deliverables are 

acceptable LCRD 

satisfied all review 

success criteria, and 

is ready to proceed 

into implementation 

phase

System 

Integration 

Review 

(SIR) that 

feeds into 

KDP-D

Currently 

scheduled 

for 5/2018
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HUMAN RESEARCH PROGRAM

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 140.0 -- 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0 140.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Sending astronauts into space involves a 

multitude of complicated systems, but perhaps 

the most complex is the human system – human 

health, human factor and the crew interaction 

with their environment. While NASA has more 

than 50 years of crew experience in low Earth

orbit, researchers are continuing to unravel the 

mysteries of how the human body responds to 

the harsh environment of space. The Human 

Research Program (HRP) is responsible for 

understanding and mitigating the highest risks to 

astronaut health and performance to ensure 

crews remain healthy and productive during 

long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit.

As NASA prepares to conduct crewed missions 

in cis-lunar space using Space Launch System

(SLS) and Orion, and eventually at other locations, HRP is developing the scientific and technological 

expertise to send humans into deep space for longer durations. Coordinating with the National 

Academies, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, and other domestic and 

international partners, HRP continues to deliver products and strategies to protect crew health and 

performance during and after exploration spaceflight missions. Current experiments on the International 

Space Station (ISS), as well as in ground-based analog environments and laboratories, are expanding our 

capabilities to enhance crew performance and protect the health and safety of astronauts. Investigations 

regarding space radiation protection, deep space habitat systems, behavioral health, innovative medical 

technologies, advanced food and pharmaceutical systems, space suit requirements, and validated 

countermeasures are evolving to ensure crew health 

Space radiation poses significant health risks for crewmembers, including the possibility of developing 

cancer later in life, radiation sickness and cataracts during the mission, and post-mission effects on the 

nervous and cardiovascular systems. HRP is working with Advanced Exploration Systems (AES), Crew 

Health and Safety and Orion teams on both in-mission and post-mission radiation countermeasures to 

minimize exposures and provide radiation protection. The collaborative effort involves developing 

advanced radiation shielding technologies, defining permissible exposure limits, defining requirements 

for real-time radiation alert systems, optimizing mission architectures, radiation exposure biomedical 

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson collects images of the 

back of the eye during a routine check into astronaut 

eyesight.
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

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monitoring, potential drug or nutritional countermeasures as well as incorporating post-mission health 

surveillance to ensure that crewmembers can safely live and work in space without exceeding acceptable 

radiation health risks.

In collaboration with other federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of 

Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Health and Human Services 

(HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), HRP supports human research to increase 

understanding of the effects of spaceflight on human physiological systems, behavioral responses to 

isolation and confinement, and space radiation health effects. This knowledge is critical to NASA’s plans 

for long-duration human space missions beyond low Earth orbit. In addition, as is the case with many 

space-based medical investigations, this research may also lead to significant advancements in treating 

patients on Earth.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

HRP has updated its Path to Risk Reduction (PRR) to reflect more recent Human and Medical Technical 

Authority/Human System Risk Board assessments. HRP has finalized a new approach to support the 

future deep space exploration by accelerating research on risks with unknown/immature solutions, 

delaying research on risks associated with Mars surface operations or long-term health, and phased out 

research on risks that have mature mitigation solutions.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Initial findings from both ISS One-Year Mission and Twins Study were presented at the annual HRP 

Investigator’s Workshop in January. This was the first comprehensive human genomics study associated 

with astronauts. Whole genome sequencing showed each twin has hundreds of unique mutations in their 

genome, which are normal variants. Transcriptome, or ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, showed more 

than 200,000 RNA molecules were expressed differently between the twins. Since RNA is one of four 

major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life, this research shows how sensitive genes are 

to the changing environments, in space or on Earth. Additionally, shifts in microbial species in space 

included a change in ratio of two dominant bacterial groups (i.e., Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) present in 

the gastrointestinal tract. The ratio of one group to the other increased during flight and returned to preflight levels upon return to Earth. Differences in the viral, bacterial, and fungal microbiome between the 

twins were pronounced at all test time points due to their differing diet and environment. Both of these 

observations indicate a systematic adjustment of the astronaut’s genetic and microbiome during 

spaceflight missions.

Scott Kelly and his one-year mission Russian cosmonaut counterpart, Mikhail Kornienko, both 

experienced a decrease in fine motor skills over time which could have operational implications on a 

mission to Mars. Additionally, sensorimotor dysfunction tests found vastly different performance and 

recovery, despite spending equal time in space. Differences suggest that a focus on preflight training and 

experience is beneficial. These initial observations may provide understanding of novel pathways to 

protect the health and performance of crews during Mars missions and other exploration missions beyond 

low Earth orbit.

HRP researchers conducted approximately 18 ISS biomedical research investigations during each ISS 

mission increment, completed seven flight investigations, and initiated three new research investigations. 
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Studies to mitigate the risk of long-duration spaceflight included a light countermeasure to help ISS and 

future exploration crewmembers improve sleep and enhance performance; functional immune alterations; 

and a study to compare the absorption, metabolism and effects of certain medication use on the ground 

and in the space environment.

The new Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRI for Space Health) is operating and 

soliciting research as well as educating the next generation of space life scientists. TRI for Space Health 

awarded grants for 10 trailblazing research projects in the areas of omics, lymphatic flow, radiation 

damage resistance, minimally invasive surgical capabilities, and the effects of the microbiome on health 

during long-duration spaceflight. In addition, TRI for Space Health awarded post-doctoral fellowships to 

four outstanding early career scientists.

HRP started joint NASA/NSF Antarctic analog studies to support behavioral health and performance 

research. Working with the NSF Polar Program, HRP is integrating behavioral health and performance 

research studies into the Antarctic winter-over campaign sites that serve as operational research analogs 

by providing long duration, isolation, confinement, and extreme conditions to stress the research 

participants. The first study occurred during the 2017 winter-over and included approximately 110 U.S. 

Antarctic program volunteers located at the McMurdo and South Pole stations. Volunteers completed 

periodic computer-based questionnaires, provided saliva samples, and wore a monitor that recorded sleep 

and wake cycles. Researchers used these collective tools to look for signs of stress and changes in 

psychological health of the volunteers during their time in Antarctica. Research in these areas has obvious 

benefits for living in space but could also prove beneficial to people living and working under similar 

conditions on Earth.

HRP began joint NASA/German Aerospace Center (DLR) analog studies to support human health 

countermeasures, exploration medical and behavioral health and performance research. Working with the 

DLR Space Agency and the DLR Institute for Aerospace Medicine, NASA will integrate these studies 

into future Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) missions at Johnson Space Center, and DLR is 

integrating NASA studies into their bed rest campaigns being conducted in their state of the art envihab 

medical research facility located in Cologne, Germany. HRP is studying bed rest as an experimental 

analog for space flight because extended exposure to a head-down tilt position can duplicate many of the 

effects of a low-gravity environment.

HRP delivered a real-time crew performance assessment tool, which should prove very useful in 

gathering near real-time human factors and habitability data during spaceflight missions that can be 

applied to the designs of next generation spacecraft and habitats. Prior to this, there had been no 

established methods in existence to collect real-time human factors and habitability data. Instead, these 

memory-contingent data were acquired at the end of missions during post-flight crew debriefs, which 

typically occur weeks after the events have occurred. Observations during the ISS One-year mission, as 

well as six-month missions, can help spacecraft designers understand how much habitable volume is 

required, and whether a mission’s duration impacts how much space crew members need.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

HRP will continue to work on the highest human health and performance risk areas associated with 

human space exploration missions. To support this work, HRP will release NASA research solicitations 

to the national biomedical research community to better address the exploration spaceflight health, 

performance, and space radiation risks; implement a research plan that fully utilizes the ISS biomedical 
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research capabilities to test mitigation approaches and validate countermeasures; and leverage resources 

and expertise through collaborative research with other NASA programs, international partners and other 

U.S. agencies such as DoD, DOE, NSF, HHS and the NIH.

HRP will undertake risk mitigation activities associated with long-duration human spaceflight that 

address medical consumables tracking technology to better understand pharmaceutical countermeasure 

effectiveness; develop improved injury assessment models to better protect crew during dynamic phases 

of flight; protect team function and performance during the isolation and confinement of long-duration 

missions; improve the physiological medical standards to better protect muscle and aerobic capacity; and 

deliver an improved cancer risk projection model for operational use to protect crew from space radiation 

risks. Finally, HRP is helping improve the health of our nation’s children by continuing the annual Train 

Like an Astronaut Fitness Challenge which will be in its eighth year and was developed in cooperation 

with NASA scientists and fitness professionals working directly with astronauts.

HRP will begin the Spaceflight Standard Measures project that will collect a set of core measurements, 

representative of many of the human spaceflight risks from astronauts before, during and after longduration ISS missions. The project is designed to acquire a consistent set of validated measured 

parameters that document the spaceflight normal response as well as variation in the astronaut population 

in response to diverse duration exposures to spaceflight. The main aim is to ensure that an optimized 

minimal set of measures is consistently captured from all ISS crewmembers in order to characterize the 

health of a human in space. The results will function as a data repository and be available to investigators 

to develop hypotheses, provide supporting experimental data, or be used in astronaut and Earth-based 

epidemiology population.

HRP will continue to support research at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL). Early 2017 was 

the first time NASA used the NSRL galactic cosmic ray (GCR) simulator along with proton and heavy 

ion beams. In the past, accelerator-based space radiation experiments were performed with single ion 

beams at fixed energies. With the GCR, HRP is able to utilize beam switching technology which means it 

is now possible to rapidly switch ion species and energies, allowing for a more realistic possibility to 

simulate the actual radiation environment found in space.

HRP participated in a research study at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine’s :envihab facility, 

which will provide support to the HRP-funded investigators whose studies were also implemented in the 

facility. The objective of the study is to determine whether 30 days of bed rest at a six-degree head-down 

tilt under elevated carbon dioxide exposure, similar to what is experienced on the ISS and could occur on 

future exploration missions, affects physiological and psychological functions.

HRP will collaborate with Crew Health and Safety on ISS studies related to visual impairment, carbon 

dioxide analysis, exercise systems and cognitive functions measures.

HRP will continue to assess deep space habitat concepts under the Next Space Technologies for 

Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) Phase 2 Broad Agency Announcement. The overall purpose is to 

develop and evaluate a government habitat reference architecture in order to prepare to assess industryprovided habitat mockups. HRP will contribute an integrated demonstration of crew exercise to evaluate 

habitat architecture accommodations to support crew exercise. HRP will do this through the medical data 

architecture (MDA) which is a prototype system to comprehensively manage and process medicallyrelevant information to support exploration medical operations, and with a novel “Astroskin” biosensor 
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provided by the Canadian Space Agency that is a wearable vest that collects biometric information such 

as heart and breathing rates.

HRP will deliver recommended updates to physiological medical standards to better protect muscle and 

aerobic capacity. HRP will also deliver recommendations on methods to maintain team function and 

performance during isolation and confinement of long-duration missions.

Since access to ISS crews is limited by the number of astronauts who fly and time requirements for 

operations, HRP relies on ground analogs to mitigate some risks. HRP will conduct four 45-day isolation 

study campaigns using the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) facility. HERA is a unique 

three-story habitat designed to serve as an analog for isolation, confinement, and remote conditions in 

exploration scenarios. Each HERA campaign uses crews of four and is supported by a mission control 

team. A variety of experiments are supported during each 45-day simulated mission.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

HRP intends to fully utilize ISS by implementing an ISS flight research plan critical to mitigating crew 

health and performance risks for exploration missions. HRP will continue planning with the ISS program 

for additional one-year missions to validate exploration countermeasures. HRP will also develop and 

complete ground testing of an advanced exploration exercise system in preparation for ISS deployment as 

part of exploration system maturation plans. 

HRP will continue work with NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Habitation development to define and 

evaluate exploration habitats. HRP will evaluate habitats for accommodation of exercise device and 

prototype autonomous medical systems. HRP has identified several opportunities for testing and system 

integration and will continue working with the NASA team on test planning, execution, and evaluation.

HRP will continue leveraging resources through multiple partnerships including international partnering 

on isolation, confinement and physiology studies with Russia, DLR and European Space Agency. HRP 

plans to continue discussions will DLR on future bed rest studies to be held in FY 2018 at the :envihab 

facility in Cologne, Germany and discussing potential opportunities for collaboration and data sharing 

with European investigators.
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Program Elements

EXPLORATION MEDICAL CAPABILITY

As NASA makes plans to extend human exploration beyond low Earth orbit, identifying and testing nextgeneration medical care and crew health maintenance technologies is vital. Health care options evolve 

based on experience, anticipated needs, and input from flight surgeons and crew offices. Crews will not 

be able to rely on real-time conversations with Earth-based medical experts in the future due to 

communication lag-time associated with the distance between Earth and deep space. Therefore, crew and 

relevant systems must be able to facilitate autonomous medical care operations. Teams in this area draft 

requirements for medical equipment and clinical care, develop remote medical technologies and assess 

medical requirements unique to long-duration space missions.

HUMAN HEALTH COUNTERMEASURES

Countermeasures are the procedures, medications, devices and other strategies that offset the impacts of 

spaceflight stressors (e.g., low gravity, high radiation, etc.) and help keep astronauts healthy and 

productive during space travel and after their return to Earth. Researchers provide biomedical expertise; 

they are responsible for understanding the normal physiologic effects of spaceflight, and then developing 

countermeasures to those with harmful effects on human health and performance. These experts define 

health and medical standards, validate human health prescriptions and exercise system requirements, 

develop injury and sickness prevention standards, integrate and validate physiological countermeasures, 

and establish criteria for NASA fitness for duty, as well as crew selection and performance standards.

HUMAN FACTORS AND BEHAVIORAL PERFORMANCE

Just as the space environment poses physical risks to crewmembers, the unique stresses and challenges of 

spaceflight as well as the vehicle design can affect cognitive and mental performance. Considering 

external factors is essential when designing a spacecraft, habitat, or spacesuit. Human factors experts 

develop new equipment, procedures, and technologies designed to make the space environment more 

livable. Behavioral health researchers assess the impact of space travel on human behavioral health, and 

develop interventions and countermeasures to ensure optimal health and performance. Experts in this area 

make extensive use of analogs, which are experimental environments created to simulate certain aspects 

of space travel. By duplicating space conditions, such as altered day and night cycles, heavy workloads, 

social isolation, and close living quarters, scientists gain insight into the impact of these circumstances on 

human behavior and performance. They then work to develop countermeasures, equipment, and other 

interventions to minimize these risks.

SPACE RADIATION

As NASA expands human presence through the solar system, it is critical that crews are able to safely live 

and work in a space radiation environment without exceeding exposure limits. Space radiation researchers 

develop the knowledge base necessary to determine the biological effects of space radiation. This 

information can then be used for standards for health and habitability, and the requirements for radiation 

protection. They also develop tools to assess and predict risks due to space radiation exposure, and 

strategies to mitigate exposure effects. The deep space radiation environment is far different from that on 
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Earth or in low Earth orbit. Thus, NASA and the DOE have partnered on a facility at Brookhaven 

National Laboratory in New York to simulate the deep space radiation environment which researchers use 

to help understand its biological effects.

ISS MEDICAL PROJECTS

The ISS provides a unique testbed for HRP activities. The medical projects team plans, integrates, and 

implements approved biomedical flight experiments on the ISS, as well as research studies that use 

ground-based spaceflight analog facilities to accomplish program objectives. This includes pre and postflight activities, coordinating flight or ground resources with our international partners, maintaining ISS 

biomedical research racks and flight hardware, and developing crew training for both flight and ground 

investigations. Teams also operate a telescience support center, which provides real-time support and data 

services to all HRP flight experiments. Strong interfaces with external implementing organizations, such 

as the ISS payloads office, analog coordination offices, and international partners, are critical to 

maintaining a robust research program. This group is also responsible for operating the HERA analog 

facility at NASA-Johnson Space Center (JSC) and arranging access to other analog facilities required by 

HRP researchers, including NSF Antarctic facilities, other national isolation analogs, and international 

partner facilities in Germany and Russia.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Oct 2017 Release NASA Cancer Risk Model Source Code 2017 to Operations via access to software 

repository including documentation and use cases for validation

Dec 2017 Complete recommendations to Health Maintenance System (HMS) based on Medical 

Consumables Tracking (MCT) flight demonstration

Jan 2018 Complete Team Function and Performance Protocol Recommendations to the Flight Activities 

Control Board (FACB) for Long Duration Spaceflight

Jan 2018 Conduct 2018 HRP Investigators’ Workshop

Mar 2018 Complete updates to Aerobic and Muscle Standard recommendations for Health and Medical 

Technical Authority (HMTA) based on the fitness for Mission Task studies

Mar 2018 Anthropomorphic Test Device injury assessment reference values to mitigate crew injury during 

dynamic phase of flight

April 2018 Complete First Campaign of 4-45 day HERA Missions

May 2018 Develop Computational Model for Spacecraft/Habitat Volume (Thaxton/NRA) 

May 2018 Release Human Exploration Research Opportunity 2017 (HERO) NASA Research Announcement 

Selection

Aug 2018 Release 2018 HERO 2018 NASA Research Announcement
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Program Management & Commitments

The program office is located at JSC with support from Ames Research Center (ARC), Glenn Research 

Center (GRC), Langley Research Center (LaRC), and Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

The Human Exploration and Operations Associate Administrator delegated the authority, responsibility, 

and accountability of HRP management to the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and 

Applications (SLPSRA) Division at NASA Headquarters. Working closely with the Office of the Chief 

Scientist, and the Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer, the SLPSRA Division establishes the 

overall direction, scope, budget, and resource allocation for the program which the NASA centers then 

implement.

Program Element Provider

Exploration Medical Capability

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): GRC, ARC, and LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Human Health Countermeasures

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): ARC and GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Human Factors and Behavioral 

Performance

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, and KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Space Radiation

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

ISS Medical Project

Provider: JSC

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): ARC and KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

Based upon National Academies’ recommendations, external peer reviews, and Agency human 

exploration plans, NASA HRP awards contracts and grants to further efforts in mitigating risks to crew 

health and performance by providing essential biomedical research and technologies for human space 
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exploration. HRP uses a peer review process that engages leading members of the research community to 

competitively assess the merits of submitted proposals to assure a high-quality research program. 

HRP plans to release the Human Exploration Research Opportunities umbrella NRA that will request 

research proposals across all of its research elements throughout the year, including Space Radiation and 

Crew Health and Performance. This NRA provides opportunities for universities, other government 

agencies and industry researchers from across the nation to develop high NASA priority ground and 

spaceflight experiments which directly contribute to NASA’s exploration mission.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Program Management Translational Research Institute Baylor College of Medicine

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality National Academies Jun 2016

Review of NASA 

research on human 

health risks

Informed program 

research 

prioritization

Jun 2018

Quality

National Council on 

Radiation 

Protection (NCRP)

Jul 2016 Review of space 

radiation health risks

Established research 

priorities for space 

radiation research 

Jul 2018

Quality Peer Review Panel Jul 2017 Peer review of NRA Selected grantees Jul 2018

Quality

Independent 

Program 

Assessment 

Sep 2015

Review of program 

management policies 

and practices

Verified adherence to 

NASA program 

management policies

Sep 2018 
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 199.0 -- 205.0 198.0 198.0 198.0 198.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research 

(SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer 

(STTR) programs leverage the Nation’s innovative 

small business community to support research and 

development in support of NASA's mission in

human exploration, science and aeronautics. These

programs provides the small business sector with an 

opportunity to develop technology for NASA, and to 

commercialize that technology to spur economic 

growth. 

The Agency actively works to facilitate the infusion 

of NASA-funded SBIR and STTR technologies into 

its missions and projects. Research and technologies 

funded by SBIR and STTR contracts have made 

important contributions to the Agency’s mission.

Examples include in-space propulsion systems to 

reduce travel time and cost; research to revolutionize

space travel with new technologies to generate 

electrical power and store energy; technologies to

enable a growing number of potential applications 

for small spacecraft; and advances in instruments that can be used as inspection tools for locating and 

diagnosing material defects like a micro meteoroid impact. 

Small Businesses are contributing to NASA's mission through advancements in robotic mobility, 

manipulation, and sampling, as well as technologies for breaking through barriers to enable greater use of 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems in NASA research and in civil aviation. These investments seek to achieve 

the program’s vision of empowering small businesses to deliver technological innovation that contributes 

to NASA’s interests, provides societal benefit, and grows the U.S. economy.

NASA had been searching for ways to monitor the 

health of astronauts during long missions using tests 

that would be easy to administer, would not be 

intrusive nor require guidance from Mission Control. 

DNA Medicine Institute, a med-tech incubator, 

laboratory, and biomedical technology service 

provider based in Cambridge, MA, developed a 

comprehensive nanoscale diagnostic platform help 

make self-diagnosis in outer space a reality and 

revolutionizing the overall approach to medical testing. 
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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Beginning FY 2019, SBIR and STTR annual solicitations will emphasize Exploration Campaign 

technology focus areas while continuing to support subtopics developed by the Science and Aeronautics 

Mission Directorates. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 NASA conducted its first Request for Information (RFI) to seek feedback from firms about the 

2017 subtopics, ideas for new subtopics and programmatic feedback. The RFI resulted in over 

270 ideas for new subtopics, over 100 pieces of feedback on subtopics from the FY 2017 

solicitation, with over 150 small businesses responding to questions about programmatic 

improvements. 89 percent of respondents said they would participate annually in an RFI, 

demonstrating the desire for engagement by small businesses. Numerous ideas submitted through 

the RFI were incorporated into the 2018 solicitation, including improvements to the budget form 

and providing a one-stop-shop for submitting New Technology Reports.

 NASA conducted its second Industry Day, held both at the Ames Research Center and virtually,

to increase engagement with current and potential participants in the program. Over 450 

innovators from across the country participated. The workshop was held for informational 

purposes and was an opportunity for the small business community to explore and share ideas 

related to the general technical topic areas. It also provided a forum for feedback that resulted in a 

more integrated, streamlined 2018 SBIR solicitation.

 NASA received 1,621 proposals in response to the 2017 SBIR and STTR solicitation and selected 

399 Phase I awards valued at $49.9 million. Women-Owned Small Businesses represented 

9.1 percent of the awards and Small, Disadvantaged Businesses received 8.5 percent of the 

awards, and approximately 75 percent of awards went to companies with fewer than 50 

employees. The 2017 solicitation contained small satellite and small launch vehicle technologies 

as a new topic to address the needs of the academic and commercial small satellite communities 

with a goal of five percent of SBIR/STTR program funding. 23 Phase I awards (5.7% of all Phase 

I awards) were made for the small satellite and small launch vehicle topics.

 133 SBIR Phase II proposals were selected for contract negotiation valued at nearly $100 million. 

Over six percent of those awards were to Women-Owned Small Businesses and over 10 percent 

were to Small, Disadvantaged Businesses. Awards from these solicitations include: technologies 

to create the advanced structures needed for future deep space missions and next-generation 

aeronautics capabilities; and significantly reducing the size and weight of object-detection 

sensors, with applications ranging from autonomous aircraft to space missions, and technologies 

to allow constellations of individual satellites to fly in precise formation and perform coordinated 

science, enabling new capabilities such as autonomous rendezvous and docking, and precision 

formation flying both for human and robotic exploration missions. 

 Phase II STTR program selected 19 proposals for contract negotiation valued at nearly 

$14.3 million. Over five percent of those awards were to Women-Owned Small Businesses and 

over five percent were to Small, Disadvantaged Businesses. 

 30 SBIR Phase II E/X were transitioned to commercialization through awards valued at over $7.9 

million, along with eight STTR Phase II E/X awards valued at over $2.1 million. In addition, the 

program initiated a new Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program (CCRPP) to further 

advance innovative technology with high potential for commercial impact. In FY 2017 NASA 

selected 16 CCRPP awards valued at over $9.5 million which brought more than $9.5 million in 
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matching funding. Finally, over $10 million was infused into SBIR and STTR companies through 

utilization of their NASA awarded technologies with 47 Phase III awards. 

 To enable small businesses to commercialize their innovations, NASA established an interagency 

agreement with the National Science Foundation to provide training grants for participation in the 

I-Corps program to six SBIR and five STTR Phase I awardees from the 2017 solicitation.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 The FY 2018 annual solicitation was released in January. NASA plans to award new Phase I and 

Phase II SBIR and STTR selections in May 2018. 

 NASA will continue to seek small business feedback to increase collaboration with small 

businesses through an annual industry day and Request for Information.

 NASA will continue to offer Post-Phase II award opportunities through vehicles like the Phase II 

E/X and CCRPP programs to increase technology transitions and commercialization. In addition, 

NASA will continue to make I-Corps training grants awards for Phase I awardees to encourage 

commercialization of technology funded through awards.

 The program will roll out an operational and technical modernization effort that is driven by the 

SBIR and STTR users and leverages today’s technology. NASA conducted more than 100 input 

sessions throughout FY 2017 and 2018 to inform this modernization effort including: interviews, 

design sessions, and suggestions from Industry Day and on our website. The program also 

received about 400 submissions to our RFI.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

 Starting with the FY 2019 solicitations, the new Exploration Research and Technology 

organization will emphasize topics on long-term human exploration and space utilization

consistent with the Exploration Campaign. The SBIR and STTR Programs will continue to work 

with the other NASA mission directorates, centers and industry to identify subtopics. NASA

plans to release the annual SBIR and STTR solicitations in January 2019, and award new Phase I 

and Phase II selections the following summer. 

 NASA will continue to offer Post-Phase II award opportunities to increase technology transitions 

and commercialization; and modernize its business capabilities to reduce barriers to entry for 

firms, to increase the quality of proposals and to improve the value proposition for firms.

 NASA will pilot opportunities to accelerate the program’s ability to advance NASA interests in 

deep space exploration and those of the commercial aerospace sector.

Program Elements

SBIR

The SBIR program was established by statute in 1982 and was reauthorized in 2016 to increase research 

and development opportunities for small businesses. The program stimulates U.S. technological 

innovation, employs small businesses to meet federal research and development needs, increases the 

ability for small businesses to commercialize innovations they derive from federal research and 
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development, and encourages and facilitates participation by socially disadvantaged businesses. In 

FY 2018, the SBIR program is supported at a level of at least 3.2 percent of NASA’s extramural research 

and development budget. In FY 2019, the maximum value for an SBIR Phase I contract will be $125,000 

for a period of performance of six months. For Phase II, the maximum total value of an SBIR award will 

be $750,000 over a 24-month period of performance. NASA also supports Phase II Enhancement (II-E/X) 

contract options with incentives for cost sharing to extend the research and development efforts of the 

current Phase II contract. NASA also supports Civilian Commercial Readiness Pilot Program (CCRPP)

contracts with incentives for cost sharing to extend the research and development efforts of the previous 

Phase II contract with strong customer pull for technology maturation. NASA also supports I-Corps 

training grants for Phase I awardees to enable small businesses to commercialize their innovations 

through an interagency agreement with the National Science Foundation.

STTR

The STTR program was established by statute in 1992 and was reauthorized in 2016 to award contracts to 

small businesses for cooperative research and development with a non-profit research institution, such as 

a university. NASA’s STTR program facilitates transfer of technology developed by a research institution 

through the entrepreneurship of a small business, resulting in technology to meet NASA’s core

competency needs in support of its mission programs. Modeled after the SBIR program, STTR is funded 

based on 0.45 percent of the NASA extramural research and development budget. In FY 2019, the 

maximum value for an STTR Phase I contract is $125,000 for a period of performance of thirteen months. 

For Phase II, the maximum total value of an STTR award is $750,000 over a 24-month period of 

performance. Phase II-E/X contract options, CCRPP, and I-Corps are also available to STTR participants.
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Program Schedule

SBIR and STTR solicitation and award schedule is below.

Date Significant Event

January 2018 2018 SBIR and STTR Phase I Solicitation Opens

March 2018 2018 SBIR and STTR Phase 1 Solicitation Closes

May 2018 2018 SBIR and STTR Phase 1 Awards

March 2018 SBIR Phase II Awards Selected (from 2017 Phase I Awards)

July 2018 STTR Phase II Awards Selected (from 2017 Phase I Awards)

August 2018 2019 Solicitation Topics Requested from Mission Directorates and Centers

January 2019 2019 SBIR and STTR Phase I Solicitation Opens

March 2019 2019 SBIR and STTR Phase 1 Solicitation Closes

May 2019 2019 SBIR and STTR Phase 1 Awards

April 2019 SBIR Phase II Awards Selected (from 2018 Phase I Awards)

October 2019 STTR Phase II Awards Selected (from 2018 Phase I Awards)

August 2019 2020 Solicitation Topics Requested from Mission Directorates and Centers

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

SBIR and STTR

Provider: Various Small Businesses and their research partners

Lead Center: NASA HQ; Level 2: Ames Research Center (ARC) 

Performing Center(s): All centers play a project management and 

implementing role.

Cost Share Partner(s): SBIR Phase II-E/X matches cost share funding with 

SBIR and STTR up to $375,000 of non-SBIR and non-STTR investment(s) 

from a NASA project, NASA contractor, or third party commercial investor 

to extend an existing Phase II project to perform additional research. SBIR 

CCRPP matches cost share funding with non-SBIR and non-STTR 

investment(s) from a NASA project, NASA contractor, or third party 

commercial investor to continue a former Phase II project to perform 

additional research for strong customer pull for the technology maturation.
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Acquisition Strategy

NASA issues annual SBIR and STTR program solicitations, setting forth a substantial number of topic 

areas open to qualified small businesses. There are three phases for SBIR and STTR funding awards. 

Phase I awards give small businesses the opportunity to establish the scientific, technical and commercial 

merit of the proposed innovation in alignment with NASA interests. The most promising Phase I projects 

are selected for Phase II awards through a competitive selection process, based on scientific and technical 

merit, expected value to NASA, and commercialization potential. Phase II awards focus on the 

development, demonstration, and delivery of the proposed innovation. Phase II Enhancement (II-E/X) and 

the Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program support advancement of innovations developed 

under Phase II. Phase III supports the commercialization of innovative technologies, products, and 

services that result from a Phase I or Phase II contract. Commercialization includes further development 

of technologies and getting feedback to discover infusion opportunities into NASA programs, other 

government agencies, or the private sector. Phase III contracts receive funding from sources other than 

the SBIR and STTR programs and may be awarded without further competition.

SBIR and STTR program management work collaboratively with NASA Center Chief Technologists (for 

STTR) and a Mission Directorate Steering Council (for SBIR) during the SBIR and STTR acquisition 

process. This collaboration, from topic development through proposal review and ranking, supports final 

selection. Mission Directorates and NASA center program personnel interact with SBIR and STTR award 

winners to maximize alignment and implementation of the SBIR and STTR products into NASA’s future 

missions and systems. The Space Technology Mission Directorate (which will be part of the new ER&T) 

oversees the writing of SBIR and STTR topics and subtopics to address NASA’s core competencies and 

align with the Agency’s Technology Roadmaps.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance

Government 

Accountability 

Office (GAO)

Ongoing

The GAO has been 

tasked to assess all 

SBIR and STTR 

programs for their 

performance in 

complying with 

spending 

requirements, and 

program efforts in 

combating Waste, 

Fraud, and Abuse.

GAO found no 

concerns to address. Ongoing
Exploration Research and Technology: Exploration Research and Technology

SBIR AND STTR

ERT-57

Historical Performance

The map below represents the FY 2017 SBIR and STTR Phase I, Phase II, Phase II-E/X, and CCRPP that 

target technologies highly desired by NASA Mission Directorates, by geographic location.
LEO AND SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS

LSO-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

International Space Station 1450.9 -- 1462.2 1453.2 1471.2 1466.2 1451.2

Space Transportation 2589.0 -- 2108.7 1829.1 1858.9 1829.2 1807.3

Space and Flight Support (SFS) 902.6 -- 903.7 841.4 888.2 934.9 954.6

Commercial LEO Development 0.0 -- 150.0 150.0 175.0 200.0 225.0

Total Budget 4942.5 4850.1 4624.6 4273.7 4393.3 4430.3 4438.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

LEO and Spaceflight Operations .......................................LSO-2

International Space Station

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM................................................... LSO-4

ISS Systems Operations and Maintenance.......................................................................LSO-6

ISS Research...................................................................................................................LSO-12

Space Transportation....................................................................................LSO-23

CREW AND CARGO PROGRAM ......................................................................... LSO-24

COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM ...................................................................... LSO-31

Space and Flight Support (SFS)

SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION ................................................ LSO-39

Space Communications Networks ..................................................................................LSO-42

Space Communications Support.....................................................................................LSO-50

HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS.............................................................. LSO-57

LAUNCH SERVICES............................................................................................ LSO-63

ROCKET PROPULSION TEST ............................................................................ LSO-71

Commercial LEO Development.....................................................................LSO-76
LEO AND SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS

LSO-2

NASA astronauts Kate Rubins (left) and Jeff 

Williams (right) prepare to grapple the SpaceX 

Dragon supply spacecraft from aboard the 

International Space Station.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

International Space Station 1450.9 -- 1462.2 1453.2 1471.2 1466.2 1451.2

Space Transportation 2589.0 -- 2108.7 1829.1 1858.9 1829.2 1807.3

Space and Flight Support (SFS) 902.6 -- 903.7 841.4 888.2 934.9 954.6

Commercial LEO Development 0.0 -- 150.0 150.0 175.0 200.0 225.0

Total Budget 4942.5 4850.1 4624.6 4273.7 4393.3 4430.3 4438.0

Change from FY 2018 -225.5

Percentage change from FY 2018 -4.6%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Budget proposes to centralize space access

efforts in a new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 

Spaceflight Operations account, enabling NASA to 

better plan both government and commercial access 

to space, and laying the foundation to support future 

commercial operations in LEO. These activities 

support existing and future space operations, 

commercialization, and space and flight support 

capabilities for NASA and non-NASA missions. 

The FY 2019 President's Budget includes a new 

account structure for the human space exploration 

and technology program to improve the alignment of 

funding with NASA's new strategic space exploration 

objectives. It renames the Space Operations, 

Exploration, and Space Technology accounts as LEO 

and Spaceflight Operations, Deep Space Exploration 

Systems, and Exploration Research and Technology, 

and realigns some program funding. As part of this realignment, NASA also plans to restructure the 

Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and Space Technology Mission Directorate.

The new Commercial LEO Development theme and program will fund NASA's efforts to assist 

commercial space industry in developing a long-term, sustained commercial LEO presence. NASA’s

efforts will focus on enabling, developing, and deploying commercial platforms. The Budget proposes 

to end direct U.S. financial support for the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025, after which NASA 

would rely on commercial partners for its LEO research and technology demonstration requirements. To 

kick off the new program's activities, NASA plans to request formal proposals from industry for future 

platforms and capabilities. We are expecting to see market analysis and business plans as part of these 

proposals.
LEO AND SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS

LSO-3

While initiating planning to transition LEO human spaceflight operations to commercial partners in 2025, 

NASA will continue existing operations of the ISS with expanded partnerships on the station. Over the 

next seven years, these partnerships – international and commercial – will help ensure continued human 

presence in LEO and full utilization of ISS for conducting research and technology development. 

ISS serves as a platform for advanced human systems research and technology which enables safe and 

reliable exploration beyond LEO. As a national research laboratory, ISS leverages global collaboration 

and commercial partnerships to advance our Nation's and world's capabilities in space and help open the 

space frontier. ISS provides opportunities for U.S. companies to further enhance their experience and 

business base in LEO. Programs in the LEO and Spaceflight Operations portfolio support and expand 

commercialization as the foundation of future U.S. civilian space efforts, including promoting new 

opportunities for collaboration with industry on space station operations. 

The Crew and Cargo Program manages transportation services provided by both international partners 

and domestic commercial providers. NASA continues to advance commercial spaceflight and the 

American jobs it creates.

Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partnerships with the private sector are working to develop and operate 

safe, reliable, and affordable crew transportation systems capable of carrying humans to and from space, 

including the ISS. Working with industry to develop and provide human transportation services to and 

from space will lay the foundation for more affordable and sustainable future human space transportation 

capabilities, bolster American leadership, reduce our current reliance on foreign providers for this service, 

and help stimulate the American aerospace industry. 

Space and Flight Support programs continue providing mission critical space communications, launch 

and test services, and astronaut training to support their customer missions. The Space Communications 

and Navigation program provides communication with missions in LEO and ISS with the Space Network. 

The Near Earth Network communicates with suborbital missions and some lunar orbits, while the Deep 

Space Network communicates with the missions most distant from Earth. The Launch Services Program 

provides expertise and active launch mission management for over 40 NASA and other civil sector 

government missions in various stages of development. The Rocket Propulsion Test program manages a 

wide range of facilities capable of ground testing rocket engines and components under controlled 

conditions, a critical foundation for the success of NASA and commercial missions. To continue with the 

next step in human space exploration, NASA must prepare the human system for living and working in 

the hostile environment of space. The Human Space Flight Operations program provides the training and 

readiness to ensure crew health, safety and mission success.

For further programmatic information, go to https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/index.html
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM

LSO-4

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

ISS Systems Operations and Maintenance 1103.5 -- 1105.5 1105.5 1105.6 1105.6 1105.6

ISS Research 347.3 -- 356.7 347.7 365.6 360.6 345.6

Total Budget 1450.9 -- 1462.2 1453.2 1471.2 1466.2 1451.2

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest and most 

complex habitable space-based research facility ever 

constructed by humanity. This highly complex facility 

provides a unique platform, enabling distinct research 

opportunities. The ISS's crew members orbit the Earth about 

every 90 minutes and have continuously occupied the facility 

since 2000. The U.S. segment is the portion of ISS operated 

by the U.S. and its Canadian, European, and Japanese 

partners. Russia exclusively operates the Russian segment. 

The ISS spans the area of a U.S. football field (with end 

zones) and weighs over 860,000 pounds. Its solar arrays, 

which help power the vehicle, are longer than a Boeing 777's 

wingspan at 240 feet. The ISS has eight docking ports for 

visiting vehicles delivering crew and cargo. Orbiting Earth 

16 times per day at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour, the ISS 

maintains an altitude that ranges from 230 to 286 miles. The 

complex has more livable room than a conventional fivebedroom house, with two bathrooms, a fitness center, a 360-

degree bay window, and state of the art scientific research 

facilities. In addition to external test beds, the U.S. operating 

segment of the ISS houses three major science laboratories 

(U.S. Destiny, European Columbus, and Japanese Kibo).

NASA will continue its existing operations and further

expand partnerships on the ISS. Direct federal support for ISS under the current NASA directed model 

will end in 2025, though industry could potentially continue to operate certain elements or capabilities

where NASA is one of many customers. NASA will expand international and commercial partnerships 

over the next seven years in order to ensure continued human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO) and to 

expand demand for the commercial market in LEO. More information on NASA's budgetary and 

programmatic support for commercial options to fulfill research, science and technology requirements 

beyond ISS such as commercial orbital platform(s) can be found in the LEO Commercial Development 

section. The four major focus areas of activity for the ISS program include helping to return benefits to 

NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei is 

pictured tethered to the outside of the U.S. 

Destiny laboratory module during a 

spacewalk on October 10, 2017.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROGRAM

LSO-5

humanity on Earth through space-based research and technology development, serving as a key stepping 

stone on the pathway to deep space exploration, enabling the development and advancement of a 

commercial marketplace in low Earth orbit, and maintaining U.S. global leadership of space exploration. 

Through its international and domestic partnerships, the program continues to build relationships to 

further expand expertise in a myriad of scientific fields to benefit humanity.

The ISS will facilitate moving human space exploration from an Earth-reliant to an Earth-independent 

capability, a shift necessary for true deep space exploration. The ISS is currently the only microgravity 

platform that can enable the long-term testing of new life support and crew health systems, advanced 

habitation modules, and other technologies needed to decrease reliance on Earth. Over the next several 

years, the program will continue to focus on capabilities needed to maintain a healthy and productive 

crew in deep space. Manifested or planned experiments and demonstrations include tests of improved 

long-duration life support for deep space missions beyond LEO, advanced fire safety equipment, onboard environmental monitors, techniques to improve logistics efficiency, in-space additive 

manufacturing, advanced exercise and medical equipment, radiation monitoring and shielding, humanrobotic operations, and autonomous crew operations. The facility enables scientists to identify and 

quantify risks to human health and performance, and to develop and test preventative techniques and 

technologies to protect astronauts during extended time in space. The ISS platform also provides a rich 

environment for endless research possibilities in the areas of fundamental biological and physical 

sciences.

The ISS program aims to provide direct research benefits to the public through its operations, research, 

and technology development activities. As a National Laboratory, the U.S. segment of the ISS enables 

partners in government, academia, and industry to utilize its unique environment and advanced facilities 

to perform investigations. The ISS National Laboratory program is managed by the Center for the 

Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). The focus of CASIS is to increase utilization of the ISS U.S. 

segment by providing access to academia, the commercial sector, and other Government agencies through 

partnerships, cost-sharing agreements, and other arrangements for research, technology development, low 

Earth orbit commercialization, and education. Observing from and experimenting aboard, the ISS 

provides the opportunity to learn about Earth, life, and the solar system from a very different perspective. 

NASA and its partners also use this unique reference point to advance science, technology, engineering, 

and mathematics efforts to inspire youth to pursue those fields. The results of the research completed on 

the ISS can be applied to many areas of science, improving life on this planet, and furthering the 

experience and increased understanding necessary to journey to other worlds. Innovative ISS research is 

of incredible value to the U.S. and its citizens, making the ISS a worthwhile investment for the country.

For additional information on the ISS program, go to

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html.

For specific information on the many experiments conducted on ISS, go to

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments_category.html.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

LSO-6

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 1103.5 -- 1105.5 1105.5 1105.6 1105.6 1105.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a complex 

research facility and human outpost in low Earth 

orbit developed in a collaborative, multinational 

effort led by the U.S. with partners in Canada, 

Europe, Japan, and Russia. The facility’s primary 

goals are to advance exploration of the solar 

system, enable unique scientific research, and 

promote commerce in space with industry partners 

as new commercialization concepts are explored. 

The Operations and Maintenance (O&M) project 

supports vehicle operations in the harsh conditions 

of space with constant, around-the clock-support. 

The ISS systems operate in extreme temperatures, 

pressures, and energies that challenge engineering 

techniques with minimal margin for error. The 

risks associated with operating the ISS are critical 

and must be effectively managed to protect against 

catastrophic consequences to mission success and 

human life.

Safely operating the ISS in the severe conditions of space and ensuring the crew always have a sufficient 

supply of food, water, oxygen, and repair parts, demands precise planning and logistics. The 463-ton 

vehicle requires routine maintenance and is subject to unexpected mechanical failures, given its highly 

complicated systems. Resolving problems can be challenging and often require the crew to make repairs 

in space with support from ground teams on Earth. Astronauts aboard the ISS must rely solely on the 

materials available to them onboard. This requires the support team on Earth to monitor and painstakingly 

plan for replacement parts and consumables, such as filters and gas, as well as spares like multiplexerdemultiplexer (MDM) data relay boxes, which are a key component of the Command and Data Handling 

System. The coordination and support necessary for the ISS crew to live and work comfortably in space 

requires intensive Earth-based mission operations. Ground teams continually monitor the ISS 

performance, provide necessary vehicle commands, and communicate with the crew. Even before the 

astronauts leave Earth, the Systems O&M project, in conjunction with the Human Space Flight 

Operations program, provides the crew training to prepare them for their stay aboard the ISS.

NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough is seen inside the 

Quest airlock on January 13, 2017, during his prebreathe session prior to a spacewalk. Astronauts 

breathe 100% oxygen prior to a spacewalk to help 

purge excess nitrogen from their blood stream and 

avoid decompression sickness.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

LSO-7

The ISS program considers all aspects of the mission when developing operations plans to meet program 

objectives. These include scheduling crew activities, choreographing docking and undocking of visiting 

crew and supply ships, evaluating supplies of consumables, managing flight plan variability, and 

resolving stowage issues. The Systems O&M project ensures the ISS is operational and available to 

perform its research mission at all times. 

Because the ISS is an international partnership, program decisions are not made in isolation; they require 

collaboration with multiple countries to ensure all technical, schedule, and resources supply 

considerations are taken into account. The experience NASA is gaining through integration with its ISS 

partners is helping the Agency to better prepare for future partnerships in human space exploration.

A critical component of the Systems O&M project is immediate emergency services and analyses 

conducted by mission control teams on Earth, known as vehicle and program anomaly resolution. 

Engineers and operators diagnose system failures and develop solutions, while program specialists 

respond to changing program needs and priorities through re-planning efforts. These teams ensure 

appropriate redundancy, training, and procedures are in place to respond to any type of failure at any time. 

The project requires sparing and repairing of nine highly complex on-orbit systems made up of hundreds 

of unique Orbital Replacement Units. Additionally, software sustainment manages and executes millions 

of lines of flight code to support operation and control of the ISS.

Finally, as part of the Administration’s commitment to increase cooperation with industry through the use 

of public-private partnerships, NASA and NanoRacks signed a Space Act Agreement for an Airlock 

Module, the first privately funded commercial airlock. The NanoRacks Airlock provides capabilities that 

will make it useful for a variety of users. It is approximately five times larger than the Japanese 

Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock so it will provide the capability to robotically transfer larger (or 

multiple smaller) packages from inside ISS to the external environment for deployment. Additionally, the 

Airlock provides the interfaces and capability to accommodate both internal and external payloads, 

including power and Ethernet interfaces.

The implementation of public-private partnerships like this will foster innovation and help prepare the 

private sector to take a leading role in low Earth orbit during and after the transition off the ISS platform. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The ISS Systems O&M project continues to maintain resources both on-orbit and on the ground to 

operate and utilize the ISS. The O&M project maintained success in providing all necessary resources, 

including power, data, crew time, logistics, and accommodations, to support research while operating 

safely with a crew of six astronauts. The O&M project supported the arrival and departure of crew and 

cargo flights to the ISS approximately every three weeks. Each flight required extensive planning and 

analyses in order to support on-orbit operations, as well as launching, docking, undocking, berthing, 

unberthing, deorbiting, packing, manifesting, hardware processing, and the on-orbit configuration. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

LSO-8

NASA ground teams continued to monitor overall vehicle health and oversee general maintenance and 

performance of all the ISS vehicle systems, including command and data handling, communication and 

tracking, crew health care, environmental control and life support, electrical power, extravehicular 

activities (EVAs), robotics, flight crew equipment, propulsion, structures and mechanisms, thermal 

control, guidance, navigation, and control. This past year, one of the ISS multiplexer-demultiplexer 

(MDM) data relay boxes failed, prompting an expedited, contingency spacewalk by the ISS crew. The 

MDM is one of two fully redundant systems that controls the functionality of the radiators, solar arrays, 

cooling loops and other ISS hardware. While this was an unplanned and unexpected spacewalk, the crew 

rehearses this type of task prior to their mission. Detailed preparation by the ground team, and 

coordination with the spacewalkers leading up to their task, led to a successful MDM removal and 

replacement. 

The team supported one Russian EVA and six U.S. EVAs in FY 2017. Many of the U.S. EVAs continued 

the major reconfiguration onboard the ISS which began in FY 2015. NASA is continuing modifications to 

docking ports to enable traffic flexibility and port redundancy for the U.S. operating segment crew and 

cargo vehicle missions. Specifically, in the spring of 2017, a total of three EVAs were dedicated to 

maintenance of the Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA-3). PMA-3 was robotically removed March 26, 

2017, from the Tranquility module and attached to the Harmony module after being prepared during a 

successful spacewalk on March 24, 2017. A second spacewalk was conducted on March 30, 2017, to 

finalize the PMA-3 cable connections on Harmony. PMA-3 will receive the International Docking 

Adapter-3 (IDA) in FY 2019. This is significant as the IDA standardizes the PMAs to allow for efficient 

transfer of crew, cargo, and power. 

The current nickel-hydrogen batteries on the ISS are nearing their end of life and require replacement for 

ISS life extension. The O&M project will be replacing current nickel-hydrogen batteries with more 

efficient lithium-ion batteries over several years using multiple EVAs. Astronauts replaced the first three 

batteries in January 2017. EVAs also supported other maintenance and repairs, including repairs to the 

Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), maintenance to Canadarm2, and inspection of a radiator valve.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Throughout the year, NASA ground teams will continue to monitor overall vehicle health and oversee 

general maintenance and performance of all the ISS vehicle systems. The O&M project will continue to 

manage resource requirements and changes, including vehicle traffic, cargo logistics, stowage, and crew 

time. In addition to providing anomaly resolution and failure investigation as needed, they plan and 

provide real-time support for activities, such as EVA and visiting vehicles.

The team plans to support three Russian EVAs and at least nine U.S. EVAs in FY 2018. The first two in

the series of spacewalks will focus on necessary robotics maintenance. Robotics activity, controlled by 

flight controllers on the ground as well as on-board crew, are paramount to ISS operations. Hardware 

repair/maintenance and visiting vehicle arrival and departure depend upon it. Upcoming maintenance to 

be performed during the spacewalks includes replacing a Latching End Effector (LEE), which 

incorporates electronics, sensors, cameras, and primarily latching mechanisms critical to grappling 

hardware and visiting vehicles. EVAs will also continue to replace aging batteries with more efficient 

lithium-ion batteries.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

LSO-9

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The ISS O&M project is planning to support the first missions with U.S. astronauts aboard Commercial 

Crew flights. The ISS program will continue to work closely with the commercial partners to ensure any 

challenges are addressed and operations and research conducted aboard the ISS continues to be 

accomplished with minimal issues. NASA plans to work with international partners to maintain a 

continuous ISS crew member capability by coordinating and managing resources, logistics, systems, and 

operational procedures. The O&M project will continue to manage resource requirements and changes, 

including vehicle traffic, cargo logistics, stowage, and crew time. In addition to providing anomaly 

resolution and failure investigation as needed, they plan and provide real-time support for activities, such 

as EVA and visiting vehicles.

The team will support three Russian EVAs and at least seven U.S. EVAs in FY 2019. The major 

reconfiguration activity begun in FY 2015 will be completed with the installation of the second 

International Docking Adapter. Once completed, the ISS will have two visiting vehicle docking ports and 

two visiting vehicle berthing ports. While current Commercial Resupply Service vehicles use berthing 

ports, the new commercial crew vehicles will require docking ports. When a visiting vehicle “docks” to

the ISS, that arriving vehicle is in control of attaching itself to the ISS. When a vehicle “berths” to the

ISS, the ISS is in control of capturing and attaching the arriving vehicle to the ISS via the Space Station 

Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). The process of un-berthing requires the use of the SSRMS which 

does not support rapid crew evacuations in the event of an emergency. However, berthing ports are bigger 

and therefore allow for the transfer of larger equipment. EVAs will also continue to replace aging 

batteries with more efficient lithium-ion batteries.

ISS will begin integration activities for the NanoRacks Airlock Module scheduled for launch in FY 2020. 

This is the first privately funded commercial airlock and it will increase the capability of transferring 

equipment, payloads, and deployable satellites. Commercial opportunities through Airlock begin with 

cubesat and small satellite deployment from station and include a full range of additional services to meet 

customer needs from NASA and the growing commercial sector. Currently, cubesats and small satellites 

are deployed through the government-operated Japanese Kibo Airlock. Additionally, the crew on board 

should be able to assemble payloads typically flown in soft-stowage ISS Cargo Transfer Bags into larger 

items that currently cannot be handled by the existing Kibo Airlock.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

LSO-10

PROJECT SCHEDULE

The table below provides a schedule for potential EVAs. However, the ISS conducts near-term, real-time 

assessments of EVA demands along with other program objectives, to efficiently plan all required ISS 

activities. NASA remains postured to conduct EVAs on short notice in response to specific contingency 

scenarios. In addition, the ISS program balances routine maintenance EVAs against overall astronaut 

availability to maintain focus on utilization and research.

Date Significant Event

Oct 2017 Three U.S. EVAs

Jan 2018 Two U.S. EVAs

Feb 2018 Russian EVA

May 2018 Two U.S. EVAs; Russian EVA

Aug 2018 Russian EVA

Sept 2018 Two U.S. EVAs

Oct 2018 Four contingency U.S. EVSs

Dec 2018 U.S. EVA; Three Russian EVAs

Aug 2019 Six U.S. EVAs 

Project Management & Commitments

While NASA maintains the integrator role for the entire ISS, each partner has primary authority for 

managing and operating the hardware and elements they provide. Within NASA, Johnson Space Center 

(JSC) in Houston, Texas leads project management of the ISS Systems O&M.

Acquisition Strategy

The current Boeing vehicle sustaining engineering contract extends through September 30, 2020. 

Requirements of this contract include sustaining engineering of U.S. on-orbit segment hardware and 

software, technical integration across all of the ISS segments, end-to-end subsystem management for the 

majority of the ISS subsystems and specialty engineering disciplines, and U.S. on-orbit segment and 

integrated system certification of flight readiness. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS SYSTEMS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 

LSO-11

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work 

performance)

U.S. on-orbit segment Sustaining 

Engineering Contract The Boeing Company JSC

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Other NASA Advisory 

Council Dec 2017

Provides independent 

guidance for the 

NASA Administrator

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings

2018

Other

NASA Aerospace 

Safety Advisory 

Panel

Oct 2017

Provides independent 

assessments of safety 

to the NASA 

Administrator 

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings

2018
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: International Space Station: International Space 

Station Program 

ISS RESEARCH 

LSO-12

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 347.3 -- 356.7 347.7 365.6 360.6 345.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The International Space Station (ISS) is an 

orbiting platform that provides the only current

capability for human-assisted space-based 

research and a unique venue for developing 

technologies for future human spaceflight 

exploration. ISS enables scientific investigation of 

physical, chemical, and biological processes in an 

environment very different from Earth. As a 

research and development facility, ISS supports a 

variety of science laboratories, external testbeds, 

and observatory sites, allowing astronauts to 

conduct a wide range of experiments in low Earth 

orbit (LEO). ISS is managed as a U.S. National 

Laboratory (National Lab), enabling use of its 

research facilities by the scientific community, 

the private sector and other Government agencies 

to benefit the U.S. economy. ISS supports 

research across a diverse array of disciplines, 

from fundamental physics and biophysics to 

human physiology and biotechnology. ISS is the 

primary science platform for the Open Science 

Initiatives GeneLab and Physical Sciences Informatics, which enable next generation research by creating 

publicly available open access data resources. In addition, ISS supports educational activities that engage

the public in the national and global endeavor of human spaceflight, and inspire students to excel in 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

ISS is a collaborative venture with our international partners, including the Canadian, European, 

Japanese, and Russian space agencies. Although each partner has distinct national goals for ISS research, 

all participating agencies share a unified goal to extend the resulting knowledge for future exploration and 

to benefit humanity. Within NASA, mission directorates prioritize their research investments based on 

Exploration roadmaps for technologies needed to support future exploration and recommendations from 

the National Academies, such as the Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space.

On May 2, 2017, Commander Peggy Whitson works on 

the OsteoOmics bone cell study utilizing the 

Microgravity Science Glovebox in the U.S. Destiny 

laboratory. This could lead to better preventative care or 

therapeutic treatments for people suffering bone loss as a 

result of bone diseases like osteopenia and osteoporosis,

or for patients on prolonged bed rest. 
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The ISS Research program funds fundamental and applied research in biological and physical sciences to 

enable future human exploration and pioneer scientific discover in low Earth orbit. It also funds a multiuser systems support (MUSS) activities, which provides strategic, tactical, and operational support to all 

NASA sponsored and non-NASA sponsored payloads (including those of the international partners), as 

well as operation of on-orbit research facilities. MUSS includes the development of new capabilities and 

technologies for ISS. ISS Research also supports the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space 

(CASIS), a non-profit organization that manages the ISS National Lab. 

Research and development conducted aboard ISS, sponsored by both NASA and the Agency's 

commercial partners, holds the promise of next-generation technologies in health and medicine; robotics, 

manufacturing, and propulsion; and development of applications that will benefit life on Earth. As 

NASA’s only current long-duration crewed orbital testbed, the ISS is used by researchers to study the 

effects of long-duration exposure to the space environment on the crew and devise and test 

countermeasures to offset health risks. Additionally, researchers evaluate the extended performance of 

equipment critical to long-duration flight by testing the hardware’s ability to survive in the space 

environment, determining life-limiting issues and repair capabilities, and evaluating upgrades to improve 

performance.

The mission of the ISS U.S. National Lab is to foster scientific discovery and technological innovation in 

space, expand U.S. leadership in commercial space, and inspire the next generation. CASIS, a non-profit 

institution, selects and manages ISS National Lab R&D projects that satisfy this mission. The objective of 

these projects is to provide value and impact back to the U.S. taxpayer, ultimately driving new market 

creation by building demand, enabling supply, and facilitating investment. CASIS engages a variety of 

new-to-space users, whose projects are in the fields of life science, physical science, technology 

development, and remote sensing. Over the last five years, CASIS has transitioned from a traditional 

grant-based model to a value-based model, engaging Government agencies, academic institutions, and the 

private sector to solve cross-cutting problems on the ISS and leverage private and public sector funding.

At the conclusion of Expedition 52 in September 2017, more than 101 countries around the world have 

performed over 2,430 research investigations utilizing ISS with more than 3,400 investigators. In 

addition, over 1,600 R&D results have been published in scientific journals and magazines (Note: these 

are early estimates. Final numbers are expected to publish in early 2018).

COMMERCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES ON ISS

NASA and the ISS program, in partnership with CASIS, are leveraging ISS to enable the 

commercialization of low Earth orbit. Low Earth orbit is already partially commercialized – private sector 

companies operate numerous robotic spacecraft in this region of space, and the NASA Crew and Cargo 

program purchases commercial transportation services to and from low Earth orbit. However, ISS is 

playing a unique role in advancing the frontiers of economic activity in space. NASA is creating publicprivate partnerships which will allow entrepreneurs to explore potential revenue-generating activities 

enabled by the unique microgravity environment. By developing concepts and technologies that can 

generate revenue in low Earth orbit, these public-private partnerships will foster innovation and help 

prepare the private sector to take a leading role in low Earth orbit. In addition, NASA is advancing the 

research capabilities and analytical tools onboard the ISS by purchasing services from commercial entities 

that own and operate these capabilities, rather than follow the traditional government-contractor 
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relationship to acquire NASA-owned facilities that have been used in the past. Through these activities, in 

conjunction with the Commercial LEO Development program, NASA is expanding demand and laying 

the foundation for future commercial options, such as the use of commercial orbital platform(s), that can 

meet the Agency's research and technology development requirements beyond ISS.

NASA and its partners have different responsibilities within the broader commercialization effort. CASIS 

is reaching broad sectors of traditional and non-traditional commercial companies, as well as other 

Government agencies to utilize the ISS National Lab and stimulate demand for ongoing commercial 

activity in low Earth orbit. NASA is actively implementing new, streamlined processes for researchers 

through Revolutionize ISS for Science and Exploration (RISE), which enables users to fly research more 

quickly and cost effectively. In FY 2017, NASA awarded payload integration service contracts, entitled 

Research, Engineering, Mission and Integration Services (REMIS) to 14 commercial companies. These 

awards transition previous NASA-only functions to a variety of commercial vendors, thus increasing the

opportunity for the commercialization of low Earth orbit. Feedback received from the request for 

information (RFI) for Advancing Economic Development in low Earth orbit via Commercial Use of 

Limited Availability, and Unique International Space Station Capabilities will now be addressed through 

the newly-created Commercial LEO Development program. 

New external and internal commercial research platforms have launched or plan to launch in the next two 

years. The Materials on ISS Experiment-Flight Facility (MISSE-FF), developed by Alpha Space, and the 

Multi-User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES), developed by Teledyne Brown Engineering, will 

significantly augment ISS accommodations for external research. The BioChip SpaceLab, developed by 

Hnu Photonics, the BioBox, developed by Science, Technology and Advanced Research Systems 

(STaARS), and the Tango Lab, developed by Space Tango, will bring online new commercially-operated 

internal capabilities for space biology research. The BioChip SpaceLab facility will provide a portable, 

remote-controlled, automated microfluidics platform for general biological investigations and planned 

stem cell research. Ownership of all of these platforms is retained by their respective developers. Each 

developer is actively marketing the platform and seeking to increase the commercial user base of the ISS.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Work supporting Commercial LEO Development was transferred to that new program.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

ISS NATIONAL LAB AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

Satellites are powered by solar arrays, which convert sunlight into energy. The Roll-Out Solar Array 

(ROSA) flight experiment tested an entirely new deployable solar array design that is stronger, lighter, 

and packaged more compactly for launch. ROSA's improved power density over existing technology and 

can be easily adapted to different sizes, making it a promising material for use on future NASA, military 

and commercial solar-powered spacecraft. 

The Space Test Program Houston-5 platform hosted a wide variety of experiments. These included the 

Lightning Imaging System (LIS) which measures the amount, rate and energy of lightning as it strikes 
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around the world. Understanding the processes that cause lightning and the connections between lightning

and subsequent severe weather events is a key to improving weather predictions and saving life and 

property. From the vantage of ISS, the LIS instrument observes lightning over a wider geographical area 

than previous sensors. The platform also hosted Raven, a real-time spacecraft navigation system that 

provides the eyes and intelligence to see a target and steer toward it safely. Future robotic spacecraft will 

need advanced autopilot systems to help them safely navigate and rendezvous with other objects, as they 

will be operating thousands of miles from Earth. 

Only a few animals, such as tadpoles and salamanders, can regrow a lost limb, but the onset of this 

process exists in all vertebrates. Rodent Research-4, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) 

and CASIS, studied tissue regeneration and wound healing responses, and how microgravity conditions 

impact this process. When analysis of the results is completed, the results will provide a new 

understanding of the biological processes involved in wound healing and tissue regeneration as well as 

potentially could provide information on conditions such as osteoporosis. In addition, this research has 

the potential to lead to new treatment options for the more than 30 percent of the patient population who 

do not respond to current options for treating chronic non-healing wounds. Rodent Research-5 continued

bone loss experimentation and tested a new drug that can both rebuild and block bone loss on mice 

experiencing spaceflight-induced skeletal damage. Because osteoporosis affects more than 200 million 

people worldwide, this research has the potential to result in new innovative treatments that promote bone 

formation to improve health for crew members in orbit and people on Earth.

Other CASIS-sponsored experiments included one on the growth and differentiation of human stem cells 

in microgravity which analyzed gene expression profiles of cells grown on the ISS to provide insight into 

how human cancers start and spread. This could aid in the development of prevention and treatment plans. 

A Merck Research Labs investigation crystallized a human monoclonal antibody currently undergoing 

clinical trials. With the absence of gravity and convection aboard ISS, crystals can be grown much larger 

and with more pure compositions and structures than on Earth. Results have the potential to improve drug 

delivery and manufacturing on Earth.

During FY 2017, the ISS National Lab set new records for R&D payload upmass and utilization: 76 

payloads were launched to the ISS (a 31% increase over FY 2016), carrying more than 100 individual 

experiments. Payloads included ongoing projects from Fortune 500 customers Merck, Eli Lilly & Co., 

and Procter & Gamble, as well as notable new payloads from the nonprofit Michael J. Fox Foundation 

and Fortune 100 company Hewlett Packard Enterprise. There were multiple payloads in collaboration 

with the DoD and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The ISS National Lab additionally selected 44 new 

projects in for future flight, 75 percent of which were new to space and more than half of which were 

from the private sector, including Anheuser-Busch (plant research), Goodyear (materials research), 

AstraZeneca-MedImmune (drug delivery), and Sanofi Pasteur (vaccine design). Eight of the FY 2017 

selected projects are funded by NSF or NIH in collaboration with CASIS. In total, CASIS-selected 

projects to date have leveraged more than $100 million in non-CASIS, non-NASA funding. 

As of the end of FY 2017, CASIS long term estimates on the projected value and impact of the total 

CASIS-selected R&D project portfolio included (1) incremental revenues of approximately $900 million, 

(2) average time-to-market acceleration of 1–3 years, (3) estimated addressable markets of $110 billion, 

(4) addition of approximately 400 direct jobs (with broader supply chain impact), and (5) more than 20 

new solution pathways (a measure of innovation that can lead to a major advance in knowledge or new 

intellectual property). Fifteen new peer-reviewed journal articles were published this year detailing R&D 
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sponsored by CASIS and the ISS National Lab, adding to the total of more than 1,400 peer-reviewed 

publications resulting from the ISS. Finally, seven companies are currently operating eleven commercial 

R&D facilities onboard the ISS, four of which were launched in FY 2017.

NASA ACTIVITIES

The Cool Flames experiment used the Combustion Integrated Rack to help scientists develop models 

which may lead to more efficient advanced engines and new fuels for use in space and on Earth by 

studying a mode of combustion that occurs at a much lower temperature and which can be difficult to 

sustain. Cool Flames is one of the first ISS experiments that will share all of the data to the "open source" 

Physical Sciences Informatics database for public users to conduct additional independent research. 

The Lighting Effects investigation is testing a new lighting system aboard the station designed to enhance 

crew health, alertness and performance in addition to keeping their body clocks in proper sync with the 

ISS working and resting schedule. The system uses adjustable light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a 

Dynamic Lighting Schedule that varies intensity and spectrum of the LEDs in tune with sleep and wake 

schedules. Lighting manipulation has potential as a safe, non-pharmacological way to optimize sleep and 

circadian regulation on space missions. People on Earth, especially those who work night shifts, could 

also benefit from this study as the results could help improve alertness and sleep by adjusting lighting for 

intensity and wavelength.

The Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) is a large growth volume habitat that has been specifically designed 

for multi-generational and developmental studies of plant research in microgravity. The APH is the

largest enclosed environmentally controlled chamber designed to support commercial and fundamental 

plant research onboard ISS. The APH facility will enable NASA to understand how to build exploration 

bio-regenerative life support systems with closed system ecology, mass, power, shelf life, and storage 

volume. This research will also enable NASA to produce healthy food, waste management, and biological 

stability of the habitat, which is critical knowledge for long-term operations of future exploration systems.

Outside the Earth’s magnetic field, astronauts are exposed to space radiation that can reduce the body's

immune response, and increase cancer risk. Radiation also interferes with onboard electronics. The Fast 

Neutron Spectrometer investigation helps scientists understand and monitor high-energy neutrons, part of 

the radiation exposure experienced by crews during spaceflight, by studying a new technique to measure 

electrically neutral neutron particles. Because it experiences radiation from a variety of sources, ISS 

provides an excellent environment for evaluating this instrument. This improved measurement will help 

protect crews on future exploration missions.

The Science Mission Directorate-sponsored SAGE III Earth observation instrument records changes to 

the Earth's ozone layer, such as fluctuations in concentrations of greenhouse gases and thinning of the 

ozone layer. Scientists do not yet understand how these changes affect climate, and accurate long-term 

measurements such as those provided by SAGE III are crucial for understanding the processes that impact 

climate change.
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WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

ISS NATIONAL LAB AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

New accommodations aboard ISS will continue to provide valuable opportunities for the commercial 

sector from both a research and technology development perspective but also as a commercial service 

provider. A Zero-G Mass Measurement Device, developed by Orbitec; the Advanced Space Experiment 

Processor (ADSEP) and Multi-specimen, Variable-gravity Platform (MVP), developed by Techshot; and 

the DLR Earth Sensing Instrument Spectrometer (DESIS-30), a hyperspectral instrument jointly 

developed by DLR and Teledyne Brown Engineering, will continue to augment research capabilities as 

well as commercial participation. Next generation laboratory capabilities will also launch, including an 

advanced microscopy suite and a new rapid freeze capability for biological specimens.

The CASIS-sponsored Fiber Optics Manufacturing in Space demonstrates the merits of manufacturing 

fiber optic filaments in microgravity. The optical fiber chosen for production aboard the ISS is a high 

value optical fiber, which is known as ZBLAN. While ZBLAN has potential to far exceed the 

performance of other fibers in common use, when terrestrially produced the fiber suffers from glass 

impurities and microcrystal formation which reduce performance. Microgravity has been shown to 

significantly reduce these imperfections, and so the production of fibers in space may enable not only 

improved materials but also a new frontier in manufacturing and space utilization. 

The CASIS-sponsored Rodent Research-6 will test an implantable drug delivery system that circumvents 

the need for daily injections. If successful, this system could serve as a universal technology for drug 

delivery and animal testing. In collaboration with Novartis and NanoMedical Systems, this validated 

system may rapidly translate into a commercial product.

The ISS National Lab will continue to seek high-value multi-year and multi-institutional projects that 

leverage external funding, including expansion of relationships with non-NASA government agencies. A 

$1 million sponsored funding partnership is underway with Target Corporation focused on achieving 

cotton sustainability, and two new joint solicitations with NIH and NSF are expected for FY 2018 release. 

Private sector payloads planned for launch include projects from Novartis, Honeywell, Delta Faucet, 

Nemak, Anheuser-Busch, and Nalco Champion, and new commercially operated facilities planned for 

launch include a bioculture system, optical fiber fabrication equipment, and a new multipurpose variablegravity platform (centrifuge). These new facilities have been identified as needed by current and future 

ISS customers in the private and academic sectors. More than 42 million students have participated in ISS 

programs to date, enhancing future STEM expertise, which is essential for U.S. competitiveness and 

leadership. The ISS National Lab will continue to support STEM programs, educational partnerships, and 

outreach initiatives, with a goal of reaching 700,000 U.S. students in FY 2018.

NASA ACTIVITIES

NASA will continue to enhance the existing open science pipeline to study gravity as a continuum by 

utilizing ground-based and on-orbit ISS research. The GeneLab Phase 2 Data System will go live in 2018 

increasing the ability of scientists to conduct data analysis and create next-generation hypotheses about 

the effects of microgravity on living organisms. The Life Beyond low Earth orbit science initiative will 

seek to investigate biological systems in habitats beyond low Earth orbit. In conjunction with other ISS 
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flight experiments, researchers will be able to explore the differences between biological adaptation and 

response in low Earth orbit on ISS to those changes observed in the deep space environment. 

The Cold Atom Laboratory will take advantage of the microgravity environment to create the coldest 

known matter in the universe—just trillionths of a degree above absolute zero. The laboratory could 

enable significant discoveries in atomic physics, which could apply to next generation communications, 

navigation, timekeeping, and computing systems.

Sponsored by the Science Mission Directorate, the Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor will 

provide absolute measurements of the total solar irradiance and spectral solar irradiance, which is 

important for accurate scientific models of climate change and solar variability. 

The Robotic Refueling Mission 3 technology demonstration will test in-space rocket propellant transfer 

technology. It will demonstrate the ability to transfer and freeze a cryogenic fluid and transfer methane

gas, both in zero-gravity. These new technologies, tools, and techniques could eventually give satellite 

owners resources to diagnose problems on orbit, fix anomalies, and keep certain spacecraft instruments 

performing longer in space. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The FY 2019 research plan on ISS is still in development. Some key highlights of upcoming 

investigations already in work for FY 2019 are the National Lab external payloads Space Test Program

(STP)-Houston 6, STP-Sat-4 and the NASA payload GEDI. In addition, NASA will continue to conduct

rodent research studies to better understand the effects of long term microgravity exposure on humans and 

the Cold Atom Lab will continue science operations.

DoD's STP-Houston 6 external experiment pallet is comprised of multiple individual payloads and

includes a demonstration of X-ray optical communications. STP-Sat-4 is a free flying spacecraft to be 

deployed from ISS carrying multiple experiments.

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) will produce the first high resolution laser ranging 

observations of the 3D structure of Earth. The GEDI system uses three lasers which fire 242 times per 

second, covering 25 meters and generates the 3D image. The precise measurements of forest canopy 

height, canopy vertical structure, and surface elevation will greatly advance our ability to characterize 

important carbon and water cycling processes, and biodiversity and habitat. This data will be of great 

value for weather forecasting, forest management, glacier and snowpack monitoring, and generation of 

more accurate digital elevation models.

NASA will award research grants utilizing the Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) data repository to 

enable new discoveries with data acquired on ISS. In fulfillment of the new Open Science model, the PSI 

system is accessible and open to the public world-wide. This provides the opportunity for researchers to 

data mine results from prior flight investigations, expanding on the research performed. This approach 

will allow numerous ground-based investigations to be conducted from one flight experiment’s data, 

exponentially increasing our body of knowledge within the biophysics, combustion science, fluid physics, 

complex fluids, fundamental physics, and materials science fields.
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CASIS will continue to leverage private sector, non-NASA, and investment capital, with a goal of 

reaching $150 million in FY 2019 in cumulative total sponsored research, a 50 percent increase in two 

years. The ISS National Lab will also continue development of R&D programs to further enable 

economic development of the lowEarth orbit platform market, continuing its focus on highly innovative 

programs with high-impact potential to enable specific markets. Payloads currently scheduled for launch 

include additional projects from the private sector, academia, and non-NASA Government agencies, as 

well as two new commercially operated research facilities. The NanoRacks Airlock Module, the first 

privately-funded commercial airlock, is also expected to launch in FY 2019 and should triple the number 

of small satellites that can be deployed at one time. Finally, the ISS National Lab portfolio will continue 

to partner with established STEM organizations to support complementary educational initiatives, with a 

goal of reaching one million U.S. students in FY 2019.

Project Schedule

An increment is a period of time for ISS operations that spans from one Soyuz undock to the next Soyuz 

undock. There are four increments per year that consist of cargo ship arrivals and departures, as well as 

activities performed on-board, including the research performed. The table below outlines start dates of 

the upcoming increments to ISS.

Date Significant Event

Sep 2017 Increment 53

Dec 2017 Increment 54

Feb 2018 Increment 55

Jun 2018 Increment 56

Aug 2018 Increment 57

Oct 2018 Increment 58

Feb 2019 Increment 59s

May 2019 Increment 60

Sep 2019 Increment 61

Project Management & Commitments

The Space, Life, and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division at NASA Headquarters 

manages Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) research. The division, working closely with the Office 

of the Chief Scientist, establishes the overall direction and scope, budget, and resource allocation for the 

project, which the NASA Centers implement. The ISS program office is the interface with CASIS and 

manages other ISS Research activities such as MUSS and National Lab enabling activities.
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Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Biological and 

Physical 

Sciences

This element includes all 

NASA-sponsored biological 

and physical research.

Provider: NASA Centers, contractors, 

and principal investigators

Lead Center: Headquarters (HQ)

Performing Center(s): Ames Research 

Center (ARC), Glenn Research Center 

(GRC), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), 

Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

MUSS (includes 

National Lab 

activities)

MUSS activities support all 

research on ISS, both NASA 

sponsored and non-NASA 

sponsored.

Provider: ISS program and contractors 

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): MSFC, ARC, 

GRC, KSC, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA awards contracts and grants for conducting research on ISS. NASA prioritizes ISS research based 

on recommendations from the National Academies and the Decadal Survey on BPS in Space. NASA 

selected CASIS to manage non-NASA ISS Research activities. This independent non-profit will further 

develop national uses of ISS.

Peer review is the means to ensure a high-quality research program. Engaging leading members of the 

research community to assess the competitive merits of submitted proposals is essential to ensuring the 

productivity and quality of ISS Research. Biological and Physical Sciences research uses both traditional 

and open science NASA Research Announcements to provide researchers, selected by peer-review, the 

opportunity to develop complete flight experiments and allow universities to participate in flight and 

ground research involving their scientists. CASIS also conducts independent reviews of science merit and 

economic valuation in selecting experiments for use of the ISS as a National Lab.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work 

performance)

Vehicle Sustaining Engineering 

Contract The Boeing Company Houston, TX

Huntsville Operations Support 

Center COLSA Corporation Huntsville, AL
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Element Vendor Location (of work 

performance)

Mission Operations and Integration 

(MO&I) Contract Teledyne Brown Engineering Huntsville, AL

ISS National Lab Management 

Entity CASIS Melbourne, FL

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Other NASA Advisory 

Council Dec 2017

Provides independent 

guidance for NASA 

Administrator

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings for ISS

2018

Other

NASA Aerospace 

Safety Advisory 

Panel

Oct 2017

Provides independent 

assessments of safety 

to the NASA 

Administrator

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings for ISS

2018

Other National Academy 

of Science Jan 2018

Review progress on 

2011 Decadal Survey 

for life and physical 

sciences research 

and recommend 

adjustments to BPS 

portfolio

Several findings and 

recommendations for 

HEO to increase the 

scientific 

productivity of ISS 

research

2021

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

In FY 2017, NASA estimates ISS partners performed 488 research and technology investigations, 

including 244 new investigations. During this period, NASA estimates that NASA performed 174 

investigations, including 123 new investigations. The charts below display historical data, by partner 

agency, for research investigations performed on ISS since 1998, and a comparison of FY 2017 NASAsponsored and National Lab-sponsored investigations.
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Expeditions 49-52

NASA vs. National Lab Sponsored
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SPACE TRANSPORTATION

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Crew and Cargo Program 1404.2 -- 1935.6 1793.2 1822.6 1792.8 1771.0

Commercial Crew Program 1184.8 -- 173.1 35.8 36.3 36.3 36.3

Total Budget 2589.0 -- 2108.7 1829.1 1858.9 1829.2 1807.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Space Transportation theme’s objective is to transport U.S. 

astronauts and cargo safely back and forth to space, including 

America’s national laboratory in low Earth orbit, the 

International Space Station (ISS). This theme includes the 

Commercial Crew Program (CCP) and the Crew and Cargo 

Program. Maintaining ISS requires a fleet of vehicles and 

launch locations to transport astronauts, science experiments, 

critical supplies, and maintenance hardware; replenish 

propellant; and dispose of waste.

CCP partners with the U.S. commercial sector to develop and 

operate safe, reliable, and affordable crew transportation to low 

Earth orbit. NASA awarded Commercial Crew Transportation 

Capability (CCtCap) contracts to Boeing and SpaceX in 

September 2014. Through its certification efforts, NASA will 

ensure the selected commercial transportation systems meet 

NASA's safety and performance requirements for transporting 

crew to ISS. 

Within the Crew and Cargo Program, NASA purchases cargo 

transportation to ISS under Commercial Resupply Services

(CRS) contracts with Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX. 

NASA purchases crew transportation to ISS from the Russian 

Roscosmos State Corporation, known as Roscosmos, and from 

commercial providers, Boeing and SpaceX. The budget also 

supports related activities, such as integration work required to 

ensure that these visiting vehicles can safely dock or berth to 

ISS and hardware like the NASA docking system.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None. 

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the 

Dragon spacecraft onboard, launches from 

pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center 

in Cape Canaveral, Florida (June 3, 2017). 

Dragon is carrying almost 6,000 pounds of 

science research, crew supplies and 

hardware to ISS. This was the 100th launch, 

and sixth SpaceX launch, from this pad. 

Previous launches include 11 Apollo flights, 

the launch of the unmanned Skylab in 1973, 

82 shuttle flights and five SpaceX launches.
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CREW AND CARGO PROGRAM 

Formulation Development Operations

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 1404.2 -- 1935.6 1793.2 1822.6 1792.8 1771.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Maintaining the International Space Station 

(ISS) requires a fleet of launch vehicles to 

sustain a constant supply line of both crew and 

cargo that is crucial to ISS operations and 

research. Deliveries not only provide science 

experiments, critical supplies and maintenance 

hardware, but also rotate crewmembers, return 

critical research and equipment for repair, and 

dispose of waste. 

The Crew and Cargo program manages 

transportation services provided by both 

international partners and domestic commercial 

providers. NASA’s commercial service 

contracts to resupply the ISS have changed the 

way the Agency does business in low Earth 

orbit. With these contracts, NASA continues to 

advance commercial spaceflight, while

supporting the American jobs created by this 

industry.

NASA purchases cargo delivery to the ISS under the original Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) 

contracts with Orbital ATK and SpaceX. Orbital ATK, SpaceX, and Sierra Nevada have also begun work 

under the follow-on CRS-2 contracts for missions beginning in 2019. For CRS flights to ISS, SpaceX 

currently and Sierra Nevada will in the future launch CRS missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Both 

of these providers have or will have the capability to return science experiments to Earth. SpaceX uses 

their Falcon 9 rocket to launch their Dragon cargo vehicle, while Sierra Nevada will be using the Atlas V 

rocket to launch their Dream Chaser cargo vehicle. Orbital ATK primarily launches their Cygnus cargo 

module on their Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight 

Facility (WFF) in Virginia. However, Orbital ATK has also launched CRS missions on Atlas V rockets 

from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Orbital ATK provides trash disposal and conducts additional experiments 

before the Cygnus spacecraft burns up in the atmosphere after leaving ISS. The Crew and Cargo budget 

The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus 

spacecraft onboard, is raised into the vertical position on 

launch Pad-0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in 

Virginia (November 9, 2017). Orbital ATK’s eighth 

contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA delivered

over 7,400 pounds of science and research, crew supplies 

and vehicle hardware to ISS.
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Formulation Development Operations

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supports all milestone payments for these contracted flights to provide for cargo transportation, including 

transportation for National Laboratory science research payloads. 

The CRS contract vehicle is among NASA's most successful public-private partnerships. NASA used a 

series of fixed-price, milestone-based Space Act Agreements to support the development of several 

companies' efforts to develop commercial cargo resupply capabilities. As a result, NASA is now able to 

purchase these commercial services from several providers using fixed-price contracts, which has yielded 

a cost savings for the Federal Government. The results of this arrangement have been a reinvigorated U.S. 

space launch industry, redundancy in the cargo resupply mission area that has increased mission 

assurance, and robust private sector employment. NASA is leveraging these lessons learned both in this 

program to improve the CRS-2 contract vehicle and in other programs to expand the successful use of 

public-private partnerships.

Crew transportation is currently provided using the Russian Soyuz vehicle. NASA will continue to use 

Soyuz for crew transportation until a domestic capability is available. NASA has purchased Soyuz crew 

transportation services through both the Russian Roscosmos State Corporation, known as Roscosmos, and 

through Boeing. 

The Commercial Crew Program (CCP) manages the Commercial Crew transportation Capability 

(CCtCap) contracts with Boeing and SpaceX to develop and provide domestic crew transportation to the

ISS. CCP is funding the initial post certification missions (i.e., crew missions) to the ISS; subsequent 

missions are funded by the Crew and Cargo Program. The first post certification missions to ISS are 

scheduled for FY 2019.

The Crew and Cargo Program also funds activities supporting visiting vehicles that provide transportation 

for the ISS, including integration activities and the NASA docking system.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Orbital ATK (OA) completed six CRS milestones in support of seven commercial resupply flights, 

including milestones for successful completion of two flights in FY 2017. Their OA-5 flight was the first 

flight of the upgraded Antares rocket, which provides an increase in cargo upmass capability. SpaceX

(SpX) completed 16 CRS milestones in support of 10 commercial resupply flights, including milestones 

for the successful completion of three flights in FY 2017. The SpX-11 mission was the first re-use of a 

Dragon spacecraft capsule. Under CRS-2, Sierra Nevada and SpaceX have also successfully completed 

milestones through their Preliminary Design Reviews, while Orbital ATK has completed milestones 

through their Critical Design Review. The program funded CCtCap contract milestones for crew missions 

subsequent to the initial post certification missions that will be flown by Boeing and SpaceX. More 

information on CCtCap progress can be found under the CCP portion of this document. 
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Starting in March of 2017, Roscosmos reduced their crew size on the Russian segment from three to two 

cosmonauts until late FY 2018. This provided an opportunity to purchase additional Soyuz crew 

transportation in order to increase research capability on the ISS. Boeing acquired the rights to these 

vacant seats, which were then procured by NASA from Boeing. In September of 2017, Soyuz 52S carried

an additional U.S. operating segment (USOS) astronaut increasing the USOS crewmembers on ISS from 

three to four. In total the program supported five Soyuz launches. The program also supported three

Progress launches (Russian cargo vehicle) and one HTV (Japanese cargo vehicle) launch that are not 

funded by NASA. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA expects five commercial resupply flights to deliver research and logistics hardware in FY 2018. 

Orbital ATK plans to launch two CRS flights and complete seven milestones in support of six

commercial resupply flights. SpaceX plans to launch three CRS flights and complete 17 performance 

milestones in support of ten commercial resupply flights. Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX will 

continue to perform CRS-2 integration milestones with plans to complete a total of five milestones

collectively. Sierra Nevada completed its vehicle drop test which solidified several design aspects for its 

CRS-2 vehicle as they proceed to Critical Design Review. The program will also continue funding 

CCtCap contract milestones for crew missions with Boeing and SpaceX. 

The ISS will continue with the USOS crew increased to four until August 2018. The program will support 

four Soyuz launches. The program will also support three Progress launches and one HTV launch that are 

not funded by NASA.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The Crew and Cargo program will enable continued research and technology development by providing a 

stable crew and cargo flight plan. To ensure a stable crew plan, NASA exercised an option with Boeing 

which provides Soyuz crew transportation services for three USOS crew members in 2019. Currently,

domestic crew capability is scheduled to become available in April 2019 for SpaceX and in May 2019 for 

Boeing. Once U.S. commercial crew launch services become available, NASA will be able to 

permanently increase the crew size on the USOS from three astronauts to four astronauts. On average, this 

will double the total number of hours of crew time allocated to perform research on board ISS each week. 

NASA expects five commercial resupply flights to deliver research and logistics hardware in FY 2019.

Orbital ATK plans to launch two commercial resupply flights and complete nine performance milestones 

in support of six CRS/CRS-2 flights. SpaceX plans to launch three commercial resupply flights and 

complete 16 performance milestones in support of nine CRS/CRS-2 flights. Sierra Nevada plans to 

complete three performance milestones in support of two CRS-2 flights. These resupply flights will be 

vital for delivering not only the critical "day to day" supplies needed, but also the experiments and 

investigations that will enable the astronauts to continue important research on ISS. They will also 

support the increased research enabled by the additional astronaut once commercial crew is available. 

Orbital ATK and SpaceX will complete CRS-2 integration milestones in FY 2019. Sierra Nevada will 

follow with completion in FY 2020. NASA is planning for the first CRS-2 flight in late 2019 (FY 2020).
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space Transportation 

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The flight schedule also includes three Progress launches and one HTV launch that are not funded by 

NASA.

Project Schedule

Maintaining a regular rate of cargo delivery on a mix of NASA and partner vehicles ensures the ISS can 

sustain nominal operations and maintenance, while allowing the program to respond to any anomalies that 

might occur. The table below shows scheduled ISS flight plans for FY 2018 and FY 2019. NASA funds 

SpaceX and Orbital ATK cargo missions, Boeing and SpaceX crew missions, as well as Soyuz seats 

related to USOS crew requirements. The planned spacing of the Soyuz crew rotation flights ensures a 

continuous crew presence on the ISS, and smooth transitions between crews.

Date Significant Event

Oct 2017 Progress 68P

Nov 2017 OA-8

Dec 2017 SpX-13

Dec 2017 Soyuz 53S

Feb 2018 Progress 69P

Mar 2018 Soyuz 54S

Apr 2018 SpX-14

May 2018 OA-9

Jun 2018 SpX-15

Jun 2018 Soyuz 55S

Jul 2018 Progress 70P

Aug 2018 HTV-7

Sep 2018 Soyuz 56S

Oct 2018 Progress 71P

Nov 2018 Soyuz 57S

Nov 2018 OA-10

Nov 2018 SpX-16

Dec 2018 3R (Russian Proton launch of Multipurpose Laboratory Module)
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Date Significant Event

Feb 2019 SpX-17

Feb 2019 Progress 72P

Mar 2019 Soyuz 58S

Apr 2019 Progress 73P

Apr 2019 OA-11

Apr 2019 U.S. Crew Vehicle (USCV)-1

May 2019 U.S. Crew Vehicle (USCV)-2

May 2019 Soyuz 59S

May 2019 SpX-18

Jun 2019 6R (Soyuz launch of Russian Node Module) 

Jul 2019 HTV-8

Aug 2019 U.S. Crew Vehicle (USCV)-3

Aug 2019 U.S. Crew Vehicle (USCV)-4

Aug 2019 Progress 74P

Sep 2019 Soyuz 60S

Project Management & Commitments

JSC is responsible for management of the Crew and Cargo Program.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Crew 

transportation

Until a domestic capability is 

available, Soyuz will be used 

for crew transportation to ISS 

either though Roscosmos or 

Boeing. Once available, 

commercial crew 

transportation will be 

provided by Boeing and 

SpaceX.

Provider: Roscosmos; Boeing

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): Canadian Space 

Agency (CSA), European Space Agency 

(ESA), and JAXA

N/A
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Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Cargo 

transportation

Orbital ATK, SpaceX, and 

Sierra Nevada will provide 

cargo transportation to the 

ISS via the major contracts 

described below. JAXA will 

provide additional cargo 

transportation as part of the 

ISS partnership. Roscosmos 

will also provide nominal 

cargo transportation via 

Soyuz purchased for crew 

transportation.

Provider: Orbital ATK, SpaceX, Sierra 

Nevada, JAXA, and Roscosmos

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): Goddard Space 

Flight Center (GSFC), KSC 

Cost Share Partner(s): CSA, ESA, and 

JAXA

N/A

Acquisition Strategy

The ISS program competitively procures all ISS cargo transportation services, excluding services 

obtained via barter with our international partners or nominal cargo transportation provided by Soyuz. On 

January 14, 2016, NASA competitively awarded CRS-2 contracts to Orbital ATK, Sierra Nevada, and 

SpaceX with cargo transportation services planned to begin in 2019. Like the current CRS contracts, 

CRS-2 contracts are milestone-based, fixed-price indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts. 

NASA has purchased crew launches from Roscosmos through 2018, and crew rescue and return through 

mid-2019. In addition, NASA purchased, through Boeing, crew transportation, rescue, and related 

services for one USOS crew member on Soyuz in FY 2017 and one in FY 2018. The contract with 

Boeing also provides Soyuz crew transportation services for three USOS crew members in 2019 to ensure 

a stable crew plan until domestic commercial crew services are available. 

In September 2014, NASA’s CCP awarded CCtCap contracts to Boeing and SpaceX for commercial crew 

transportation. Those awards include at least two service missions per provider, with a maximum of up to 

six service missions per provider. CCP is funding milestones on the initial service missions, called Post 

Certification Missions. The Crew and Cargo program will fund the subsequent service missions. These 

crewed vehicles will provide a minimum of 220 pounds of cargo as specified by the ISS program.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Crew transportation Roscosmos Moscow, Russia

Crew transportation Boeing Houston, TX

Crew transportation SpaceX Hawthorne, CA
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Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Cargo transportation Orbital ATK Dulles, VA

Cargo transportation Sierra Nevada Louisville, CO

Cargo transportation SpaceX Hawthorne, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Other NASA Advisory 

Council Dec 2017

Provides independent 

guidance for the 

NASA Administrator

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings for the ISS

2018

Other

NASA Aerospace 

Safety Advisory 

Panel

Oct 2017

Provides independent 

assessments of safety 

to the NASA 

Administrator

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings for the ISS

2018
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 1184.8 -- 173.1 35.8 36.3 36.3 36.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not 

enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, 

the budget assumes this account is operating under the 

Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 

115-56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 

reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution.

With technical guidance and oversight from NASA, 

the U.S. private sector is working to develop and 

operate safe, reliable, and affordable crew 

transportation to space, including to the International 

Space Station (ISS). Partnering with the commercial 

space industry for access to ISS and other low Earth 

orbit destinations bolsters American leadership, 

reduces our current reliance on foreign providers for 

this service, and helps stimulate the American 

aerospace industry. By supporting the development 

of human spaceflight capabilities, NASA is also 

laying the foundation for a more affordable and 

sustainable future for human spaceflight.

Through the Commercial Crew Program (CCP), 

NASA provides technical and financial support to 

industry partners during development of their crew 

transportation systems using milestone-based 

contracts, and will certify them to carry NASA 

astronauts to and from the ISS. Under this 

acquisition model, NASA defines requirements 

upfront and pays the partner only once contract 

milestones are successfully completed. This 

approach shifts financial risk from taxpayers to the 

private sector, incentivizing increased cost-control, 

and decreasing the costs of developing the systems.

The first phase of the development effort was a 

series of competitively awarded Space Act 

Agreements (SAAs), followed by Certification 

Products Contracts (CPCs). The CPC effort allowed 

Top Photo: The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft 

goes through a series of land landing qualification 

tests to simulate what the actual spacecraft and crew 

members may experience while returning to Earth 

from space at NASA’s Langley Research Center in 

Virginia (July 2017).

Bottom Photo: Personnel from NASA, SpaceX, and 

the U.S. Air Force practice astronaut recovery 

operations for the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft at 

NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida (June 

2017).
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the partners to gain insight into NASA human spaceflight requirements and gave NASA early insight into 

partner designs and approaches.

CCP entered the final certification phase with the award of two Commercial Crew transportation 

Capability (CCtCap) contracts. CCtCap requires both partners to complete design, development, test, 

evaluation, and certification of an integrated Crew Transportation System. The completed transportation 

systems will support four NASA or NASA-sponsored crew on each flight, and provide emergency crew 

return, transport/return of pressurized ISS cargo, and crew safe haven while docked to the ISS. 

There are numerous benefits associated with the CCtCap acquisition strategy, such as controlling costs in 

the long term, and maximizing crew safety, as reinforced in statements by the Government Accountability 

Office, Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), and NASA Office of Inspector General. The CCtCap 

contracts incorporate higher level requirements than past development efforts, enabling the partners to be 

innovative and creative in their designs. Additionally, having more than one commercial partner creates 

competition providing a strong incentive to perform and does not leave the Government dependent on a 

sole partner, thereby generally producing lower prices and mitigating the risk of failure of an individual 

partner. Additionally, under this model, NASA ensures that companies retain commercial rights to 

intellectual property, which will allow these crew transportation systems to serve a much larger market 

than just NASA.

The CCtCap awards represent a significant milestone in U.S. human spaceflight, with the goal of ending 

our sole reliance on foreign crew transportation to the ISS, and certification of safe, cost-effective U.S. 

commercial crew transportation systems. In addition, this approach helps stimulate growth of new space 

transportation industry capabilities available to all potential customers, strengthening America’s space 

industrial base and providing a catalyst for future business ventures that can capitalize on affordable, 

globally competitive, U.S. space access. Returning these launches to American soil has significant 

economic benefits, with more than 1,000 suppliers working across nearly every state on commercial crew 

spacecraft systems.

NASA measures partner progress against fixed-price milestones, based on performance of agreed upon 

entrance and success criteria. Although the content varies by partner, milestones are designed to 

demonstrate progress toward completing crew transportation system development, such as risk reduction 

testing, design reviews, hardware development, and flight tests. The Government pays for milestones only 

after completion. Also, the partners will own and operate their completed systems. As mentioned in the 

Crew and Cargo program section, CCP manages the CCtCap contracts. In addition to funding the 

development and risk mitigation work, CCP also funds each partner's initial Post Certification Missions 

(PCMs). Subsequent PCMs are funded by the Crew and Cargo program.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.
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ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

CCP started the year by securing an additional four crew rotation missions from Boeing and SpaceX. The 

missions will carry astronauts to and from the ISS through 2024. The four additional missions fall under 

the CCtCap contracts and bring the total number of crew rotation missions awarded to each partner to six. 

The missions will fly following NASA certification. 

CCtCap development activities made significant progress with each company continuing to develop and 

test their unique space transportation systems. NASA’s four astronauts training to fly the test flights on 

Boeing’s Starliner and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spent time evaluating both partners’ progress during 2017. 

The astronauts are learning about the systems, being fitted for spacesuits, and readying for flight tests to 

and from the ISS. Designed to meet NASA’s safety and functionality requirements, both Boeing and 

SpaceX unveiled the first look at their new spacesuit designs.

Three Boeing Starliners are in production inside the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at 

NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. This year, the Starliner was powered on for the first 

time, and test versions of the spacecraft have been shipped across the United States to be put through the 

extremes necessary to understand how the Starliner will perform in the space environment. Other tests are 

aimed at simulating the actual pressure that the Starliner will encounter during ascent, orbit and reentry to 

Earth’s atmosphere. At the Landing and Impact Research Facility at NASA’s Langley Research Center in 

Virginia, a Starliner mock-up endured a series of land landing qualification tests designed to simulate a 

crew return to Earth in the Western United States. The capsule is designed for landing on land, making it 

reusable up to ten times with a six-month turnaround time between launches. Boeing is developing the 

Starliner to fly on the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 on 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. At the ULA facility in Decatur, Alabama, the company 

made progress on manufacturing the Atlas V that will launch Starliner for its uncrewed flight test in 2018.

SpaceX is manufacturing the Crew Dragon spacecraft inside the company’s headquarters and 

manufacturing facility in Hawthorne, California. In total, SpaceX has six Crew Dragon modules in 

various stages of production and testing, including a qualification module, a life support system testing 

module, two spacecraft for flight tests and the first two for fully operational missions. SpaceX built a test 

version of its Crew Dragon solely for evaluation of the life support system that will provide tight control 

of parameters that are important to human safety such as temperature, carbon dioxide levels, oxygen 

levels and cabin pressure. The environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) was extensively 

tested and evaluated at the company's headquarters. In February, SpaceX hosted its inaugural flight from 

historic Launch Complex 39A at KSC. The company successfully launched 12 missions from 39A in 

2017 gaining experience utilizing the pad for future commercial crew missions.

Both CCtCap partners have experienced some delays that are typical in a complex spaceflight 

development effort. This is a large, complex development effort whereby the partners are expected to 

conform to a set of requirements in a fixed price contract. Also, there is a large amount of work required 

of NASA to verify and validate all requirements have been met. These challenges have resulted in some 

schedule adjustments over the past year.

CCP continued work with Blue Origin and Sierra Nevada to develop and refine their respective spacecraft 

and launch systems. Under the CCDev2 and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability Space Act 

Agreement (CCiCap) agreements, NASA provides expertise and insight into their spaceflight designs.
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WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Boeing and SpaceX, will complete several significant CCtCap milestones necessary to develop and test 

their crew transportation systems. To meet NASA's requirements, the commercial partners must 

demonstrate that their systems are ready to begin regular flights to ISS. Two of those demonstrations are 

uncrewed flight tests which will occur in FY 2018, known as Orbital Flight Test for Boeing, and 

Demonstration Mission 1 for SpaceX. After the uncrewed flight tests, each company will carry out a 

flight test with crew in FY 2019 prior to being certified by NASA for crew rotation missions.

By the end of the fiscal year, NASA expects Boeing to have completed 36 of 39 milestones. This includes

a major review milestone, the ISS Design Certification Review. Boeing’s spacesuit, designed to meet 

NASA’s safety and functionality requirements, will continue to undergo integrated system verification 

tests, including environmental control and life support system testing. Boeing will continue with the 

production and outfitting of three spacecraft crew modules and multiple service modules inside the 

Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, Boeing 

and United Launch Alliance will make final preparations to the launch pad to ready the Atlas V complex 

for human spaceflight. 

By the end of the fiscal year, NASA expects SpaceX to have completed 21 out of 25 milestones. Like 

Boeing, this includes a Design Certification Review. SpaceX will continue forward work on their six 

spacecraft crew modules the company currently has in various stages of production and testing. SpaceX 

will also continue ongoing qualification and validation testing on its advanced spacesuits in FY 2018, 

including suit-fit and pressure tests. The company is in the process of manufacturing custom suits for each 

of the four astronauts, which will ensure a proper fit and comfortable ride to and from the ISS in their 

designed spacecraft in 2018. SpaceX will also continue upgrading LC-39A to support upcoming 

commercial crew missions, and the company’s Crew Access Arm will be installed on the launch pad to

provide a bridge between the crew access tower and SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft for astronauts 

flying to the space station on the company's Falcon 9 rocket.

Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spacecraft completed a series of tests at NASA’s Armstrong Flight 

Research Center located on Edwards Air Force Base in California. The testing culminated with a free 

flight test where the uncrewed spacecraft was lifted about 12,400 feet into the air by a helicopter and then 

released for a successful approach and landing, leading to the completion of a major milestone in early 

FY 2018 under CCiCap. The tests helped Sierra Nevada validate the aerodynamic properties, flight 

software and control system performance of the Dream Chaser under CCiCap.

SpaceX also continued progress toward completing their final CCiCap milestones. SpaceX split their Inflight Abort Test milestone and completed the first portion, the In-flight Abort Test Checkpoint, in early 

FY 2018. They will complete the final part of that milestone in FY 2019.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Under CCtCap, both industry partners are planning to complete all development milestones in FY 2019. 

This includes milestones supporting their crewed demonstration missions and Certification Reviews, the 

final development milestone on both contracts. Boeing is on contract to complete certification by January 

2019. SpaceX is on contract to complete certification by February 2019.
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These missions will represent major milestones in the return of human spaceflight from the United States. 

They will serve as precursors to fully operational crew rotation missions under CCP. After NASA 

certification, both partner space transportation systems will begin regularly flying astronauts to and from 

the ISS on NASA missions later in FY 2019.

Program Schedule

Progression of Commercial Crew development efforts.

Program Management & Commitments

The HEOMD team at NASA Headquarters performs strategic management and oversight of Commercial 

Spaceflight, while KSC is responsible for CCP management, in collaboration with the Johnson Space 

Center (JSC). CCP partners with industry leaders, are utilizing a combination of SAA and Federal 

Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based fixed-price contracts to stimulate efforts to develop and demonstrate 

crew transportation capabilities.

Program Element Provider

Commercial Crew Program

Provider: Blue Origin, Boeing, Sierra Nevada, SpaceX

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): All

Cost Share Partner(s): Industry Partners (shown above)
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Acquisition Strategy

CCP facilitates development of a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of 

achieving safe, reliable, and cost effective access to and from space and the ISS. Under the partnership 

approach, NASA engineers have insight into a company’s development process and evaluate the systems 

for overall safety, reliability, and performance. The Agency’s technical expertise and resources are also 

accessible to a company. Because companies are only paid a fixed amount, they are incentivized to reduce 

costs, and apply their most efficient and effective manufacturing and business operating techniques 

throughout the process. Additionally, the companies own and operate their own spacecraft.

In the early lifecycle stages, CCDev activities focused on stimulating industry efforts that successfully 

matured subsystems and elements of commercial crew spaceflight concepts, enabling technologies and 

capabilities. This was followed by CCDev2, which addressed new concepts to mature design and

development of primary elements, such as launch vehicle or spacecraft. Subsequently, NASA continued 

this effort with CCiCap SAA to continue partner progress in their integrated design and development 

efforts. For these initial efforts, NASA utilized SAAs, which provided maximum flexibility to the 

provider and maximum affordability to the Government. Concurrently with CCiCap agreements, NASA 

awarded Certification Products Contracts (CPCs) to industry to begin the process of NASA certifying 

their crew transportation systems. The scope of the CPCs included the submittal and technical disposition 

of specific, early development certification products. The current and final stage of the acquisition 

lifecycle began with the award of two FAR-based fixed-price CCtCap contracts in September 2014 for 

the development, test, evaluation, and final NASA certification of a Crew Transportation System. CCtCap 

contracts include demonstration of crewed ISS missions and subsequent service missions, assuming 

sufficient budget and technical progress, and a Special Studies Services section, for special studies, tests, 

or analyses, as needed by NASA, to reduce Program risk. NASA's FAR based fixed-price contracts 

during this phase allows for compliance with NASA's existing mission and safety requirements for 

transporting crew to and from ISS. The Agency’s technical expertise and resources are also accessible to 

each partner. Because partners are only paid a fixed amount, they are incentivized to reduce costs, and 

apply their most efficient and effective manufacturing and business operating techniques throughout the 

process.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

CCDev2 (follow-on) Blue Origin Kent, WA

CCtCap Boeing Houston, TX

CCiCap Sierra Nevada Louisville, CO

CCiCap/CCtCap SpaceX Hawthorne, CA
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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Other NASA Advisory 

Council Dec 2017

Provide independent 

guidance for the 

NASA Administrator 

TBD TBD

Other ASAP Oct 2017

Provide independent 

assessments of safety 

to the NASA 

Administrator 

No new formal 

recommendations or 

findings

2018

Other SRB Nov 2017

Assess funding and 

schedule reserve 

requirements, cost 

effectiveness during 

development and 

impacts to future 

sustaining 

operations, and 

efforts required for 

successful program 

implementation

While the SRB 

identified some risks, 

issues, and concerns, 

it found that the 

program has made 

good progress the 

last year proceeding 

towards the 

production and test 

phase of the 

program. 

Fall 2018
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Historical Performance

Through FY 2017 (funded milestones only).
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Space Communications Networks 546.9 -- 523.4 454.8 504.3 549.8 567.4

Space Communications Support 83.2 -- 110.8 114.1 111.3 103.1 103.2

Total Budget 630.1 -- 634.1 568.8 615.6 652.9 670.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program is 

embarking on the development of a new space communication and 

navigation architecture to meet the expanding requirements of 

NASA science and exploration missions. With the introduction of 

commercial services and capabilities and new technology such as 

optical communication, NASA's space communication and 

navigation capabilities will provide mission-critical 

communications and navigation required by all NASA spaceflight 

missions. These missions range from high altitude balloons, to

satellites in low Earth orbit, to the most distant manmade object –

which is currently over 13 billion miles from Earth –– Voyager 1. 

SCaN retrieves science, spacecraft, and crew health data for all of 

these missions, uploads commands and sends data to individual 

control centers. Navigation services determine the precise location 

of a satellite in order to enable course changes, interpret science 

data, and position the spacecraft for communication opportunities.

Without SCaN services to move data and commands between 

spacecraft and Earth, customer missions and space hardware worth 

tens of billions of dollars would be little more than orbital debris. 

SCaN provides secure, reliable, and adaptable communication 

services to NASA internal customers, as well as external customers 

who rely on these space communications capabilities on a daily 

basis. External customers include foreign governments, 

international partners, commercial entities such as launch service providers, and non-NASA U.S.

missions to which SCaN provides services to on a reimbursable basis.

SCaN’s three communications networks, the Space Network (SN), Near Earth Network (NEN), and Deep 

Space Network (DSN), provide these critical services to customer missions. SN communicates with 

missions in low Earth orbit, such as the Hubble Space Telescope (Hubble), and provides constant 

communication with ISS, as well as its commercial and international partner servicing vehicles. In the 

future, it will also support Commercial Crew providers and launches of the Space Launch System (SLS)

and Orion spacecraft. The NEN communicates with suborbital missions and missions in low Earth orbit, 

The Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellite (TDRS-M) successfully 

launched August 18, 2017. The 

geosynchronous TDRS fleet operates 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

providing communication and 

tracking services to missions in low 

Earth orbit.
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highly elliptical Earth orbit, and some lunar orbits. NEN supports a number of science and weather 

missions. DSN communicates with the most distant missions, such as interplanetary probes.

The three networks require maintenance, replenishment, modernization, and capacity expansion to ensure 

continued operation. The SCaN program also includes support to ground communications links that move 

data between ground stations, NASA centers, data centers, and mission operation centers. In addition, 

NASA uses the SCaN provided Goldstone Solar System Radar to track and characterize near Earth 

objects that pass within nine million miles of Earth, and helps determine their orbits for use by the 

Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) Planetary Science Division in assessing the probability of a 

conjunction. SCaN is working to upgrade this capability to a distance of 42 million miles, which increases 

the time to develop viable solutions to avoid orbital collision.

SCaN networks make good use of public-private partnerships to support their various customers. The 

NEN currently makes use of a mix of Government-owned and commercial ground antennas in order to 

maximize the network's geographic coverage, minimize the impact of weather-related communications 

disruptions, and effectively manage financial resources. In addition, SCaN is currently studying options 

for the long-term sustainment of the SN. A broad range of technical capabilities for the future SN 

architecture are under consideration. Within the Space Communications Networks project, the Budget 

includes $25 million to support the development and initial piloting of a strategy to transition the Space 

Network to a mix of commercial services, where available, and public-private partnerships (where new 

technologies are needed).

Space Communications Support provides efficient planning and integration of current and future network 

capabilities to meet customer mission needs while reducing costs. These include systems engineering, 

architecture planning, communications data standards, technology development, testbeds for future 

capabilities, radio frequency spectrum management, and navigation policy.

Operating in space requires significant international coordination. SCaN participates in several 

international organizations that coordinate compatibility and interoperability in space communications 

and navigation. SCaN’s standards development and management activity maintains a portfolio of 

international interoperability standards that enable joint space missions with other nations. SCaN also 

promotes new technologies and provides technical leaders and domain experts who ensure appropriate 

space communication standards are available to NASA missions. The research and technology avenues 

within SCaN aim to predict the needs of future communications missions in a manner that will yield 

initiatives with performance advancements and a reduction in costs.

Amid soaring demand for wireless broadband, such as 3G and 4G mobile services, radio frequency 

spectrum management has become increasingly critical to the world’s spacefaring nations. SCaN 

coordinates nationally and internationally to protect radio frequencies critical to NASA space missions.

For more information, go to http://www.nasa.gov/scan.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

In FY 2017, SCaN replanned the Space Network Ground Sustainment (SGSS) project following the 

replacement of the contractor's and Government's project managers. The replan concluded that the

funding required in FY 2018 and FY 2019 for SGSS to reach an initial Operations Readiness Review 

(ORR) had increased by $117.2 million above previous estimates. At first ORR, the software pool is 
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installed and tested out on one antenna at the White Sands Complex. The remaining antennas at White 

Sands and other locations would need to be refurbished and tested one at a time after that first ORR, and 

the software would undergo troubleshooting and debugging as required. Additional funding would be 

required for the work to be completed after the initial ORR. As a result, NASA is initiating an 

independent review of the project which will be completed in mid-2018. Given the budgetary challenges 

encountered by the project, the FY 2019 Budget does not provide funding for the continuation of SGSS. 

A final decision on SGSS continuation will be deferred until the conclusion of the independent review. If 

the results of this review point towards an affordable path forward for SGSS, NASA will look for 

opportunities to continue SGSS.
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Next Generation Capability 0.0 -- 100.0 39.6 52.7 93.0 110.4

Total Budget 546.9 -- 523.4 454.8 504.3 549.8 567.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) 

networks are comprised of the Space Network (SN), 

Near Earth Network (NEN), and Deep Space 

Network (DSN). Together they provide a 24/7 

global, near-Earth and deep-space communications 

system, plus tracking and navigation services to 

over 100 NASA, other U.S. Government, 

international civil space agency and commercial 

missions.

SCaN supports new spacecraft that are increasingly 

powerful, complex and capable of acquiring ever 

increasing amounts of mission data, as well as 

missions launched over 30 years ago, such as 

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, that are still returning 

valuable science data. Each network supports a 

different set of customer requirements for spacecraft 

orbit, signal strength and real-time coverage. In 

order to continue providing proficiency at or above 

95 percent for customer missions, each network requires regular maintenance, modernization and capacity 

expansion.

NASA’s space communications networks provide ongoing services to Agency and customer missions, 

averaging about 600 tracking passes per day. Without these capabilities, customer missions like 

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-R, Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-1, 

Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) and James Webb Space Telescope (Webb)

would not be able to deliver key science data.

The SN provides continuous global coverage to NASA missions in low Earth orbit (LEO), and to launch 

vehicles during their launch and ascent phase. It is the primary U.S. communications link to the ISS, as 

well as for ground and balloon research in remote locations, such as the South Pole. The SN consists of 

NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system of communications satellites in 

geosynchronous orbit; a set of space-to-ground link terminals at NASA’s White Sands Complex in New 

 The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-M) 

spacecraft was launched in August 2017, heralding 

the end of the launch effort and the mission’s 

beginning. Following several months of calibration 

and testing, TDRS-M will be renamed TDRS-13, and 

it will be eligible to begin supporting NASA’s Space 

Network.
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Mexico; and remote space-to-ground terminals in Guam, and at Blossom Point, Maryland. The ground 

systems operate the TDRS fleet and route customer mission data between TDRS and ground terminals.

Maintaining and modernizing this critical network is one of the Agency’s top priorities. To accomplish 

this, NASA is requesting $25 million in FY 2019, with additional funding in subsequent years, to support 

the development and initial piloting of a strategy to transition the Space Network to a mix of commercial 

services, where available, and public-private partnerships (where new technologies are needed). Initial 

transition efforts will focus on working with the commercial market to identify requirements that are 

mutually beneficial to NASA and industry and developing an acquisition model for incorporating 

commercial communications services or hosted payloads into the SN. Once this acquisition model has 

been proven, NASA will incorporate it into next-generation technologies such as laser communications

into the network while continuing to support the requirements of legacy users.

The NEN provides space communications to missions in low Earth, geosynchronous, lunar and highly 

elliptical Earth orbits, as well as from certain suborbital launch locations. Comprised of NASA-owned 

and commercial satellite communication stations, the NEN is located throughout the world. The NASA 

owned network’s ground stations are located at White Sands in New Mexico; U.S. McMurdo Antarctic 

Station; Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Chincoteague, Virginia; and University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 

Alaska. The network also purchases services from commercial providers in Hawaii, Norway, Sweden, 

Singapore, South Africa, Australia and Chile. The NEN provides telemetry, tracking and command 

services to an extensive and diverse customer base, including the high-rate Earth Observing System, and 

several Small Explorer missions. The NEN is currently augmenting its ground station network to provide 

communications services for future spacecraft including Orion and the Space Launch System (SLS).

The DSN, which has been in operation for over 50 years, provides communication and tracking services 

to about 35 NASA and non-NASA missions beyond geosynchronous orbit (over 26,000 miles above the 

Earth’s surface). Its three deep space communication complexes, all of which are owned by NASA, are

located in Goldstone, California; Canberra, Australia; and Madrid, Spain. The sites are separated by 

approximately 120 degrees of longitude to ensure that any spacecraft in deep space can communicate with 

at least one station at all times as the Earth rotates. 

The SCaN Program actively seeks to implement operational efficiencies to help fund modernization and 

upgrade activities. One example of this is Follow-the-Sun Operations. Since the three DSN ground 

stations are spaced roughly equally apart on the globe, each station will be responsible for operating the 

entire DSN network during their day shift, handing off control to the next site as their day ends. While 

each station will still need a small emergency staff during their off-shift hours, these remote operations 

will significantly reduce operating costs at each station.

The ongoing DSN Aperture Enhancement Project modernizes and upgrades the DSN’s ground stations to 

enhance capacity, improve flexibility to support customer missions, and reduce operations and 

maintenance costs. The project will augment the 70 meter antennas in California, Spain and Australia 

with arrays of four 34 meter Beam Waveguide (BWG) antennas by 2025. Antenna arraying combines the 

signals received by multiple antennas to function as a single large antenna – in this instance as a 70 meter

antenna or less as required. The BWG antennas are less complicated, more flexible, and more costeffective to maintain than conventional antennas. In addition, they provide the same or better performance 

as the 70 meter antennas. When not needed by a mission for arraying all four antennas, the 34 meter

antennas may support multiple spacecraft as needed individually or by arraying two or three of the 34 
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meter antennas. Construction efforts, such as new 34 meter antennas, use Construction of Facilities funds 

appropriated in NASA’s Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration account.

The NASA Communications Services Office (CSO) is a centralized commercial service provides pointto-point communication services between the three space communications network ground stations,

NASA centers, customer mission operations and data centers. While NASA’s Office of the Chief 

Information Officer manages the CSO service, it is funded by the SCaN program.

For more information, go to http://www.nasa.gov/scan.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

In FY 2017, SCaN replanned the Space Network Ground Sustainment (SGSS) project following the 

replacement of the contractor's and Government's project managers. The replan concluded that the 

funding required in FY 2018 and FY 2019 for SGSS to reach an initial Operations Readiness Review 

(ORR) had increased by $117.2 million above previous estimates. At first ORR, the software pool is 

installed and tested out on one antenna at the White Sands Complex. The remaining antennas at White 

Sands and other locations would need to be refurbished and tested one at a time after that first ORR, and 

the software would undergo troubleshooting and debugging as required. Additional funding would be 

required for the work to be completed after the initial ORR. As a result, NASA is initiating an 

independent review of the project which will be completed in mid-2018. Given the budgetary challenges 

encountered by the project, the FY 2019 Budget does not provide funding for the continuation of SGSS. 

A final decision on SGSS continuation will be deferred until the conclusion of the independent review. If 

the results of this review point towards an affordable path forward for SGSS, NASA will look for 

opportunities to continue SGSS.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

During the fiscal year, the space communications networks supported over 100 missions, with over 

325,000 hours of tracking and more than 245,000 passes. SCaN networks provided launch to splash-down 

communication support for ten human spaceflight missions, nine expendable launch vehicle (ELV)

missions, and three new robotic missions. SCaN continued to replenish networks to upgrade and replace 

obsolescent equipment to ensure continued tracking and data transmission for its customers in support of 

current and future missions. 

TDRS-M launched on August 18, 2017. After on-orbit acceptance of TDRS-M in FY 2018, the SN will 

have adequate capacity for its expected mission set until the second-generation TDRS begin retiring in the 

mid-2020s. The SCaN program completed its initial study of options for the long-term sustainment of the 

SN, and awarded and completed follow-on study contracts. A broad range of technical capabilities for the 

future SN architecture are under consideration. 

The SGSS project is an upgrade to the ground segment of the SN. SGSS completed software development 

delivery and began integration and test activities.

NEN completed replacement of AS2 antenna at the Alaska Satellite Facility, which had become obsolete 

and inoperable. This replacement provides backup to the AS1 and AS3 antennas while they are being 
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upgraded to Ka-band and also provides additional network capacity. NEN completed development of 

Launch Communication Stations at KSC, with testing and verification ongoing to make that site 

operational to support EM-1, and continued work at the Bermuda site. 

The DSN Follow-the-Sun Operations upgrade will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 is Follow-theSun remote operations and Phase 2 enables one operator to control three antennas simultaneously. In 

FY 2017, DSN completed development of Phase 1 and began its operational transition into remote 

operations. Development of Phase 2 work continued with plans for completion in FY 2020. 

The DSN Aperture Enhancement Project continues efforts to upgrade and replace existing antennas at its 

complexes. Construction continued on two new antennas at the Madrid Deep Space Communications 

Complex (MDSCC) in Spain, Deployable Space System (DSS)-56 and DSS-53. These new antennas will 

augment the 70 meter antenna located at this site. The foundation and walls are complete for both 

antennas, as well as the roof for DSS-56.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The three space communications networks will continue to provide a level of service similar to that

provided in prior years. This includes over 245,000 tracking passes, totaling more than 325,000 hours, 

while maintaining an extremely high level of proficiency (approximately 99.95 percent or higher), well 

above the 95 percent required by the SCaN Program Commitment Agreement. SCaN networks are 

planning to support 13 human spaceflight, 13 ELV, and 10 robotic mission launches.

The SN will complete its replacement of the uninterruptable power supply module at White Sands, New 

Mexico. In addition, other White Sands ground equipment upgrades will provide up to 600 Mbps Kuband data service. This additional capability is needed to meet ISS requirements and will enable ISS to 

increase its science capabilities by supporting high definition cameras and the transfer of large amounts of 

science data quickly and in real time instead of storing the data onboard and waiting for a sufficiently 

large time to complete a downlink or for a data recorder to return to Earth. 

The SGSS prime contractor will continue integration and test activities in anticipation of a systems 

acceptance test in late FY 2018. An independent review will be conducted on the SGSS project due to 

contract performance issues and uncertain budget and schedule requirements in the coming years. 

The NEN began Ka-Band upgrades at the Alaska Satellite Facility, which are scheduled for completion in 

FY 2020. It will complete depot level maintenance of an 11 meter antenna at the Wallops Ground Station, 

on Wallops Island, Virginia. These activities include steps to proactively inspect and replace cables and 

mechanical systems that are reaching their failure threshold, and are not otherwise addressed by 

preventative maintenance. The NEN will also complete development of the Launch Communication 

Station at the Bermuda site, the final milestone for that project. 

DSN Follow-the-Sun Operations will complete their Phase 1 operations transition and continue

development of Phase 2, scheduled for completion in FY 2020. The DSN Aperture Enhancement Project 

will also continue construction of DSS-56 and DSS-53 antennas in Spain, completing both pedestals. 
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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The SCaN Network will continue to provide communications, tracking and navigation services to over 

100 NASA, U.S. Government, civil space agency, and commercial missions at 95 percent or higher 

proficiency rate. This includes providing launch support on all new human spaceflight, ELV, and robotic

missions. All three networks will continue to identify and implement methodologies and processes, as 

well as upgrade equipment, to achieve improvements over historical operational efficiencies and goals. 

SCaN is developing a plan to provide next generation Earth relay operational communications capability 

by 2025. Past networks have been expensive to operate and maintain because they were designed to only 

serve government customers, which has limited their ability to leverage commercial partnerships. The 

next generation project will engage with commercial industry through mechanisms such as services 

contracts, hosted payloads, and other public-private-partnerships to allow multiple commercial entities to 

partner with the Government in order to significantly reduce and eventually eliminate reliance on NASA 

or NASA contractor run ground systems. This will bolster American industry and significantly reduce the 

cost of NASA’s communication network. In addition, the SCaN program will also complete its study of 

options for the long-term sustainment of the SN, and award follow-on study contracts. 

NEN will begin depot level maintenance of an 18 meter antenna at the White Sands facility. These 

activities include steps to proactively inspect and replace cables and mechanical systems that are reaching 

their failure threshold, and are not otherwise addressed by preventative maintenance. NEN will also 

continue Ka-Band upgrades at the Alaska Satellite Facility scheduled for completion in FY 2020.

In Madrid, Spain, the DSN Aperture Enhancement Project will complete antenna fabrication for DSS-56 

and will begin the related installation, integration and test activities to support operations in FY 2020. 

Installation, integration and test activities will also begin on DSS-53, scheduled for completion in 

FY 2021. These new antennas will transmit and receive across a wide range of radio frequencies for deep 

space communication with interplanetary robotic spacecraft to provide required capabilities for the 

expected growth of deep space missions launching over the next decade. Construction for DSS-33 is 

scheduled to begin in FY 2019 and DSS-23 in FY 2021. 

DSN sustaining items include antenna pointing and control system upgrades in Australia starting in 

second quarter of FY 2018, exciter obsolescence work in California with phase 1 completion scheduled 

for end of FY 2018, and network-wide Ka-band uplink upgrades scheduled for completion by FY 2020.

Project Schedule

The table below includes significant SCaN network milestones in FY 2018 and FY 2019. 

Date Significant Event

FY 2018- Q1 DSN successful implementation of Follow-the-Sun efficiency operations at 

all three complexes

FY 2018 - Q2 SN on-orbit acceptance of TDRS-M 

FY 2018 - Q2 DSN complete Phase 1 Follow-the-Sun Transition
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Date Significant Event

FY 2018 - Q3 NEN Launch Communication Stations at Florida and Bermuda complete 

Operational Readiness Reviews

FY 2018 - Q3 Independent Review of SGSS Project

FY 2018 - Q3/4 Decision on continuation of the SGSS project

FY 2018 - Q4 SN uninterruptable power supply module replacement at White Sands 

complete

FY 2018 - Q4 SGSS Systems Acceptance Test Complete

FY 2019 - Q3 NEN complete White Sands 18 meter depot level maintenance

FY 2019 - Q3 DSN start implementation of Three Links per Operator efficiency task

FY 2019 - Q3 SN complete STPSat-6 Antenna and Ground Equipment ORR 

Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Space Network

Communication and 

navigation services to 

customer missions in low 

Earth orbit and launch 

vehicles

Provider: Space Network Project Office

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): Non-NASA 

customers

N/A

NEN

Communication and 

navigation services to 

customer missions in low 

Earth, highly elliptical, and

lunar orbits

Provider: NEN Project Office

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): Non-NASA 

customers

N/A

DSN

Communication and 

navigation services to 

customer missions in deep 

space

Provider: DSN Project Office

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): Non-NASA 

customers

N/A

NASA CSO

Centralized commercial 

service that provides point-topoint communication services 

between ground sites

Provider: CSO, through NASA Chief 

Information Officer

Lead Center: NASA HQ

Performing Center(s): MSFC, GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
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Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

TDRS 

Replenishment

Purchase third-generation 

TDRS-K, -L, and -M to 

maintain Space Network 

communications services to 

customer missions into the 

2020s

Provider: Boeing Space Systems

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partners: Other U.S. 

government agencies

Development 

cost reduced. 

TDRS-M added 

to purchase

SGSS

Replace outdated and 

deteriorating ground systems 

at Space Network ground 

terminals

Provider: SGSS Project Office

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): Non-NASA U.S. 

government partners

N/A

Acquisition Strategy

The major acquisitions for the networks are in place. NASA uses reimbursable, international and barter 

agreements, as well as competitive procurements. NASA’s JPL provides the management of the DSN. 

The next generation earth relay is being designed to rely on commercial services and other public private 

partnerships. This new architecture will encourage the deployment of commercially-operated services or 

capabilities that can support NASA requirements as well as the much larger set of current and future 

industry customers.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work 

performance)

DSN JPL/Cal Tech Pasadena, CA

Space Network Operations Peraton Herndon, VA

NEN Operations Peraton Herndon, VA

TDRS Replenishment and 

modifications to Space Network 

ground systems to support these 

spacecraft

Boeing Space Systems El Segundo, CA

TDRS-M Launch Vehicle United Launch Alliance, LLC Centennial, CO

SGSS General Dynamics Mission 

Systems Scottsdale, AZ
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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

SCaN Standing Review 

Board

October 

2016

Program 

Implementation 

Review with focus 

on 

interdependencies, 

implementation 

planning, and risk 

gaps or shortfalls

Success criteria met. 

Major strengths, 

observations, 

concerns and issues 

were identified

FY 2018
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 83.2 -- 110.8 114.1 111.3 103.1 103.2

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Space Communications Support project 

supports NASA and the SCaN program through 

communications and navigation planning, 

management, and technology development. 

Within the Space Communications Support 

project, SCaN’s architecture planning and 

systems engineering office defines technical 

services, capacity, and performance 

requirements to eliminate duplication across 

networks, minimize mission-unique 

requirements, ensure customer missions operate 

together with NASA networks, and lower 

development and operations costs. SCaN is 

conducting studies to identify future spacebased relay communication and navigation 

architectures for Earth, the Moon, and Mars that 

are infused with technologies under 

development to support NASA missions in the 

2022 and beyond timeframe. These studies 

include Requests for Information (RFI) to 

leverage the creativity of industry partners through mechanisms such as public-private partnerships that 

will be central to NASA's future communications architecture.

Evolving space communication systems will transform future NASA mission capabilities. SCaN’s 

technology development effort invests in leading-edge communications technologies, and enables, 

improves, and matures available spacecraft communication and navigation technologies to build 

capabilities for both ground and space-based use. Technology items are created and tested in lab settings 

before they are taken into space for further testing. Demonstrable technologies have proven themselves in 

laboratory tests and have begun experimentation and testing in space. Key demonstrable technologies that 

SCaN is currently developing are optical communication and software-defined radios. 

The complete Laser Communications Relay Demonstration 

(LCRD) payload is being assembled for test in the clean 

room at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Scheduled to 

launch in 2019, the Laser Communications Relay 

Demonstration (LCRD) will simulate communications 

support, practicing for two years with a test payload on the 

International Space Station and two dedicated ground 

stations in California and Hawaii. 
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Optical communication is a form of long distance communication using lasers as a means of transmitting 

information and has the potential to dramatically increase efficiency, while being less expensive to 

operate and inherently more secure than radio communications. This technology has the potential to 

create an entirely new field of business for U.S. industry. In cooperation with industry partners, SCaN is 

developing a plan for transitioning optical communication technology from a demonstration capability 

into an operational service.

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate [((STMD), the new ER&T organization)] and SCaN are 

jointly developing the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). SCaN is funding ground 

operations and STMD (the new ER&T organization) is funding the payload. LCRD will be NASA's first 

long-period optical communications project that will demonstrate benefits for both deep space and near 

Earth missions. To transmit a 30 centimeter resolution map of the entire Martian surface (at one bit/pixel) 

would take current radiofrequency (RF) systems two years – a laser communications system operating at 

projected capacity would be able to complete transmission in nine weeks. Construction efforts, such as for 

LCRD ground stations, use Construction of Facilities funds appropriated in NASA’s Construction and 

Environmental Compliance and Remediation account. 

SCaN and STMD (the new ER&T organization) are also working together on the Deep Space Atomic 

Clock (DSAC) demonstration which will allow a spacecraft to calculate its own timing and navigation 

data in real time. With existing technology, a spacecraft can be navigated autonomously to the top of the 

Martian atmosphere with a 1 to 2 km uncertainty. It is expected that DSAC will enhance deep space 

navigation and reduce positional uncertainty to 100 meters, improved by a factor of 10 to 20 over today's 

capabilities, which will save precious fuel and enable more accurate scientific measurements. DSAC also 

enables on-board navigation for robotic missions or crewed missions.

SCaN is an active member of multiple international organizations (e.g. Interagency Operations Advisory 

Group) that coordinate space communication and navigation compatibility and interoperability, as well as 

the development of communications and data systems standards for spaceflight. Space communications 

data standards enable the world space agencies to provide cross support to each other, reducing mission 

risk and reducing or eliminating the need to build and deploy their own space and ground assets resulting

in significant cost savings to NASA without reducing services and coverage to space missions.

Electromagnetic spectrum is a valuable and limited natural resource that all NASA missions and most 

operations require for communications, navigation, and data services in the areas of Earth science, space 

science, human space exploration, and aeronautical research. All forms of wireless communication

systems use the electromagnetic spectrum, so the spectrum must be carefully controlled and coordinated.

SCaN is responsible for ensuring access to the portions electromagnetic spectrum necessary to support 

NASA's mission needs. This includes ensuring interference-free operations and sufficient bandwidth is 

available. SCaN serves as the Agency's Spectrum Manager and provides the NASA representatives to

domestic and international spectrum governing bodies. In the U.S., NASA provides representatives to the 

Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee at the National Telecommunications and Information 

Administration (NTIA). Internationally, NASA is a U.S. delegate to a multitude of forums, the most 

important of which are the World Radiocommunication Conferences, which convene every three to four 

years and include delegates from more than 150 nations. Among the purposes of these Conferences is to 

review and revise the International Telecommunication Union's Radio Regulations which govern the use 
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of electromagnetic spectrum, define frequency allocations, and refine the mechanisms by which use of 

electromagnetic spectrum by satellites is coordinated across the globe.

NASA spacecraft in Earth orbit employ GPS timing signals for precision positioning, navigation, and 

timing for vehicles in space. This allows NASA to minimize the network communications and tracking 

burdens while maximizing spacecraft autonomy and operations. SCaN manages NASA’s policy on GPS 

use and plays a major role on the national and international position, navigation, and timing policy, 

helping to ensure compatibility and interoperability among U.S. Government capabilities and other 

spacefaring nations, promoting common definitions and specifications, and mitigating threats to the GPS 

spectrum.

For more information, go to https://www.nasa.gov/scan.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

SCaN baselined NASA’s space communications network requirements, architecture, and concept of 

operations to upgrade the three networks into a more unified infrastructure with interoperable, 

standardized services to user missions. Efforts continued to insert new technologies and advance next 

generation near Earth (TDRS system replacement) and deep space (Lunar and Mars networks) 

architecture options in coordination with NASA’s Exploration and Science programs. SCaN released a 

RFI in late FY 2017 to explore alternative business models for acquisition and operation of its 

communications networks to reduce cost and use commercial capabilities where possible. Several RFIs 

were released to industry to validate architecture options and solicit innovative approaches for the Next 

Generation Architecture. SCaN will evaluate the responses to the RFI in FY 2018.

SCaN's work with STMD and external partners on LCRD development continued, including the 

completion of major reviews for both Optical Ground Station (OGS)-1 and OGS-2, the new dedicated 

ground terminals to support SCaN's evolving optical communications infrastructure. OGS-1 completed its 

System Integration Review to evaluate the readiness of the project to begin its assembly, integration, and 

test. In addition to completing facility construction, OGS-2 completed its installation and began initial 

field calibration of its adaptive optics system against stars. The LCRD project also worked towards 

demonstrating bidirectional optical communications relay services between geosynchronous orbit and 

Earth. SCaN is currently developing two laser communications terminals for crewed spaceflight missions. 

The Integrated LCRD Laser User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) is scheduled to fly on 

the ISS, and the "Optical to Orion" (O2O) terminal is scheduled to fly on Orion during Exploration 

Mission (EM) 2. Both terminals passed their System Requirements Reviews in August 2017.

SCaN worked with the European Space Agency (ESA) to demonstrate navigation protocols using 

Europe's Galileo global navigation satellite system on the SCaN TestBed. The SCaN TestBed on ISS, 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS): Space 

Communications and Navigation

SPACE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT 

Formulation Development Operations

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which recently celebrated five years on orbit, tests various software defined radio technologies to

demonstrate cognitive radios that learn from experience and improve performance autonomously. 

The Standards project developed specifications for a wireless local area network protocol, supporting 

communications for both human and robotic activities on planetary surfaces. SCaN worked in 2017 with 

the NTIA Policy and Plans Steering Group to help identify Federal spectrum for auction and repurpose 

for commercial mobile broadband. The Spectrum Management Office, working directly with mission 

projects, completed operational certification of spectrum support for various human spaceflight mission 

elements, Science Mission Directorate (SMD) missions, and small satellite missions across the Agency.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

SCaN will continue defining NASA’s next generation network architecture, incorporating new 

capabilities for higher bandwidth, on-demand services, Delay/Disruption Tolerant networking (DTN), and 

autonomous navigation. SCaN will work with the Exploration programs to define the communication and 

navigation capabilities needed to support future exploration. Responses to several RFIs from industry will 

be evaluated and used to formulate innovative commercial partnerships as part of a broader programmatic 

approach for the Next Generation architecture.

SCaN will also continue the infusion into its operations of new technologies that could enable significant 

reductions in system acquisition and operations cost while improving network flexibility, scalability, and 

security. In accordance with the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017, NASA is developing a plan

to meet the Administration's projected space communications and navigation needs for low Earth orbit 

and deep space operations for the next 20 years. Towards that effort, NASA engaged with the interagency 

and industry communities through a variety of venues during late FY 2017 and continuing into FY 2018.

SCaN will continue to work with STMD (which will be part of the new ER&T organization) on LCRD. 

Both OGS-1 and OGS-2 will begin their integration and testing work, which are key milestones for 

completion. Preliminary design reviews (PDR) for both ILLUMA-T and the O2O terminal will be 

completed as well.

SCaN will continue to partner with the SMD and STMD (which will be part of the new ER&T 

organization) on Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) to increase data rates by a factor of 10-

100, without increasing mission burden in mass, volume, power and/or spectrum. The SMD Discovery 

Psyche Mission was selected to demonstrate this DSOC terminal technology; it is scheduled to launch in 

2022. SCaN completed the System Readiness Review and will complete detailed design of uplink and 

downlink stations and begin fabrication to support an operational readiness date in late FY 2021 for the 

ground terminal.

The U.S. Air Force will host the Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) demonstration unit as part of the 

U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program 2 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Heavy, scheduled for launch in 

June 2018. DSAC is a mercury ion clock that is an order of magnitude more stable than the current GPS 

clocks and will demonstrate its functionality and utility for one-way-based navigation for up to a year of 

operations. The clock will make use of GPS satellite signals to demonstrate precision orbit determination 

and confirm its performance. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS): Space 

Communications and Navigation

SPACE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT 

Formulation Development Operations

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In October 2017, SCaN held a NASA Space Communication Data Standard Webinar for the U.S. industry 

with 53 participants from NASA and 17 U.S. companies to engage the U.S. commercial sector in space 

communication data standards, including space-to-ground, ground-to-space, and space-to-space. A 

standard is also being developed for data exchanged between onboard software applications and hardware 

devices to enable missions to exchange electronic interface specifications across agencies.

SCaN's Spectrum Management Office is currently securing continued use beyond EM-2 of wideband 

S-band telemetry for SLS which will require agreements from DoD, the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio 

Coordinating Council, and NTIA before operational certification. The Spectrum Office continues to work 

with the Commercial Crew Program and other agencies to coordinate spectrum use for commercial 

vehicles transporting crew to ISS. Further, NASA is performing compatibility analyses with on-going 

spectrum sharing initiatives to enable bi-directional access to spectrum between the U.S. Government and 

the commercial sector.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

SCaN will conduct an architecture review for the initial increments of the Next Generation Architecture. 

The plan incorporates new capabilities for higher bandwidth, on-demand services, Delay/Disruption 

Tolerant networking, and autonomous navigation through the infusion of new technologies, such as 

optical communications. These new technologies combined with innovative business approaches are 

expected to enable significant reductions in system acquisition and operations cost while improving 

network flexibility, scalability, security, and performance. 

SCaN will continue its work with Exploration Research and Technology on LCRD with integration and 

test activities beginning in FY 2018. SCaN will complete both OGS-1 and OGS-2 to support the LCRD 

launch in FY 2019. The ILLUMA-T and Orion EM-2 O2O projects will complete their Critical Design 

Reviews (CDR) and begin payload integration and test. The DSOC optical ground station project will 

complete its PDR, noting that it is about 10 months after the flight hardware PDR as supported by STMD

(the new ER&T organization).

Through participation in the Interagency Operations Advisory Group and Consultative Committee for 

Space Data Systems, SCaN will continue international coordination of space communication and 

navigation compatibility and interoperability, as well as the development of internationally interoperable 

space communication and data system standards. NASA missions use internationally interoperable 

standards to lower the life cycle costs and risks, and provide innovative capabilities for current and future 

missions. Key progress is planned for Optical and Space Internetworking standards which may be used in

NASA’s Next Generation Space Communications and Exploration Architectures.

As NASA's Spectrum Manager, SCaN will continue to participate in domestic and international meetings 

to ensure interference-free use of the electromagnetic spectrum supporting requirements for NASA's

current and future missions. SCaN will focus on planned agenda items at the World Radiocommunication 

Conference in FY 2020, and working within the U.S. Delegation, will seek to ensure continued access to 

the radiofrequency spectrum supporting NASA's mission requirements, the U.S. Government space 

interests, and the U.S. commercial space community. In addition, SCaN will continue to coordinate 

spectrum use for all domestic and international deep space missions, and NASA near-Earth missions.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS): Space 

Communications and Navigation

SPACE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT 

Formulation Development Operations

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Project Schedule

The table below includes significant Space Communication Support milestones in FY 2018 and FY 2019.

Date Significant Event

FY 2018 - Q1 DSOC passes Systems Readiness Review

FY 2018 - Q1 ILLUMA-T and O2O pass Systems Requirements Reviews

FY 2018 - Q3 DSAC Launch

FY 2018 - Q3 LCRD OGS-2 System Integration Review

FY 2018 - Q4 PDRs for ILLUMA-T and O2O laser terminals for ISS and Orion EM-2

FY 2018 - Q4 DSOC Flight Terminal Preliminary Design Review

FY 2019 - Q2 LCRD Operations Readiness Review

FY 2019 - Q3 DSOC Ground Terminal Preliminary Design Review

FY 2019 - Q3 OGS-2 ORR

FY 2019 - Q4 LCRD launch

Project Management & Commitments

The SCaN program office at NASA Headquarters manages Space Communications Support functions.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Space 

Communications 

Support

Provides critical 

communication and 

navigation architecture 

planning, systems 

engineering, technology 

development, standards 

development and 

management, spectrum 

management, and policy and 

strategic communications for 

NASA

Provider: NASA

Responsible Center: HQ

N/A
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Communications and Navigation

SPACE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT 

Formulation Development Operations

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Acquisition Strategy

Space Communications Support functions use multiple small contracted efforts, most of which are 

support services functions. Studies are in progress to assess alternate acquisition approaches for the next 

generation architecture, including collaborative research and development agreements, as well as publicprivate-partnerships and/or other commercial acquisition mechanisms to develop new optical 

communications technologies.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Space Communications Support does not have any major contracts planned at this time.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 123.1 -- 135.4 136.4 136.4 145.9 147.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Human Space Flight Operations (HSFO)

Program supports the training, readiness, and 

health of crewmembers before, during, and after 

each spaceflight mission to the International 

Space Station (ISS). All crews on board the ISS 

have undergone rigorous preparation, which is 

critical to mission success. Within the HSFO 

program, the Space Flight Crew Operations 

(SFCO) element provides astronaut selection and 

training while the Crew Health and Safety (CHS) 

element manages all aspects of astronaut crew 

health.

To prepare for the next step in human space 

exploration, the Agency is developing the 

transportation system that will carry crew to 

destinations beyond Earth’s orbit. NASA must also prepare the human system for living and working for 

extended periods in the hostile environment of space. As astronauts travel further from Earth, many 

different issues will arise and need investigating. What health risks will astronauts face and how are they 

resolved? What type of training will crews need to prepare for months of travel in the harsh space 

environment? How will they deal with medical emergencies or technical anomalies when Earth is no 

longer within reach? CHS, in collaboration with NASA’s Office of Chief Health and Medical Officer and 

the Human Research Program (HRP), answers these and other questions to ensure crew health, safety, and 

mission success. SFCO and CHS are responsible for astronaut training, readiness, and health while HRP 

funds research development of human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, and 

technologies that enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration.

Astronaut Candidate Class of 2017
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HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

SFCO continued to provide astronaut training to support the crewed test flights of the first commercial 

crew vehicles. To train for the test flights, crews are using part-task trainers. The part-task trainers, each 

large enough for one person at the controls and programmed to run through all the phases of a mission, 

are part of a suite of cloud-based and hands-on trainers that Boeing has built to prepare astronauts and 

mission controllers. In addition, astronaut training continued using a full-scale simulator for the Boeing 

CST-100 Starliner. The Starliner, along with the SpaceX Crew Dragon are the two new vehicles being 

developed in support of the Commercial Crew Program.

In October 2016, SFCO finished the first round of interviews as part of the selection process for the 

astronaut candidate (ASCAN) class of 2017. From the first round of 120 interviewees, 50 individuals 

were selected in January 2017 for another round of evaluations. NASA completed the second round of 

interviews in May and announced the 12 final astronaut candidates selected in June 2017. The new class 

reported to JSC in August to begin formal training. This training and evaluation period will last between 

one-and-a-half to two years to develop the basic knowledge and skills required for specific mission 

training upon assignment for a spaceflight on ISS, Russian Soyuz spacecraft, a Commercial Crew 

partner’s spacecraft, and/or NASA’s Orion spacecraft. CHS provides medical testing and evaluation of 

the candidates as part of the selection process.

Spaceflight readiness training continues throughout an astronaut’s career to prepare them for living and 

working in space as well as responding to any emergency scenarios, including high-performance aircraft 

training. SFCO aircraft logged over 2,700 hours in 2017 in support of crew training. As part of SFCO's 

responsibility for maintaining these planes, SFCO began planned structural upgrades to the 55-year-old

T-38 spaceflight readiness training aircraft to replace critical parts that exhibit stress corrosion cracking. 

In addition, the Super Guppy aircraft, NASA’s over-sized cargo transporter, received a floor modification 

in order to transport the Orion Crew Service Module. 

CHS conducted physical, behavioral, return, and reconditioning health support for returning ISS 

Expeditions and provided crew health support for astronauts training to fly on commercial crew vehicles. 

In addition, CHS provided clinical certification and mission support for active astronauts departing or 

returning to the ISS. CHS accumulated and archived crew health and safety data for use by both the 

medical and research communities. Congress passed the To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat 

Astronauts Act (TREAT) on March 21, 2017. CHS worked to meet the demands of the NASA Transition 

Authorization Act of 2017 language – work that will continue into FY 2018.

In FY 2017, HRP worked to finish transitioning the Integrated Medical Model 4.0 to CHS. The Integrated 

Medical Model is a computer-based tool that is a central part of NASA risk management activity from the 

crew medical and mission performance perspective. The model uses the best available evidence from 

spaceflight, terrestrial medical literature, spaceflight analog studies, and other sources of information to 

perform a modeled simulation that allows traceable answers to questions for both current and future 

mission planning. This unique capability merges expertise in clinical medicine, epidemiology, and 

probabilistic risk assessment to promote astronaut health and performance during spaceflight missions. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

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CHS updated the Astronaut Radiation Exposure and Analysis Database to incorporate exposure data from 

multiple missions to ISS. CHS worked with HRP on progress towards developing mitigation strategies for 

astronaut exposure and protection from solar and galactic radiation during space missions. Mitigation of 

solar and galactic radiation beyond the protection of the Earth’s atmosphere is an occupational and safety 

concern particularly for long duration human spaceflight. CHS also coordinated with HRP in other areas, 

such as behavioral health, supporting research to reduce the risk of behavioral health challenges.

Collaborated closely with HRP to add new capability to our current on-orbit tool in order to better assess 

subtle fluctuations in cognition that are relevant to task performance. This tool is designed to assess 

negative effects on cognitive functioning from head trauma, carbon dioxide, loss of sleep and fatigue, 

payload toxins, or abnormal environmental events.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018, SFCO will continue to support flight crew training requirements and mission operations for 

test flights of the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing Starliner. SFCO will also continue training the 2017 

Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) class.

To support ISS mission increments, CHS will provide pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight medical, 

behavioral health management, and physical conditioning services to NASA crewmembers. In FY 2018, 

CHS will also track and monitor emerging hazards for NASA's new flight programs, Commercial Crew 

and Orion. For example, CHS will evaluate progress on radiation environmental data to inform future 

Exploration Mission crewed flights. The program will provide preflight and operations support to test 

flights of SpaceX Dragon and Boeing Starliner commercial spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts. CHS 

will also expand its Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program for former crew members to 

better understand the long-term health consequences of space exploration. The evidence acquired through 

this program not only benefits the health of former astronauts, but also helps make future spaceflight 

missions safer.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

In FY 2019, SFCO will continue to support ISS flight crew training requirements and mission operations 

for Russian Soyuz spacecraft launch vehicle and U. S. commercial spacecraft, the SpaceX Dragon and 

Boeing Starliner. ISS mission operations support will increase with the change in crew size from six to 

seven. SFCO will complete training for the 2017 ASCAN class and, will work with the Agency to decide 

whether to recruit a FY 2020 ASCAN class. SFCO will continue operation and maintenance of support 

aircraft.

To support mission increments, CHS will provide preflight training, medical, behavioral health 

management, physical conditioning and baseline occupational surveillance. In addition, CHS will provide 

preflight through post flight medical, behavioral and physical conditioning support of NASA crewed 

SpaceX Dragon and Boeing Starliner commercial spacecraft. Test personnel and medical guidance will be 

provided to support the EM-2 mission. CHS will implement the TREAT Act, to include expanding the 

Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program for former crew members to better understand longterm health consequences of space exploration. Data analytics capabilities will be expanded to support 

medical diagnostic capabilities for exploration missions including gateway missions.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

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Program Elements

SPACE FLIGHT CREW OPERATIONS (SFCO)

SFCO directs and manages flight crew activities, selects astronaut candidates, recommends flight crew 

assignments, and maintains all aircraft, including the fleet of T-38 high performance aircraft used for 

astronaut spaceflight readiness training. In addition, SFCO ensures that spaceflight readiness training 

requirements continue to support ongoing ISS operations, planned exploration, and commercial 

development.

SFCO is also responsible for all astronaut training. As part of its annual planning, the project ensures 

astronaut training is consistent with ISS and Exploration manifest requirements. The number of spacecraft 

seats U.S. astronauts will fill in the next four years of human spaceflight determines the manifest 

requirement. The manifest includes ISS via Soyuz, as well as projected Commercial Crew and Orion/SLS 

development flights. Today, it takes three years from the decision to select a new astronaut class until the 

process is completed. Once selected, new astronauts must complete 12-18 months of training for 

eligibility and then 30 months of ISS training before a new astronaut is qualified for an ISS mission. 

Astronaut training activities, overseen by SFCO include launch and landing operations, ability to respond 

in an emergency/high-stress environment, high performance aircraft operations skills, flight vehicle 

maintenance, payload and science experiment operator skills, extravehicular activities, Russian language 

skills, robotics (including free-flier capture), and ISS systems knowledge.

CREW HEALTH AND SAFETY (CHS)

CHS enables healthy and productive crew during all phases of spaceflight missions, implements a 

comprehensive astronaut occupational health care program, and works to prevent and mitigate negative 

long-term health consequences from exposure to the spaceflight environment. Using HRP research and 

other findings, CHS implements changes to astronaut occupational health protocols to ensure crew health 

and safety. CHS also medically assesses astronaut candidates as part of the selection process. In this 

collaboration, HRP concentrates on the research aspects of crew health, whereas CHS focuses on 

implementing the research results and mitigation plans into occupational health protocols. As research 

continues on ISS through 2024, CHS is actively seeking new approaches to expand the research findings 

that can be used to improve NASA health protocols, including collaborative opportunities with other 

Federal agencies and academia.

CHS is also responsible for maintaining the health of active astronauts during non-mission periods, 

focusing on three aspects of health care: preventive care, risk factor management, and long-term health 

monitoring. CHS integrates and coordinates information relevant to the human health before, during, and 

after spaceflight. CHS documents and assesses all emerging health risks, such as Spaceflight Associated 

Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS; previously referred to as Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure

(VIIP) Syndrome). CHS has continued to collaborate with several non-NASA organizations, including

the National Academies, to inform the risk decisions associated with long duration and exploration 

missions. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

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Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Mar 2018 Treat Act Costs and Implementation – Completion of Congressionally 

requested independent cost analysis. 

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

SFCO 

Provider: SFCO

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): JSC

Cost Share Partner(s): None

CHS 

Provider: CHS

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): JSC

Cost Share Partner(s): None

Acquisition Strategy

The section below identifies the current contract(s) that support SFCO and CHS.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Aircraft Logistics, Integration, 

Configuration and Engineering Yulista Tactical Ellington Field, Houston, TX, El Paso, TX

Human Health and Performance 

Contract KBR Wyle Houston, TX
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HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance

National 

Council on 

Radiation 

Protection and 

Measurements

(NCRP)

Nov 

2014

The NCRP reviewed NASA 

Radiation Protection 

Standards for crew member 

exposure to spaceflight 

radiation

NCRP Commentary 

Report 23: Radiation 

Protection for Space 

Activities: Supplement 

to Previous 

Recommendations

Performance NCRP Feb 

2016

The NCRP conducted a 

phase one review of 

potential central nervous 

system (CNS) effects from 

radiation exposure during 

space activities. 

NCRP Commentary 

Report 25: Potential 

Central Nervous System 

Risks Following Space 

Radiation Exposure

Phase II 

in 

progress
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 85.7 -- 86.6 88.6 88.6 88.6 88.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Launch Services Program (LSP) provides 

customers with an Earth-to-space bridge for 

science and discovery through access to space. 

Utilizing commercially-available domestic 

launch services, LSP has provided affordable 

and reliable space access for uncrewed science,

exploration, communication, weather

forecasting, and technology development 

spacecraft for over 19 years. NASA and civil 

sector missions need these launch services to get 

into space and begin their critical work.

Acting as a launch system technical expert, LSP 

matches NASA and other civil sector 

government spacecraft with commerciallyavailable launch services through a competitive 

acquisition process. Starting with pre-mission 

planning and continuing through the 

spacecraft’s post-launch phase, LSP works with 

the spacecraft mission team and the commercial 

launch vehicle provider to accomplish the 

required mission integration and mission 

assurance activities to maximize the probability 

for mission success. 

In addition to acquiring the commercial launch 

service, LSP arranges pre-launch spacecraft 

processing facility support, and communications 

and telemetry during ascent for its customers. 

LSP offers insight into the commercial launch vehicle industry, tracks lessons learned to identify and 

mitigate risks for future managed launches, and certifies the readiness of new commercial launch vehicles 

for NASA and other civil sector uncrewed spacecraft. The program also conducts engineering analyses 

and other technical tasks to maximize launch success for every assigned payload.

August 18, 2017: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket 

lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape 

Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, with NASA's 

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, TDRS-M. TDRS-M is 

the latest spacecraft destined for the agency's constellation 

of communications satellites that allows nearly continuous 

contact with orbiting spacecraft ranging from the 

International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescope 

to the array of scientific observatories.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Three major payloads were successfully launched utilizing LSP-acquired services:

Launch 

Date/Location

Launch 

Vehicle Payload Customer Mission Objectives 

Nov 2016

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Atlas V

Geostationary 

Operational 

Environmental 

Satellite

(GOES)-R

NOAA, 

NASA SMD

First in a series of next generation 

geostationary weather satellites that will 

provide continuous imagery and atmospheric 

measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere 

and space weather monitoring.

Dec 2016

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Pegasus 

XL

Cyclone Global 

Navigation 

Satellite System

(CYGNSS)

NASA SMD

Measure ocean surface winds throughout the 

life cycle of tropical storms and hurricanes, to 

facilitate better weather forecasting.

Aug 2017

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Atlas V

Tracking and 

Data Relay 

Satellite 

(TDRS)-M

NASA 

HEOMD

Provide crosslink communications capability 

between control and data processing facilities 

on the ground, and Earth-orbiting spacecraft 

such as the Hubble Space Telescope, ISS, and 

dozens of unmanned scientific satellites.

LSP’s customers own and manage the payload mission objectives described above.

LSP continued efforts to expand the selection of available launch vehicles, working across industry to 

support commercial space sector growth by providing competitive opportunities to U.S. providers.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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LSP acquired launch services for two future science missions:

Launch 

Date/Location Launch Vehicle Payload Customer Mission Objectives 

Apr 2021

Vandenberg Air 

Force Base

Falcon 9 Full 

Thrust (F9 FT)

Surface 

Water & 

Ocean 

Topography 

(SWOT)

NASA 

SMD

Brings together two communities focused on 

better understanding of the world's oceans 

and its terrestrial surface waters. SWOT will 

make the first global survey of Earth's 

surface water, observe the fine details of the 

ocean's surface topography, and measure 

how water bodies change over time

Jul 2021

Vandenberg Air

Force Base

Atlas V

Joint Polar 

Satellite 

System

(JPSS)-2

NASA 

SMD

Gather data on a wide range of Earth’s 

properties, including the atmosphere, clouds, 

radiation budget, clear-air land and water 

surfaces, and sea surface temperature

LSP’s customers own and manage the payload mission objectives described above.

In May 2017, United Launch Services (ULS) successfully completed "Category 3" certification of the

Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle with LSP in preparation for the Parker Solar Probe (formerly Solar Probe 

Plus) mission. In addition, LSP continued to support the certification activities of Space Exploration 

Technologies Inc. (SpaceX) for the Falcon 9 "Full Thrust" launch vehicle, and is conducting preliminary 

activities that would support the eventual certification of the Orbital ATK Antares 230 as well as 

proposed future launch vehicles such as the ULA Vulcan, the Orbital ATK Next Generation Launcher, 

and the Blue Origin New Glenn launch vehicles. Achieving certification enhances NASA’s understanding 

of commercially built launch vehicles and enables LSP to better identify and manage launch risks. 

Certification also enhances competition as it results in multiple qualified launch vehicles and launch 

providers, which in turn promotes cost control. 

LSP participated in the SpaceX-led Accident Investigation Team (AIT) for the Falcon 9 anomaly that 

occurred on September 1, 2016, when the rocket exploded on the launch pad during a routine prelaunch 

fueling operation on a non-NASA mission to launch the commercial communications satellite Amos 6. 

AIT was comprised of members from SpaceX, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA, U.S. Air 

Force (USAF), and industry experts. The SpaceX investigation has been completed and corrective actions 

are being implemented. A separate LSP-led independent review for the September 1, 2016, Falcon 9 

anomaly is still on-going in an effort to find the definitive set of conditions that caused the anomaly. The 

LSP-led investigation team continues to make significant progress and has begun testing of the composite 

overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). One of the Falcon 9 upper stage COPVs, while undergoing 

helium loading/pressurization during upper stage liquid oxygen loading, appears to be where the ignition 

occurred that led to the explosion.

NASA and LSP continue to partner with several universities and NASA Centers to launch small research 

satellites through the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI), which provides rideshare opportunities for small 

satellite payloads to fly on upcoming launches when space is available. These partnerships have provided 

regular educational opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 

disciplines, thereby strengthening the Nation’s future workforce. To date, CubeSats have been selected 

from 38 states across the United States, with 49 missions launched and 46 manifested on NASA, National 

Reconnaissance Office, USAF, and commercial missions. In FY 2017 six CSLI cubesats were launched. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

LSP provides expertise and active launch mission management for over 40 NASA scientific spacecraft 

missions in various stages of development. In January 2018, SpaceX successfully completed "Category 2" 

certification of the SpaceX Falcon 9 "Full Thrust" with LSP which supports the launch of the NASA 

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission in March 2018. In FY 2018, the program will 

continue to acquire new launch services for future NASA missions. Seven science missions and two 

Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) missions are planned for launch in FY 2018. The program has 

recently competitively awarded launch service contracts for the NASA Science Mission Directorate's 

Sentinel 6A and Landsat 9 missions for launch aboard a Falcon 9 and an Atlas V, respectively. 

Launch 

Date/Location

Launch 

Vehicle Payload Customer Mission Objectives 

Nov 2017

Vandenberg 

Air Force Base

Delta II JPSS-1 NASA 

SMD

First of three satellites that will provide 

global environmental data used in weather 

prediction models for forecasts, and 

scientific data for climate monitoring

which will increase timeliness and 

accuracy of forecasts of climate and 

weather events, thus reducing potential 

loss of human life and property 

Mar 2018

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Atlas V GOES-S

NOAA, 

NASA 

SMD

Follow on mission in a series of satellites 

that will provide continuous imagery and 

atmospheric measurements of Earth’s 

Western Hemisphere and space weather 

monitoring.

Mar 2018 

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Falcon 9 

"Full 

Thrust"

TESS

NASA 

SMD

Space telescope designed to survey the 

brightest stars near the Earth utilizing an 

array of cameras. The all-sky survey will 

study the mass, size, density and orbit of a 

large cohort of small planets, including a 

sample of rocky worlds in the habitable 

zones of their host stars.

May 2018

Vandenberg 

Air Force Base

Atlas V

Interior 

Exploration 

using Seismic 

Investigations, 

Geodesy and 

Heat Transport 

(InSight) 

NASA 

SMD

Will address fundamental issues of planet 

formation and evolution with a study of 

the deep interior of Mars.

Jun 2018 

(Under 

Review)

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Pegasus 

XL

Ionospheric

Connection 

Explorer 

(ICON)

NASA 

SMD

A suite of instruments designed to explore 

the mechanisms controlling environmental 

conditions in space and how they are 

modified by weather on the planet
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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Launch 

Date/Location

Launch 

Vehicle Payload Customer Mission Objectives 

Jul 2018

Cape Canaveral 

Air Force 

Station

Delta 

IVHeavy

Parker Solar 

Probe

NASA 

SMD

Flying into the Sun’s atmosphere (or 

corona), for the first time, the Parker Solar 

Probe will employ a combination of in situ 

measurements and imaging to achieve the 

mission’s primary scientific goal: to 

understand how the Sun’s corona is heated 

and how the solar wind is accelerated.

Sep 2018

Vandenberg 

Air Force Base

Delta II

Ice, Clouds, 

and Land 

Elevation 

Satellite 

(ICESat)-2

NASA 

SMD

Second generation satellite used to collect 

altimetry data of the Earth's surface to 

measure ice sheet mass balance, cloud and 

aerosol heights, while also generating an 

estimate of global vegetation biomass. 

LSP’s customers own and manage the payload mission objectives described above.

VCLS contracts for CubeSat satellites foster a commercial launch market dedicated to flying small 

satellite payloads by serving as an alternative to the current rideshare approach in which one or more 

CubeSats takes advantage of excess payload capacity on a rocket whose primary mission is to launch a 

larger satellite. Under the VCLS contracts, Rocket Lab USA's Electron launch vehicle and Virgin Orbit's

LauncherOne are both scheduled to launch in the first half of FY 2018. Each launch will carry multiple 

CubeSats to low Earth orbit.

LSP will continue work towards certifying new commercial launch vehicles to launch high-value 

payloads. Certification of the SpaceX Falcon 9 "Full Thrust" is nearing completion. 

Along with full end-to-end launch service management, the program continues to offer advisory support, 

expertise, and knowledge to NASA programs and projects utilizing launch services not procured and 

managed by LSP. The program is currently providing these advisory services to several programs and 

missions, including:

• ISS Cargo Resupply Service missions;

• Commercial Crew Program; and

• SMD’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO), James Webb Space 

Telescope (Webb), and NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar 

(NISAR) missions

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

LSP will continue launch service acquisition activities necessary to support NASA and other approved 

government missions, and will continue providing launch related mission support to over 40 NASA 

scientific spacecraft missions in various development phases. LSP will also continue work towards 

certifying new commercial launch vehicles to launch high value payloads, as needed. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Expendable Launch Vehicle 

(ELV) Launch Services

Provider: United Launch Services (ULS), Orbital ATK, SpaceX, Rocket Lab 

USA, Virgin Orbit

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

ACQUISITION STRATEGY

LSP's acquisition strategy was created for the original NASA Launch Services (NLS) contracts for 

procuring ELV launch services from domestic commercial launch service suppliers. To meet the needs of 

science and technology customers who typically spend three to seven years developing a spacecraft 

mission, NASA created a contractual approach providing multiple competitive launch service options to 

cover small, medium, intermediate and heavy-sized missions. The follow-on contract mechanism, known 

as NLS II, has similar contract features, such as not-to-exceed prices; indefinite delivery/indefinite 

quantity contract terms; and firm-fixed-price, competitive, launch service task-order-based acquisitions. 

The NLS II ordering period has been extended to June 30, 2025. To ensure active ongoing competition 

for NASA customers and encourage new launch capability development through these long-term

contracts, NASA provides annual opportunities to U.S. industry to add new commercial launch service 

providers and/or launch vehicles to the active contract.

LSP is also able to contract separately from the NLS contract mechanism if such an approach is necessary 

to meet a particular mission or customer need. For instance, for the Parker Solar Probe mission funded by 

NASA SMD, the launch service was competed outside and separate from the NLS II contract due to the 

special needs of that mission. In addition, the VCLS awards for very small launch vehicles were

conducted outside and separate from the NLS II contract in order to provide more flexibility to the new 

small-class launch providers.

NASA has also made efforts to provide a complete launch service, including payload processing at the 

launch site. LSP uses firm-fixed-price indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts for 

commercial payload processing capabilities on both the east and west coasts. The Payload Processing 

Facility contracts ordering period expired in December 2017. The East Coast Commercial Payload 

Processing Contract-3 (ECCPP-3) was awarded in April with a period of performance ending April 2022. 

The West Coast Commercial Payload Processing Contract-2 (WCCPP-2) will be re-competed in Spring 

2018, with anticipated award of the IDIQ in late summer 2018.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

SPP ULS, LLC Centennial, CO

Venture Class Virgin Orbit, 

Rocket Lab USA

Long Beach, CA

Los Angeles, CA
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

NLS-II-U ULS, LLC Centennial, CO

NLS-II-S SpaceX Hawthorne, CA

NLS-II-O Orbital ATK Corporation Dulles, VA

Payload Processing Facility Astrotech Space Operations Titusville, FL

Payload Processing Facility Astrotech Space Operations Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

Integrated Processing Facility Spaceport Systems International Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA

Expendable Launch Vehicle 

Integrated Support (ELVIS) 2/3 a.i. Solutions, Inc. Lanham, MD

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

NASA has scheduled the LSP Program Implementation Review (PIR) in CY 2019.

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

PIR Standing Review 

Board (SRB) May 2014 Life Cycle Review

The SRB found LSP 

is a successful 

program with a 

strong technical and 

management team 

representing NASA’s 

core competency, 

demonstrating 

exceptional 

performance with a 

97.4 percent launch 

success record. The 

SRB recommended 

continuation of LSP 

operations as 

currently performed. 

2019

This 2019 milestone for LSP will be assessed by the HEOMD Associate Administrator and a determination made

whether or not a PIR is required, or if it can be delayed another two years. The 2019 milestone is also subject to 

change depending on LSP's manifest/launch schedule for that year. 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

LAUNCH SERVICES

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Historical Performance

LSP managed ELV Missions from inception through FY 2016.

Launch 

Vehicle 

Configuration

Provider Number of 

Launches

Successful 

Launches

Unsuccessful 

Launches

Athena Lockheed Martin/Alliant Techsystems 1 1 0

Atlas IIA Lockheed Martin 5 5 0

Atlas IIAS Lockheed Martin 1 1 0

Atlas V

Lockheed Martin 2 2 0

ULS 16 16 0

Delta II Boeing Launch Services 27 27 0

ULS 14 14 0

Falcon 9 v1.1 Space X Launch Services 1 1 0

Pegasus Hybrid OSC 1 1 0

Pegasus XL OSC 15 15 0

Taurus XL OSC 2 0 2

Titan II Lockheed Martin 3 3 0
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

ROCKET PROPULSION TEST

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 43.7 -- 47.6 47.6 47.6 47.6 47.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Developing and testing rocket propulsion 

systems are foundational to spaceflight. Whether 

the payload is a robotic science experiment or a 

crewed mission, the propulsion system must be 

safe, and reliable. A rigorous engine test 

program is a critical component of any rocket 

propulsion development activity.

NASA’s Rocket Propulsion Test (RPT) program 

maintains and manages a wide range of facilities 

capable of ground testing rocket engines and 

components under controlled conditions. This 

test infrastructure includes facilities located 

across the United States and provides a single 

entry point for any user of the rocket test stands. 

RPT retains a skilled workforce, capable of 

performing tests on all modern-day rockets including supporting complex rocket engine development. 

RPT evaluates customer test requirements and desired outcomes, minimizing test time and costs. It also

streamlines facility usage and eliminates redundant capabilities by closing and consolidating NASA's 

rocket test facilities.

RPT is NASA’s implementing authority for rocket propulsion testing. It approves and provides direction 

on test assignments, capital improvements, and facility modernization and refurbishment. RPT integrates 

multi-site test activities, identifies and protects core capabilities, and develops advanced testing 

technologies.

The Agency has designated RPT as the NASA representative for the National Rocket Propulsion Test 

Alliance (NRPTA) - an inter-agency collaboration with the Department of Defense (DoD) to facilitate 

efficient and effective use of the Federal Government’s rocket propulsion test capabilities. The RPT 

Manager serves as a co-chair of the NRPTA Senior Steering Group, and appoints NASA’s alliance cochair. The alliance co-chair position is a rotational appointment chosen from primary center 

representatives of RPT’s management board.

For additional programmatic information, go to: https://rockettest.nasa.gov/

RPT continues to support SLS RS-25 engine testing on the 

A-1 test stand at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

ROCKET PROPULSION TEST

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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

During FY 2017, RPT safely performed 590 tests of rocket engines and components at various levels of 

thrust. Hot fire test time totaled 18,426 seconds and 52 hours of propulsion system thermal vacuum 

testing. These tests were completed with only seven facility-caused test delays resulting in a 98.8% test 

stand availability, exceeding the Agency Performance goal of 90% as defined in Space and Flight Support 

(SFS) section 15-1 of the NASA Management and Performance report.

In FY 2017, RPT performed seven RS-25 engine tests on the Stennis Space Center (SSC) A-1 test stand. 

The seven tests accounted for 2,880 seconds of hot fire test time in a multi-year effort necessary to certify

the engine for use on Space Launch System (SLS) core booster stage, which is required to support 

Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), the first flight of SLS, and other exploration goals. Other test activities

included testing for SpaceX, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and numerous internal, DoD and commercial research 

and development projects such as the U.S. Air Force (USAF) designed and developed Hydrocarbon Boost 

components, a critical effort to support the DoD objective of replacing the RD-180 engine used in the 

Atlas V launch vehicle. In addition to the USAF hydrocarbon program, NASA began performing Aerojet 

Rocketdyne hydrocarbon component testing on E-1 Test Stand, Cell 2. 

At the Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility (WSTF), engineers conducted tests to support

NASA's Commercial Crew Program, Aerojet Rocketdyne, the Missile Defense Agency engine and 

thruster program, the USAF Peacekeeper missile safing project, and hot fire test for the USAF 

Minuteman missile life extension program. RPT completed the refurbishment and reactivation of test 

stand 301 to support the Orion European Space Agency (ESA) Service Module and the construction of 

test stand 301A under a reimbursable task order with Boeing to conduct testing of the Crew Space 

Transportation (CST)-100 Service Module. On Test Stand 301 and 301A, RPT conducted the first tests of 

the Orion ESA Service Module and Boeing CST-100 Service Module, Launch Abort Engines, Reaction 

Control System and Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control thrusters. RPT also completed the 

refurbishment of the Large Altitude Simulation System (LASS) to support testing in a simulated high 

altitude space environment. The LASS maintains three test stands that provide a test start altitude of 

115,000 feet.

At Glenn Research Center Plum Brook Station (GRC-PBS), RPT completed partial refurbishment of the 

In Space Propulsion Facility (ISPF), formerly referred to as the B-2 facility, for small propulsion systems 

up to 5,000 pounds of force (lbf) thrust. Following refurbishment, the ISPF validated the refurbished

systems by performing 32 propulsion hot fire tests utilizing the Morpheus Lander for 750 seconds of hot 

fire and 52 hours of propulsion system-related thermal vacuum testing. The Morpheus hot fire tests were 

the first in the facility since 1999. In addition to Morpheus testing, RPT collaborated with the Glenn 

Research Facility to initiate a $5.5M project to refurbish the ISPF to perform propulsion related testing 

for systems up to 30k lbf with 300 seconds of run time. 

At Marshall Space Flight Center, RPT continued testing rocket engine components manufactured using 

select laser melting and other additive manufacturing processes furthering the capabilities of both NASA 

and RPT.
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ROCKET PROPULSION TEST

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WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Traditional testing philosophies and approaches are often considered too costly or time consuming in a

budget and schedule constrained environment. A recent survey of internal and commercial test customers 

identified a need to have a low cost test capability for small components and engines (up to 15k lbf 

thrust). Test costs for these small items can exceed the cost to manufacture the test article, especially as 

developers are becoming more reliant on three-dimensional printing techniques which can reduce the 

costs of manufacturing small, complex items. 

In 2018, the RPT Program Office is pursuing two initiatives to meet the changing needs of the propulsion 

systems developers. The first initiative is the development of two small test capabilities that can be 

operated with a minimum crew for development projects. The first of these test capabilities is the 

completion of a 5,000 lbf portable test rig. The second capability is a collaborative initiative utilizing 

early-career engineers from the participating RPT centers to design and develop a larger 10,000 lbf to 

15,000 lbf thrust portable test capability. In addition to the actual design of a test capability, the earlycareer engineer initiative is designed to offer the participants an opportunity to gain critical experience in 

NASA's design processes, enhance communications skills, and build relationships amongst the centers.

The second initiative being pursued by the RPT Program Office is the RPT Benchmarking Initiative for 

Test Efficiencies and Affordability. The goal is to identify best practices that could be implemented at the 

participating RPT centers to identify tangible changes that could improve RPT operational efficiencies 

and decrease costs for the RPT Program Office and for test customers. 

Results of the benchmarking initiative will be used to assist in planning activities by the RPT Program to 

ensure that efficient and affordable RPT test services are available to current and future test customers. 

At SSC, RPT will continue testing the RS-25 engine in support of the SLS program. Development testing 

will continue for commercial companies seeking to test their engine systems on a reimbursable basis. 

These include performing tests on the USAF designed and developed Hydrocarbon Boost components for 

the RD-180 replacement project and Aerojet Rocketdyne hydrocarbon engine certification. Planned 

refurbishment and repair activities for critical enabling infrastructure include: continuing repair of SSC’s 

liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen barges; upgrading high-pressure gas facility; replacing the E-Complex 

data acquisition system, replacing E-Complex high speed video equipment and activating the B-2 test 

stand to prepare for SLS core stage testing. SSC will also complete the construction of the joint Michoud 

Assembly Facility/SSC Consolidated Fluid Component Processing Facility. 

The WSTF team will conduct propulsion system development and certification testing for the NASA

Orion ESA Service Module and Commercial Crew Program Boeing CST-100 Service Module, Aerojet 

Rocketdyne, the Missile Defense Agency, USAF, and U.S. Navy. 

MSFC will continue testing rocket engine technology improvements, including components constructed 

using select laser melting and other additive manufacturing processes that could lead to significant 

improvements in construction of these complex machines.

At GRC-PBS ISPF, RPT will continue improvements for future space exploration propulsion needs 

through Evolvable Cryogenics Project (eCRYO) in partnership with Space Technology Mission 

Directorate and will support research to reduce boil-off rate on large cryogenic upper stages with 

Structural Heat Intercept, Insulation and Vibration Evaluation Rig (SHIVER) in a simulated space

environment (vacuum and thermal). In addition to the eCRYO project and facility upgrades, the ISPF will 
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

ROCKET PROPULSION TEST

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perform the thermal vacuum certification testing for the Commercial Crew Program SpaceX Dragon 

Crewed Capsule.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Building on test results from previous years, RPT will continue to provide valuable propulsion data to the 

SLS and Orion programs as they prepare for EM-1 and EM-2. These tests will provide critical data to 

validate baseline designs, increase confidence in technical performance while reducing risks and 

achieving launch readiness on schedule. This ongoing effort will allow the program to assess design 

changes that could affect performance and improve safety. RPT personnel will continue hot fire testing 

the SLS RS-25 engine on SSC’s A-1 test stand and preparing preparations for SLS core stage testing on 

the B-2 test stand. The core stage uses four RS-25 engines to propel the SLS core stage upon launch. In 

addition, RPT will continue preparations to test the SLS Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) on the newly 

refurbished B-2 test stand. RPT will also continue engine certification of the Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68 

liquid hydrogen/oxygen engine on the B-1 test stand.

At PBS, RPT will also provide data to SLS by completing the eCryo, SHIVER testing in a simulated 

space environment (vacuum and thermal) and perform critical environmental testing for SpaceX Dragon 

Crew Capsule.

At WSTF, RPT will continue testing activities for the Orion ESA Service Module and Boeing CST-100 

Service Module. RPT will also continue providing critical propulsion test services to the Missile Defense 

Agency, Aerojet Rocketdyne and USAF test articles. 

All RPT facilities and personnel will continue maintaining and modernizing these unique national assets

which are critical for testing future space vehicles in a simulated space environment and ambient 

conditions.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations: Space and Flight Support (SFS)

ROCKET PROPULSION TEST

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Program Schedule

The following chart shows past, current, and planned test campaigns at SSC, MSFC, GRC and WSTF 

rocket propulsion test facilities. The designations at the far left of the chart refer to the facility, the top of 

each chart shows time by quarter of fiscal and calendar year, and the key to the status of each facility is at 

the bottom.

Most test stands and facilities are scheduled 18 months in advance. Defining scope of work, selecting test 

stands and fuel, and estimating labor and total cost to customers is a complex process that can take 18 to 

36 months. RPT is working now with internal and external customers to design testing programs for 

FY 2019 and beyond.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & COMMITMENTS

Program Element Provider

RPT

Provider: RPT

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): SSC, JSC/White Sands Test Facility, GRC-PBS, 

MSFC, KSC, WFF

Cost Share Partner(s): Various other NASA programs, DoD, and commercial 

partners

ACQUISITION STRATEGY

No major acquisitions planned for FY 2019.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

No major contracts or awards planned for FY 2019.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

No reviews planned.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations

COMMERCIAL LEO DEVELOPMENT

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 0.0 -- 150.0 150.0 175.0 200.0 225.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA is increasing efforts to develop a 

commercial space economy in low Earth orbit 

(LEO). Through the new Commercial LEO 

Development theme and program, NASA will

support commercial partner development of 

capabilities that the private sector and NASA can 

use. Our efforts will focus on enabling, 

developing, and deploying commercial orbital 

platforms. The Budget proposes to end direct 

U.S. financial support for the International Space 

Station in 2025, after which NASA would rely 

on commercial partners for its low Earth orbit 

research and technology demonstration 

requirements. A primary purpose of the 

Commercial LEO Development program is to 

ensure that the United States has access to an 

orbital platform on which to conduct research and develop new technologies.

NASA is continuing to increase the cooperative use of the ISS to enable increased commercial investment 

and to transition to more public-private partnership models. The end goal is where NASA is one of many

customers of a commercial market in LEO. Today on ISS, NASA has already enabled increased 

commercial investment and partnerships through the National Lab, agreements such as Nanoracks/Boeing 

Commercial Airlock, and contracts for commercial services once performed by NASA. The ISS, 

Commercial Crew, and Crew and Cargo programs will continue working together to solidify the 

important commercial successes that have been enabled by these programs and NASA's commercial and 

international partners.

However, NASA must also look beyond its current programs in order to secure the nation's future in 

LEO. The new Commercial LEO Development program will leverage the experience NASA and its 

private sector partners have with the construction, deployment, operations, and utilization of orbital 

platforms in order to ensure that the United States will continue to have access to LEO in the mid-2020s 

and beyond.

To achieve the Commercial LEO Development program's goals, its first activity will be to conduct an 

open competition for public and privately funded module(s) and/or platform(s) attached to the ISS or freeflying in LEO in FY 2018. NASA expects to make these awards in FY 2019. Several credible concepts 

NanoRacks Airlock Module mockup shown during a test 

run with astronauts in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
LEO and Spaceflight Operations

COMMERCIAL LEO DEVELOPMENT

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for commercial LEO modules or capsules are possible. The competition that NASA proposes will allow 

interested parties to specify what support they desire from NASA. This could potentially include a subset 

or combination of the following options that could arise in the course of the discussions: a) access to a 

port on ISS; b) access to NASA's experience and capabilities through its unique workforce with expertise 

in the design, construction, launch, operations, and/or utilization of orbital platforms and c) financial 

support provided through the Commercial LEO Development program. Proposals will include market 

analysis and business plans. Legal, technical and programmatic issues require further study and 

coordination among the International Partners and commercial industry to provide a smooth transition.

If a winning proposal is to be attached to the ISS, NASA would make available in-kind contributions in 

the form of power, thermal control, habitable atmosphere, and other common ISS services and 

capabilities. Due to current power limitations on the ISS, upgrades such as additional solar arrays may be 

required to support this effort if the requested in-kind support exceeds what is available on the ISS. 

The selected company/companies would be able to utilize its module or platform for commercial forprofit activities that are beyond NASA’s and the National Lab’s missions. As a companion activity to this 

program, NASA will develop a policy that ensures that NASA or ISS National Laboratory activities do 

not compete with the capabilities provided by commercial LEO platforms. In the longer term, activities 

currently supported by NASA and the ISS National Laboratory could be fully transitioned onto these new 

platforms once available. This will allow private industry to experiment with commercial activities and 

demonstrate the viability of commercial human spaceflight activities. 

Commercial LEO Development will advance the Nation’s goals in LEO and exploration by furthering 

development and maturity of the commercial space market to enable private industry to assume roles that 

have been traditionally Government-only, and to potentially realize cost savings to the Government by 

leveraging private industry innovation and commercial market incentives.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

N/A
SCIENCE

SCMD-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Earth Science 1907.7 -- 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2

Planetary Science 1827.5 -- 2234.7 2199.6 2180.8 2162.1 2143.3

Astrophysics 1352.3 -- 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4

Heliophysics 674.7 -- 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7

Total Budget 5762.2 5725.8 5895.0 5859.9 5841.1 5822.4 5803.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Science............................................................................. SCMD-4

Earth Science

EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH .................................................................................ES-2

EARTH SYSTEMATIC MISSIONS...........................................................................ES-14

Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2) [Development] ..................................ES-16

GRACE Follow-On [Development] ....................................................................................ES-22

Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission (SWOT) [Development].........................ES-27

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperature Radar (NISAR) [Development] ....................................ES-33

Landsat 9 [Development]...................................................................................................ES-38

Sentinel-6 [Development] ..................................................................................................ES-44

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................ES-50

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE PATHFINDER.............................................................ES-67

Venture Class Missions ..................................................................................................... ES-68

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................ES-79

EARTH SCIENCE MULTI-MISSION OPERATIONS ................................................ES-84

EARTH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY..........................................................................ES-90

APPLIED SCIENCES ..............................................................................................ES-95

Planetary Science
SCIENCE

SCMD-2

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH ........................................................................PS-3

Other Missions and Data Analysis ...................................................................................... PS-7

PLANETARY DEFENSE .........................................................................................PS-11

Double Asteroid Redirection Test [Formulation]................................................................PS-13

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-19

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION ............................................................PS-23

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-27

DISCOVERY ...........................................................................................................PS-29

InSight [Development] ....................................................................................................... PS-32

Lucy [Formulation] ............................................................................................................. PS-38

Psyche [Formulation]......................................................................................................... PS-43

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-48

NEW FRONTIERS...................................................................................................PS-51

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-54

MARS EXPLORATION............................................................................................PS-58

Mars Rover 2020 [Development].......................................................................................PS-60

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-69

OUTER PLANETS AND OCEAN WORLDS.............................................................PS-76

Europa Clipper [Formulation].............................................................................................PS-78

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-85

TECHNOLOGY .......................................................................................................PS-87

Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH.......................................................................... ASTRO-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. ASTRO-9

COSMIC ORIGINS.......................................................................................... ASTRO-12

James Webb Space Telescope [Development] ........................................................ ASTRO-14

Hubble Space Telescope Operations [Operations]................................................... ASTRO-23

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) [Operations]................. ASTRO-26

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-31

PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS .......................................................................... ASTRO-34

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-36

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION......................................................................... ASTRO-41

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-43

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER ........................................................................ ASTRO-48
SCIENCE

SCMD-3

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) [Development] .................................. ASTRO-52

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-57

Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH .............................................................................HELIO-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis ................................................................................ HELIO-9

LIVING WITH A STAR .......................................................................................HELIO-14

Parker Solar Probe [Development].............................................................................. HELIO-16

Solar Orbiter Collaboration [Development].................................................................. HELIO-23

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-29

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PROBES .....................................................................HELIO-35

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-38

HELIOPHYSICS EXPLORER PROGRAM.........................................................HELIO-42

Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) [Development] ........................................... HELIO-45

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-51
SCIENCE

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From the vantage point of space, NASA captures breathtaking images of our world and the universe. These images 

advance our scientific understanding in a multitude of 

disciplines. They also have the power to influence action 

and inspire learning.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Earth Science 1907.7 -- 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2

Planetary Science 1827.5 -- 2234.7 2199.6 2180.8 2162.1 2143.3

Astrophysics 1352.3 -- 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4

Heliophysics 674.7 -- 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7

Total Budget 5762.2 5725.8 5895.0 5859.9 5841.1 5822.4 5803.6

Change from FY 2018 169.2

Percentage change from FY 2018 3.0%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Since NASA’s inception, scientific discovery 

about our Earth, the Sun, the solar system and 

the universe beyond has been an enduring 

purpose of the Agency as part of its three major 

strategic thrusts: discover, explore, and develop.

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD)

conducts scientific exploration enabled by 

observatories that view Earth from space, 

observe and visit other bodies in the solar 

system, and gaze out into the galaxy and 

beyond. NASA’s science programs focuses on 

three interdisciplinary objectives:

• Discovering the secrets of the Universe

• Searching for life in the Solar System and

beyond

• Safeguarding and improving life on Earth

NASA science programs address fundamental 

research about the universe and our place in it. 

They address questions like: How did the universe begin and evolve? How did our solar system originate 

over time? How and why is the Earth changing on all time-scales? This fundamental research covers all 

areas of science and the intersections thereof when addressing the question “Are we alone?”. NASA’s 

science programs also help protect and improve life on Earth through fundamental research that enables 

innovative and practical applications for decision-makers, including disaster response, natural resource 

management, and planetary defense. NASA also focuses on improving its operations and is increasingly 

launching its science missions on schedule and on budget. Our discoveries continue to rewrite textbooks; 

inspire children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); and 

demonstrate U.S. leadership worldwide.
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NASA uses the recommendations of the National Academies’ decadal surveys as an important input in 

planning and prioritizing the future of its science programs. For over 40 years, decadal surveys have 

proven vital in establishing a broad consensus within the national science community on the state of 

science, the highest priority science questions we can address, and actions we can take to answer those 

questions. NASA uses these recommendations to prioritize future flight missions, including space 

observatories and probes, as well as technology development and proposals for theoretical and suborbital 

supporting research. In determining the content of the Science portfolio, NASA also considers national 

priorities and policies, actual budgets, existing technological capabilities, partnership opportunities, and 

other programmatic factors. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This budget continues to reinvigorate robotic exploration of the solar system by providing $2.2 billion for 

Planetary Science. It includes a new Lunar Discovery and Exploration program that supports publicprivate partnerships and innovative approaches to achieving human and science exploration goals, 

including the eventual return of humans to the moon. This new program will enable the establishment of 

commercial contracts for transportation services, the development of small rovers to be delivered via 

commercial landers, and the building and launching of instruments that serve lunar science and 

exploration needs. This budget also establishes a new Planetary Defense program for near-Earth object 

detection and mitigation, and includes study of a Mars Sample Return mission incorporating commercial 

and international partnerships.

The budget provides $1.8 billion for a focused, balanced Earth science portfolio that supports the 

priorities of the science and applications communities. Consistent with the FY 2018 request, the budget 

assumes termination of four Earth Science missions — Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem 

(PACE), Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)-3, Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) Earthviewing instruments, and Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) 

Pathfinder — and the Carbon Monitoring System. Following a detailed internal review, NASA has 

canceled the Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) due to cost overruns that cannot be accommodated 

within the current budget.

The budget continues to support the DRIVE initiative, the highest priority recommendation in the 

Heliophysics decadal survey, and enables space weather-related interagency efforts, with a focus on 

strengthening the feedback between space weather research and operational forecasting needs.

Given its significant cost and higher priorities within NASA, the budget proposes termination of the 

WFIRST mission. Remaining WFIRST funding is redirected towards other priorities of the astrophysics 

community, including competed astrophysics missions and research.
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ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

SCIENCE RESULTS

NASA investments continue to generate productive science and interesting results. In Planetary Science,

Juno--currently in a 53-day orbit--has successfully completed nine science flybys of Jupiter. Juno's 

instruments have started their mapping of Jupiter's previously unknown interior structure. Initial results 

indicate that limited rocky material is spread out in a diffuse, "fuzzy" deep core and that the magnetic 

field may have multiple origins, anchored at various depths within the planet. Deep atmospheric mapping 

indicates that there is a wide current of ammonia flowing up from the deeps at the equator, hinting at deep 

circulation patterns. The deep atmosphere below the iconic Great Red Spot is clearly warmer than the 

surroundings for as far down as we can see, thus hinting at the origins of the Earth-sized superstorm. 

Particles creating the blazing auroral lights are being mapped back to volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io but 

the mysterious, beautiful patterns in the auroral images (in the ultraviolet and infrared) are still being 

deciphered.

In Astrophysics, for the first time, NASA scientists have detected light tied to a gravitational-wave event, 

caused by two merging neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 4993, located about 130 million light-years from 

Earth. On August 17, 2017, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope picked up a pulse of highenergy light from a powerful explosion and Fermi immediately communicated the status of the explosion 

to astronomers around the globe as a short gamma-ray burst. Just 1.7 seconds prior to Fermi’s detection, 

the National Science Foundation’s twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) 

detectors caught a gravitational wave signal from the pair of smashing neutron stars that caused the 

gamma-ray burst. By combining information from Fermi, LIGO, and a worldwide network of telescopes 

observing in other wavelengths of light, scientists identified the source as a collision between two neutron 

stars – ultra-dense, crushed leftover cores of huge stars that exploded as supernovae long ago. In their 

final moments, this neutron star pair whipped around at nearly the speed of light, ripping at each other and 

churning out torrents of gravitational energy until they smashed together with a blast of gamma rays that 

lasted only two seconds. Subsequent observations of this collision revealed the generation of new 

chemical elements, confirming theoretical predictions made decades ago for such events.

In Earth Science, researchers studied the total column atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements from the 

OCO-2 instrument using observations over the eastern equatorial Pacific. Results show a significant 

reduction of carbon dioxide due to reduced outgassing from the ocean at the onset of the 2015-2016 El 

Niño event, followed by an increase in CO2 due to enhanced respiration and biomass burning in South 

America. The research also revealed worldwide locations of CO2 emissions with both industrial and 

natural origins.

In Heliophysics, analysis of data from NASA Heliophysics Voyager, IBEX and Cassini missions suggests 

a new theory on the shape of the heliosphere. The data indicate that the heliosphere is more spherical 

rather than comet-shaped as previously thought, without a distinct tail. This is based on a new analysis 

spanning a full 11-year solar cycle and has yet to be explained comprehensively by theorists, but there is a 

promising suggestion, based on data from Voyager 1, which is in interstellar space beyond the reach of 

the solar wind. These data show that the interstellar magnetic field beyond the heliosphere is stronger than 

scientists previously thought, and possibly leading to plasma interactions that could “compact” the tail.

Understanding the shape of the heliosphere gives us crucial information about the space that surrounds us, 

known as the local interstellar medium, and interactions of stellar spheres elsewhere in the universe.
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NASA highlights these and many other scientific results in the pages that follow.

COST AND SCHEDULE PERFORMANCE

The majority of Science missions continue to demonstrate good cost and schedule performance. Since 

2011, when NASA implemented a requirement for missions entering development to budget at the 70

percent confidence level, we have launched fourteen Science missions, with a total net budget underrun of 

six percent.

Nine Science missions under development remain within their original cost estimates: Ionospheric 

Connection Explorer (ICON), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO), 

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Solar Orbiter Collaboration 

(SOC), Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO), Surface Winds and Ocean 

Topography (SWOT), the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, and Sentinel-6. In 

addition, the SMD portion of the Mars 2020 mission remains within its cost commitment, while the 

HEOMD and STMD contributions have grown slightly.

Costs for NASA’s contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Euclid mission have grown in the 

past year. Three other Science missions experienced past cost growth above their commitments, but have 

not grown in the past year: the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations Geodesy and Heat 

Transport (InSight) mission to Mars, the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) and the Ice, Cloud, and 

land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)-2.

In January 2018 the Science Mission Directorate conducted a detailed review of the RBI project and 

canceled the project immediately due to cost growth and technical challenges.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA is operating about 60 Science missions with about 80 spacecraft, most of which involve

collaboration with international partners or other U.S. agencies. Work on over 40 missions in formulation 

and development continues; NASA plans to launch ICON, GRACE-FO, InSight, TESS, and the Parker 

Solar Probe by the end of FY 2018. Suborbital flights using aircraft, sounding rockets, and balloons are

ongoing, as are more than 3,000 competitively selected research awards to scientists located at 

universities, NASA field Centers, industry, and other government agencies.

The SMD-wide CubeSat/SmallSat initiative is responsive to recommendations from a 2016 National 

Academies report that concluded that small satellites are suitable to address specific high-priority science 

goals. An approximate $70 million per year investment supports technology development in all science 

themes, and provides new partnership opportunities between commercial partners and NASA. During FY 

2018 Earth Science will launch the HARP, TEMPEST-D, RainCube, and CubeRRT CubeSats on a single 

ISS resupply mission.

Later this fiscal year NASA will release Announcements of Opportunity (AOs) for a Heliophysics 

Explorer mission and Mission of Opportunity, SOFIA Next Generation Instrumentation, and for Earth 

Venture Instruments-5 (EVI-5), NASA will also release competitive solicitations to develop lunar surface 

payloads compatible with the expected commercial lunar surface cargo transportation services; robotic 

payload proposals will be selected that advance NASA’s exploration, scientific, and technology 

development goals.
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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA plans to launch the ICESat-2 mission by October 2018. As announced in September 2017, the 

James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) will complete its assembly and testing, and NASA will ship Webb 

to the launch site in French Guiana for launch between March and June of 2019.

NASA will select the next New Frontiers mission, Heliophysics Small Explorer and Mission of 

Opportunity missions, Astrophysics Medium Explorer and Mission of Opportunity missions, and a suite 

of Earth Venture Suborbital-3 investigations from the AOs released in 2016 and 2017. NASA plans to 

release AOs for the next Discovery mission, the next Astrophysics Small Explorer and Mission of 

Opportunity missions, instrument(s) for Missions of Opportunity to the moon, Earth Venture Mission 

(EVM)-3, and Earth Venture Instrument (EVI)-6. 

The CubeSat/SmallSat Initiative will achieve numerous milestones. The Earth Science Technology 

program plans to launch the Compact Infrared Radiometer in Space (CIRiS) and Compact Spectral 

Irradiance Monitor-Flight Demonstration (CSIM-FD) CubeSats in FY 2019. NASA will make awards for

purchasing and evaluating pilot Earth Science data products from private-sector small satellite 

constellations. Heliophysics plans to launch the Electron Losses and Fields Investigation (ELFIN) and the 

CubeSat mission to Understand Solar Particles (CUSP). Planetary Science will select a new SmallSat for 

development. Astrophysics will start development of two new CubeSats, named BurstCube and SPARCS, 

continue science operations for HaloSat (scheduled for launch in May 2018), and continue development 

of CUTE.

Themes

EARTH SCIENCE

From the vantage point of space, NASA satellites can view and study our home planet and its dynamic 

system of diverse components: the oceans, atmosphere, continents, ice sheets, and life. The Nation’s 

scientific community can thereby observe and track global-scale changes, connecting causes to effects. 

Scientists can study regional changes in their global context, as well as observe the role that human 

civilization plays as a force of change. NASA’s Earth science activities are an essential part of national 

and international efforts to understand change at all time-scales and use Earth observations and scientific 

understanding in service to society. Through its partnerships with other agencies that maintain 

forecasting and decision support systems, NASA improves national capabilities to predict climate, 

weather, and natural hazards; manages resources; and inform the development of environmental policy.

The primary recommendations of the National Academies’ 2007 Decadal Survey for Earth Science and 

Applications from Space (ESAS), which informed the 2010 Climate-Centric Architecture plan, were:

• Complete the ongoing program. All legacy Earth Science missions identified in the 2007 ESAS 

Decadal [Jason-2 (2008), OCO (2009, 2014), Glory (2011), Aquarius (2011), Suomi-NPP (2011), 

Landsat 8 (2013)] have been developed and launched. OCO-1 and Glory suffered launch vehicle 

failures. OCO-2 was then developed and successfully launched. The FY 2019 request fully funds 

operations and science exploitation of these on-orbit missions.

• Continue the balance between flight and non-flight activities. The FY 2019 request fully supports 

this recommendation.
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• Increase the scope and fraction of the Earth Science Technology program. The FY 2019 request 

fully supports this recommendation, in part through funding for the In-Space Validation of Earth 

Science Technologies (InVEST), which is part of the SMD-wide CubeSat/SmallSat initiative, 

leveraging technological progress across the science disciplines.

• Establish a robust program of competed Venture-class missions. The FY 2019 request fully 

supports this recommendation. It funds all EV missions selected under previous solicitations. It also 

fully funds the planned future solicitations in all three strands on schedule (4-year cadence for EVSuborbital and EV-Mission, 18-month cadence for EV-Instrument). 

• Aggressively develop a number of future strategic missions. The 2007 ESAS Decadal identified 

four systematic Tier-1 missions [Soil Moisture Active Passive, ICESat-2, Deformation, Ecosystem 

Structure, and Dynamics of Ice (DESDynI), CLARREO] for launch by 2013. The Decadal also 

identified five Tier-2 missions [Hyperspectral Infrared Image (HyspIRI), Surface Water Ocean 

Topography (SWOT), GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE), Active 

Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS), and Aerosol-CloudEcosystem (ACE)] by 2016. Those Decadal recommendations assumed unrealistically low mission 

costs and overly optimistic budgets, rendering the target launch dates unachievable. NASA launched 

the Soil Moisture Active Passive mission in January 2015, and the Decadal-identified continuity 

SAGE-III mission in February 2017. The FY 2019 Budget request fully funds ICESat-2 (2018), and 

the radar portion of DESDynI (NISAR, 2022). The request also funds completion of high-priority, 

Decadal-identified, continuity missions: Landsat-9 (2021), GRACE-FO (2018, deferred to Tier-3 in 

the Decadal), and SWOT (2022). These dates are consistent with the latest Key Decision Point 

decisions and Agency commitments. The budget assumes termination of the PACE mission 

(previously planned for 2022) and the CLARREO Pathfinder (previously planned for launch to the 

ISS in 2019).

In January 2018, the National Academies released the second Decadal Survey for Earth Science, which 

endorsed the current program of record but did not rank the missions in the existing program. This Budget 

also supports the current program of record, except (as noted above) PACE, OCO-3, RBI, DSCOVR, 

CLARREO Pathfinder, and the Carbon Monitoring System. NASA will consider Decadal 

recommendations regarding potential future activities during the FY 2020 and subsequent budget cycles. 

NASA asks the Earth Science Advisory Committee for input to ensure that our proposed programs 

maximize scientific productivity, within the general framework established by the National Academies.

PLANETARY SCIENCE

To answer questions about the solar system and the origins of life, NASA sends robotic space probes to 

the Moon, other planets and their moons, asteroids and comets, and the icy bodies beyond Neptune. 

NASA is creating a new Lunar Discovery and Exploration program that is part of the Agency's new 

exploration initiative. The program will develop instruments and other payloads for missions to the lunar 

surface. In partnership with industry and with other NASA organizations, the new program will address 

exploration, science, and technology demonstration objectives as the agency prepares for a sustained 

program of lunar exploration. NASA also is planning the next Mars rover, which will launch in 2020 and 

address key questions about the potential for life on Mars. The agency is also heading toward the first flyby of a Kuiper Belt Object, operating spacecraft at Jupiter, the largest asteroid Ceres, and the Moon, and 

has begun the journey to a potentially hazardous asteroid, Bennu, to capture and return a sample to Earth.
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The primary recommendations of the National Academies’ 2012 Decadal Survey for Planetary Science 

were:

• Continue Discovery solicitations, with the cost cap adjusted for inflation and a 24-month cadence. 

In the upcoming AO NASA will impose a cost cap of $490M FY2019 constant dollars for phases A 

through D, not including the cost of the launch vehicle or the value of any non-NASA contributions, 

per the Decadal recommendation. This cost cap is equivalent to the $450M FY2015 in the previous 

AO. The out-year budget supports an approximate 30-month cadence for future launches. In 

addition, the newly created Lunar Discovery and Exploration program will encompass the Lunar 

Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lunar Future missions' projects. 

• Continue New Frontiers with a $1 billion cost cap, and select two new missions by 2022. This 

budget supports the recommended cost cap for the AO released in February 2017, which will result 

in the selection of one new mission.

• Begin the two highest priority flagships: a Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher and a Europa 

mission. This budget supports both the Mars 2020 rover mission that will address the highest priority 

Mars science objectives recommended by the Planetary Decadal Survey and continued formulation 

of the Europa Clipper project with a launch readiness date of 2025. The budget includes $50 million 

in FY 2019 for studies and technology development towards a potential Mars sample return mission. 

• Continue missions in development and flight, subject to senior review. This budget supports all 

missions selected for development, all missions in prime operations, and all extended missions 

ranked highly in the latest senior review.

• Increase research and analysis (R&A) spending by 5 percent above the FY 2011 budget level, and 

then 1.5 percent above inflation thereafter. The total R&A budget in FY 2011 was $208 million. 

This budget funds R&A programs at $247 million in FY 2019.

• Increase Planetary Technology spending to six to eight percent of the total division budget, 

including completion of the advanced Stirling radioisotope generators. This budget funds technology 

at roughly 12 percent, including approximately $20 million for Planetary Science’s contribution to 

the SMD CubeSat/SmallSat initiative. Planetary Science has also established a new solar system 

robotic exploration technology initiative which will accelerate technological innovations that will 

change the paradigm for robotic solar system exploration

• Achieve a balanced program through a mix of Discovery, New Frontiers, and flagship missions 

and an appropriate balance among the many potential targets in the solar system. This budget 

achieves a balanced program by supporting the competed, PI-led programs and two flagship 

missions (Mars 2020 rover and Europa Clipper). To preserve the balance of NASA’s science 

portfolio and maintain flexibility to conduct missions that were determined to be more important by 

the science community, the Budget provides no funding for a multi-billion-dollar mission to land on 

Europa.

NASA asks the Planetary Science Advisory Committee for input to ensure that our proposed programs 

maximize scientific productivity, within the general framework established by the National Academies.

ASTROPHYSICS

Space is the proving ground for many theories with breathtaking implications for our understanding of the 

physical universe related to the origin of the universe, black holes, dark matter and dark energy, and 

planets throughout the universe where life might exist. Having measured the age of the universe, the 

scientific community now seeks to explore further extremes: its birth, the edges of space and time near 
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black holes, gravitational waves, and the mysterious dark energy filling the entire universe. Scientists 

have recently developed astronomical instrumentation and analysis methodologies sensitive enough to 

detect planets around other stars. With thousands of extrasolar planets now known, scientists are using 

current NASA missions in conjunction with ground-based telescopes to seek Earth-like planets in other 

solar systems.

The 2010 Decadal Survey in Astronomy and Astrophysics, New Worlds, New Horizons (Astro2010) 

recommended a coordinated program of research, technology development, ground-based facilities, and 

space-based missions for implementation during 2012–2021. The primary recommendations were:

• Complete the ongoing program. The Astro2010 Decadal Survey assumed launch of Webb in 2014; 

full operations of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) airborne 

observatory in 2012; and completion of three Explorer missions: the Nuclear Spectroscopic 

Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in 2012, the Gravity and Extreme Magnetism (GEMS) Explorer in 

2014, and the U.S. contribution to the Japanese ASTRO-H mission in 2014. This budget fully 

supports launch of Webb in 2019, continued operations of SOFIA through the end of its prime 

mission in FY 2019, and NuSTAR (launched in 2012). NASA halted development of GEMS in 2012 

due to cost overruns. NASA delivered the ASTRO-H instrument to Japan for launch in 2016; in 

response to the spacecraft failure, this budget supports NASA participation in XARM, Japan's 

planned recovery mission.

• Support the ongoing core research program to ensure a balanced program that optimizes overall 

scientific return. This budget fully supports the ongoing core research program and funds a balanced 

program of strategic and PI-led missions, research and analysis, suborbital projects, and technology 

development addressing the highest priorities in cosmic origins, exoplanet exploration, and physics 

of the cosmos.

• Launch WFIRST by 2020. This budget proposes termination of the WFIRST mission in FY 2019 

due to its significant cost and higher priorities within NASA. Existing WFIRST funding is redirected 

towards competed Astrophysics missions and research, high priorities in the Decadal Survey.

• Augment the Astrophysics Explorers Program to support the selection of four missions and four 

smaller missions of opportunity each decade. This budget, using funding redirected from the 

WFIRST cancellation, fully supports the recommended cadence of new Astrophysics Explorers 

missions, with AOs in 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2019, as well as potential start of a new Probe-class 

mission.

• Launch the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) by 2025. This budget supports studies 

leading toward a potential contribution to an ESA-led gravitational wave observatory for launch in

2034.

• Invest in Technology leading toward an international X-ray observatory in the 2020s. This budget 

supports a U.S. contribution to the ESA-led Athena advanced X-ray observatory for launch in 2028.

• Invest in a New Worlds technology development and precursor science program for a 2020s 

mission to image habitable rocky planets. This budget supports studies of two potential missions to 

image and characterize habitable rocky exoplanets as well as the technologies required to realize 

them.

• Invest in technology development and precursor science for a 2020s mission to probe the epoch of 

inflation. This budget supports the development of technology and conduct of precursor science 

required for a potential future mission to probe the epoch of inflation at the immediate beginning of 

the universe.

• Increase funding for several targeted areas of supporting research and technology. This budget 

focuses investments on the science opportunities of CubeSats/SmallSats, taking advantage of the 
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technological progress in the public and private sector toward meeting high-priority science goals. 

With funding redirected from the WFIRST cancellation, this budget also supports increased funding 

for research and analysis including recommended investments in advanced technology development, 

theoretical and computational networks, suborbital programs, laboratory astrophysics, and 

technology for future ultraviolet/visible space telescopes. 

NASA has and is continuing to address many of the Decadal Survey recommendations, though in some 

cases at a slower pace. Adjustments to the Decadal Survey recommendations are primarily due to overly 

optimistic Decadal assumptions regarding future budgets and challenges and delays to programs such as 

Webb and WFIRST. Other factors that could not be anticipated by the Decadal Survey include changing 

international partnership opportunities, emerging technologies that have changed what can be 

accomplished, and advances in our scientific understanding of the universe. The 2016 Midterm 

Assessment of decadal survey progress found that “NASA has maintained a balanced portfolio through 

the first half of the decade and, with the assumption of successful completion of an ambitious Explorer 

schedule, will do so during the second half of the decade as well.” In 2019, NASA will receive the 

recommendations from the Senior Review of operating Astrophysics missions, which could inform the 

FY 2021 budget request.

NASA asks the Astrophysics Advisory Committee for input to ensure that our proposed programs 

maximize scientific productivity, within the general framework established by the National Academies.

HELIOPHYSICS

The Sun, a typical small star midway through its life, governs our solar system. The Sun wields its 

influence through its gravity, radiation, solar wind, and magnetic fields, all of which interact with the 

Earth and its space environment. These processes are crucial for our understanding of the universe, but 

also relate directly to our ability to live in space as they produce space weather, which can affect human 

technological infrastructure and activities. Using a fleet of sensors on various spacecraft in Earth orbit and 

throughout the heliosphere, NASA seeks to understand the fundamental processes of how and why the 

Sun varies; how Earth and our solar system respond to the Sun; how the Sun and the solar system interact 

with the interstellar medium; and how human activities are affected by these processes. The science of 

heliophysics, including space weather, enables the predictions necessary to safeguard life and society on 

Earth and the outward journeys of human and robotic explorers.

The primary recommendations of the National Academies’ 2013 Decadal Survey for Heliophysics were:

• Maintain and complete the current program. The Decadal assumed launch of Van Allen Probes by 

2012, Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) by 2013, MMS by 2014, Solar Orbiter 

Collaboration (SOC) by 2017, Parker Solar Probe by 2018, and continued current funding of the 

Research program. Van Allen, IRIS, and MMS have launched, and Parker Solar Probe is on 

schedule. NASA will launch the ESA-led SOC mission by FY 2020.

• Implement the DRIVE (Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate) initiative, including the 

incorporation of smaller spacecraft and an increase in the competed research program from 10 

percent to about 15 percent of the budget request. This budget request meets these objectives, and 

supports the SMD-wide CubeSat/SmallSat initiative.

• Accelerate and expand the Heliophysics Explorer Program, resulting in an increase to the cadence 

of competed missions to one launch every 2-3 years. This budget supports the launch of ICON and 
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GOLD in 2018, five years after the previous Explorer launch. The notional out-year budgets, if 

realized, would enable the next launch around 2022, and approximately every two years thereafter.

• Restructure Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) as a moderate-scale, principal investigator-led flight 

program, and implement three mid-scale missions with an eventual recommended 4-year cadence. 

This budget supports the AO released in 2017 for a launch of an IMAP mission in about 2024. 

NASA will initiate Science and Technology Definition Team activities in preparation for two 

subsequent AOs for multi-spacecraft missions. NASA will competitively select these and all future 

STP strategic missions from principal investigator-led proposals. The program will also directly 

benefit from current investments in the CubeSat/SmallSat initiative.

• Implement a large Living with a Star (LWS) mission to study Global Dynamic Coupling with a 

launch in 2024. NASA has initiated a Science and Technology Definition Team to leverage technical 

advancements and enable cost-effective solutions, in anticipation of a possible AO in 2019.

The decadal survey also made recommendations related to space weather applications, addressed 

collectively to the relevant government agencies. NASA will continue collaborating with other agencies 

to improve space weather observation and forecasting capabilities. 

NASA asks the Heliophysics Advisory Committee for input to ensure that our proposed programs 

maximize scientific productivity within the general framework established by the National Academies.
Science

EARTH SCIENCE

ES-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Earth Science Research 462.0 -- 451.4 457.4 483.8 507.7 537.8

Earth Systematic Missions 929.7 -- 788.1 729.5 689.1 646.5 595.0

Earth System Science Pathfinder 208.8 -- 235.0 273.7 268.2 274.3 287.7

Earth Science Multi-Mission Operations 204.9 -- 196.9 208.7 225.0 231.6 237.1

Earth Science Technology 62.9 -- 59.7 61.6 64.2 67.8 69.6

Applied Sciences 39.4 -- 53.1 53.3 53.9 56.3 57.0

Total Budget 1907.7 -- 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2 1784.2

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Earth Science

EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH .................................................................................ES-2

EARTH SYSTEMATIC MISSIONS...........................................................................ES-14

Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-2) [Development] ..................................ES-16

GRACE Follow-On [Development] ....................................................................................ES-22

Surface Water and Ocean Topography Mission (SWOT) [Development].........................ES-27

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperature Radar (NISAR) [Development] ....................................ES-33

Landsat 9 [Development]...................................................................................................ES-38

Sentinel-6 [Development] ..................................................................................................ES-44

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................ES-50

EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE PATHFINDER.............................................................ES-67

Venture Class Missions ..................................................................................................... ES-68

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................ES-79

EARTH SCIENCE MULTI-MISSION OPERATIONS ................................................ES-84

EARTH SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY..........................................................................ES-90

APPLIED SCIENCES ..............................................................................................ES-95
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Global map of annual Surface Soil Moisture, from April 1,

2015 to March 31, 2016, with the probability density 

function shown in the inset and the zonal mean SSM in the 

right panel.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Earth Science Research and Analysis 332.5 -- 305.2 299.2 318.0 321.0 325.0

Computing and Management 129.5 -- 146.1 158.2 165.8 186.7 212.8

Total Budget 462.0 -- 451.4 457.4 483.8 507.7 537.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s Earth Science Research program 

develops a scientific understanding of Earth 

and its response to natural or human-induced 

changes. Earth is a system, like the human 

body, comprised of diverse components 

interacting in complex ways. Understanding 

Earth’s atmosphere, crust, water, ice, and life 

as a single, connected system is necessary to 

improve our predictions of climate, weather, 

and natural hazards. The Earth Science 

Research program addresses complex, 

interdisciplinary Earth science problems in 

pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of 

the Earth system. This strategy involves six 

interdisciplinary and interrelated science focus 

areas, including:

• Water and Energy Cycle: quantifying the key reservoirs and fluxes in the global water cycle, 

assessing water cycle change, and water quality.

• Weather: enabling improved predictive capability for weather and extreme weather events.

• Earth Surface and Interior: characterizing the dynamics of the Earth’s surface and interior and 

forming the scientific basis for the assessment and mitigation of natural hazards and response to 

rare and extreme events.

• Climate Variability and Change: understanding the roles of ocean, atmosphere, land, and ice in 

the climate system and improving our ability to predict future changes.

• Atmospheric Composition: understanding and improving our predictive capability for changes in 

the ozone layer, Earth’s radiation budget, and air quality associated with changes in atmospheric 

composition.

• Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems: quantifying, understanding, and predicting changes in Earth’s 

ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles, including the global carbon cycle, land cover, and 

biodiversity.
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NASA’s Earth Science Research program pioneers the use of both space-borne and aircraft measurements 

in all of these areas. NASA’s Earth Science Research program is critical to the advancement of the 

interagency U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), established by Presidential Initiative in 

1989 and mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of 1990 to develop and coordinate “a 

comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will assist the Nation and the world 

to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.” 

NASA’s Earth Science Research program also makes extensive contributions to international science 

programs, such as the World Climate Research Program.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The Earth Science Advisory Committee determined in October 2017 that NASA remained on track in its 

annual performance towards the achievement of the research goals relevant to the six science focus areas 

described in the previous section. FY 2017 research advances made possible by NASA funding include:

A study concluded that high-altitude brown carbon from biomass burning is an under-appreciated 

component of climate forcing, which is the difference between sunlight absorbed by the Earth and energy 

radiated back to space. Using aircraft observations from the Search for Emissions, Atmospheric 

Composition, Clouds, and Climate Coupling By Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS) campaign of vertical 

aerosol distributions over the continental United States, researchers showed that brown carbon is 

prevalent in the troposphere. The observations showed that deep convection transports brown carbon to 

these altitudes, and suggested that brown carbon accounts for about 24 percent of the combined black and 

brown carbon warming effect at the tropopause. 

Nature published an article explaining that drylands are warming more than other areas, with an increase 

of mean surface temperature of almost 3 degrees Celsius. The researchers used MODIS aerosol and cloud 

observations, as well as other data, as input to climate model simulations to estimate these radiative 

effects.

A study explored the impacts of closing three coal-fired power plants in southwestern Pennsylvania to 

investigate regional air quality from January 2011 through December 2014. The researchers used ground 

stations measuring particulate matter in order to check the performance of a series of models. Using these 

observations, this study found that the models were correctly predicting the downward trend in aerosol 

loading (suspensions of solids and/or liquid particles in the air that we breathe) following each power 

plant shutdown.

A new statistical model suggests that temperature increases will amplify dust activity in parts of the U.S. 

in the latter half of the 21st century, which may lead to the increased frequency of large dust storms that 

have far-reaching impacts on public health and infrastructure. This model eliminates some of the 

uncertainty found in previous dust activity models by using present-day satellite data such as dust optical 

depth, leafy green coverage over land, and other factors.
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Ozone is an important air pollutant at the Earth’s surface, and the third most important anthropogenic 

greenhouse gas in the troposphere. Since 1980, anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors have shifted 

from developed to developing regions. NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System Model, Version 

5 estimated the increase in ozone burden due to the spatial distribution change. A publication in Nature 

suggests that increasing emissions in Southeast, East, and South Asia may be most important for the 

ozone change. The spatial distribution of emissions dominates global tropospheric ozone, suggesting that 

the mainly emissions from low latitudes will determine future ozone burden 

Formaldehyde is a dominant carcinogen in outdoor air and a precursor for tropospheric ozone. A study 

used satellite data, validated with aircraft in-situ data, and the chemical transport model to map surface air 

formaldehyde concentrations across the contiguous U.S. Based on this novel dataset, they estimate that up 

to 12,500 people in the U.S. will develop cancer over their lifetimes by exposure to outdoor 

formaldehyde. Further, researchers found that formaldehyde levels would decrease by 20-30 percent in 

the absence of nitrogen oxide emissions resulting from human activities in the U.S. Thus, nitrogen oxide

emission controls to improve ozone air quality have a significant co-benefit in reducing formaldehyderelated cancer risks.

An analysis of GPM data shows an improved representation of monsoon precipitation and its interaction 

with atmospheric dynamics over West Africa. Scientists have developed short-term forecasts of soil 

moisture and other parameters to understand better the land-atmosphere interactions on scales of days to 

years. These forecasts are available from the NASA Land Information System based on GPM data along 

with other precipitation data. Routine Land Information System data assimilation studies performed at 

NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center have shown that increased land surface 

model grid resolution (~3 km) can yield an improvement in the estimation of surface model water 

balance. GPM’s data for extreme precipitation leading to flood or landside events, and the 

characterization of potential hazards, were a source of several GPM investigations. 

Recent published research utilized satellite remote sensing data collected over the past two decades in 

combination with longer-term fire management records to study changes in areas burned due to humancaused and lightning-ignited fires. While human activities related to the intensification of agriculture have 

resulted in a decrease in burned area globally over the last 18 years, an increase in human ignitions along 

with a warming climate are key contributors to increased wildfire area burned in the western U.S. Recent 

analysis shows that lightning drives interannual and long-term ignition and burned area dynamics in 

western boreal forest region of North America, increasing wildfire activity, warming conditions and 

extended fire seasons.

A recent publication reviewed Global precipitation variations over the satellite era using the Global 

Precipitation Climatology Project monthly, globally complete analyses, which integrate satellite and 

surface gauge information. Global precipitation variations, during the satellite era, have small increases 

during El Niños and noticeable decreases after major volcanic eruptions. While the research found no 

overall significant trend in the global precipitation mean, they did find that there is a pattern of increased 

rainfall over tropical oceans and decreased rainfall over some middle latitude regions. These observed 

patterns result from a combination of inter-decadal variations and temperature increases during the study 

period (1979-2014).

Atmospheric rivers are windy bands of concentrated moisture, which are responsible for the transport of 

most of the water vapor outside the tropics. A study published in Nature Geosciences, found that 

atmospheric rivers comprise half of the top 2 percent of the most extreme precipitation and wind 
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distribution events across most mid-latitude regions globally. Atmospheric rivers that make landfall are 

associated with about 40 to 75 percent of extreme wind and precipitation events over 40 percent of the 

world’s coastlines. Atmospheric rivers are associated with a doubling (or more) of the typical wind speed 

and precipitation amounts compared to all storm conditions, and associated with a 50 to 100 percent

increase in the probability for an extreme event. They found that the majority of extreme wind events 

catalogued between 1979 and 2013 over Europe with billion $US losses were associated with atmospheric 

rivers. They concluded that land-falling atmospheric rivers represent a significant hazard around the 

globe, because of their association with not only extreme precipitation, but also extreme winds.

NASA selected the Convective Process Experiment as part of the competitive ROSES 2016 to help 

answer questions about convective storm initiation, organization, and growth. After a year of planning 

and development, the experiment took place in the North Atlantic-Gulf of Mexico-Caribbean Sea region 

from May 25 - June 25, 2017, onboard NASA's DC-8 aircraft, based out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

During the experiment, the science team logged 106 flight hours and 16 science missions (91 hours) that 

covered a wide range of weather conditions from clear and calm wind, isolated convective cloud systems, 

to Tropical Storm Cindy (2017).

Research in the past year continued to investigate the processes that govern the sea ice seasonal and longterm evolution. The rapid loss of Arctic sea ice continued this past year, reaching its minimum extent for 

2016 on September 10, at 4.14 million square kilometers (1.60 million square miles). This ties the 2007 

minimum as the second-lowest extent in the passive-microwave (PMW) satellite record, and reinforces 

the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent (-13.3 percent per decade). The ten lowest September 

sea ice extents in the satellite record have all occurred in the last ten years. 

After four years of record or near-record maximum extents, sea ice around Antarctica plummeted to its 

lowest minimum extent in the satellite record on March 3, 2017, at 2.11 million square kilometers 

(815,000 square miles). This reflected especially low sea ice extent along the coast of West Antarctica, 

particularly in the Amundsen and Ross Seas. The previous record-low minimum extent occurred in 

February 1997.

A recent study found a connection between the frequency of El Nino events and its influence on global 

mean surface temperatures. They suggest that El Niño–Southern Oscillation events control inter-annual 

variations in atmospheric healing rate in the tropics, emphasizing the importance of ocean heat uptake for 

interpreting global temperature curves. Their analysis explains, for example, the continuing warming 

trend and rapid temperature rise, associated with atmospheric heat release that accompanies ENSO 

conditions during 2014-2016. Alternatively, weak El Niño–Southern Oscillation activity can lead to 

slower rates of increase in global surface temperatures, such as those observed in mid-2000s.

The Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) is a major NASA field campaign in Alaska and 

western Canada over the 2015 to 2023 timeframe. ABoVE seeks a better understanding of the 

vulnerability and resilience of ecosystems and society to environmental changes in this region. Following 

the selection of the initial science team in 2015, the team has produced the first version of the ABoVE 

Science Implementation Plan, and field-based investigations began in January 2016 and continued 

through 2017. In 2016, NASA initiated SnowEx, a multi-year airborne snow remote sensing campaign, 

which includes significant ground and aerial observations. SnowEx studies how much water is stored in 

Earth’s terrestrial snow-covered regions. In the fall of 2016, SnowEx observed snow-free conditions in 

the Grand Mesa and Senator Beck Basin (Colorado) and researchers installed additional in-situ 

instruments to monitor meteorological and snow conditions throughout the winter. In February 2017, 
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SnowEx used a unique combination of airborne sensors, including lidar, active and passive microwave, an 

imaging spectrometer, and infrared cameras to determine the sensitivity and accuracy of different remote 

sensing techniques for measurements of Snow Water Equivalent, which were complemented by groundbased remote sensing devices and in situ observations taken by over one hundred field participants. Their 

work and subsequent analysis of all the data collected will help researchers better investigate the 

distribution of Snow Water Equivalent and the snow energy balance in different terrains and forest 

canopy types and densities. SnowEx will continue field operations in the winter of 2018-2019.

NASA’s Space Geodesy project completed the commissioning of the joint NASA-United States Naval 

Observatory broadband VLBI Global Observing System station at NASA’s Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical 

Observatory in Hawaii. The station is now operational. In May 2017, a 24-hour test session was 

successfully performed using the new station along with the broadband stations at Westford in 

Massachusetts, Goddard Geophysical, and Astronomical Observatory in Maryland, Wettzell in Germany, 

and Yebes in Spain. This session is a first of its kind with the combined baseline being the first transPacific/Arctic/Atlantic broadband measurements ever.

Space Geodesy completed negotiations and signed an agreement with the Norwegian Mapping Authority 

on an agreement for the development and implementation of a NASA satellite laser ranging station in NyÅlesund, Norway, a unique location within the Arctic Circle that will be particularly valuable in 

supporting the tracking of NASA’s polar orbiting satellites. 

After the successful implementation of supercomputing pilot modules in 2016 and 2017, the High-End 

Computing Capability (HECC) project plans to build a large concrete pad in 2018 to enable the future 

expansion of 16 supercomputing modules in 2019 - 2022 and beyond. The Scientific Computing project 

will continue to add both computing and storage to its operational high-performance environment at 

NASA Center for Climate Simulations in 2019 and beyond. The next generation Advanced Data 

Analytics Platform prototyped during FY 2016 is now operational and supports field campaigns. The 

ABoVE cloud computing environment is an instance of this platform supporting the ABoVE field 

campaign in 2017 and 2018. Researchers have used the ABoVE cloud for data processing, archiving, and 

data analytics. Researchers have developed a high-resolution digital elevation model for the ABoVE 

campaign region using the ABoVE cloud computing environment. In addition, Scientific Computing will 

begin to explore the use of computing systems specialized in machine executable learning algorithms to 

solve problems in climate and weather applications. As the model and observational data continue to 

grow at increasing rates, leveraging the capabilities of machine learning systems for science will be 

necessary for future research.

Major airborne campaigns conducted in FY 2017 include ABoVe, Operation IceBridge Arctic and 

Antarctic, and Hyperspectral Infrared Imager Tropics. In addition, all six Earth Venture Suborbital-2 

(EVS-2) investigations conducted airborne campaigns with the Coral Reef Airborne Laboratory 

investigation, completing its final data collection flights in 2017.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA will continue the implementation of the Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) campaign, capturing 

global chemical heterogeneity. The ATom aircraft mission (2015–2020) has completed the summer and 

winter data collection flying NASA’s DC-8 from near the North towards the South Pole along the Pacific 

Ocean and back towards the North Pole along the Atlantic Ocean. A recent study compared six global 
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chemistry–climate models computing air parcel reactivity. The distinctively different model outputs 

underline the importance of the measurements currently collected by ATom. 

The EXport Processes in the Ocean from RemoTe Sensing (EXPORTS) is a science plan for a future 

NASA field campaign to develop a predictive understanding of the export and fate of the global ocean’s 

primary production and its implications for the Earth’s carbon cycle in present and future climates. NASA 

plans to execute the EXPORTS field campaign, likely in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, during the next 

five to seven years following a 2016/2017 open competition. NASA’s satellite ocean-color data record 

has revolutionized our understanding of global marine systems by providing synoptic and repeated global 

observations of phytoplankton stocks and rates of primary production. 

The Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center will continue to serve in its critical 

role as facilitator for the transition of unique observations and research capabilities to the operational 

weather community to improve short-term forecasting. In FY 2018 SPoRT plans to continue support of 

Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) and Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) transition and engage with 

new U.S. partners. Furthermore, SPoRT plans assessments with NWS forecasters whereby operational 

impacts will be determined. As part of these interactions with forecasters, SPoRT will generate additional 

applications training materials. SPoRT will conclude SMAP data assimilation activities in FY 2018 and 

investigate impacts on numerical weather prediction and hydrologic models. SMAP data assimilation 

links with LIS soil moisture analyses to the Weather Research and Forecasting model in a configuration 

similar to the NOAA NWS High Resolution Rapid Refresh to demonstrate impacts on convective 

initiation and severe weather.

NASA’s Operation IceBridge continues its approach to make measurements of ice sheet and sea ice 

thickness in both the Arctic and the Antarctic during each year. In FY 2018, the Antarctic campaign, 

begun in late October 2017, is different from previous ones because for the first time it will involve 

aircraft departing from two continents - South America and Antarctica, using different aircraft with 

complementary payloads. NASA’s P-3B aircraft operates from Ushuaia, Argentina, while a commercial 

Basler aircraft will operate Antarctica (Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and McMurdo Station). The 

combined approach will allow for extensive coverage of the Antarctic Peninsula, East Antarctica, and the 

high latitude Antarctic interior. 

The concluding phase of the Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study (SPURS-2) field 

campaign will take place in 2018. Observers designed this campaign to study the salinity in the upper 

ocean to better diagnose the physics of air-sea interaction in the rain-dominated ocean regions, linking the 

changes in the global water cycle to Earth’s oceans. This study, begun in 2017 in a low salinity region of 

the Eastern Pacific Ocean, complements the first SPURS campaign (2012-2013), which took place in a 

high salinity region in the Central North Atlantic Ocean. As part of this year’s deployment, scientists 

make in situ and remote sensing measurements from the Roger Revelle ship, while researchers recover 

autonomous instruments deployed during last year’s initial phase and deploy additional floats and drifters. 

The Revelle’s operation is coordinated with the schooner Lady Amber. The ship-based measurements 

help provide detailed process knowledge and observations that can be used in the analysis and 

interpretation of satellite measurements of sea surface salinity.

As part of a broader cooperative effort in Earth science research and applications, NASA and the Indian 

Space Research Organization (ISRO) are planning another round of flights by the NASA Airborne 

Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer – Next Generation (AVIRIS – NG) instrument aboard an ISRO 

aircraft in 2018. As before, this airborne campaign will generate data products relevant to Earth science 
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research and applications activities in a number of topic areas by capturing spectra from terrestrial, 

freshwater, and marine sites throughout India. The products will provide ISRO with additional baseline 

spectroscopy data for a wide variety of Indian environments and offer NASA researchers an opportunity 

to build upon an important new dataset. Both NASA and ISRO will have access to all scientific data 

coming from the AVIRIS-NG instrument. This campaign marks another step in a multiyear effort 

between NASA and ISRO to advance imaging spectroscopy of the Earth.

Modernization of NASA’s Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) Network is underway, and will 

continue in FY 2018 with new deployment of, state-of-the-art, multi-GNSS receivers capable of 

generating measurements from all major GNSS. This effort also ensures the Network will be capable of 

supporting the upcoming GPS Block III satellites, co-located space geodetic measurement techniques, and 

will continue to support precise timing applications. To take advantage of access to multi-GNSS 

measurements, JPL successfully delivered new, modernized analysis software GipsyX into operations 

producing GPS precise orbit solutions.

NASA will perform the Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment in partnership 

with Philippine research and operational weather communities. Currently scheduled for the summer of 

2018, it will characterize the role of anthropogenic and natural aerosol particles in modulating the 

frequency and amount of warm and mixed phase precipitation near the Philippines during the Southwest 

Monsoon.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will conduct the Fire Impacts on Regional Emissions and Chemistry (FIREChem) mission, a 

cooperative biomass burning and air quality field study, in the continental United States from late June to 

mid-September 2019. FIREChem will focus on the links between satellite and ground-based 

measurements of both fresh and aged biomass burning plumes generated from both wildfires and 

prescribed burns (e.g., agriculture and forest management). The FIREChem mission will include in situ 

measurements and remote sensing observations from the NASA DC-8 to sample upwind and downwind 

of natural and managed fires. NASA will implement FIREChem in coordination with the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Major airborne campaigns planned include Operation IceBridge Arctic and Antarctic, FIREChem, and the 

continuation of the remaining EVS-2 investigations.

In FY 2019 and beyond, HECC plans to add supercomputing systems on the one-acre concrete pad to 

support the modular computing facility expansion. Scientific Computing will continue to increase its 

high-performance compute and storage capacities to meet emerging NASA science requirements. 

Expansions to Scientific Computing’s primary services in the Advanced Data Analytics Platform and the 

next generation data analytics systems will continue. Additional investment into machine learning 

capabilities (hardware, software, algorithms and applications) will continue in FY 2019.
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Program Elements

CARBON CYCLE SCIENCE TEAM

Carbon Cycle Science Team funds research on the distribution and cycling of carbon among Earth’s 

active land, ocean, and atmospheric reservoirs.

GLOBAL MODELING AND ASSIMILATION OFFICE

The Global Modeling and Assimilation Office creates global climate and Earth system component models

using data from Earth science satellites and aircraft. Investigators can then use these products worldwide 

to further their research.

AIRBORNE SCIENCE

The Airborne Science project is responsible for providing aircraft systems to further science and advance 

the use of satellite data. NASA uses these assets worldwide in campaigns to investigate extreme weather 

events, observe Earth system processes, obtain data for earth science modeling activities, and calibrate 

instruments flying aboard earth science spacecraft. NASA Airborne Science platforms support mission 

definition and development activities. For example, these activities include:

• Conducting instrument development flights;

• Gathering ice sheet observations as gap fillers between missions (e.g., Operation IceBridge);

• Serving as technology test beds for Instrument Incubator Program missions; 

• Serving as the observation platforms for research campaigns, such as those competitively selected 

under the suborbital portion of Earth Venture; and

• Calibrating and validating space-based measurements and retrieval algorithms.

OZONE TRENDS SCIENCE

The Ozone Trends Science project produces a consistent, calibrated ozone record used for trend analyses 

and other studies.

INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE

Interdisciplinary Science includes science investigations, as well as calibration and validation activities, 

that ensure the utility of space-based measurements. In addition, it supports focused fieldwork (e.g., 

airborne campaigns) and specific facility instruments upon which fieldwork depends.

EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

Earth Science Research and Analysis is the core of the research program and funds the analysis and 

interpretation of data from NASA’s satellites. This project funds the scientific activity needed to establish 

a rigorous base for the satellites’ data and their use in computational models.
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FELLOWSHIPS AND NEW INVESTIGATORS

The Fellowships and New Investigators project supports graduate and early career research in the areas of 

Earth system research and applied science.

SPACE GEODESY

The Space Geodesy Project (SGP) encompasses the development, operation, and maintenance of a global 

network of space geodetic technique instruments, a data transport and collection system, analysis and the 

public disseminations of data products required to maintain a stable terrestrial reference system. SGP 

provides the data and analysis essential for fully realizing the measurement potential of the current and 

coming generation of Earth Observing spacecraft. Geodesy is the science of measuring Earth’s shape, 

gravity, and rotation and how these properties change over time. The SGP manages the operations and 

development of NASA’s Space Geodetic Network that is comprised of the following major space 

geodetic observing systems: Very Long Baseline Interferometry, Satellite Laser Ranging, and Global 

Navigation Satellite System. It currently develops the next generation Space Geodetic Stations. The Space 

Geodesy project began in 2011. It is a Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory (JPL) partnership, with participation from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

EARTH SCIENCE DIRECTED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Earth Science Directed Research and Technology funds the civil service staff who work on emerging 

Earth Science flight projects, instruments, and research.

GLOBAL LEARNING AND OBSERVATIONS TO BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT

Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) is a worldwide hands-on 

primary and secondary school-based science and education program that promotes collaboration among 

students, teachers, and scientists to conduct inquiry-based investigations about our environment. NASA 

works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the 

National Science Foundation (NSF) Earth System Science Projects to study the dynamics of Earth’s 

environment, focused on atmosphere, hydrology, soil, and land cover. Students take measurements, 

analyze data, and participate in research in collaboration with scientists.

SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING

The Scientific Computing project funds NASA’s Earth Science Discover supercomputing system, highend storage, and network, software engineering, and user interface projects at GSFC, including climate 

assessment modeling and data analysis. Scientific Computing supports Earth system science modeling 

activities based on data collected by earth science spacecraft. The system is separate from the High-End 

Computing Capability program at NASA Ames Research Center, so it can be close to the satellite data 

archives at GSFC. The proximity to the data and the focus on satellite data assimilation makes the 

Discover cluster unique in the ability to analyze large volumes of satellite data quickly. The system 

currently has approximately 90,000 computer processor cores.
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HIGH END COMPUTING CAPABILITY (HECC)

HECC focuses on the Endeavour, Merope, Pleiades, and Electra supercomputer systems and the 

associated network connectivity, data storage, data analysis, visualization, and application software 

support. It serves the supercomputing needs of all NASA mission directorates and NASA-supported 

principal investigators at universities. The funding supports the operation, maintenance, upgrade, and 

expansion of NASA’s supercomputing capability. These four supercomputer systems, with approximately 

248,000 computer processor cores, support NASA’s aeronautics, human exploration, and science 

missions. For example, the systems are used to model the aerodynamic characteristics of the Space 

Launch System (SLS) at different attach angles and different air speeds. The systems also analyze the 

Kepler mission observation data to search for habitable exoplanets.

DIRECTORATE SUPPORT

The Directorate Support project funds the Science Mission Directorate’s (SMD) institutional and 

crosscutting activities including: National Academies studies, proposal peer review processes, printing 

and graphics, information technology, the NASA Postdoctoral Fellowship program, working group 

support, independent assessment studies, procurement support for the award and administration of all 

grants, and other administrative tasks.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Q2 FY 2017 Research Opportunities in Earth and Space Science (ROSES)-2017 

solicitation release

Q1 FY 2018 ROSES-2017 selection within six to nine months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2018 ROSES-2018 solicitation release

Q1 FY 2019 ROSES-2018 selection within six to nine months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2019 ROSES-2019 solicitation release

Q1 FY 2020 ROSES-2019 selection within six to nine months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2020 ROSES-2020 solicitation release

Q1 FY 2021 ROSES-2020 selection within six to nine months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2021 ROSES-2021 solicitation release

Q1 FY 2022 ROSES-2021 selection within six to nine months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2022 ROSES-2022 solicitation release

Q1 FY 2023 ROSES-2022 selection within six to nine months of receipt of proposals
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Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Carbon Cycle Science Team

Provider: Various and defined in the acquisition strategy

Lead Center: Headquarters (HQ)

Performing Center(s): HQ, JPL, GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): USGCRP and Subcommittee on Ocean Science and 

Technology (SOST) agencies

Global Modeling and 

Assimilation Office

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Airborne Science

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), Ames 

Research Center (ARC), GSFC Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Johnson 

Space Center (JSC), Langley Research Center (LaRC)

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Scientific Computing

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Ozone Trends Science

Provider: Various and defined in the acquisition strategy

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): LaRC, GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): USGCRP and SOST agencies

Interdisciplinary Science

Provider: Various 

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): HQ, JPL, GSFC, ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC, MSFC, 

JSC

Cost Share Partner(s): USGCRP and SOST agencies

Earth Science Research and 

Analysis

Provider: Various and defined in the acquisition strategy

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): All NASA Centers

Cost Share Partner(s): USGCRP and SOST agencies

High-End Computing Capability

Provider: ARC

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): ARC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A
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Program Element Provider

Directorate Support

Provider: HQ

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s):

Cost Share Partner(s); None

Fellowships and New 

Investigators

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): All NASA Centers

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Space Geodesy

Provider: Various 

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Centers: GSFC, JPL

Cost Share Partners: None

Global Learning and 

Observations to Benefit the 

Environment 

Provider: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): HQ, GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA implements the Earth Science Research program via competitively selected research awards. 

NASA releases research solicitations each year in the ROSES NASA Research Announcements. All 

proposals in response to NASA ROSES are peer reviewed and selected based on defined criteria. The 

program competitively awards funds to investigators from academia, the private sector, NASA Centers,

and other government agencies.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Relevance

Earth Science 

Advisory 

Committee 

2017

To review progress 

towards Earth 

Science objectives in 

the NASA Strategic 

Plan

All six science focus 

areas remained on 

track in their annual 

performance towards 

the achievement of 

research goals

2018; 

annually 
Science: Earth Science

EARTH SYSTEMATIC MISSIONS

ES-14

Global map and associated averages, by zone, of a new 

measure of how long it takes for soil moisture from 

rainfall to dissipate (estimated soil moisture water cycle 

fraction), produced from one year of data from NASA’s 

Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission.

TSIS-1, affixed to the International Space Station in 

December 2017, will measure the sun's energy input to 

Earth through the total amount of light that falls on Earth 

(total solar irradiance) and the distribution of light among 

different wavelengths (solar spectral irradiance). 

Satellites have captured a continuous record of the total 

solar energy input to Earth since 1978, used by scientists 

to quantify the variations in the Sun’s total amount of 

energy.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite 

(ICESat-2)

86.5 70.9 23.1 17.6 17.6 17.3 17.3

GRACE Follow-On 33.7 4.7 11.3 12.3 12.2 12.5 12.5

Surface Water and Ocean Topography 

Mission (SWOT)

61.7 97.9 114.3 85.0 63.9 32.8 11.5

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperature Radar 

(NISAR)

101.4 58.4 131.9 118.6 93.2 89.9 32.4

Landsat 9 198.7 175.8 162.4 114.9 94.2 10.8 2.9

Sentinel-6 54.7 49.2 59.6 64.5 40.4 14.9 35.3

Other Missions and Data Analysis 393.1 -- 285.6 316.7 367.7 468.4 483.2

Total Budget 929.7 -- 788.1 729.5 689.1 646.5 595.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) includes a 

broad range of multi-disciplinary science 

investigations aimed at understanding the Earth 

system and its response to natural and humaninduced forces and changes. Understanding 

these forces will help determine how to predict 

future changes and mitigate or adapt to these 

changes. 

The ESM program develops Earth-observing 

satellite missions, manages the operation of 

these missions once on orbit, and produces 

mission data products to support the research

and applications communities. 

Interagency and international partnerships are a 

central element throughout the ESM program. 

Several on-orbit missions provide data products 

in near-real time for use by U.S. and 

international meteorological agencies and 

disaster responders. Five missions involve 

significant international or interagency collaboration in development. The Landsat Data Continuity 

Mission (LDCM), now operating on orbit as Landsat 8, involves collaboration with the U.S Geological 

Survey (USGS). The GPM mission, now operating on orbit, is a partnership with the Japanese Aerospace 

Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission is a partnership between 

NASA and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). The Surface Water and Ocean 
Science: Earth Science

EARTH SYSTEMATIC MISSIONS

ES-15

Topography (SWOT) mission includes significant collaborations with the Centre National d’Etudes’ 

Spatiales (CNES), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA). 

The NISAR mission is a major collaboration between NASA and ISRO. Sentinel-6 is a four-partner 

collaboration between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 

European Space Agency (ESA), and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological 

Satellites (EUMETSAT). In addition, several on-orbit missions provide data products in near-real time for 

use by U.S. and international meteorological agencies and disaster responders. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None. Consistent with the FY 2018 Budget Request, this budget provides no funding for the PACE, RBI, 

CLARREO Pathfinder, and the Earth-viewing instruments on the DSCOVR mission. These missions are 

being terminated as NASA funding is prioritized towards supporting an innovative and sustainable 

program of exploration with commercial and international partners.

The RBI would have flown on a future weather satellite to make measurements of the Earth's reflected 

sunlight and emitted thermal radiation. In January 2018 NASA conducted a detailed review of the RBI 

project and terminated the project due to cost growth and technical challenges. Similar instruments flying 

now, including on the recently launched NOAA-20 satellite, will continue to provide continuity for the 

data record. 

Measurements similar to those that would have been taken by the PACE mission are being acquired by 

other satellites. Under this proposal, NASA will cease funding data processing for the DSCOVR Earthviewing instruments, which provide images of the sunlit side of the Earth and measure the energy 

reflected and emitted from it. These instruments do not contribute to the core DSCOVR mission of 

providing measurements for space weather. 

The CLARREO Pathfinder mission would have demonstrated measurement technologies for a larger, 

more expensive, potential future mission focused on improving detection of climate trends. Other 

missions funded by NASA are maintaining measurements needed for climate data records. The 

CLARREO Pathfinder mission is in the earliest stages of implementation and is eliminated to achieve 

cost savings.
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

ICE, CLOUD, AND LAND ELEVATION SATELLITE (ICESAT-2)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-16

ICESat-2 will use a multi-beam micropulse laser altimeter 

to measure the topography of the Greenland and Antarctic 

ice sheets as well as the thickness of Arctic and Antarctic 

sea ice. The satellite LIDAR also will measure vegetation 

canopy heights and support other NASA environmental 

monitoring missions. By discovering the anatomy of ice 

loss, researchers may be able to forecast how the ice sheets 

will melt in the future and what impact this will have on 

sea-levels.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 249.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 249.1

Development/Implementation 597.9 86.5 70.9 9.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 765.1

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 13.2 17.6 13.7 4.5 0.4 0.0 49.3

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 847.0 86.5 70.9 23.1 17.6 13.7 4.5 0.4 0.0 1063.6

Total Budget 847.0 86.5 70.9 23.1 17.6 17.6 17.3 17.3 0.0 1097.2

Change from FY 2018 -47.8

Percentage change from FY 2018 -67.4%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The ICESat-2 mission will serve as an ICESat 

follow-on satellite to continue the assessment of 

polar ice changes. ICESat-2 will measure 

vegetation canopy heights, allowing estimates of 

biomass and carbon in above-ground vegetation 

in conjunction with related missions, and allow 

measurements of solid earth properties.

ICESat-2 will continue to provide an important 

record of multi-year elevation data needed to 

determine ice sheet mass balance and cloud 

property information. It will also provide 

topography and vegetation data around the 

globe in addition to the polar-specific coverage 

over the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.

The ICESat-2 observatory is comprised of one 

instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser 

Altimeter System (ATLAS). The design of 

ATLAS allows measurement of ice-sheet 

topography and associated temporal changes, and sea-ice freeboard, which is the difference between the 

height of the surface of sea ice and surrounding water.
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

ICE, CLOUD, AND LAND ELEVATION SATELLITE (ICESAT-2)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-17

The ICESat-2 mission is a Tier 1 mission in the 2007 National Academies Earth science decadal survey. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

The ICESat-2 will measure distance by illuminating the Earth’s surface with a laser and analyzing the 

reflected light using a multi-beam photon-counting surface elevation lidar, ATLAS. ICESat-2 will 

improve the measurements begun with the first ICESat mission by incorporating a micro-pulse multibeam laser to provide dense cross-track sampling. ICESat-2 will improve elevation estimates over 

inclined surfaces and very rough (e.g., crevassed) areas and improve lead detection for above-water sea 

ice estimates. ICESat-2 has a prime mission of three years.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Following the 2016 ATLAS laser anomaly, the project completed the failure investigation, redesigned, 

and refurbished the failed laser and spare laser. The project also installed a mass simulator in the ATLAS 

instrument in place of the removed failed laser, delivered the instrument to the spacecraft manufacturer, 

and conducted observatory level testing. The project completed the installation of both refurbished lasers 

as the flight units into the instrument. The project passed its Key Decision Point-D (KDP-D) review and 

entered into the system assembly, integration and test, launch and checkout phase.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The project will deliver the ATLAS instrument with refurbished lasers, back to the spacecraft 

manufacturer for reintegration of ATLAS with the spacecraft and complete observatory-level testing. 

Scheduled reviews for FY 2018 include the Pre-Ship Review (PSR), Operational Readiness Review 

(ORR), and KDP-E.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

ICESat-2 plans to launch by October 2018. After the initial in-orbit check-out period, ICESat-2 will 

commence with mission operations and science data collection.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

NASA plans to launch ICESat-2 by October 2018 and begin a three-year prime mission. The following 

timeline shows the development agreement schedule per the rebaseline plan from March 2014, and the 

current schedule estimates.
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

ICE, CLOUD, AND LAND ELEVATION SATELLITE (ICESAT-2)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-18

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Dec 2012 Dec 2012

Critical Design Review (CDR) Feb 2014 Feb 2014

New Baseline Feb 2015 Feb 2015

Systems Integration Review (SIR) Sep 2016 Aug 2017

KDP-D Oct 2016 Oct 2017

Operational Readiness Review 

(ORR) Jul 2017 Jul 2018

KDP-E Oct 2017 Aug 2018

Launch Jun 2018 Oct 2018

End of Prime Mission Sep 2021 Dec 2021

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 763.7 >70 2018 765.1 0.2 Launch Jun 2018 Oct 2018 +4

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. The estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. NASA originally baselined ICESat-2 in 2013, it was re-baselined in 2015. The original baseline is provided 

in the Supporting Data section. 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

ICE, CLOUD, AND LAND ELEVATION SATELLITE (ICESAT-2)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-19

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base 

Year Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 763.7 765.1 +1.3

Aircraft/Spacecraft 106.0 123.5 17.5

Payloads 239.1 290.4 51.3

Systems Integration and 

Test (I&T) 21.6 6.9 -14.7

Launch Vehicle 118.8 137.2 18.4

Ground Systems 55.4 72.0 16.6

Science/Technology 31.0 46.8 15.8

Other Direct Project 

Costs 191.9 88.3 -103.6

Project Management & Commitments

The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) Program at GSFC has program management responsibility for 

ICESat-2. NASA assigned project management responsibility to GSFC.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

ATLAS 

Instrument

Advanced Topographic Laser 

Altimeter System

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Launch Vehicle Provides launch service and 

entry into proper Earth orbit

Provider: United Launch Alliance 

(ULA)

Lead Center: GSFC 

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

ICE, CLOUD, AND LAND ELEVATION SATELLITE (ICESAT-2)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-20

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Ground System

Provides control of 

observatory operations, 

science data processing and 

distribution

Provider: Orbital ATK

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC 

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Spacecraft

Platform provides thermal and 

attitude control, power, and 

communications with the 

instrument

Provider: Orbital ATK

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC 

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: Observatory integration and testing 

reveals any significant issues

Then: The NASA will delay launch.

Project currently has 57 days of funded schedule reserves against 

an internally planning launch date in September 2018. The 

Agency can support a launch date of October 2018.

Acquisition Strategy

GSFC is responsible for the design and testing of the ATLAS instrument. NASA competitively selected 

the spacecraft vendor, Orbital ATK. Orbital ATK will provide the ground system element through a 

contract option. NASA competitively selected United Launch Alliance (ULA) as the launch services 

vendor.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Ground System Orbital ATK Dulles, VA

Spacecraft Orbital ATK Gilbert, AZ

Launch Service ULA Decatur, AL
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

ICE, CLOUD, AND LAND ELEVATION SATELLITE (ICESAT-2)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-21

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Feb 2014 CDR Successful Aug 2017

Performance SRB Aug 2017 SIR Successful Jun 2018

Performance APMC Oct 2017 KDP-D Successful Aug 2018

Performance SRB Jun 2018 ORR TBD N/A

Performance APMC Aug 2018 KDP-E TBD N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

GRACE FOLLOW-ON

Formulation Development Operations

ES-22

GRACE-FO is a successor to the original GRACE mission, 

which began orbiting Earth in 2002. The two GRACE-FO 

satellites will use the same kind of microwave ranging 

system as GRACE, and so can expect to achieve a similar 

level of precision. But they will also test an experimental 

instrument using lasers instead of microwaves, which 

promises to make the measurement of their separation 

distance at least 20 times more precise.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 107.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 107.4

Development/Implementation 220.2 22.7 4.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 247.6

Operations/Close-out 0.0 11.0 0.0 11.3 12.3 12.2 10.2 4.2 0.0 61.2

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 327.6 33.7 4.7 11.3 12.3 12.2 10.2 4.2 0.0 416.2

Total Budget 327.5 33.7 4.7 11.3 12.3 12.2 12.5 12.5 0.0 426.6

Change from FY 2018 6.6

Percentage change from FY 2018 140.4%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment 

Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission will provide 

continuity of high-resolution global models of 

Earth’s gravity field, including how it varies 

over time, as in the original GRACE mission

(launched in 2002). The GRACE-FO mission 

will allow scientists to gain new insights into 

the dynamic processes in Earth’s interior, 

currents in the oceans, and variations in the 

extent of ice coverage. Data from the mission, 

combined with other existing sources of data, 

will greatly improve scientific understanding of 

glaciers and hydrology. GRACE-FO data is 

vital to ensuring there is a minimal gap in 

gravitational field measurements following the 

decommissioning of the original GRACE 

mission. 

GRACE-FO is a partnership with the German 

Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

GRACE FOLLOW-ON

Formulation Development Operations

ES-23

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

The GRACE-FO observatory employs two dedicated spacecraft, launched into a near-circular polar orbit. 

As the two spacecraft orbit Earth, slight variations in gravity will alter the spacecraft speed and distance 

relative to each other. Scientists use the speed and distance changes to extrapolate and map Earth’s 

gravitational field. The GRACE-FO instrument suite uses the Microwave Instrument to accurately 

measure changes in the speed and distance between the two spacecraft. The accelerometer instrument 

measures all non-gravitational accelerations (e.g., atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure, attitude 

control, and thruster operation) on each GRACE-FO satellite. The Laser Ranging Interferometer is a 

technology demonstration and is a partnership between NASA and GFZ. GFZ is responsible for launch. 

NASA will use the science data from the GRACE-FO mission to generate an updated model of Earth’s 

gravitational field approximately every 30 days for the five-year lifetime of the prime mission. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

GRACE-FO completed final observatory integration and environmental testing of the two spacecraft.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

GRACE-FO completed final alignments and preparations for shipment, and NASA shipped the two 

GRACE-FO satellites to the Vandenberg Air Force Base launch site in December 2017. The GFZplanned launch date for GRACE-FO is NLT April 2018. Observatory commissioning will commence for 

a 90-day period after launch, followed by the start of routine operations.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The GRACE-FO project, in partnership with GFZ, will continue operations and science data collection

from the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Feb 2014 Feb 2014

CDR Feb 2015 Feb 2015

KDP-D Aug 2015 Aug 2015

ORR Jun 2017 Jan 2018
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

GRACE FOLLOW-ON

Formulation Development Operations

ES-24

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

Launch Feb 2018 Apr 2018

Start Phase E May 2018 Jul 2018

End of Prime Mission Feb 2023 Apr 2023

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 264 70 2018 247.6 -6% Launch Feb 2018 Apr 2018 2

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base 

Year Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 264.0 247.6 -16.4

Aircraft/Spacecraft 118.7 127.6 8.9

Payloads 32.1 39.5 7.4

Systems I&T 0 0 0

Launch Vehicle 0 0 0

Ground Systems 0 0 0

Science/Technology 12.3 15.5 3.2

Other Direct Project 

Costs 100.9 65.0 -35.9
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

GRACE FOLLOW-ON

Formulation Development Operations

ES-25

Project Management & Commitments

GRACE-FO operates under the Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program at Goddard Space Flight 

Center (GSFC). NASA assigned project management responsibility to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

(JPL). The GRACE-FO mission is a partnership between NASA and GFZ.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Spacecraft Provides platform for the 

instruments

Provider: Airbus Defence & Space 

(Germany)

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Microwave 

Instrument

Measures the distance 

between the spacecraft as a 

function of time

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Accelerometer

Measures all nongravitational accelerations of 

the satellite(s)

Provider: French Office National 

d’Etudes et Recherches Aérospatiales 

(ONERA)

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Laser Ranging 

Interferometer

Measures the distance 

between the two spacecraft as 

a function of time using a 

heterodyne interferometric 

laser (technology 

demonstration)

Provider: JPL and GFZ

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): GFZ

N/A

Launch Vehicle Delivers satellites into Earth 

orbit

Provider: Iridium Communications, 

SpaceX, Airbus/CASA Espacio

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): GFZ

N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

GRACE FOLLOW-ON

Formulation Development Operations

ES-26

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: The SpaceX Falcon 9 launch manifest is 

delayed.

Then: There would be a delay to the 

GRACE-FO launch date.

NASA will closely monitor the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch 

manifest, and will work with our ride share partner, Iridium, to 

negotiate the most appropriate launch date in the event of a 

delay. 

Acquisition Strategy

The acquisition strategy for GRACE-FO leveraged GRACE heritage by using sole source procurement to 

the same vendors for major components. NASA completed all major acquisitions.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Spacecraft Airbus Defence & Space Germany

Microwave Instrument Ultra Stable 

Oscillator

Applied Physics Laboratory-Johns 

Hopkins University Laurel, MD

Microwave Assemblies Space Systems/Loral Palo Alto, CA

Accelerometers ONERA Paris, France

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Jul 2012 SRR Successful Jan 2014

Performance SRB Jan 2014 PDR Successful Feb 2015

Performance SRB Feb 2015 CDR Successful Jul 2015

Performance SRB Jul 2015 SIR Successful Jan 2018

Performance SRB Jan 2018 ORR TBD Feb 2018
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY MISSION 

(SWOT)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-27

An artist’s conception shows the Surface Water Ocean 

Topography (SWOT) satellite, which entered the 

implementation phase in May 2016. SWOT will make highresolution, wide-swath altimetric measurements of the 

world's oceans and fresh water bodies to understand their 

circulation, surface topography, and storage. This multidisciplinary, cooperative international mission will produce 

science and data products that will allow for fundamental 

advances in the understanding of the global water cycle.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 136.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 136.8

Development/Implementation 137.7 61.7 97.9 114.3 85.0 59.9 15.0 0.0 0.0 571.5

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.0 17.8 11.5 13.5 46.7

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 274.4 61.7 97.9 114.3 85.0 63.9 32.8 11.5 13.5 754.9

Total Budget 274.4 61.7 97.9 114.3 85.0 63.9 32.8 11.5 13.5 754.9

Change from FY 2018 16.4

Percentage change from FY 2018 16.8%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT)

mission will improve our understanding of the 

world’s oceans and terrestrial surface waters. 

The mission, through broad swath altimetry, 

will make high-resolution measurements of 

ocean circulation, its kinetic energy, and its 

dissipation. These measurements will improve 

ocean circulation models, leading to better 

prediction of weather and climate. The mission 

will also revolutionize knowledge of the 

surface water inventory on the continents by 

precise measurement of water levels in millions 

of lakes and water bodies and the discharge of 

all major rivers. This will allow for deeper 

understanding of the natural water cycle and 

potentially better water management.

The 2007 and 2018 National Academies 

decadal surveys endorsed SWOT. The mission 

will complement the Jason oceanography 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY MISSION 

(SWOT)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-28

missions, as well as other NASA missions currently in operation and development to measure the global 

water cycle (Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), and 

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO). 

SWOT is a collaborative mission with the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), Canadian Space 

Agency's (CSA), and United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA).

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

SWOT will provide broad-swath sea surface heights and terrestrial water heights for at least 90 percent of 

the globe using a dual-antenna Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn). The SWOT payload will also 

include a precision orbit determination system consisting of Global Positioning System-Payload (GPSP), 

Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) receivers, and a Laser Retroreflector Assembly (LRA). In addition, SWOT carries a Nadir Altimeter, and a radiometer for 

tropospheric path delay corrections. NASA will provide a radiometer designed to determine tropospheric 

water vapor content, the GPSP system to complement DORIS for precise positioning of the satellite, and 

a backscattering laser for precise calibration of the other instruments. The CSA will provide a key 

component of the radar instrument – a set of extended interaction klystrons (EIKs). The CNES will 

provide radar radio-frequency unit (RFU), the Poseidon-3C Ku-/C-band altimeter, and a DORIS precise 

orbit determination system. The UKSA will provide commercial applications that will strengthen the 

international collaborations of the mission. The mission has a prime mission of three years.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The SWOT project completed the critical design for the GPSP, the KaRIn instrument, conducted the 

KaRIn Critical Design Review (CDR), and initiated development of the Advanced Microwave 

Radiometer (AMR) instrument. NASA made the launch vehicle selection for SWOT and awarded a 

contract to SpaceX for a Falcon 9 “Full Thrust” launch service. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The SWOT project will complete the Payload System and Project CDRs, initiate build of the KaRIn 

instrument, complete testing of the AMR instrument, and complete development of the LRA and X-band 

Telecom subsystem. 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY MISSION 

(SWOT)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-29

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The SWOT project will complete the development of the KaRIn and GPSP instruments, initiate 

development of the integrated payload module, and complete the System Integration Review (SIR).

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C May 2016 May 2016

CDR Feb 2018 Feb 2018

KDP-D Oct 2019 Oct 2019

Launch Apr 2022 Apr 2022

Start Phase E Oct 2022 Oct 2022

End of Prime Mission Oct 2025 Oct 2025

Development Cost and Schedule

NASA and CNES will strive to launch SWOT in April 2021. Consistent with NASA policies regarding 

commitments to time and schedule, the SWOT launch will occur no later than April 2022.

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Curren

t Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Mileston

e Change 

(mths)

2017 571.5 >70 2018 571.5 0

Launch 

Readiness 

Date (LRD)

Apr 2022 Apr 2022 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY MISSION 

(SWOT)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-30

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 571.5 571.5 0

Aircraft/Spacecraft 0 0 0

Payloads 181.6 231.8 50.2

Systems I&T 4.9 4.9 0

Launch Vehicle 131.3 107.8 -23.5

Ground Systems 34.7 39.7 5.0

Science/Technology 46.7 40.8 -5.9

Other Direct Project 

Costs 172.3 146.5 -25.8

Project Management & Commitments

The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has program 

management responsibility for SWOT. NASA assigned project management responsibility to the Jet 

Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). SWOT is a partnership mission between NASA, CNES, CSA, and UKSA. 

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

KaRIn

Makes swath measurements 

of sea surface topography and 

lake and river heights

Provider: NASA, CNES, CSA, UKSA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): CNES (RFU), 

CSA (EIK), UKSA (Duplexer)

N/A

Advanced 

Microwave 

Radiometer

(AMR)

Provides wet tropospheric 

delay correction of KaRIn

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY MISSION 

(SWOT)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-31

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

GPSP Provides orbit determination

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

LRA Provides orbit determination

Provider: NASA 

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

X-band Telecom Provides downlink of science 

data

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Nadir Altimeter

Measures Jason-heritage 

ocean surface topography at 

nadir

Provider: CNES

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): CNES

N/A

DORIS Provides orbit determination

Provider: CNES

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): CNES

N/A

Spacecraft Bus Provides instrument platform

Provider: CNES

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): CNES

N/A

Launch Vehicle Delivers spacecraft to orbit

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SURFACE WATER AND OCEAN TOPOGRAPHY MISSION 

(SWOT)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-32

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: The KaRIn RFU delivery from the CNES 

is not timely,

Then: It will delay delivery of the KaRIn 

instrument.

Project is working closely with CNES to reduce impact on the 

KaRIn development schedule with the RFU Engineering Model 

(EM) as an alternate for the Flight Model (FM) during selected 

testing as well as reordering of KaRIn FM integration & test 

activities, if necessary.

Acquisition Strategy

The acquisition strategy for SWOT leveraged Jason heritage by using JPL legacy instrument designs 

(AMR, GPSP, and LRA) and in-house build with a combination of sole source and competitive 

procurements. The KaRIn leverages Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) investments and is an inhouse development. The X-band Telecom will be a competitive procurement. NASA selected SpaceX to 

provide a Falcon 9 launch vehicle through a competitive Launch Service Task Order evaluation under the 

NASA Launch Services II contract.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

X-band Telecom L3 for modulator, Tesat for 

traveling wave tube amplifiers

San Diego, CA, Backnang, 

Germany

Launch Vehicle SpaceX Los Angeles, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance

SRB May 2014

SRR/Mission 

Definition Review 

(MDR)

Successful Apr 2016

Performance SRB Apr 2016 PDR Successful Feb 2018

Performance SRB Feb 2018 CDR TBD Jul 2019

Performance SRB Jul 2019 SIR TBD Feb 2022

Performance SRB Feb 2022 ORR TBD N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERATURE RADAR (NISAR)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-33

The NISAR satellite, a joint mission between NASA and 

the ISRO, will be the first radar imaging satellite to use 

dual frequencies. NISAR will observe and take 

measurements of some of the planet's most complex 

processes, including ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet 

collapse, and natural hazards.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 117.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 117.0

Development/Implementation 110.5 101.4 58.4 131.9 118.6 93.2 69.0 0.0 0.0 683.0

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.9 32.4 43.6 96.9

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 227.5 101.4 58.4 131.9 118.6 93.2 89.9 32.4 43.6 896.9

Total Budget 227.5 101.4 58.4 131.9 118.6 93.2 89.9 32.4 43.6 896.9

Change from FY 2018 73.5

Percentage change from FY 2018 125.9%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar

(NISAR) mission will provide an unprecedented, 

detailed view of the Earth using advanced radar 

imaging and a dual frequency (L- and S-band) 

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). The mission 

will observe and measure some of the planet’s 

most complex processes, including ecosystem 

disturbances; ice sheet collapse; and natural 

hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, 

volcanoes, and landslides. The mission will reveal 

information about the evolution and state of 

Earth’s crust, broaden scientific understanding of 

our planet's changing processes and its effect in 

changing climate, and aid future resource and 

hazard management. 

Scientists derived the L‐band SAR science from 

the Deformation, Ecosystem Structure, and 

Dynamics of Ice (DESDynI) mission, a 2007 

decadal survey Tier 1 mission, recommended by the National Academies. The National Academies 2018 

decadal survey also endorses NISAR. NISAR is a collaborative mission with the Indian Space Research 

Organisation (ISRO).
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERATURE RADAR (NISAR)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-34

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

NASA’s request includes funding for additional ground stations, operations of those stations, and 

associated communication links for NISAR data. This augmentation will generate additional data, 

including soil moisture and natural hazard data that will be of value to other federal agencies as well as 

the science community. The data products that will be enabled by this proposal were identified as priority 

needs by the interagency Satellite Needs Working Group of the U.S. Group on Earth Observations. 

PROJECT PARAMETERS

NISAR consists of a dual frequency (L- and S- band) SAR. NASA will provide the L-band SAR, the 

engineering payload, the payload integration, and payload operations. ISRO will provide the S-band SAR, 

the spacecraft bus, the launch vehicle, observatory integration and testing, and spacecraft operations. 

NISAR has a prime mission of three years. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

NISAR completed all planned engineering model (EM) development, testing, and verification. The 

project completed the build for the L-Band SAR and Flight System, continued detailed design work on 

the reflector and boom, and completed the reflector Critical Design Review (CDR). The project initiated 

component and subsystem CDRs. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NISAR will complete all subsystem and system level CDRs, begin flight hardware builds, and will 

mature the mission operations concept jointly with ISRO.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NISAR will complete the Project CDR at JPL and support ISRO’s CDR. The project will continue flight 

model building and subsystem level integration and testing.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Aug 2016 Aug 2016

CDR Oct 2018 Oct 2018

KDP-D Dec 2019 Dec 2019

Payload delivery to ISRO Feb 2021 Feb 2021

LRD Sep 2022 Sep 2022
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERATURE RADAR (NISAR)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-35

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Curren

t Year

Current 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milesto

ne 

Chang

e 

(mths)

2017 661 >70% 2018 683 3.3% LRD Sep 2022 Sep 2022 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 661.0 683.0 22.0

Aircraft/Spacecraft 77.1 86.1 9.0

Payloads 211.1 230.6 19.5

Systems I&T 23.0 24.3 1.3

Launch Vehicle 0.6 0.5 -0.1

Ground Systems 72.6 93.8 21.2

Science/Technology 28.2 29.9 1.7

Other Direct Project 

Costs 248.4 217.8 -30.6

Project Management & Commitments

The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program at GSFC has program management responsibility for 

NISAR. NASA assigned project management responsibility to JPL. NISAR is a partnership between 

NASA and ISRO.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERATURE RADAR (NISAR)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-36

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

L-band SAR Radar imaging payload

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

S-band SAR Radar imaging payload

Provider: ISRO

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s):N/A

Cost Share Partner(s):ISRO

N/A

Spacecraft Provides platform for the 

payload

Provider: ISRO

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ISRO

N/A

Launch Vehicle Delivers observatory to orbit

Provider: ISRO

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ISRO

N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

NASA-ISRO SYNTHETIC APERATURE RADAR (NISAR)

Formulation Development Operations

ES-37

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: The ISRO-provided Geosynchronous 

Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II launch 

vehicle reliability does not meet the NASAISRO joint requirements, 

Then: There may be a significant delay in the 

launch date.

The project defined and documented five success criteria for the 

NISAR launch to proceed. On August 27, 2015, and September 

8, 2016, ISRO completed successful Geosynchronous Satellite 

Launch Vehicle launches and met two of the five criteria. 

If: The NISAR boom does not deploy inorbit properly, 

Then: The project cannot meet the mission 

success criteria.

The project is addressing the single point failure in the boom 

electronics. NASA will extensively test the NISAR boom in the 

flight configuration before delivering it to payload integration 

and test. 

Acquisition Strategy

The design and build of the L-band SAR radar will be an in-house build at JPL, with competed 

subcontracts.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Solid State Recorder Airbus Germany

Reflector Antenna Astro Aerospace California

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Dec 2014 SRR/MDR Successful Jun 2016

Performance SRB Jun 2016 PDR Successful Oct 2018

Performance SRB Oct 2018 CDR TBD Dec 2019

Performance SRB Dec 2019 SIR TBD Oct 2021

Performance SRB Oct 2021 ORR TBD N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

LANDSAT 9

Formulation Development Operations

ES-38

A rendering of the Landsat 9 spacecraft. Image credit: 

Orbital ATK

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 116.4 118.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 234.8

Development/Implementation 0.0 80.3 175.8 162.4 114.9 92.9 8.0 0.0 0.0 634.2

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 2.8 2.9 9.0 16.1

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 116.4 198.7 175.8 162.4 114.9 94.2 10.8 2.9 9.0 885.0

Total Budget 116.4 198.7 175.8 162.4 114.9 94.2 10.8 2.9 9.0 885.0

Change from FY 2018 -13.4

Percentage change from FY 2018 -7.6%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

Landsat 9 will extend the record of multispectral, moderate resolution Landsat quality

data and meet operational and scientific

requirements for observing land use and land

change.

The Landsat data series, initiated in 1972, is the 

longest continuous record of changes in Earth’s 

surface as seen from space and the only U.S.

satellite system designed and operated to make 

repeated observations of the global land surface 

at moderate resolution. Landsat data is available 

at no cost, providing a unique resource for 

people who work in agriculture, geology, 

forestry, regional planning, education, mapping, 

and climate research.

The Landsat 9 mission is a collaboration between NASA and the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) and is a 

cornerstone of our nation’s multi-satellite, multi-decadal, Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) program. SLI 

is a NASA-USGS partnership to develop, launch, and operate a spaceborne system and provide 

researchers and users with high quality, global, continuous land imaging measurements that are 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

LANDSAT 9

Formulation Development Operations

ES-39

compatible with the existing 45-year Landsat record and will evolve through investment in, and 

introduction of new sensor and system technologies. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

Landsat 9 has two science instruments, the Operational Land Imager 2 (OLI-2) and the Thermal Infrared 

Sensor 2 (TIRS-2), a spacecraft, a mission operations element, and a ground system. Landsat 9 is 

designed to provide 16-day continuous coverage of the global land mass with spatial resolutions of 15 

meters for panchromatic light, 30 meters for visible and near-infrared and shortwave infrared light, and 

120 meters for infrared light. In concert with other land-imaging satellites, such as the currently operating 

Landsat 8 satellite, Landsat 9 will contribute to increased repeat coverage for U.S. users. NASA will 

build, launch, and perform the initial checkout and commissioning of the satellite. USGS will develop the 

ground system, operate the Landsat 9 observatory, and process, archive, and freely distribute the 

mission’s data. Landsat 9 has a prime mission of five years.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Landsat 9 completed the mission-level Preliminary Design Review (PDR). NASA selected the Atlas V 

launch vehicle for Landsat 9 and awarded a contract to United Launch Services LLC (ULS).

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The Landsat 9 project will pass its Key Decision Point-C (KDP-C) review, enter into the final design and 

fabrication activities phase, and complete its mission-level Critical Design Review (CDR). 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The Landsat 9 project will complete its System Integration Review (SIR), and prepare for its KDP-D 

review, and entrance into the system assembly, integration and test, launch and checkout phase. 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

LANDSAT 9

Formulation Development Operations

ES-40

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Dec 2017 Dec 2017

Critical Design Review Apr 2018 Apr 2018

System Integration Review Aug 2019 Aug 2019

KDP-D Dec 2019 Dec 2019

Operational Readiness Review Sept 2020 Sept 2020

Launch Nov 2021 Nov 2021

Handover to USGS Mar 2022 Mar 2022

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Chang

e (%)

Key 

Mileston

e

Base 

Year 

Mileston

e Data

Current 

Year 

Mileston

e Data

Mileston

e 

Change 

(mths)

2018 634.2 >70% 2018 634.2 0% LRD Nov 

2021

Nov 

2021 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 634.2 634.2 0

Aircraft/Spacecraft 98.1 98.1 0

Payloads 107.6 107.6 0

Systems I&T 0 0 0
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

LANDSAT 9

Formulation Development Operations

ES-41

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

Launch Vehicle 154.4 154.4 0

Ground Systems 17.2 17.2 0

Science/Technology 9.2 9.2 0

Other Direct Project 

Costs 247.7 247.7 0

Project Management & Commitments

The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program at GSFC has program management responsibility for 

Landsat 9. NASA assigned project management responsibility to GSFC. The Landsat 9 mission is a 

partnership between NASA and USGS.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Operational 

Land Imager 2

Provide moderate resolution, 

multi-channel, wide swath 

visible imaging of the Earth's 

surface, consistent with 

previous Landsat missions.

Provider: Ball Aerospace

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Thermal Infrared

Sensor 2

Provide moderate resolution 

thermal infrared imaging of 

the Earth’s surface, consistent 

with previous Landsat 

missions.

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Spacecraft

Provide a platform with 

performance commensurate 

with OLI-2 and TIRS-2 

requirements.

Provider: Orbital ATK

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Launch Vehicle Provide launch services for 

the Landsat 9 Observatory.

Provider: United Launch Services LLC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center: KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

LANDSAT 9

Formulation Development Operations

ES-42

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Ground System

Collect, process, archive, and 

freely distribute Landsat data.

Provider: General Dynamics Mission 

Systems (GDMS)

Lead Center: USGS EROS

Performing Center(s): USGS EROS

Cost Share Partner(s): USGS

Mission 

Operations 

Element

Provide software and system 

with capabilities for 

command and control, 

mission scheduling, longterm trending and flight 

dynamics analysis.

Provider: General Dynamics Mission 

Systems (GDMS)

Lead Center: USGS EROS

Performing Center(s): USGS EROS

Cost Share Partner(s): USGS

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: Continued functional testing of the TIRS-2 

Imaging Performance and Cryoshell

Evaluation test program does not result in a 

successful detector image,

Then: There is a possibility of continued 

troubleshooting of an unknown issue between 

the Focal Plane Electronics, harness, & 

detector, resulting in technical impacts, loss of 

schedule and increased cost.

The TIRS-2 Team is following a rigorous, thorough, and 

cautious approach to troubleshooting. Key GSFC Subject 

Matter Experts are assisting with the troubleshooting and 

diagnostic process.

Acquisition Strategy

The acquisition strategy for Landsat 9 is the same strategy used for Landsat 8, formerly known as Landsat 

Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). NASA selected Ball Aerospace to provide the OLI-2 instrument 

through a sole source procurement. NASA selected Orbital ATK to provide the Landsat 9 spacecraft 

through the GSFC Rapid Spacecraft Development Office selection process. NASA assigned the TIRS-2 

instrument as a directed development to GSFC. NASA selected United Launch Services LLC (ULS) to 

provide an Atlas V launch vehicle through a competitive Launch Service Task Order evaluation under the 

NASA Launch Services II contract.
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

LANDSAT 9

Formulation Development Operations

ES-43

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

OLI-2 Ball Aerospace Boulder, Colorado

TIRS-2 GSFC Greenbelt, Maryland

Spacecraft Orbital ATK Gilbert, Arizona

Launch Vehicle United Launch Services LLC Decatur, Alabama

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Jun 2016 SRR Successful

Sept 2017

Performance SRB Sept 2017 PDR Successful

Apr 2018

Performance SRB Apr 2018 CDR TBD Aug 2019

Performance SRB Aug 2019 SIR TBD

Sept 2020

Performance SRB

Sept 2020

ORR

TBD

Nov 2020
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SENTINEL-6

Formulation Development Operations

ES-44

An artist’s conception shows one of the two Sentinel-6 

satellites. Sentinel-6’s primary mission objective is to 

continue ocean surface topography measurements beyond 

TOPEX/Poseidon and the Jason series of satellites, 

providing measurements essential to climate studies and 

operational oceanography. As a secondary objective, 

Sentinel-6 will collect high-resolution vertical profiles of 

atmospheric temperature, using GNSS radio occultation 

sounding techniques to support numerical weather 

prediction. Credit: ESA 2015, Airbus Defence and Space

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 15.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 15.5

Development/Implementation 22.8 54.7 49.2 59.6 64.5 40.1 9.4 32.0 133.6 465.9

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 5.5 3.3 29.4 38.4

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 38.2 54.7 49.2 59.6 64.5 40.4 14.9 35.3 163.0 519.8

Total Budget 38.2 54.7 49.2 59.6 64.5 40.4 14.9 35.3 163.0 519.8

Change from FY 2018 10.4

Percentage change from FY 2018 21.1%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Sentinel-6 mission will provide continuity 

of ocean topography measurements beyond the 

Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon 

(launched in 1992), Jason-1 (2001), 

OSTM/Jason-2 (2008), and Jason-3 (2016)

missions. The Sentinel-6 mission consists of two 

satellites, Sentinel-6A and -6B, that will launch

approximately five years apart to extend 

measurement continuity for at least another 

decade. This mission will serve both the 

operational user community and the scientific 

community by enabling the continuation of 

multi-decadal ocean topography measurements 

for ocean circulation and climate studies. 

As a secondary mission objective, Sentinel-6 

will characterize atmospheric temperature and 

humidity profiles by measuring bending angles 

of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)

signals occulted by the Earth’s atmosphere. The 

project will process these measurement products 
Science: Earth Science: Earth Systematic Missions

SENTINEL-6

Formulation Development Operations

ES-45

on Earth within a few hours of acquisition on board the satellite and make them available for ingestion 

into National Weather Service models to support weather forecasting capabilities.

Sentinel-6 is a collaborative mission with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of 

Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

NASA will provide the launch vehicle and launch services for each of the Sentinel-6 spacecraft, two sets 

of three instruments consisting of the NASA altimetry payload that includes Advanced Microwave 

Radiometer-Climate Quality (AMR-C), the GNSS-Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) receiver, and a Laser 

Reflector Array (LRA). Additionally, NASA will provide services required to perform the NASA payload 

integration and test, mission operations support for the NASA-developed instruments, and technical 

support to the United States ground system team, as well as, an operational science data processor for the 

AMR-C to EUMETSAT to integrate into the overall mission science data processing chain. Moreover, 

NASA will provide near-real time and offline data processing for GNSS-RO data in addition to mission 

data product archiving and distribution. Sentinel-6A and 6B observatories have a five-and-a-half year 

prime mission.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The Sentinel-6 project completed its Key Decision Point-B (KDP-B), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), 

KDP-C, and preparation for its Critical Design Review (CDR).

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA made the launch vehicle selection for Sentinel-6 and awarded a contract to SpaceX for a Falcon 9 

Full Thrust launch service. The Sentinel-6 project will complete its CDR and initiate the build of the 

NASA payload instruments. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The Sentinel-6 project will complete the development and testing of the Sentinel-6A NASA instrument 

payload; ship it to the ESA spacecraft integrator, Airbus; and complete the Systems Integration Review 

(SIR) and KDP-D.
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SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Apr 2017 Apr 2017

CDR Oct 2017 Oct 2017

Sentinel-6A US Payload delivery to 

ESA Mar 2020 Mar 2020

Sentinel-6B US Payload delivery to 

ESA Oct 2020 Oct 2020

Launch (Sentinel-6A) Nov 2021 Nov 2021

Start Phase E (Sentinel-6A) Feb 2022 Feb 2022

End Prime Mission (Sentinel-6A) Aug 2027 Aug 2027

Launch (Sentinel-6B) Nov 2026 Nov 2026

Start Phase E (Sentinel-6B) Feb 2027 Feb 2027

End Prime Mission (Sentinel-6B) Aug 2032 Aug 2032

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Chang

e (%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milesto

ne Data

Current 

Year 

Mileston

e Data

Mileston

e 

Change 

(mths)

2017 465.9 >70% 2018 465.9 0

LRD of

Sentinel6A

Nov 

2021

Nov 

2021 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 
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Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 465.9 465.9 0

Aircraft/Spacecraft 0 0 0

Payloads 65.8 77.6 11.8

Systems I&T 8.8 8.1 -0.7

Launch Vehicle 280.7 275.7 -5.0

Ground Systems 9.7 6.7 -3.0

Science/Technology 4.4 3.6 -0.8

Other Direct Project 

Costs 96.5 94.2 -2.3

Project Management & Commitments

The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program at GSFC has program management responsibility for 

Sentinel-6. NASA assigned project management responsibility to JPL. Sentinel-6 is a partnership between 

the NOAA, the ESA, and the EUMETSAT. 

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

AMR-C

Provides high spatial 

resolution wet tropospheric 

path delay corrections for the 

ESA-supplied Ku/C-Band 

Altimeter

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

GNSS-RO

Supports secondary mission 

objectives for weather 

modeling and forecasting

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

LRA Provides orbit determination

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
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Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Ku/C-Band 

Altimeter

Measures Jason-heritage 

ocean surface topography at 

nadir

Provider: ESA 

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA

N/A

DORIS Provides orbit determination

Provider: ESA

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA

N/A

Spacecraft Bus Provides instrument platform

Provider: ESA

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA

N/A

Launch Vehicle Delivers spacecraft to orbit

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: The AMR-C Supplemental Calibration 

System (SCS) becomes stuck at some 

location away from the science position due 

to an operational failure of the mechanism,

Then: The baseline AMR-C measurements 

will be lost.

Project is following processes for eliminating foreign object 

debris (FOD) in mechanical assemblies, ensuring large torque 

margins, conducting a robust test program, building an 

engineering model (EM) and performing a full life test, and using 

on-orbit torque/drag monitoring to park the SCS in science 

position and discontinue routine internal calibrations, if required.

Acquisition Strategy

Sentinel-6 leverages Jason heritage by using JPL legacy instrument designs (AMR-C, GNSS-RO, and 

LRA) and in-house build with a combination of sole source and competitive procurements. NASA 

selected SpaceX to provide a Falcon 9 launch vehicle through a competitive Launch Service Task Order 

evaluation under the NASA Launch Services II contract.
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MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

GNSS-RO Electronics MOOG Golden, CO

AMR-C Antenna ATK San Diego, CA

LRA ITE Laurel, MD

Launch Services SpaceX Los Angeles, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Aug 2016 MCR/SRR/MDR Successful Feb 2017

Performance SRB Feb 2017 PDR Successful Oct 2017

Performance SRB Oct 2017 CDR Successful Jan 2019

Performance SRB Jan 2019

Sentinel-6A U.S. 

Payload Pre-Ship 

Review (PSR-A)

TBD Sep 2019

Performance SRB Sep 2019

Sentinel-6B U.S. 

Payload Pre-Ship 

Review (PSR-B)

TBD Aug 2021

Performance SRB Aug 2021 Sentinel-6A ORR TBD Aug 2026

Performance SRB Aug 2026 Sentinel-6B ORR TBD N/A
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) Research 17.6 -- 17.3 22.1 22.9 23.9 27.0

Ocean Surface Topography Science Team 

(O

5.7 -- 5.7 5.8 5.8 5.9 6.0

Earth Observations Systems (EOS) Researc 21.7 -- 13.2 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.7

Sage III 4.2 -- 5.0 4.8 4.6 4.6 4.7

Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) 53.0 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Sustainable Land Imaging 5.8 -- 7.4 34.0 64.9 140.0 170.8

Earth from ISS 2.8 -- 2.6 2.6 2.1 1.7 1.7

Plankton,Aerosols,Clouds,ocean Ecosystem 52.8 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Solar Irradiance Sensor-2 (TSIS-2) 3.6 -- 8.3 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

Earth Radiation Budget Science 14.0 -- 13.6 13.8 14.0 14.3 14.7

Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) 0.0 -- 7.0 7.0 6.2 4.5 4.6

Total Solar Irradiance Sensor-1 (TSIS-1) 8.6 -- 4.8 4.7 4.9 4.7 4.8

CLARREO Pathfinder 6.3 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Decadal Survey Missions 13.1 -- 21.3 25.8 49.5 71.8 49.0

Earth Science Program Management 31.3 -- 36.6 36.7 38.9 40.8 40.3

Precipitation Science Team 6.9 -- 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6

Ocean Winds Science Team 4.2 -- 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.1 3.2

Land Cover Science Project Office 1.5 -- 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4

Ocean Salinity Science Team 3.9 -- 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.8

Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) 6.9 -- 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

Quick Scatterometer 2.8 -- 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3.2 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Deep Space Climate Observatory 2.4 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) 19.7 -- 20.4 20.7 20.9 20.9 21.5

Landsat 8 2.2 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Ocean Surface Topography Mission 

(OSTM)

2.4 -- 2.3 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnershi 2.9 -- 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9

Terra 27.9 -- 27.7 28.2 27.9 28.5 29.2

Aqua 29.6 -- 29.9 30.6 30.3 31.0 31.8

Aura 29.6 -- 25.2 20.3 22.4 22.8 23.4

SORCE 4.8 -- 5.5 4.9 0.0 0.0 0.0

Earth Observing-1 1.6 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 393.1 -- 285.6 316.7 367.7 468.4 483.2

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.
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A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Earth Systematic Missions Other Missions and Data Analysis includes operating missions and their

science teams and competed research projects. Mission science teams define the scientific requirements 

for their missions and generate algorithms used to process the data into useful data products. The research 

projects execute competitively selected investigations related to specific mission measurements.

Also included here are missions in formulation; and smaller missions in formulation and development, 

such as TSIS (Total Solar Irradiance Sensor)-1 and TSIS-2.

Mission Planning and Other Projects

EARTH SYSTEMATIC MISSIONS (ESM) RESEARCH

ESM Research funds various science teams for the Earth Systematic missions. These science teams are 

composed of competitively selected individual investigators who analyze data from the missions to 

address related science questions.

Recent Achievements

Urban heat islands have been long studied using both ground-based observations of air temperature and 

remotely sensed thermal infrared data. Researchers recently developed algorithms to retrieve near-surface 

air temperatures using microwave radiometer data, enabling characterization of urban heat islands in 

major metropolitan areas around the globe. A recent study compared surface air temperatures derived 

from the AMSR-E onboard Aqua and AMSR2 onboard JAXA’s GCOM-W1 satellites with station 

observations from the Global Historical Climate Network for 27 major cities across North America. 

Results show that temperature differences between urban areas versus rural areas may vary according to 

different datasets or locations, day-night differences in temperature are consistently lower in urban areas 

than in rural areas.

Although the Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission measures and quantifies soil moisture over 

the continents, a new investigation showed that scientists could also utilize SMAP data to monitor ocean 

winds. The near-surface ocean wind is a driving force in air-sea interaction process and is a key 

component in forecasts of tropical cyclone track and intensity, thus requiring accurate direct observations 

of the surface wind field. However, traditional spaceborne radiometers and scatterometers, operating at Cto Ka-band frequencies, have limited sensitivity to strong, hurricane winds. The study demonstrated the 

advantage of using L-band microwave wind radiometers from SMAP in filling in a critical gap for surface 

observations during severe weather. A related study further examined the accuracy of the derived SMAP 

wind products using radar-only and combined active/passive algorithms. That analysis suggests that 

SMAP wind vectors performance is superior to traditional scatterometers for high-wind conditions (>12.5 

m/s), which has the potential to open new frontiers in marine hazard avoidance.

A recent study combined soil moisture data from SMAP, terrestrial water storage, enhanced vegetation 

index, and solar-induced fluorescence to investigate multiple aspects of the water cycle, as well as 

coupling points with the carbon cycle. They found that during nominal years the vegetation-moisture 
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relationship is generally within the range of the average yearly precipitation. However, they found that 

since the previous drought, vegetation growth enhanced sensitivity to surface soil moisture variations, 

implying that grassland, though susceptible to drought, is able to make a speedy recovery. 

OCEAN SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY SCIENCE TEAM (OSTST)

Ocean Surface Topography Science Team (OSTST) uses scientific data from the Ocean Surface 

Topography Mission (OSTM) and Jason radar altimetry satellites, together with data from international 

altimetry satellites such as ESA’s Sentinel-3a, to measure global sea surface height. Sparse data from tide 

gauges and a handful of calibration stations such as the Harvest oil platform help validate the satellite 

data. Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) and Jason satellites to measure global sea surface 

height.

Recent Achievements

Over the past nine years, OSTM has precisely measured the height of 95 percent of the world's ice-free 

ocean every 10 days. Since its launch in June 2008, it has measured a 1.6-inch (4-centimeter) increase in 

global mean sea level, which has been rising at a rate of about 0.12 inches (3 millimeters) a year since 

satellite altimetry records began in 1993. But as OSTM’s onboard systems age and key components begin 

to show signs of cumulative space radiation damage, it has become prudent to move the older satellite out 

of its current shared orbit with Jason-3. The move is designed to safeguard the orbit for Jason-3 and its 

planned successor, Jason-CS/Sentinel-6, planned for launch in 2020.

In its new orbit, OSTM will also undertake a new science mission. The orbit will allow OSTM to collect 

data along a series of very closely spaced ground tracks just 5 miles apart. The result will be a new, highresolution estimate of Earth's average sea surface height. The shape of the sea surface is partly determined 

by underwater hills and valleys, which pull the water due to the force of gravity. Scientists will use these 

new OSTM data to improve maps of the shape and depth of the sea floor, resolving many presently 

unknown seamounts (underwater mountains) and other geologic features on the ocean bottom. These new 

maps will permit advances in ocean modeling, tsunami wave forecasting, and naval operations support, 

and will boost understanding of the dynamics of the solid Earth.

The data will also help prepare for the next generation of global satellite altimetry missions, including the 

NASA/CNES/Canadian Space Agency/UK Space Agency Surface Water and Ocean Topography 

(SWOT) mission, planned for launch in 2021; and Sentinel-3B, planned for launch by the European 

Space Agency in early 2018.

EARTH OBSERVATION SYSTEMS (EOS) RESEARCH

EOS Research funds science for the EOS missions, currently Terra, Aqua, Aura, and ICESat missions. 

The project competitively selects individual investigators to undertake research projects that analyze data 

from specific missions. Whereas, overall, the selected activities focus on science data analyses, some 

funded activities continue algorithm improvement and validation for the EOS mission instrument data 

products.
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Recent Achievements

A new dataset from Aura's tropospheric emission spectrometer measurements provided insights into 

spatial and temporal variations of trace gases including ammonia, formic acid, methanol, and ozone over 

19 megacities since 2013. The study showed that while Mexico City has severe pollution events, the 

levels of pollution in Lagos are much higher and more persistent. Based on this study, Science Magazine 

requested data from all 19 sites and published an article on the frequency of high ozone and ammonia 

days around the world. The Science article concluded that South Asia, in particular, has a large proportion 

of both high-ozone and high-ammonia days, indicating a significant health risk for the urban population.

Nature published a case study using Aqua's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)

aerosol and cloud data showing that a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland reduced the size of liquid 

cloud droplets—consistent with expectations—but had no discernible effect on other cloud properties. 

The reduction in droplet size led to cloud brightening. Changes in cloud amount or cloud liquid water 

path, however, were undetectable, indicating that aerosol changes do not impact these indirect effects, and 

cloud systems in general. These results represent an important constraint on climate models.

Multiple sources of satellite observations are extremely useful for large-scale crop monitoring and yield 

estimation, which is important for both scientific and practical applications. For this purpose, a new study 

investigated use of MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index, AMSR-E Vegetation Optical Depth and other 

related variables. Modeling analysis for a period between 2007 and 2009 revealed that the first modeled 

component of crop aboveground biomass explained 82 percent of the variability of modelled crop yield,

and the second component, dominated by environmental stresses, explained 15 percent of the variability. 

A study demonstrated an improved accounting of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) – a common snowpack 

measurement - using AMSR-E passive microwave measurements for the sparsely forested Upper Kern 

watershed in the southern Sierra Nevada. Dry snow season (1 Dec – 28 Feb) observations showed a new 

technique into model predictions of SWE at 90-meter spatial resolution. Evaluated against snow courses 

(permanent sites that represents snowpack conditions at a given elevation in a given area) and snow 

pillows (devices measuring SWE of snow packs), the method showed good agreement. This is a marked 

improvement with a reduction in bias of 84 percent over the model prediction without using the new 

technique. 

Two strong cyclones passed through the Chukchi Sea in August 2016, likely contributing to the observed 

acceleration of ice loss in the Arctic just prior to the September minimum. The role of such storms has 

been the focus of increasing study in recent years. A recent study used data from the Atmospheric 

Infrared Sounder, onboard the Aqua satellite, to examine the impact of a large Arctic cyclone in 

December 2015 in the Barents and Kara Seas. They found that the anomalously warm air mass 

transported by this storm produced significant, localized melt of sea ice, and a dynamical retreat of the ice 

edge.

SUSTAINABLE LAND IMAGING

The Sustainable Land Imaging (SLI) program enables the development of a multi-decade, spaceborne 

system that will provide U.S. users with high quality, global, land-imaging measurements. These 

measurements will be compatible with the existing 45-year Landsat record and will address near- and 

long-term issues of continuity risk. They will also evolve flexibly and responsibly through investment and 

introduction of new sensor and system technologies. Under the SLI framework, NASA will maintain 
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responsibility for developing, launching, and initial checkout of space systems. The United States 

Geological Survey (USGS) will be responsible for collecting and documenting user requirements, 

developing the associated ground systems, operating the on-orbit spacecraft, and collecting, calibrating, 

archiving, processing, and distributing SLI system data to users.

Through the implementation of SLI technology activities, NASA will enable new SLI measurement 

technologies, capabilities, and architectures. The Sustainable Land Imaging-Technology (SLI-T) program 

aims to: (1) demonstrate improved, innovative, full-instrument concepts for potential infusion into the 

architecture and design of Landsat-10; and (2) develop technologies at the component and/or breadboardlevel that have long-term potential to improve future land imaging instruments and systems significantly 

through substantial architecture changes. NASA will solicit (through ROSES) instrument and subsystem 

developments coordinated with the Landsat science community. 

In order to minimize the risk of gaps while taking advantage of cost savings and capability enhancements 

resulting from the technology development activity outlined above, the Administration plans to make key 

strategic decisions on Landsat 10 payload/instrument approaches by the end of the decade, with the goal 

of beginning development of the Landsat 10 mission prior to the launch of Landsat 9.

Additional SLI activities support efforts to minimize costs and maximize the overall utility for U.S. users 

by responsibly engaging with international partners to ensure access to high-quality data and fusion of 

those measurements with those from the U.S. Landsat missions. In particular, NASA and USGS

conducted pre-launch cross-calibration investigations with the European developers of the Sentinel-2A/B 

land imaging system, ensuring uniform calibration of both Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A/B instruments to 

the same standards. The USGS, supported by NASA and other agencies, is serving as the primary U.S.

Government point of contact to ensure access to and archiving of Sentinel-2 data products for U.S.

research and operational users. 

Recent Achievements

The SLI program is currently investing in six different technology investigations. Three of the 

investigations will inform instrument development for the design of Landsat 10 and are on track for 

instrument demonstrations in 2019. The other three will evolve sensor technology for use on SLI missions 

farther in the future (e.g., Landsat 11 and beyond). All six have completed the first year of their 

investigations.

The SLI program is also investing in a Multi-Source Land Imaging research program designed to advance 

the use of multi-source remote sensing data for land monitoring that primarily focuses on data from 

Landsat, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2. The objectives of this research are to develop algorithms and to 

prototype products that make use of multiple satellite sources and time series approaches. This research 

focuses on regional prototypes in preparation for continental and global standard products to understand 

the challenges associated with algorithms and processing streams that incorporate multiple satellite 

systems. The funding of the initial Multi-Source Land Imaging team allowed them to prototype new land 

and aquatic products by combining Landsat and other moderate-resolution, international sources of 

imagery. New products included wetland fractional water (via Landsat and Sentinel-1 radar); mapping of 

rice cultivation and inundation period (Landsat, Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar 

(PALSAR), and Sentinel-1); improved urban mapping (Landsat, PALSAR), stand-scale forest phenology 

(Landsat and Sentinel 2), burned area products for southern Africa (Landsat and Sentinel-2), and 

improved global tree cover products (Landsat, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2).
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TOTAL SOLAR IRRADIANCE SENSOR-2 (TSIS-2)

TSIS-2 will be the follow-on to the TSIS-1 instrument. The TSIS-2 will maintain and extend the 

measurements of total solar irradiance and spectral solar irradiance provided by TSIS-1. NASA is 

planning to implement TSIS-2 as a CubeSat mission. The project will begin formulation in calendar year 

2018.

Recent Achievements

NASA GSFC initiated the TSIS-2 pre-formulation work in April 2017, based on the recommendation in 

the National Academies 2007 decadal survey, for sustained multi-decadal global measurements of solar 

irradiance. Given the history and heritage of the SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE), 

Total solar irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment (TCTE) and TSIS-1 instrument developments at 

the Laboratory for Astronomy and Space Physics (LASP) in Boulder, CO, the TSIS-2 pre-formulation 

team issued two separate study contracts with LASP to study different implementation approaches for 

TSIS-2. NASA will use the results of the study reports to determine the path forward for TSIS-2. 

EARTH RADIATION BUDGET SCIENCE

The Earth Radiation Budget Science (ERBS) project produces climate data records of Earth’s radiation 

budget and the associated cloud, aerosol, and surface properties. The project utilizes data from the 

multiple radiation budget instruments in orbit as well as ancillary measurements to produce data products, 

which are integrated and self-consistent over the entire suite of radiation budget instruments. In addition 

to the five currently operating Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instruments 

measuring broadband radiative fluxes from the Terra, Aqua, and Suomi NPP platforms, the data products 

utilize coincident imager measurements from Terra, Aqua, Suomi NPP, and operational geostationary 

satellite observations. In total, 13 instruments on eight spacecraft produce an accurate and temporally 

consistent description of the radiation budget, not only at the top of the atmosphere but also at the surface 

and within the atmosphere.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, the CERES team published 35 journal articles describing CERES algorithms and validation 

results, and made 65 code deliveries to the NASA Langley Atmospheric Science Data Center. The team 

supported inter-comparison campaigns between Terra, Aqua, and S-NPP, and additional campaigns with 

the Scanner for Radiation Budget (ScaRaB) and the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) 

instruments. They generated sensor gain and spectral response function correction coefficients for the 

Edition 3 forward processing and Edition 4 reprocessing, and performed validation studies and anomaly 

trends to evaluate the CERES data products. The CERES team completed instrument data processing 

software modifications and delivery to accommodate CERES Flight Model 6 (FM6) on JPSS-1 satellite, 

which launched in November 2017. The CERES team also modified the data product production code to 

utilize an updated version of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) cloud data, 

and developed an improved version of the algorithm for the short-wave channel. The team completed 

implementation and deployment of a new system for running data production jobs, improving 

maintainability, and monitoring capability. The reprocessed and released Energy Balance and Filled 

(EBAF) data products contain significant improvements, and are the most popular CERES data products. 
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OZONE MAPPING AND PROFILER SUITE LIMB SOUNDER (OMPS-L)

The advanced Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) tracks the health of the ozone layer and 

measures the concentration of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere. OMPS consists of three spectrometers: a 

downward-looking nadir mapper, nadir profiler, and limb profiler. The entire OMPS suite currently 

operates on the Suomi NPP spacecraft, and to ensure data continuity, a copy of this suite will fly on 

NOAA’s JPSS-2 mission, planned for launch in 2021. NASA is responsible for providing the OMPSLimb profiler for integration on the OMPS instrument. NASA will also plan for future OMPS-Limb 

profilers on future JPSS missions.

Recent Achievements

The NASA OMPS-Limb subassembly continues to make progress in support of the NOAA JPSS-2 

OMPS instrument. The pre-critical design review interface control document and mechanical interface 

control document were completed. The Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) was completed and delivered. The 

OMPS-Limb subassembly has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing and remains on track for 

delivery to OMPS integrated sensor integration and test in 2018. Planning for the OMPS instrument 

includes delivery to JPSS-2 in 2019.

Initial planning for OMPS-Limb for future JPSS missions has begun, including the procurement of longleads parts.

TOTAL SOLAR IRRADIANCE SENSOR-1 (TSIS-1)

The TSIS-1 mission will provide absolute measurements of the total solar irradiance (TSI) and spectral 

solar irradiance (SSI), important for accurate scientific models of climate change and solar variability. 

TSIS is comprised of two instruments, the Total Irradiance Monitor (TIM), and the Spectral Irradiance 

Monitor (SIM). TSIS-1 launched successfully to the ISS on December 15, 2017. LASP built a highly 

sensitive thermal pointing system that the project will use to accommodate the instruments on the ISS. 

Currently, the data from an earlier NASA-managed TIM instrument, flying on the aging SORCE 

spacecraft, launched in 2003, provides the TSI data record as part of an unbroken 36-year long data 

record. The Total Solar Irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment (TCTE) instrument, a joint mission 

with NOAA and the U.S. Air Force, launched in 2013 and currently augments the data record. The TSIS1 project transferred fully to NASA in FY 2016 and NASA installed it on the ISS in FY 2018 in time to 

overlap with the TCTE mission in order to maintain continuity of the solar irradiance measurement.

NASA assumed responsibility for TCTE operations from NOAA in January 2018.

Recent Achievements

The TSIS-1 project completed the integration of the TIM and SIM onto the TPS and successfully 

conducted environmental testing of the complete payload. The project transported the payload to Kennedy 

Space Center in August to finalize the pre-launch testing and wait for launch, still scheduled for late 

calendar year 2017 on the SpaceX-13 resupply mission to ISS. Astronauts will install the payload on the 

ISS and it will undergo three months of commissioning before entering operations in FY 2018. 
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DECADAL SURVEY MISSIONS

The Decadal Survey project contains missions recommended by the National Academies Earth Science 

decadal survey. All the missions within this project are in a pre-formulation phase conducting mission 

concept studies. The latest Decadal Survey released in January 2018 will guide the selection of future preformulation studies. The current portfolio of missions under study includes:

• CLARREO;

• Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS);

• GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE); 

• ACE; and 

• Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI).

Recent Achievements

Mission teams continue to make progress in requirements refinement and modeling, instrument concept 

and technology maturation, and algorithm development. 

EARTH SCIENCE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• The Earth Science Program Management budget supports critical flight project management 

functions executed by the ESM Program Office at GSFC, the Earth System Science Pathfinder 

Program Office at LaRC and the Earth Science Flight Project Office at JPL. This budget also 

supports:

• The GSFC conjunction assessment risk analysis function, which determines maneuvers required 

to avoid potential collisions between spacecraft and to avoid debris;

• The technical and management support for the international Committee on Earth Observation 

Satellites, which coordinates civil space-borne observations of Earth. Participating agencies strive 

to enhance international coordination and data exchange and to optimize societal benefit; 

• Senior Review Board teams, who conduct independent reviews of the various flight projects in 

Earth Science;

• Earth Science division communications and public engagement activities.

PRECIPITATION SCIENCE TEAM

The Precipitation Science Team carries out investigations of precipitation using measurements from, but 

not limited to, TRMM whose mission ended in 2015, the GPM Core Observatory launched in February 

2014, and GPM mission constellation partner spacecraft (partners include NOAA, DoD, CNES, (JAXA),

and EUMETSAT. This program supports scientific investigations in three research categories: 

• Development, evaluation, and validation of TRMM and GPM retrieval algorithms; 

• Development of methodologies for improved application of satellite measurements; and 

• Use of satellite and ground measurements for physical process studies to gain a better 

understanding of the global water cycle, climate, and weather and concomitant improvements in 

numerical models on cloud resolving to climate scales.
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Recent Achievements

Researchers used GPM Ku radar data to classify the largest, deepest, and strongest precipitation systems 

on Earth. The study noted that with the GPM-CO’s higher latitude coverage, DPR reveals that 

precipitating storm systems in the Great Plains of the U.S. and Argentina are among the most intense on

Earth. An analysis of GPM data shows an improved representation of monsoon precipitation and its 

interaction with atmospheric dynamics over West Africa. Researchers also developed short-term forecasts 

of soil moisture and other parameters to understand better the land-atmosphere interactions on scales of 

days to years, and the forecasts are available from the NASA Land Information System based on GPM 

data along with other precipitation data. These studies have shown that increased land surface model grid 

resolution (~1 km) can yield an improvement in the estimation of surface model water balance. GPM’s 

data for extreme precipitation leading to flood or landside events, and the characterization of potential 

hazards, are a source of several GPM investigations. GPM’s precipitation products continue to inform 

scientific studies and benefit societal application activities.

As pioneered by the legacy NASA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), quasi-global, longrecord, fine-scale precipitation estimates based on a merged combination of all precipitation-relevant 

satellites from around the world have rapidly become the go-to product for many precipitation-based 

applications in the U.S. and internationally. GPM provides this data product at temporal scales of 30 

minutes and spatial resolutions of 10 km by 10 km, and is in the process of unifying the TRMM and GPM 

precipitation estimates to create a 20+ year record. Near-real-time data are key to short-fuse applications, 

including the Global Flood Monitor for flood analysis and the Potential Landslide Areas site for 

precipitation-driven landslides. These data continue to be widely used in the disaster response 

community, including the NASA disaster response activity, World Bank, and International Red Cross. 

OCEAN WINDS SCIENCE TEAM

The Ocean Winds Science Team (OWST) uses scientific data received from the QuikSCAT satellite, 

RapidScat instrument, and other international missions, which measure ocean surface winds by sensing 

ripples caused by winds at the ocean’s surface. From this data, scientists can compute wind speed and 

direction thus acquiring global observations of surface wind velocity each day. The sparse wind data from 

ships and buoys serve to calibrate the satellite data.

Recent Achievements

Several dozen scientific publications appeared in the literature over the past 12 months using data from 

QuikSCAT together with either in situ data or other satellite scatterometers, to study ocean winds, sea ice 

extent, various polar applications, canopy water content, and snow depth. Progress has been in 

understanding meso-cyclones in high latitudes, which are important maritime atmospheric phenomena, 

but generally difficult to track in global reanalysis due to their small size (200-1000 km) and short 

lifetime (6-36). New studies are now using manual techniques to track meso-cyclones over the Southern 

Ocean during winter using QuikSCAT observations. The use of the QuikSCAT data provided insights 

into physics of mid-latitude storms, highlighting the importance of wind convergence over the storm 

tracks, such as the Gulf Stream. The energy sector successfully exploited the use of scatterometer data, 

with recommendations for development of specific wind turbines over the Mediterranean Sea, based on 

the available offshore wind resource potential and the water depth suitability. 
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LAND COVER PROJECT SCIENCE OFFICE 

The Land Cover Project Science Office (LCPSO) maintains over 40 years of calibration records for the 

Landsat 1 through Landsat 8 series of satellites. The office also provides community software tools to 

make it easier for users to work with this data. In collaboration with USGS, LCPSO supports crosscalibration of the Landsat record with other international sensors, provision of preprocessed data sets for 

land-cover change analysis, and facilitates use of international data sets for improved land cover 

monitoring.

Recent Achievements

A recent focus of the LCPSO has been to prepare the U.S. land cover research community for the 

integration of European Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 datasets into land monitoring activities. The LCPSO 

has expanded development of the Harmonized Landsat/Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset, which provides a 

seamless record of surface reflectance derived from both sensors. LCPSO is upgrading the initial dataset 

to provide wall-to-wall coverage across North America. Additionally, LCPSO continues to support 

Committee on Earth Observation Satellite initiatives within NASA, including the Land Surface Imaging 

Virtual Constellation, the Moderate Resolution Interoperability initiative, and the Working Group on 

Calibration/Validation. 

OCEAN SALINITY SCIENCE TEAM 

The Ocean Salinity Science Team (OSST) supports the development and construction of surface salinity 

products from L-Band microwave radiometers such as Aquarius, SMAP, and data sets of opportunity 

such as ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission. The team also seeks to understand 

upper-ocean processes that impact variability of surface salinity in order to improve interpretation of the 

space-based salinity products. The team is working on a SMAP salinity product that is consistent with the 

Aquarius salinity product, which ended in June 2015.

Recent Achievements

OSST produced global maps of the ocean salinity with unprecedented coverage, accuracy, and resolution, 

which have boosted oceanographic research and improved our understanding of various climate 

phenomena, including the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, the monsoons, the tropical instability waves, the 

Madden-Julian Oscillations, and the ocean fingerprints of the tropical cyclones and excessive river 

runoffs. In addition, by utilizing ocean salinity data from Aquarius, SMAP, and in situ platforms, 

researchers are gaining improved insights into the causes of the recent changes in the Earth’s water 

budget. New studies reveal the global amplification of the ocean water cycle (the amount of freshwater 

leaving and entering the oceans via the processes of evaporation, precipitation, and runoff), with a general 

tendency of drying of arid subtropical ocean regions and wetting in the tropical and mid-to-high-latitude 

latitudes over the past two decades. Such tendency has potential impacts on the continental floods and 

droughts. By using high-quality salinity observations, researchers are now linking salinity changes with 

the global ocean water cycle and ocean circulation, improving our predictive capability of climate

processes. 
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Operating Missions

SOIL MOISTURE ACTIVE AND PASSIVE (SMAP)

The SMAP mission provides a capability for global mapping of soil moisture with unprecedented 

accuracy, resolution, and coverage. The SMAP measurement system consists of a radiometer (passive) 

instrument and a synthetic aperture radar (active) instrument operating with multiple polarizations in the 

L-band range. Although the active radar instrument failed in July 2015, the radiometer is operating 

nominally, and continues to provide global mapping of soil moisture with accuracy, resolution, and 

coverage that exceeds the capability of other on-orbit systems.

SMAP’s prime mission will end in June 2018. The 2017 Earth Science senior review endorsed the SMAP 

mission for continued operations through 2020, and preliminarily, through 2023.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, SMAP combined its passive radiometer data with radar data from the European Copernicus 

Sentinel-1 mission to generate a preliminary version of a 3-km resolution soil moisture data product. The 

assimilation of SMAP soil moisture products into the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign 

Agriculture System also helped to improve estimates of future vegetation health. The L-band brightness 

temperatures have been used to retrieve sea surface salinity over open water, which, when combined with 

soil moisture, shed light on the linkage between the land and ocean branches of the water cycle, and how 

the ocean ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico might be influenced by freshwater from river discharge. The 

2017 Atlantic hurricane monitoring and trending activities used SMAP-derived ocean wind speeds.

GLOBAL PRECIPITATION MEASUREMENT (GPM)

The GPM mission advances the measurement of global precipitation through the combined use of active 

and passive remote-sensing techniques. Tracking storms as they move into the mid-latitudes, GPM 

provides a three-dimensional view of their structural changes as they move toward the poles, offering 

insight into why some, but not all, storms change intensity as they move. The GPM Microwave Imager 

(GMI) measures energy from different types of precipitation through clouds, to estimate heavy to light 

rain and to detect falling snow. The Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) provides threedimensional information about precipitation particles, including their size distributions, derived from 

reflected energy at different heights within the cloud system. GPM is a joint mission with the Japan space 

agency, JAXA.

GPM completed its prime mission in June 2017, and is now in extended operations. The 2017 Earth 

Science senior review endorsed the GPM mission for continued operations through 2020, and 

preliminarily, through 2023. 

Recent Achievements

In 2017, GPM completed its prime operations phase and demonstrated that all Level-1 requirements have 

been satisfied. GPM’s program of research has been able to not only detect falling snow, but has yielded 

important progress in estimating falling snow rates at the Earth’s surface and in the atmosphere. Scientists 

have made significant progress in improving the accuracy of precipitation retrievals over land surfaces, 
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thus providing valuable data to agricultural and other users. The project released two new data 

visualization tools, including the Global Viewer for viewing near real-time global precipitation data, and 

the Precipitation and Applications Viewer for recent (30 minute, one-day, three-day, and seven-day) 

precipitation, flood, and landslide data. Fire susceptibility mapping now includes GPM data. GPM 

provided short, informative social media and featured articles about current weather events, especially the 

2017 Atlantic Hurricane season (e.g., Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria) as depicted in GPM data products that 

are aimed at the general public, as well as weather and application specialists.

LANDSAT 8

Landsat 8 is the most recent in the Landsat series of satellites that have been continuously observing 

Earth’s land surfaces by recording data since 1972. In addition to widespread routine use for land use 

planning and monitoring on regional to local scales, support of disaster response and evaluations, and 

water use monitoring, Landsat 8 measurements directly serve NASA research in the focus areas of 

climate, carbon cycle, ecosystems, water cycle, biogeochemistry, and Earth surface/interior. USGS 

performs mission operations for Landsat 8, but NASA provides science activities in support of the USGS 

and the Landsat Science Team during prime mission operations.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, Landsat 8 passed 1 million scenes acquired since launch in 2013. The Landsat 8 Thermal 

Infrared Sensor (TIRS) provided the first views of the breakup of the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica, 

and continued to provide imagery throughout the southern hemisphere winter. This allowed researchers to 

study the mechanics of ice shelf breakup at high spatial and temporal resolution. With support from both 

USGS and NASA, a team from Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) developed an algorithm to 

improve the quality TIRS data, including correcting a stray light issue that affects the radiometric quality 

of one band using other information from the Landsat 8 image. The correction has now been included in 

the Landsat 8 processing system at the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) center. 

The NASA team continued to refine the radiometric calibration for both TIRS and the Operational Land 

Imager (OLI) instruments, with a particular focus on calibration with the ESA Sentinel-2 constellation. 

Results indicate that both OLI and Sentinel-2 MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) data are quite consistent, 

and both meet their absolute radiometry requirements. This cross calibration has allowed combined use of 

both data sets for land monitoring, including merged datasets such as the Harmonized Landsat/Sentinel-2 

(HLS) surface reflectance data set produced at GSFC.

OCEAN SURFACE TOPOGRAPHY MISSION (OSTM)

OSTM, or OSTM/Jason-2, measures sea surface height, and enables scientists to track changes in ocean 

currents, assess climate variability, and make improved maps of the sea floor. This mission is the third in 

a series of ocean surface topography missions (following Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon) followed by 

Jason-3, launched in January 2016. After the launch of Jason-3, Jason-2 moved into a new orbit 

configuration with very closely spaced ground tracks that scientists now use to better understand gravity 

over the ocean, and make improved maps of the sea floor. OSTM/Jason-2 is a joint mission with NOAA, 

CNES, and the European meteorological satellite agency (EUMETSAT).
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Recent Achievements

In 2017, the OSTM/Jason-2 mission moved to a new orbit configuration that alternates between its 

original orbit and that of Jason-3. This new orbit significantly improved the resolution for observations of 

ocean currents and climate variability, and improved the forecasting of ocean currents, marine wind and 

wave conditions, and hurricane intensity by various domestic agencies. During FY 2017, aging of 

spacecraft components necessitated a third orbit configuration. This new "geodetic" orbit phase repeats 

only once per year and has very closely spaced ground tracks. This data is now being used by scientists to 

improve the marine geoid and to make improved maps of the sea floor, and to chart small to mid-sized 

seamounts (underwater mountains), tens of thousands of which had been previously been uncharted. The 

OSTM/Jason-2 geodetic mission phase has already yielded significant improvements in the marine 

gravity field and the completion of its first geodetic cycle remains the top scientific priority for OSTM in 

its continuing mission. These improvements to bathymetry (measurement of water) and mean sea surface 

models will be of great scientific benefit to the upcoming (SWOT mission scheduled for launch in 2021.

SUOMI NATIONAL POLAR-ORBITING PARTNERSHIP (SUOMI NPP)

NASA built and launched Suomi NPP. NOAA operates the spacecraft and instruments. The five 

instruments on Suomi NPP provide visible and infrared multi-spectral global imagery, atmospheric 

temperature and moisture profiles, total ozone and stratospheric ozone profiles, and measurements of 

Earth’s radiation balance. In addition to a wide range of applications studies, the NASA science focus 

areas served by Suomi NPP include atmospheric composition, climate variability and change, carbon 

cycle, ecosystems, water and energy cycles, and weather. NASA and NOAA continue to collaborate to 

ensure meeting the shared objectives of both agencies. Prime mission operations officially ended in 

March 2017, and Suomi NPP is currently in extended operations until “fill in the date”.

Recent Achievements

The Suomi NPP End of Prime Mission review concluded in October 2017, and the material presented 

demonstrated that the mission has met its Level-1 requirements. The multi-satellite ocean color data 

record, now extended with the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), shows the recovery of 

chlorophyll-a after the recent El Nino event. The routine assimilation of Suomi NPP data into NOAA 

models improved forecasts of extreme events, such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. NASA’s 

Black Marble High Definition products supported 2017 hurricane recovery efforts. This dataset combined 

data from six satellites to enable the first-ever monitoring of affected areas at neighborhood (< 30 meter) 

scales. The Suomi NPP mission also provided near-real-time observations of recent severe wildfires in 

California and Canada, with the Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite (OMPS) measuring the highest Aerosol 

Index (a measure of particulate matter intensity) on record. Combined use of VIIRS and OMPS aerosol 

data allowed determination of the height of this smoke. This multi-sensor synergy showed that these fires 

were so intense that some of the smoke entered the stratosphere, which has important climate 

implications.

TERRA

Terra is, one of the EOS flagship missions. It enables a wide range of interdisciplinary studies of 

atmospheric composition, carbon cycle, ecosystems, biogeochemistry, climate variability and change, 

water and energy cycles, and weather. The Terra mission has provided more than 18 years of continuous 

data collection, including fundamental observations of the Earth’s climate system, high-impact events, 
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and adding value to other satellite missions and field campaigns. The spacecraft platform and five sensors 

are all fully functional, with the exception of the Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) bands in the Advanced 

Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument. Terra is a joint mission 

with Japan and Canada.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, Terra’s sensors provided key observational (and analyses) data for several natural hazard events, 

such as Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, along with the devastating wildfires in the Western USCanada and South Africa; volcanic eruptions in various parts of the world from Eastern Siberia to Mexico 

and Peru, and fierce dust storm outbreaks from Western China to the Mid-East. Release of Version 3 of 

the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) makes it the most complete, consistent highresolution global topographic data set ever released to the public. The mission generated near-real-time 

aerosol, fire, and carbon monoxide products that were used to understand health, air quality and safety 

impacts, while its near-real-time wind and cloud data were included in weather service forecasts. Terra 

conducted a complete reprocessing of multiple data products over the mission’s lifetime, to include 

updated sensor knowledge, and performed a maneuver allowing its sensors to view the moon as one of the 

means to improve agreement among Terra’s sensors, as well as with sensors on other platforms.

AQUA

Aqua, one of the EOS flagship missions, improves our understanding of Earth’s water cycle and the 

intricacies of the climate system by monitoring atmospheric, land, ocean, and ice variables. It was the 

first satellite launched into what has become the afternoon constellation of satellites, known as the ATrain, and remains the anchor satellite of that constellation. Four of Aqua’s Earth observing instruments –

the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit 

(AMSU), Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES), and the Moderate Resolution 

Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) – continue to collect valuable data about the Earth’s atmosphere, 

oceans, land, ice, and overall energy budget. These data are widely used by the science community, and in 

practical applications ranging from improved weather forecasting to monitoring forest fires, crop yields, 

volcanic ash plumes, and ice-infested waters. Aqua is a joint mission with Japan and Brazil.

Aqua is currently in extended operations. The 2017 Earth Science senior review endorsed the Aqua 

mission for continued operations through 2020, and preliminarily, through 2023.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, studies based on Aqua data shed light on the intricate links between clouds, aerosols, and 

rainfall. Aqua data supported determination of the properties of aerosols near clouds, the extent to which 

warm (liquid) cloud properties respond to sulfuric aerosols, why drizzle from these clouds differs between 

land and ocean, and how global rainfall will likely respond to future warming. Combined with groundbased lightning networks, Aqua data also showed that lightning storms were the main driver of recent 

massive fire years in Alaska and northern Canada, while another study showed that burned areas 

decreased overall because of anthropogenic activity. Data from Aqua’s AIRS instrument also revealed 

global airborne ammonia gas trends and "hotspots" of the pollutant in four of the world's most productive 

agricultural regions. Aqua’s contributions to practical applications in 2017 included monitoring of 

Hurricane Harvey as it evolved and identifying the location of the strongest storms spawned by Hurricane 

Maria.
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AURA

Aura, one of the EOS flagship missions, advances the understanding of changes in the Earth's radiation 

balance, air quality, and the ozone layer that result from changes in atmospheric composition, climate 

variability, and weather by measuring atmospheric chemical composition, tropospheric/stratospheric 

exchange of energy and chemicals, chemistry-climate interactions, and air quality. Aura is also part of the 

A-Train. Three of Aura’s four instruments are operational: the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS), the 

Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), and the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES). Additional 

measurements include clouds, aerosols, solar spectral irradiance, and water vapor. Aura is a joint mission 

with the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom.

Aura is currently in extended operations. The 2017 Earth Science senior review endorsed the Aura 

mission for continued operations through 2020, and preliminarily, through 2023. 

Recent Achievements

Exploiting the long-term Aura record enabled scientists to estimate the impacts of air quality on human 

health. In 2017, Aura observations informed estimates of the cancer risk in the southeastern US from 

exposure to outdoor formaldehyde, a by-product of natural compounds emitted from trees. Its 

measurements of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant emitted during combustion, and formaldehyde, were 

capable of assisting air quality managers in assessing the most effective approaches to emission reduction 

programs that will improve air quality. Aura’s measurements of ozone and hydrochloric acid supported 

characterization of an unprecedented disruption to the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO), a naturally 

occurring meteorological phenomenon, which is a leading driver of stratospheric composition variability. 

Incorporation of Aura’s stratospheric column ozone data into the operational ozone assimilation occurred 

at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) for weather and UV Index 

forecasts.

SOLAR RADIATION AND CLIMATE EXPERIMENT (SORCE)

The SORCE mission measures the total and spectral solar irradiance incident at the top of the Earth’s 

atmosphere. SORCE measurements of incoming X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, and total solar 

radiation help researchers to understand natural variability in atmospheric ozone and ultraviolet-B 

radiation, thus leading to enhanced climate prediction models. These measurements are also critical to 

studies of the Sun, its effect on the Earth system, and its influence on humankind.

SORCE is currently in extended operations. The 2017 Earth Science senior review endorsed the SORCE 

mission for continued operations through 2019, and possibly 2020, to ensure an overlap with the TSIS 

mission.

Recent Achievements

Collecting accurate TSI (total solar irradiance) and SSI (solar spectral irradiance) data spanning multiple 

years helps scientists understand how much solar radiation is deposited in the atmosphere and at the 

surface and thus how much energy is available to influence weather, climate, the cryosphere, atmosphere

dynamics, and ocean currents. In 2017, the SORCE mission extended the uninterrupted TSI record to 38 

years. The project established a new 15-year SSI record for the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared 

wavelength ranges that together comprise almost 95 percent of the Sun’s total energy. Important in these 

solar records is the amount by which the TSI and SSI increase and decrease over an 11-year period, 
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known as the solar activity cycle. Global energy-balance estimates and climate studies use the SORCE 

TSI. TSI’s high sensitivity allowed SORCE to detect three Mercury transit events that decreased the 

sunlight at the Earth by ~0.004 percent.

STRATOSPHERIC AEROSOL AND GAS EXPERIMENT III (SAGE-III)

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE-III) provides global, long-term measurements 

of key components of Earth’s atmosphere. The most important of these are the vertical distribution of 

aerosols and ozone from the upper troposphere through the stratosphere. In addition, SAGE-III provides 

unique measurements of temperature in the stratosphere and mesosphere and profiles of trace gases, such 

as water vapor and nitrogen dioxide, which play significant roles in atmospheric radiative and chemical 

processes. These measurements are vital inputs to the global scientific community for improved 

understanding of climate and human-induced ozone trends. 

Recent Achievements

SAGE-III successfully launched and installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2017. 

Commissioning completed in June 2017, and the initial release of data occurred in October 2017. 

EARTH FROM ISS

NASA’s ISS program sponsored the development of several earth science instruments for the ISS. The 

Earth from ISS project will ensure the appropriate processing of data and its availability to the earth 

science research community from the data collected by these instruments. This project will invest in 

algorithm development, data production, and distribution, as well as data analysis and modeling for the 

currently planned ISS earth science payloads.

The ISS Cloud Aerosol Transport System (CATS) is a lidar remote sensing instrument using a laser to 

provide detailed information about cloud and aerosol presence, height, and composition. CATS 

demonstrates new technologies and generates data useful for improving our understanding of aerosol and 

cloud properties and interactions. Since beginning science operations in 2015, the CATS laser has 

generated an unprecedented 200 billion laser shots. As a technology demonstration using solid-state lasers 

for spaceborne remote sensing, CATS far exceeded expectations and provides a solid pathway to low risk, 

high quality next-generation remote sensing of cloud and aerosol properties. The 2017 Earth Science 

senior review endorsed the CATS mission for continued operations through 2020.

The ISS Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) makes space-based global lightning observations, using the 

backup flight spare for the instrument that operated for 17 years on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring 

Mission (TRMM). Launched in February 2017, LIS provides a great opportunity to not only extend the 

TRMM record of tropical lightning measurements, but also to expand coverage to the higher latitudes 

missed by the previous mission. LIS observations continue to support, and are used by, the global 

scientific research community, across a wide range of disciplines that include weather and extreme 

storms, climate studies, atmospheric chemistry, and lightning physics. LIS can also help calibrate and 

validate the observations from the new Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) operating on NOAA’s 

newest geostationary weather satellite, GOES-16.
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Recent Achievements

One strength of RapidScat was its ability to detect the diurnal cycle of wind over the oceans. New studies 

demonstrate the use of RapidScat, together with data from international platforms such as OceanSat2, 

Windsat, and Scatsat, to detect sub-diurnal (half a day) variability in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which 

improves our understanding of major climate phenomena, such as El Nino-Southern Oscillation. 

RapidScat’s ability to capture the diurnal cycle also allowed research to interpret the signals on the global 

coasts more accurately, properly distinguishing between the annual and diurnal variability. 

Scientists use CATS data in operational aerosol forecast models to improve air quality prediction and 

monitoring, and to improve hazard-warning capabilities for natural events (e.g., dust storms and volcanic 

eruptions). Multiple users, including NASA’s Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO), NRL, 

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Air Force Weather, and UK Met 

Office are actively engaged in using CATS data to improve aerosol and air quality forecasting. Volcanic 

plume tracking and monitoring and smoke plume tracking from large wildfires benefitted from 

improvements in forecast models, resulting from the use of CATS data.

The LIS instrument launched to the ISS in February 2017. Since its installation on the ISS, LIS has been 

continuously acquiring global lightning observations. The science and operations team for LIS 

successfully conducted the Post Launch Assessment Review (PLAR) in October 2017. Based on its 

successful on-orbit operations and its compliance with Level-1 science requirements, LIS entered the 

operational phase. Planning for a new release of the LIS science data is set for late CY 2017. Near-realtime (two minute) processing has been successful since mission start, and that data will be made available 

to interested users to complement operational forecast and aviation applications in data sparse regions 

such as over the ocean.
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This data product generated from CYGNSS shows surface 

wind speed prior to the landfall of Hurricane Harvey on 

26 Aug 2017. Hurricane Harvey is centered slightly offshore, in the region of highest wind speeds shown in red.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Venture Class Missions 146.6 -- 167.5 205.2 199.1 204.0 213.4

Other Missions and Data Analysis 62.3 -- 67.5 68.6 69.0 70.3 74.3

Total Budget 208.8 -- 235.0 273.7 268.2 274.3 287.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Earth Science System Pathfinder (ESSP)

program provides frequent, regular, 

competitively selected Earth science research 

opportunities that accommodate new and 

emerging scientific priorities and measurement 

capabilities. This results in a series of relatively 

low-cost, small-sized investigations and 

missions. Principal investigators whose 

scientific objectives support a variety of studies 

lead these missions, including studies of the 

atmosphere, oceans, land surface, polar ice 

regions, or solid Earth. 

ESSP projects include space missions and 

remote sensing instruments for space-based 

missions of opportunity or extended duration 

airborne science missions. The ESSP program 

also supports the conduct of science research 

utilizing data from these missions. ESSP projects often involve partnerships with other U.S. agencies 

and/or international organizations. This portfolio of missions and investigations provides opportunity for 

investment in innovative earth science that enhances NASA’s capability for better understanding the 

current state of the Earth system.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The Budget proposes to cancel the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 (OCO-3) project and place the 

instrument hardware in storage. Carbon dioxide measurements are currently being taken by NASA’s 

OCO-2 mission as well as the Japanese GOSAT satellite. Future measurements of carbon dioxide are 

planned by Japan and the European Space Agency.
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Measurements from NASA’s Earth Venture Mission-II, 

GeoCarb, will change our understanding of the carbon cycle’s 

terrestrial source/sink dynamics by providing high-spatial 

resolution daily mapping from geostationary orbit of the carbon 

dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide over much of the 

Americas. GeoCarb will help us understand why the global 

Carbon Cycle is changing, how gas emissions that trap heat vary 

with population, and how variations in the biosphere affect the 

natural uptake and emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. 

Measurements from NASA’s Earth Venture Mission-II, 

GeoCarb, will change our understanding of the carbon cycle’s 

terrestrial source/sink dynamics by providing high-spatial 

resolution daily mapping from geostationary orbit of the carbon 

dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide over much of the 

Americas. GeoCarb will help us understand why the global 

Carbon Cycle is changing, how gas emissions that trap heat vary 

with population, and how variations in the biosphere affect the 

natural uptake and emissions of carbon dioxide and methane. 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 146.6 -- 167.5 205.2 199.1 204.0 213.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s Earth Venture Class Missions

provide frequent flight opportunities for 

high-quality, low-cost earth science 

investigations that can be developed and 

flown in five years or less. NASA selects

the investigations through open

competitions to ensure broad community 

involvement and encourages innovative 

approaches. Successful investigations 

enhance our capability to understand the 

current state of the Earth system and 

enable continual improvement in the 

prediction of future changes. Solicitations 

will alternate between space-borne and 

airborne/suborbital opportunities.

NASA established the Venture Class 

project in response to recommendations in 

the 2007 National Academies’ report, 

Earth Science and Applications from 

Space: National Imperatives for the Next 

Decade and Beyond. The 2017 National 

Academies’ report, Thriving on Our 

Changing Planet: A Decadal Strategy for 

Earth Observation from Space, also 

endorses the Venture Class project. 
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The Earth Venture Class Missions include three components:

• Earth Venture Suborbital (EVS) investigations, which are sustained suborbital science 

investigations. NASA releases EVS solicitations every four years with a cost cap up to $150 

million in FY 2014 dollars, and selects multiple investigations within each call, individually 

capped up to $30 million. 

• Earth Venture Missions (EVM) are small space-based missions. NASA releases EVM 

solicitations every four years at a cost cap up to $166 million in FY 2018 dollars. 

• Earth Venture-Instruments (EVI) will fly on space-borne platforms. NASA releases EVI 

solicitations every 18 months at a cost cap up to $97 million in FY 2018 dollars.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The EVI-2 Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a 

Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) reduced the number of CubeSats planned for its constellation from 

twelve (12) to six (6) based on the PI’s assessment of mission implementation approaches to meet the 

science requirements.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

EVS:

The EVS-2 successfully deployed all planned missions for FY 2017. These missions include the 

following:

Atmospheric Carbon and Transport America (ACT-America) to the eastern and central U.S. during 

quarterly report two (Q2)

Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) on a global transit during Q2

COral Reef Airborne Laboratory (CORAL) to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef during Q1, Hawaii during 

Q2, and the Marianas Islands, Palau and the Florida Keys during Q3

North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) to the North Atlantic/St. John’s 

Newfoundland in Q4

Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) to Iceland, Norway and Greenland in Q2 and in Q4

ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES) to São Tomé and Principe 

Africa in Q4

EVM:

In December 2016, NASA launched the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) project. 
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NASA awarded the Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb) contract to the University of 

Oklahoma and approved the mission to enter formulation, Phase A. 

EVI:

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) project completed its Critical Design Review 

(CDR) and initiated hardware procurement and manufacturing activities and integration and subsystem 

testing. 

The Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) project completed its System Requirements Review 

(SRR), passed its KDP-B review, and entered its preliminary design and technology completion activities 

phase.

TROPICS completed its SRR and passed KDP-Band entered its preliminary design and technology 

completion activities phase. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

EVS:

The CORAL mission will complete KDP-F, and execute project closeout activities. The remaining five 

EVS-2 missions (ACT-America, Atom, NAAMES, OMG, and ORACLES) will continue data collection. 

NASA plans to release the solicitation for EVS-3.

EVM:

The CYGNSS project is in its operation and sustainment phase, Phase E, and providing measurements of 

ocean surface winds. 

The GeoCarb project will complete SRR, pass its KDP-B review, complete its Preliminary Design 

Review (PDR), and pass its KDP-C review.

EVI:

The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument will complete subsystem 

development and integration, initiate instrument-level testing, and continue data processing code 

development. NASA will release the Request for Proposal (RFP) for procuring a host and award the host 

services contract.

The ECOSTRESS project will complete payload development and NASA will install ECOSTRESS on 

the International Space Station (ISS).

The GEDI project will complete integration and begin instrument level testing. 

The MAIA project will conduct its PDR, pass its KDP-C review, and enter its final design and fabrication 

activities phase. 

The TROPICS project will complete its PDR, CDR, pass its KDP-C review, and enter its final design and 

fabrication activities phase. 
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NASA will release the EVI-5 solicitation and complete EVI-4 selection(s).

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

EVS:

EVS-3 investigations will begin operations.

EVM:

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) project will complete its prime mission.

The GeoCarb project will complete its CDR.

EVI:

NASA plans to deliver the TEMPO instrument to storage. The project will prepare for TEMPO 

integration onto its host spacecraft.

The GEDI project will complete payload development and NASA will install ECOSTRESS on the 

International Space Station (ISS). 

The MAIA project will complete its CDR. 

The TROPICS project will complete its System Integration Review (SIR)/Pre-Environmental Test 

Review (PER) and enter final assembly and test for the constellation.

Program Elements

Venture Class Future Missions

Earth Venture Class Future Mission funding supports the selection of new missions through AO 

solicitations, at intervals of every four years for EVS and EVM, and every 18 months for EVI. 

Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) (EVM-1, selected in 2012)

CYGNSS performs accurate measurements of ocean surface winds throughout the life cycle of tropical 

storms and hurricanes, leading to better weather forecasting. CYGNSS data is enabling scientists to probe 

from space key air-sea interaction processes that take place near the inner core of the storms, which are 

rapidly changing, and play large roles in the genesis and intensification of hurricanes. The CYGNSS 

measurements also provides information to the hurricane forecast community, potentially enabling better 

modeling to predict the strength of hurricanes as they develop.

CYGNSS’s eight micro-satellite observatories receive both direct and reflected signals from Global 

Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The direct GPS signals pinpoint CYGNSS observatory positions, 

while the reflected signals are indicative of ocean surface roughness. Scientists use both measurements to 

derive the critical measurement of wind speed. CYGNSS completed development and launched in 
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December 2016. CYGNSS entered the operational phase and will conduct its prime mission for 24 

months.

Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) (EVI-1, selected in 2012)

The TEMPO instrument will measure atmospheric pollution covering most of North America. A

commercial communications satellite will host the instrument and launch no earlier than 2021. On an 

hourly basis, TEMPO will measure atmospheric pollution from Mexico City to the Canadian tar/oil sands 

and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. TEMPO will provide measurements that include the key elements of 

air pollution chemistry, such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide, in the lowest part of the atmosphere. 

Measurements from geostationary orbit will capture the inherent high variability in the daily cycle of 

emissions and chemistry. Measuring across both time and space will create a revolutionary dataset that 

provides understanding and improves prediction of air quality and climate forcing.

NASA will procure the commercial host spacecraft service through the United States Air Force (USAF)

Space and Missile Systems Center Hosted Payload Solutions contract. In discussions with potential hosts, 

all identified concerns about the cost impact a late delivery by NASA would have on their spacecraft. In 

order to avoid the adverse pricing such risk would entail, the TEMPO project will delay the release of the 

RFP for hosting until after the completion of the instrument, with a projected launch date of no earlier 

than (NET) 2021.

Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) 

(EVI-2, selected in 2014)

ECOSTRESS will fill a key gap in our observing capability and advance core NASA and societal 

objectives. Specifically, ECOSTRESS will enable NASA to address the following science objectives: 

1) Identify critical thresholds of water use and water stress in key climate sensitive biomes; 

2) Detect the timing, location, and predictive factors leading to plant water uptake decline and/or 

cessation over the daily cycle; and 

3) Measure agricultural water consumption over the contiguous United States to improve drought 

estimation accuracy.

ECOSTRESS will observe changes in global vegetation from the ISS. The sensors will give scientists 

new ways to see how changes in climate or land use change affect forests and ecosystems. ECOSTRESS 

will use a high-resolution thermal infrared radiometer to measure plant evapotranspiration, and the loss of 

water from growing leaves and evaporation from the soil. These data will reveal how ecosystems change 

with climate, and provide a critical link between the water cycle and effectiveness of plant growth, both 

natural and agricultural.

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) LIDAR (EVI-2, selected in 2014)

GEDI will use a laser-based system to study a range of climates, including the observation of the forest 

canopy structure over the tropics, and the tundra in high northern latitudes. These data will help scientists 

better understand the changes in natural carbon storage within the carbon cycle from both human-
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influenced activities and natural climate variations. The instrument will be the first to systematically 

probe the depths of the forests from space by using a lidar instrument from the ISS and will provide a 

unique 3D view of Earth’s forests and provide information about their role in the carbon cycle. The GSFC 

will build and manage the instrument.

The ISS will host GEDI. The lidar instrument will be the first to systematically probe the depths of the 

forests from space and will provide a unique three-dimensional (3D) view of Earth’s forests and provide 

information about their role in the carbon cycle. 

Earth Venture Management

The Earth Venture Management provides for the development of AO solicitations and the Technical, 

Management, and Cost (TMC) evaluations of proposals received in response to the AO solicitations. 

Additionally, the management supports Common Instrument Interface activities to identify a common set 

of earth science instrument-to-spacecraft interface guidelines that will improve the likelihood that these 

instruments can take advantage of future hosted payload opportunities.

As funding and opportunities permit, NASA supports a small number of technology studies, in an effort 

to prepare these technologies to compete in future Earth Venture solicitations. In 2015, NASA selected 

two technology demonstration efforts from EVI-2:

• Green OAWL (GrOAWL): The GrOAWL Demonstrator effort is reducing risk for a potential 

future ATHENA‐OAWL Doppler Wind Lidar mission by providing validated airborne wind 

profiles measured with a 532-nanometer version of the Optical Autocovariance Wind Lidar 

instrument. The University of Colorado managed this work, and Ball Aerospace Corporation built

the GrOAWL instrument. NASA conducted flight tests in FY 2016 and completed data analysis 

in FY 2018.

• Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems-Demonstrator (TEMPEST-D): As a 

technology demonstration effort, a TEMPEST-Demonstrator is reducing the risk for a potential 

future TEMPEST mission that will provide the first global observations of the time evolution of 

precipitation. TEMPEST-D provides for a single six-unit CubeSat with the required set of five 

millimeter-wave frequencies from 89 to 183 GHz. With launch scheduled for the third quarter of 

FY 2018, TEMPEST-D will validate existing airborne and satellite-based millimeter-wave 

radiometer data through geolocation, calibration, and intercalibration of brightness temperatures 

with the Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GMI) and other available satellite 

radiometers. Colorado State University is leading this work, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

(JPL) is building the 5-frequency radiometer instrument.

Earth Venture Suborbital-2 (EVS-2; selected in 2014)

• EVS-2 investigations include:

• ATom explores the impact of human-produced air pollution on certain gases that trap heat. 

Airborne instruments will look at how various air pollutants affect atmospheric chemistry 

(including methane and ozone). 

• NAAMES seeks to improve predictions of how ocean ecosystems would change with temperature 

increases. The mission will study the annual life cycle of phytoplankton, and the impact small 
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airborne particles (composed of material derived from marine organisms) have on climate in the 

North Atlantic. 

• ACT-America quantifies the sources of regional carbon dioxide, methane and other gases, and 

documents how weather systems transport these gases in the atmosphere. 

• ORACLES investigates how smoke particles from massive biomass burning in Africa influences 

cloud cover over the Atlantic. Particles from this seasonal burning interact with permanent 

stratocumulus “climate radiators,” which are critical to the regional and global climate system. 

• OMG project studies the role of warmer, saltier Atlantic Ocean subsurface waters in Greenland 

glacier melting. The study will help pave the way for improved estimates of future sea level rise 

by observing changes in glacier melting where ice contacts seawater.

• The CORAL (selected in FY 2015) investigation will analyze the status of coral reefs and predict 

their future. It will provide the most extensive picture to date of the condition of a large portion of 

the world’s coral reefs.

Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) (EVI-3, Selected in 2016) 

MAIA will use a multi-angle imager to assess linkages between different airborne particulate matter types 

and human health (including adverse birth outcomes, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and 

premature death). This project will retrieve concentrations of fine and coarse particles, sulfate, nitrate, 

organic and black carbon, and mineral dust particles in major urban areas around the globe on a onekilometer grid. 

A low-Earth orbit commercial satellite will host the MAIA instrument. The MAIA instrument uses multiangle and multispectral radiometry and polarimetry to retrieve aerosol optical depths of different particle 

types. The MAIA science team will correlate the data with birth, death, and hospital records and will use

established epidemiological methodologies to correlate the exposure to particulate matter with adverse 

health outcomes.

Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a 

Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) (EVI-3, Selected in 2016)

TROPICS will make measurements over the tropical latitudes to observe the thermodynamics and 

precipitation structures of Tropical Cyclones (TCs) over much of the storm systems’ lifecycles. The 

measurements will provide nearly all-weather observations of 3D temperature and humidity, as well as,

cloud ice, precipitation horizontal structure and instantaneous surface rain rates. These measurements and 

the increased temporal resolution, provided by the CubeSat constellation, will enable better understanding 

of the TC lifecycles and the environmental factors that affect the intensification of TCs. 

TROPICS six CubeSats will each have a cross-track scanning multiband passive microwave radiometer in 

a 1U payload (1U, a CubeSat unit, is roughly equivalent to a 4-inch cubic box, or 10x10x10 cubic 

centimeters).
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Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb) (EVM-2, Selected in 2016)

GeoCarb will advance our understanding of Earth’s natural exchanges of carbon between the land, 

atmosphere, and ocean. The primary goals of the mission are to monitor plant health, vegetation stress 

throughout the Americas, and to probe, in unprecedented detail, the natural sources, sinks, and exchange 

processes that control carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane in the atmosphere. 

The PI-led mission will launch on a commercial communications satellite to make observations over the 

Americas from an orbit of approximately 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) above the equator. GeoCarb

will measure daily the total concentration of carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide in the 

atmosphere with a horizontal ground resolution of 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 kilometers). GeoCarb also will 

measure solar-induced fluorescence, a signal related directly to changes in vegetation photosynthesis and 

plant stress.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Dec 2017 EVS-3 (suborbital) solicitation released

Apr 2018 EVI-5 (instrument) solicitation released

Jun 2018 ECOSTRESS Instrument Delivery to ISS

2019 GEDI Instrument Delivery to ISS

2019 EVM-3 (mission) solicitation released

2019 TEMPO delivery to host spacecraft

2019 EVI-6 (instrument) solicitation released

2021 TEMPO launch readiness

2021 EVS-4 (suborbital) solicitation release

2021 MAIA launch readiness

2021 EVI-7 (instrument) solicitation released

2022 GeoCarb launch readiness

2022 EVI-8 (instrument) solicitation released

2023 EVM-4 (mission) solicitation released
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Program Management & Commitments

The Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) program at Langley Research Center (LaRC) manages the 

Venture Class projects. The “Provider” in the following table lists the PI institution for each project.

Program Element Provider

EVS-2: ATom

Provider: Harvard College

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): LaRC, ARC, GSFC, AFRC, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): NOAA

EVS-2: NAAMES

Provider: Oregon State University

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): LaRC, GSFC, ARC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVS-2: ACT-America

Provider: Pennsylvania State University

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): LaRC, GSFC, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVS-2: ORACLES

Provider: ARC

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): ARC, LaRC, GSFC, AFRC, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): University of Namibia

EVS-2: OMG

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL 

Performing Center(s): JPL, GSFC, AFRC, JSC

Cost Share Partner(s): Danish National Space Institute, Stockholm University

EVS-2: CORAL

Provider: Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL, AFRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVM-1: CYGNSS

Provider: University of Michigan

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVM-2: GeoCarb

Provider: University of Oklahoma

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GSFC, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A
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Program Element Provider

EVI-1: TEMPO

Provider: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): LaRC, GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVI-2: ECOSTRESS

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): USDA

EVI-2: GEDI

Provider: University of Maryland

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVI-3: TROPICS

Provider: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

EVI-3: MAIA

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA will issue Venture Class solicitations at intervals of every four years for EVS and EVM, and every 

18 months for EVI. NASA will award all Venture Class funds through full and open competition.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

CYGNSS: project management, 

development, integration and 

mission operations

Southwest Research Institute San Antonio, TX

TEMPO: development of 

instrument (ultraviolet-visible 

spectrometer)

Ball Aerospace & Technologies 

Corp. Boulder, CO

GeoCarb: project management, 

development, integration and 

mission operations

University of Oklahoma Norman, OK
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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Feb 2017 GEDI CDR Successful FY 2019 Q2

Performance SRB Mar 2017 MAIA SRR/IDR Successful FY 2018 Q2

Performance SRB May 2017 TROPICS SRR Successful Jun 2017

Performance SRB Sep 2017 GeoCarb SRR/MDR Successful FY 2018 Q3

Performance SRB FY 2018 Q1 TROPICS PDR TBD FY 2018 Q2

Performance SRB FY 2018 Q2 ECOSTRESS ORR TBD FY 2018 Q3

Performance SRB FY 2018 Q3 MAIA PDR TBD FY 2018 Q3

Performance SRB FY 2018 Q3 GeoCarb PDR TBD FY 2019 Q1

Performance SRB FY 2019 Q1 GeoCarb CDR TBD FY 2023 Q2

Performance SRB FY 2019 Q1 MAIA CDR TBD FY 2020 Q1

Performance SRB FY 2019 Q2 GEDI ORR TBD N/A

Performance SRB FY 2019 Q4 TROPICS ORR TBD N/A

Performance SRB FY 2020 Q2 TEMPO ORR TBD N/A

Performance SRB FY 2021 Q4 MAIA ORR TBD N/A

Performance SRB FY 2023 Q2 GeoCarb ORR TBD N/A
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

ESSP Missions Research 11.4 -- 12.5 16.0 17.5 19.7 23.5

Orbiting Carbon Observatory-3 18.0 -- 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Small Satellite Constellation Initiative 0.0 -- 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0

OCO-2 10.4 -- 11.4 11.0 10.2 10.4 10.7

Aquarius 2.8 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

GRACE 5.2 -- 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

CloudSat 7.9 -- 9.4 9.6 9.9 10.1 10.4

Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared 

Pathfinder Satellite Observations 

(CALIPSO)

6.7 -- 6.5 6.6 6.2 4.8 4.4

Total Budget 62.3 -- 67.5 68.6 69.0 70.3 74.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

ESSP Other Missions and Data Analysis projects include operating missions and mission-specific 

research. These innovative missions will enhance understanding of the current state of the Earth system 

and enable continual improvement in the prediction of future changes.

Mission Planning and Other Projects

ESSP MISSIONS RESEARCH

ESSP Missions Research provides funds for the science teams supporting ESSP operating missions. The 

science teams are comprised of competitively selected individual investigators who analyze data from the 

missions to address relevant science questions. 

Recent Achievements

A recent study suggests that Saharan dust modifies Atlantic marine stratocumulus clouds such that they 

cool the planet. Researchers find a strong seasonal variation, with the aerosol–cloud radiative effect 

switching from significantly negative during the boreal summer to weakly positive during boreal winter. 

This study used observational data for the time between 2004 and 2012, mainly from CALIPSO and from 

the Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate reanalysis dataset.

Aerosol indirect effects have uncertain, but potentially large, impacts on the Arctic energy budget. 

Researchers have reduced uncertainty in estimates of current-day Arctic net aerosol indirect effects. They 

achieved this by better constraining various characteristics of optically thin, liquid-containing clouds in 

clean, average, and aerosol-impacted conditions using a combination of CALIPSO and CloudSat data and 
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model output. The work provides a foundation for how future observational studies can evaluate model 

estimates of the aerosol indirect effect. In a recent publication investigators explained how the more than 

10 years of observations jointly collected by CloudSat and CALIPSO satellites clearly demonstrate the 

fundamental importance of the vertical structure of clouds and aerosol particles. These satellites increased 

the understanding of the influences of larger scale atmospheric circulation on aerosol distributions, the 

hydrological cycle, cloud-scale physics and the formation of major storm systems.

High-resolution satellite data from OCO-2 are revealing the subtle ways that carbon links everything on 

Earth -- the ocean, land, atmosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, and human activities. Using the first 2 1/2 

years of OCO-2 data, scientists published a special collection of five papers in October 2017 in the 

journal Science that demonstrates the breadth of this research. In addition to showing how drought and 

heat in tropical forests affected global carbon dioxide levels during the 2015 - 2016 El Niño, other results 

from these papers focus on ocean carbon release and absorption, urban emissions, and a new way to study 

photosynthesis. The last paper from the special collection gives an overview of the state of OCO-2 

science. 

Data from Mauna Loa Observatory and OCO-2 show that the 2015 - 2016 El Niño event coincides with 

the largest annual increase in carbon dioxide (about 3 ppm) since measurements began in the 1950s, even 

though human emissions were roughly the same as in the preceding year. A recent study shows that 

tropical continents were the primary source of that record increase of carbon dioxide, with about 2.5 

gigatons higher carbon emissions as compared to 2011, which is considered a normal year. In the 2015 -

2016 El Niño period, tropical South America, including the Amazon rainforest, was the driest recorded in 

the last 30 years. Trees went dormant or died, reducing photosynthesis and leaving more carbon in the 

atmosphere. African rainforests endured hotter-than-normal temperatures. Decomposition of dead trees 

increased, releasing more carbon to the atmosphere. In Southeast Asia, drought increased the size and 

duration of peat and forest fires, releasing more carbon to the atmosphere.

Researchers studied the total column atmospheric CO2 measurements from the OCO-2 instrument using 

observations over the eastern equatorial Pacific. Results show a significant reduction of CO2 due to 

reduced outgassing from the ocean at the onset of the 2015 - 2016 El Niño event, followed by an increase 

in CO2 due to enhanced respiration and biomass burning in South America. 

Using high spatial resolution OCO-2 images, scientists investigated localized sources and sinks of CO2 

associated with urban centers and volcanoes. On a single orbit, OCO-2 measurements enabled the 

differentiation of local sources approximately about six parts per million by volume (ppmv) over Los 

Angeles, USA. This means that the measurements can distinguish different sources of carbon of 

approximately six ppmv. Overall, on an average global scale, results showed researchers could distinguish 

different sources on the order of one ppmv with OCO-2.

NASA funded scientists used GRACE data to develop and publish a drought severity index (DSI) that 

monitors terrestrial water storage changes. This index has shown good agreement with existing monthly 

indices such as the Palmer Drought Severity Index, standardized precipitation and evapotranspiration 

index, and the normalized difference vegetation index, as well as surface soil moisture estimates, and insitu groundwater observations. GRACE data and DSI also incorporate the human impacts of groundwater 

withdrawal. The DSI could be a globally consistent and effective drought-monitoring tool, particularly 

where sparse ground observations (especially precipitation) limit traditional methods of drought 

monitoring.
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Scientists published the first quantification of depleting groundwater embedded in the world’s food trade 

by combining unique global, crop-specific estimates of nonrenewable groundwater abstraction with 

international food trade data. They found that food trade embedded approximately eleven percent of nonrenewable groundwater use for irrigation, of which Pakistan, the United States and India exported two 

thirds. The scientists used a global hydrological and water resources model to simulate crop water use for 

26 irrigated crop types, validated with groundwater data, country statistics, and NASA’s GRACE satellite 

observations. 

A recent study quantified the exchange of water between land and ocean (through precipitation, 

evaporation, and winds) and its impact on calculation of the contribution of hydrologic mass variability 

on sea level budget estimates. Taking advantage of GRACE measurements, the team estimated that 

because of climate changes, an additional 3200 Gt (1 Gigatonne = 109 Kilograms) of water has been 

stored on land since 2002. This net groundwater storage partially offsets water losses from melting ice 

sheets, glaciers, and groundwater extraction, and thus slowing down the rate of recent sea level rise by 

about 15 percent.

SMALL SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS INITIATIVE 

The Small Satellite Constellation Initiative focuses on increasing the use and utility of constellations of 

small satellites to acquire Earth observation data required for Earth system science research. NASA 

designed the initiative to enable, foster, and encourage spaceflight solutions for Earth science missions 

that involve the use of multiple, instrumented small satellites flying in various tight or loose formations, 

to achieve the quality and quantity of data required by the research and applications communities. The 

project will capitalize on the increasing availability of commercial, low-cost, miniaturized small satellites 

and instruments to investigate and demonstrate the science capabilities and programmatic robustness of 

small satellite constellations in comparison with traditional single-mission, multi-instrument satellite 

observatories.

Potential small satellite constellation activities include on-orbit technology validation and risk reduction 

for small instruments; fostering commercial launch services dedicated to transporting small payloads into 

orbit; funding competitive grants for small satellite proposals; and exploring governance models to 

incentivize Center involvement in purchasing small satellite constellation data products as appropriate.

Recent Achievements

In FY 2016, NASA released an RFI and conducted extensive market research. Five potential commercial 

suppliers of small satellites constellations data products responded. Of the five, one collected data, one 

had plans to launch constellations of small satellites and the last three did not have data products to offer 

or plans to launch constellations of small satellites. The market research activity continued in FY 2017 

identifying two new potential suppliers of data products.

NASA will issue a solicitation for small satellite constellation data products in the third quarter of FY 

2018. This solicitation aims to acquire and validate one-year worth of small satellite constellation data 

products, determine its value to the research community, and identify data policies for government use of 

the commercially acquired data products. 
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Operating Missions

OCO-2

The OCO-2 mission collects hundreds of thousands of precise carbon dioxide measurements across the 

globe each day from its vantage point in low Earth orbit. With these data, scientists are gaining greater 

insight into how much carbon dioxide the Earth emits by natural sources and human activities, and the 

natural processes removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This information may help decisionmakers to manage carbon dioxide emissions and reduce the human impact on the environment.

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) instrument has collected almost 1 million soundings 

globally each day since September 2014, completed its prime mission in October 2016, and is now in its 

first extended mission. The 2017 Earth Science Senior Review endorsed the OCO-2 mission for 

continued operations through 2020, and preliminarily, through 2023.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, NASA released new versions of the OCO-2 data products, with significantly improved scientific 

quality, and extending useful observations to the highest northern and southern latitudes. This release 

offers the opportunity for new investigations into the processes governing carbon exchange between the 

atmosphere and the Southern Ocean and the northern boreal forests. 

GRAVITY RECOVERY AND CLIMATE EXPERIMENT (GRACE)

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) measures minute changes in Earth’s gravity field by 

measuring micron-scale variations in the separation between the two spacecraft that fly in formation 220 

kilometers apart in low Earth orbit. Local changes in Earth’s mass cause the variations in gravitational 

pull. GRACE demonstrated a new paradigm of observations that utilizes ultra-small variations of Earth’s 

gravity field, as small as one-billionth the surface force of gravity. With this capability, GRACE was the

first mission to provide a comprehensive measurement of the monthly change in the ice sheets and major 

glaciers. GRACE provided significant new information on changes in water resources within river basins 

and aquifers worldwide, and measured the effects of major earthquakes around the world. NASA 

developed the twin GRACE satellites in collaboration with German Aerospace Center (DLR). 

The 2015 Earth Science senior review endorsed the GRACE mission for continued operations through 

2017 and preliminarily through 2019, or until re-entry.

Recent Achievements

In October 2017, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission ended science 

operations due to a failed battery. The mission was in operations for 15 years, greatly exceeding its 

planned 5-year prime mission. FY 2019 – FY 2020 funding will support final data processing and 

closeout activities.
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CLOUDSAT

CloudSat measures cloud characteristics to increase understanding of the role of clouds in Earth’s

radiation budget. This mission provides estimates of the percentage of Earth’s clouds that produce rain, 

provides vertically-resolved estimates of how much water and ice are in Earth’s clouds, and estimates

how efficiently the atmosphere produces rain from clouds. CloudSat collects information about the 

vertical structure of clouds and aerosols that other Earth-observing satellites do not collect. These data

improves models and provide a better understanding of the human impact on the atmosphere.

CloudSat launched in 2006 and is currently in extended operations. The 2017 Earth Science senior review 

endorsed the CloudSat mission for continued operations through 2020, and preliminarily, through 2023.

Recent Achievements

The CloudSat data record continues to reveal new and unique information about cloud and precipitation 

processes around the Earth. In 2017, CloudSat began the release of its improved Version 5 data products 

used to improve cloud and precipitation processes in weather forecasting models. Researchers have used 

CloudSat data to evaluate the accuracy of weather satellite in regions with strong horizontal and vertical 

wind shear, which create safety concerns for the aviation industry. The CloudSat project continues to 

collaborate with the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission to produce routinely a data 

product of coincident (at the same time) satellite overpasses to improve estimates of rain and snow around 

the globe.

CLOUD-AEROSOL LIDAR AND INFRARED PATHFINDER SATELLITE OBSERVATION 

(CALIPSO)

The CALIPSO mission provides the first comprehensive three-dimensional measurement record of 

aerosols, helping to better understand how aerosols form, evolve, and are transported over the globe. The 

mission provides data on the vertical structure of clouds, the geographic and vertical distribution of 

aerosols, and detects sub-visible clouds in the upper troposphere. CALIPSO also indirectly estimates the 

contribution of clouds and aerosols to atmospheric temperature.

Launched in 2006, CALIPSO is currently in extended operations. The 2017 Earth Science senior review 

endorsed the CALIPSO mission for continued operations through 2020, and preliminarily, through 2023.

Recent Achievements

In FY 2017, the CALIPSO mission produced and released a new version of the Infrared Imaging 

Radiometer observational record with improved calibration that will provide more accurate retrievals of 

cirrus cloud properties. The mission also developed new data algorithms that will enable studies on 

sulfuric acid aerosols in the stratosphere and understand the three-dimensional distribution of clouds over 

the globe. The mission further supported the calibration and validation of the Cloud-Aerosol Transport 

System lidar on the International Space Station, field campaigns investigating phytoplankton ecosystems 

in the North Atlantic Ocean, the impact of smoke particles on clouds off the coast of southwest Africa, 

and how cirrus clouds warm and cool the atmosphere.
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Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas Coast on 25 

August 2017 then stalled, dumping up to 50 inches of rain in 

some areas. This image shows Rain Rate (Ascending) from 

GMI/GPM captured around 11:50 UTC (6:50AM CDT) on 

25 August 2017, where darker reds indicate higher rainfall 

rates, overlaid on a reflectance image from VIIRS/Suomi 

NPP captured around 18:55 UTC (1:55 PM CDT). Image 

created by NASA Worldview. 

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 204.9 -- 196.9 208.7 225.0 231.6 237.1

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Earth Science Multi-Mission Operations 

(MMO) program acquires, processes, 

preserves, and distributes observational data 

from operating spacecraft to support Earth 

Science research focus areas. The MMO 

program primarily accomplishes this via the 

Earth Observing System Data and Information 

System (EOSDIS), which has been in 

operations since 1994. The EOSDIS team 

creates earth science data products from 

satellite, airborne and field campaign data that 

grow at the rate of up to 16 terabytes per day.

NASA archives Earth Science information at 

Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) 

located across the United States. The DAACs 

specialize by science discipline, and make 

their data available to researchers and 

industries around the world.

The MMO program supports the data archive 

and distribution for upcoming Earth Science 

missions. It recently began acquiring and distributing data from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel

missions under a bilateral agreement with the European Union. EOSDIS data centers also support Earth 

Ventures Suborbital campaigns. In response to the 2007 National Academies decadal survey a system 

plan for 2017 and beyond will take into account evolutionary needs for new missions in development, 

including ICESat-2, NISAR, and SWOT. These investments will enable the system to keep 

technologically current, and incorporate new research data and services.

Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science (ACCESS) supports the evolution of 

EOSDIS by investing in technology to enhance the analysis, delivery, and preservation of Earth science. 

NASA solicits proposals in this competitive program element every two years. The intent is to identify 

and develop promising technology prototypes into operational tools to infuse into the EOSDIS. 
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The MMO project guides a broad effort to leverage the Federal Government’s extensive, freely available 

Earth science data resources to stimulate innovation and private-sector entrepreneurship. This effort 

works closely with many federal agencies to make Earth science datasets and resources discoverable 

through https://www.data.gov. 

For more information, go to http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/earth-science-data.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The EOSDIS archives grew to over 24 Petabytes. EOSDIS distributed over 1.3 billion data products to 

2.9 million users around the world. The 2017 EOSDIS American Customer Satisfaction Index score was 

78 – considered in the “very good” range. EOSDIS provided data stewardship to over 11,000 unique data 

products from more than 100 instruments, available to users worldwide.

EOSDIS DAACs supported Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) and several 

instruments deployed on the International Space Station (ISS), including Land Information System (LIS) 

and Stratospheric Aerosol Gas Experiment (SAGE-III). The project has also prepared for the upcoming 

deployment of Total Sand Spectral Solar Irradiance (TSIS-1) and Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring 

Pollution (TEMPO) missions.

Studies continued to evaluate the cost, technical performance, and security implications of utilizing 

commercial cloud computing technology for core EOSDIS functions. Early results from the evaluations 

demonstrated commercial cloud environments are viable for operation of science systems. One benefit of 

the prototype activities is the EOSDIS search engine seamlessly migrated into a commercial cloud 

computing environment, increasing performance and reducing costs with no impact to users. The 

EOSDIS search engine provides the ability to search over 33,000 data collections with 97 percent of 

queries completing in less than one second. 

EOSDIS continued expanding the NASA Sentinel Gateway to support data from multiple European 

Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel missions. It is acquiring data from Sentinel-1A, 1-B and 3-A. The gateway 

transfers data to the appropriate DAACs for archive and distribution to the NASA science user 

community. 

EOSDIS released open source software for the Earthdata Search Client (EDSC), Common Metadata 

Repository (CMR), Global Image Browse Services (GIBS), and Worldview.

Selected MEaSURES accomplishments in FY 2017 include:

Produced a global, 25+ yearlong consistent time series of sea level, both in along track form and 

uniformly gridded. Consistent processing of altimetry data from 1993 to 2016 of all altimetry satellites, 

measuring sea surface height every 10 days, developed this climate record.

The Greenland Ice Mapping Project developed a consistent, multi-sensor monthly-to-decadal scale set of 

Earth Science Data Records that capture 21st century glacier change (2000–present) using optical and 
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radar data. Greenland Ice Mapping Project products have documented a large degree of glacier variability, 

while helping to establish that there is less potential for run-away ice loss than was initially feared when 

observations of rapid change were first made.

The Freeze/Thaw Earth System Data Record quantifies daily landscape freeze/thaw state dynamics over 

all global land areas where seasonal frozen temperatures are a significant constraint to ecosystem 

processes and land surface water mobility. The data set encompasses all land areas affected by seasonal 

frozen temperatures (~93 million square kilometers) and extends over more than 37 years (1979 to 2016), 

representing one of the longest satellite environmental data records in existence.

The global Web-Enabled Landsat Data record project generated large area 30-meter Landsat composited 

mosaics with a monthly and annual reporting frequency for the entire earth’s terrestrial surface except 

Antarctica. The monthly and annual products provide consistent 30-meter data. Researchers use the data 

to derive land cover as well as geophysical and biophysical products.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The MMO project is supporting ICESat-2, GRACE-FO, and ECOSTRESS with increased capacity and 

new capabilities at the National Snow & Ice Data Center, Physical Oceanography, and Alaska Satellite 

Facility DAACs. MMO is also implementing and testing capabilities required for archive and distribution 

of the data from the NISAR and SWOT missions.

To address anticipated growth in both the EOSDIS data ingest rate as well as the overall archive volume, 

EOSDIS is continuing to examine the effectiveness of using a commercial cloud to ingest, archive, 

process, distribute, and manage the anticipated large volumes of new mission data. EOSDIS is developing 

a lightweight cloud-native framework (Cumulus) for data ingest, archive, distribution, and management 

within a NASA security compliant commercial cloud environment. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

MMO will expand its capabilities to support data from new missions, including GEDI and MAIA. MMO 

will deploy Cumulus into a commercial cloud environment for management and distribution of highvalue data sets from MODIS in parallel to current DAAC systems. Cumulus will also support ground 

system interface testing for the high volume NISAR and SWOT missions.

Program Elements

EARTH SCIENCE MULTI-MISSION OPERATIONS

This project funds the evolution of EOSDIS elements, aimed at improving the efficiency and 

effectiveness of EOSDIS while reducing the cost. It also supports the twelve nationwide DAAC 

installations that collect, disseminate, and archive earth science data. Each DAAC focuses on a specific 

Earth system science discipline and provides users with data products, services, and data-handling tools 

unique to that specialty.
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• The Alaska Synthetic Aperture Radar Facility collects data and information on sea ice, polar 

processes, and geophysics;

• The GSFC Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center collects information on 

atmospheric composition, atmospheric dynamics, global precipitation, ocean biology, ocean 

dynamics, and solar irradiance;

• The LaRC DAAC collects data on Earth’s radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, and atmospheric

chemistry;

• The Land Processes DAAC collects land processes and land cover change data;

• The National Snow and Ice Data Center collects snow and ice data, as well as environmental 

information about the cryosphere and climate;

• The Oak Ridge National Laboratory DAAC collects data on biogeochemical dynamics and 

ecological data for studying environmental processes;

• The Physical Oceanography DAAC collects information on oceanic processes and air-sea 

interactions;

• The Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center collects information on human dimensions 

including population, sustainability, multilateral environmental agreements, natural hazards, and 

poverty; 

• The Crustal Dynamics Data Center collects information focused on solid earth and geodesy data;

• The Ocean Biology Progressing Group produces and distributes ocean biology and 

biogeochemistry products;

• The Global Hydrology Research Center provides hydrological cycle and severe weather research 

data and information; and

• The Level 1 and Atmosphere Data Center provides a comprehensive suite of Moderate 

Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite

(VIIRS) atmospheric products.

EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (EOSDIS)

The EOSDIS project provides science data to a wide community of users, including NASA, Federal 

agencies, international partners, academia, and the public. EOSDIS provides users with the services and 

tools they need in order to use NASA’s earth science data in research and creation of models. EOSDIS 

archives and distributes data through standardized science data products, using algorithms and software 

developed by Earth Science investigators.

The EOSDIS project also funds research opportunities related to EOSDIS. ACCESS projects increase the 

interconnectedness and reuse of key information-technology software and services in use across the 

spectrum of earth science investigations. ACCESS also supports the deployment of data and information 

systems and services that enable the freer movement of data and information. ACCESS researchers 

develop needed tools and services to aid in measurable improvements to Earth science data access and 

usability.

MAKING EARTH SYSTEM DATA RECORDS FOR USE IN RESEARCH ENVIRONMENTS 

(MEASURES)

The overall objective of MEaSUREs is to provide Earth science higher-level data products and services 

driven by NASA’s Earth science goals. 
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These data products, Earth Science Data Records, are critical for: understanding Earth System processes; 

assessing variability, long-term trends, and changes in the Earth System; and providing input and 

validation means to modeling efforts.

MEaSUREs emphasizes linking together multiple satellites into a constellation, developing the means of 

utilizing a multitude of data sources to form a coherent time series, and facilitating the use of NASA’s 

extensive data in the development of comprehensive Earth system models. In addition, MEaSUREs 

projects include infusion or deployment of applicable science tools that contribute to data product quality 

improvement, consistency, merging or fusion, or understanding.

Program Schedule

The MMO program solicits research opportunities approximately every two years for ACCESS and every 

five years for MEaSUREs.

Date Significant Event

Q1 FY 2018 ROSES ACCESS Solicitation Released

Q1 FY 2020 ROSES ACCESS Solicitation Released

Q2 FY 2022 ROSES MEaSUREs Solicitation Released

Program Management & Commitments

The Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program at GSFC provides program management for the MMO 

program.

Program Element Provider

EOSDIS core system, and 

Evolution of EOSDIS upgrades

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

DAACs

Provider: Various

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC, LaRC, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), 

JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

Research opportunities related to EOSDIS and MEaSUREs are available through NASA’s ROSES

announcements.
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MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

EOSDIS Evolution & Development Raytheon Riverdale, MD

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality American Customer 

Satisfaction Index 2017

Survey current 

EOSDIS users to 

assess current status 

and improve future 

services

Successful 2018 

annually 
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Developed at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, 

the Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned 

Nanotubes (RAVAN) CubeSat launched into low-Earth 

orbit on Nov. 11, 2016. Designed to measure the amount of 

reflected solar and thermal energy emitted into space, 

RAVAN employs two technologies that have never before 

been used on an orbiting spacecraft: carbon nanotubes 

that absorb outbound radiation and a gallium phase 

change blackbody for calibration. RAVAN remains 

healthy and continues to collect data. (Image Credit: 

William Swartz / JHU-APL)

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 62.9 -- 59.7 61.6 64.2 67.8 69.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Advanced technology plays a major role in 

enabling Earth science research and 

applications. The Earth Science Technology 

Program (ESTP) enables previously infeasible 

science investigations; improves existing 

measurement capabilities; and reduces the cost, 

risk, and/or development times for earth science 

instruments and information systems.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES 

IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The ESTP worked on 141 active projects in FY 

2017. For projects eligible to do so, 57 percent

advanced at least one Technology Readiness 

Level (TRL) during the fiscal year. In addition, 

several projects, past and present, have been 

infused into science measurements, airborne 

campaigns, data systems, or other follow-on 

activities during the year. For example, the 

GeoCARB mission will utilize Tropospheric Infrared Mapping Spectrometers for atmospheric CO profile 

measurements developed under the 2004 Instrument Incubator Program. 

The program awarded 17 proposals through the 2016 Instrument Incubator Program element solicitation 

and work commenced in FY 2017. The program released the Advanced Information Systems Technology 

(AIST) program element solicitation and selected 21 proposals with work to commence in FY 2018.

The In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST) program element launched two 

technology demonstrations in FY 2017. The first, launched in November 2016, was the Radiometer 

Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) CubeSat. RAVAN demonstrated a small, 
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accurate radiometer to measure the strength of the Earth's outgoing radiation across the entire spectrum of 

energy, from the ultraviolet to the far infrared. The second, IceCube, launched as well, and subsequently 

deployed from, the International Space Station in April 2017. IceCube has demonstrated a new 

submillimeter wave radiometer technology and took, for the first time, global measurements of cloud ice 

at 883 GHz.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In January 2018 the National Research Council of the National Academies released new strategic 

direction in the form of the latest Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space. As was 

the case with the 2007 decadal survey, NASA expects that investments made through the ESTP will be 

available immediately to address the measurement goals outlined in the updated version. 

New solicitations are planned for FY 2018 and beyond that will aid in fully realizing the updated 

direction. The program made 12 selections under the Advanced Component Technologies (ACT) program 

element in early FY 2018. The In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST) program 

element and the Advanced Information Systems Technology (AIST) program element will release 

solicitations.

The program also plans technology demonstration launches in FY 2018 within the InVEST program 

element: three launches planned during the second quarter of FY 2018 include the HyperAngular 

Rainbow Polarimeter (HARP), RainCube, and the CubeSat Radiometer Radio Frequency Interference 

Technology (CubeRRT). 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The InVEST program element plans to launch the Microwave Radiometer Technology Acceleration 

(MiRaTA) 3-unit CubeSat in November 2018. The program anticipates the selection of awards under the 

AIST and InVEST program elements as well as the release of a solicitation by the IIP program element. 

The new awards under IIP will be selected and commence work in FY 2020. The InVEST program 

element also plans the launch of the Compact Infrared Radiometer in Space (CIRiS) CubeSat in early 

FY 2019.
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Program Elements

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES (ATI)

This project enables development of critical component and subsystem technologies for instruments and 

platforms, mostly in support of the Earth Science decadal survey. Current awards focus on areas such as 

space-qualified laser transmitters, passive optical technologies, and microwave and calibration 

technologies. Other awards support measurements of solar radiance, ozone, aerosols, and atmospheric gas 

columns for air quality and ocean color for coastal ecosystem health and climate emissions. 

The InVEST program element selects new technologies to validate in space prior to use in a science 

mission. This is necessary because the space environment imposes stringent conditions on components 

and systems, some of which we cannot test on the ground or in airborne systems. Validation of earth 

science technologies in space will further reduce the risk of new technologies in future Earth Science 

missions.

INSTRUMENT INCUBATOR

This project develops instrument and measurement techniques at the system level, including laboratory 

breadboards and operational prototypes that often lead to ground or airborne demonstrations. NASA 

currently funds 17 Instrument Incubator efforts. These instrument prototypes support several 

measurements such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ocean color, and solar spectrum from ultraviolet 

to infrared for earth science. Instrument Incubator supports the development of instrument design and 

prototyping through laboratory and/or airborne demonstrations for innovative measurement techniques 

that have the highest potential to meet the measurement capability requirements of the NASA earth 

science community in both the optical and the microwave spectrum.

ADVANCED INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY (AIST)

This project develops end-to-end information technologies that enable new Earth observation 

measurements and information products. The technologies help process, archive, and access, visualize, 

communicate, and understand science data. Currently, AIST activities focus on four areas needed to 

support future earth science measurements:

• Concept Development of Improved Sensor Measurements, which includes tools to help assess 

various types of measurements and how to make them, including technologies that aid in the 

design and analysis of quantitative observations;

• Data Acquisition and Management, which refers to the collection and management of highvolume and/or high-rate data and supports the building and operation of infrastructures that are 

necessary for sensor data acquisition;

• Data Product Generation, which is the creation of interdisciplinary products that aggregate 

observational data, thus improving the scientific value of the data at reduced costs; and

• Exploitation of Data for Earth Science and Applications, which focuses on the transformation of 

data products into actionable information and includes modeling and visualization tools, as well 

as collaborative environments. In general, projects aim to advance the discovery, access, and use 

of sensor data and model output within the Earth Science community.
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Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Q2 FY 2017 ROSES-2017 solicitation

Q1 FY 2018 ROSES-2017 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2018 ROSES-2018 solicitation

Q1 FY 2019 ROSES-2018 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2019 ROSES-2019 solicitation

Q1 FY 2020 ROSES-2019 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2020 ROSES-2020 solicitation

Q1 FY 2021 ROSES-2020 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

Q2 FY 2021 ROSES-2021 solicitation

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Instrument Incubator

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): GSFC, JPL, LaRC, ARC, AFRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Advanced Information Systems

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): GSFC, JPL, LaRC, MSFC, ARC, GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Advanced Technology 

Initiatives

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): GSFC, JPL, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA primarily procures tasks through full and open competition, such as through the ROSES 

announcements. The solicitation of technology investments is competitive and selected from NASA 

Centers, industry, and academia.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

None.
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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance

NASA Advisory 

Council Earth 

Science Advisory 

Committee

2012

Review for success 

in infusion of new 

technologies and 

participation of 

universities in 

developing the new 

generation of 

technologists.

The committee was 

pleased with the 

technology program; 

it recommended 

focusing on reducing 

cost in missions and 

enabling specific 

measurements. 

2018
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The Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) uses NASA satellite data 

and shows the beginning of drought 2-4 weeks before plant 

stress shows up in current drought indicators and vegetative 

indices. The information gives farmers considerable added lead 

time to offset effects of drought. NOAA adopted this ESI, 

providing continued operational support and information feeds 

to stakeholders. The ESI index for July 4, 2016 in the image 

shows red shading indicating lower than average 

evapotranspiration rates; green indicates higher rates. 

Image Source: NOAA Office of Satellite Products and 

Operations (NASA/SMD/ESD/Applied Sciences sponsored the 

project that enabled this capability as well as the transition.)

 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 39.4 -- 53.1 53.3 53.9 56.3 57.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The NASA Applied Sciences program 

leverages NASA Earth Science satellite 

measurements and new scientific knowledge 

to enable innovative and practical uses by 

public and private sector organizations. It 

supports near-term uses of earth science 

knowledge, discovers and demonstrates new 

applications, facilitates adoption of 

applications, and builds capabilities.

Applied Sciences projects improve 

decision-making activities to help the 

Nation better manage its resources, improve 

quality of life, and strengthen the economy. 

NASA develops Earth science applications 

in collaboration with end-users in public, 

private, and academic organizations.

Examples of these applications include:

• Use of wildfire detection data and 

progression predictions by the U.S. Forest 

Service to improve determination of fire 

boundaries and expedite restoration of key 

ecosystems;

• Inclusion of satellite data in The 

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention’s Environmental Public Health 

Tracking Network data for county-level UV 

exposure information;
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• Application of land cover information by the Nature Conservancy to conduct a reverse auction, 

pay landowners, and increase prime habitat for migrating wild birds;

• Support local governments to use satellite-based land-surface temperature data, emissivity data, 

and imagery to identify populations most vulnerable to extreme heat and guide service efforts;

• Use of satellite images and data to support companies’ fishing operations and support sustainable 

fisheries; and

• Use of satellite observations of volcanic ash to inform air traffic controllers and the aviation 

industry for hazards along major airplane routes.

The program supports the sustained use of these products in the decision-making process of user 

organizations. The program also encourages potential users to envision and anticipate possible 

applications from upcoming satellite missions and to provide input to mission development teams to 

increase the societal benefits of NASA missions.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

In FY 2017, the South Dakota Department of Health used information products about the West Nile virus 

based on Terra’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument, Landsat, and 

North American Land Data Assimilation System to help establish priorities for mosquito control and 

disease prevention activities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency used Aura’s Ozone Monitoring 

Instrument nitrogen dioxide data in its Air Trends Report, marking the first time the report included 

satellite data. The National Weather Service used MODIS and the Joint Polar Satellite System Visible 

Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) vegetation indices, Landsat multispectral composites, and 

other Earth observations to enhance its Storm Damage Assessment Toolkit to help refine tornado, severe 

thunderstorm, and other damage surveys used by downstream partners. The United Nations Great Apes 

Survival Partnership expanded it use of a SERVIR-developed database of the world’s tropical rainforest 

biomass, helping guide rainforest preservation and great ape conservation in Africa. 

NASA used the vantage point of space to support the response to 106 national and international disasters. 

These disasters include the response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in late FY 2017. Information 

products derived from Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP), MODIS, Soil Moisture Active 

Passive (SMAP), Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM), Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic 

Aperture Radar, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Advanced Land Observing Satellite, 

Italian Space Agency’s Constellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation, 

Copernicus/Sentinels, and other sources assisted the National Guard, FEMA, State officials, and others in 

disaster response efforts, such as the characterization of flood extent, power outages, and impacts to areas 

of critical infrastructure. Early in FY 2017, NASA supported the response to Hurricane Matthew 

flooding. Drawing on information from Suomi NPP, SMAP, Land Information System, MODIS, and 

GPM, the NASA Disasters team helped response agencies identify areas of saturated soils that were prone 

to flash flooding and generate flood extent maps; information from Suomi NPP and VIIRS also provided 

crucial insights for detecting which communities had lost power.
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The DEVELOP program element an endeavor for young professionals to work with user organizations to 

apply Earth science data, included 352 people in 73 projects; their work involved 135 unique partner 

organizations and served efforts in 38 U.S. states. DEVELOP’s training endeavor on remote sensing for 

professionals conducted 18 virtual and in-person trainings, including a first-ever training on synthetic 

aperture radar that had record attendance. The trainings reached over 4,800 people, including people in all 

50 U.S. states, over 125 countries, and hundreds of private sector organizations. The SERVIR program, 

managed jointly with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a Service 

Planning Toolkit to support user engagement in Earth observations tool development and to increase tool 

sustainability. 

The Applied Sciences program manages NASA’s 2017 International Space Apps Challenge. The focus of 

the Challenge was on Earth science data, and involved a record 25,000 participants across 69 countries 

and produced over 2,000 solutions.

The Applied Sciences program selected the independent, nonpartisan organization Resources for the 

Future to lead a multi-disciplinary organizational consortium. They began work to develop analytic 

methods for quantifying the socioeconomic benefits from uses of Earth observations. In addition, the 

program selected the University of Maryland to lead a multi-organization consortium to advance uses of 

Earth observations by domestic and international organizations to improve food security and agriculture 

decisions. Applied Sciences solicited, reviewed, and selected projects related to the Group on Earth 

Observations, leading efforts to advance U.S. interests. The program issued a solicitation for projects 

addressing applications and decision support for public health and air quality. The Health and Air Quality 

Applied Sciences Team, selected tiger team projects for focused efforts supporting priority, short-term 

needs in the health and air quality management communities.

The Applications project also engaged the applications community to expand knowledge about NASA’s 

Earth science missions and in planning for upcoming satellites. The SWOT and NISAR missions held 

applications workshops; ICESat-2 conducted a focus session on sea level rise and continued work with 

Early Adopters to apply the data and information; HyspIRI and ECOSTRESS held science and 

applications meetings; NISAR developed 16 examples of potential applications; PACE created a series of 

applications concepts; SWOT and ICESat-2 engaged users at a American Water Resources Association 

symposium; GPM held an agricultural applications workshop; and GRACE created a user guideline to 

make GRACE data applications easier.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The Applications project will complete projects and deliver results for nine projects focused on wildland 

fires in the pre-fire, active-fire, and post-fire phases. The program will deliver results in decision-support 

projects focused on uses of Earth observations in disasters. 

Together with USAID, NASA will announce a new hub serving Amazonia and South America for the 

SERVIR program element in Capacity Building project. SERVIR will hold its SERVIR Annual Global 

Exchange event to share applications experiences and examples across its four international hubs. 

DEVELOP will again sponsor three terms for applications projects. Applied Remote Sensing Training 

will continue its introductory and advanced level webinars, in-person trainings, and train-the-trainer 

series; it expects to reach people in all 50 states and over 100 countries.
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The Disaster Support project, and the Applications project, will issue solicitations and select proposals for 

new applications projects related to disasters, health and air quality, and water resources management. 

The Applications project will also implement a joint solicitation with the Earth Science Division’s 

Research & Analysis program focused on enabling Earth science community support to the United 

Nations Sustainable Development Goals. FY 2018 will be the first full year of the applications 

consortium for food security and applications as well as for projects related to the GEO Work 

Programme.

The Applications project will continue its engagement with the applications community as part of current 

and future NASA Earth science missions, and it will support satellite mission teams to implement new 

guidance on the inclusion of applications in flight mission concepts. The project will review its 

communications efforts. The project will have the first results from the consortium on socioeconomic 

impact assessments. In FY 2018, the project will conclude a dedicated Wildland Fires applications area 

and shift those activities into the Ecological Forecasting and the Disaster applications areas.

Applied Sciences will deliver results in projects focused on water resource decisions with an emphasis on 

drought. The projects address advances in the long-term (30-180 day) outlooks of water supply anomalies 

and their effective use by water managers, their organizations, and decision-makers. The program will 

deliver results in projects focused on use of Earth observations in health and air quality, and the Health 

and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team will deliver results from its tiger team projects. 

FY 2018 will be the first full year for work on agriculture and food security, for work supporting the 

Group on Earth Observations' Work Programme, and for work on the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Program will have the first results from the consortium on socioeconomic impact assessments. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Sixteen projects in the second SERVIR Applied Sciences Team will deliver results on projects done in 

partnership with regional hubs in Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Lower Mekong River, and HimalayanHindu Kush; the projects address food security, weather and climate, disasters, and water management. 

FY 2019 will also likely be the first full year for the new Amazonia SERVIR hub. 

Eleven projects in the Ecological Forecasting applications area and eight projects in the Water Resources 

applications area will produce results. The Applications project will deliver results from core Health and 

Air Quality Applied Sciences Team projects focused on use of Earth observations in health and air 

quality. Projects supporting the U.S. contributions to the GEO Work Programme will deliver initial 

results.
Science: Earth Science

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Program Elements

CAPACITY BUILDING

The Capacity Building project enhances U.S. and developing countries’ capacity, including human, 

scientific, technological, institutional, and resource capabilities, to make decisions informed by earth 

science data and models. Capacity Building builds skills in current and future workforce, and it creates 

opportunities in under-served areas to broaden the benefits of Earth observations. This project supports 

training, information product development, internships, data access tools, short-term application test 

projects, user engagement, and partnership development. This project has three primary elements: 

SERVIR for supporting developing countries, ARSET for professional-level training on Earth 

observations, and DEVELOP for workforce development through hands-on internships with state and 

local governments.

MISSION AND APPLIED RESEARCH

The Mission and Applied Research project enables involvement by applications-oriented users in the 

planning, development, and other activities of Earth Science satellite missions. The Mission and Applied 

Research project enables end user engagement to identify applications early and throughout mission life 

cycle, integrate end-user needs in design and development, enable user feedback, and broaden advocacy. 

Mission and Applied Research organizes community workshops to identify priority needs as well as 

studies to inform design trade-offs and identify ways to increase the applications value of missions. In this 

project, Applied Sciences advises flight projects on activities to develop the applications dimension of the 

mission to help broaden benefits and maximize the return from the investment in the mission.

DISASTER SUPPORT

The Disaster Support project enables development of innovative applications using NASA satellite 

mission data to ensure timely, valuable support to responders when disasters occur. The Disaster Support 

project sponsors the use and integration of Earth observations in disaster-related organizations’ decisions 

and actions, including use of feasibility studies, in-depth projects, workshops, and needs assessments. The 

project also sponsors activities to improve a preparatory-based approach to enhance value and usability of 

NASA Earth Science products in support of disaster response and recovery. This project pursues 

partnerships with disaster groups that can carry forward NASA-developed information and tools to 

support the responders they serve.

APPLICATIONS

The Applications project organizes its development activities on priority themes related to societal and 

economic topics important to end user communities and their management, policy, and business activities. 

The Applications project sponsors the integration of Earth observations in community organizations’ 

decisions and actions. Specific topics within an area evolve to reflect new priorities and opportunities. 

There are four formal applications areas in Ecosystems, Health, Water Resources, and Food Security. The 

project will conduct ad hoc activities on other themes and formalize areas when warranted or additional 

resources are available. Each applications area supports feasibility studies, in-depth projects, applied 
Science: Earth Science

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ES-100

science teams, consortia, workshops, and needs assessments. Each applications area participates in major 

conferences and events that their partners attend in order to meet and engage managers and users.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

FY 2018 Q2 ROSES-2018 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

FY 2019 Q2 ROSES-2019 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

FY 2020 Q2 ROSES-2020 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

FY 2021 Q2 ROSES-2021 selection no earlier than six months of receipt of proposals

FY 2022 Q2 ROSES-2022 selection no earlier than six months after receipt of proposals

FY 2023 Q2 ROSES-2023 selection no earlier than six months after receipt of proposals

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Applications

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): ARC, GSFC, JPL, LaRC, MSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, NOAA, USGS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Bureau of Land Management, 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Capacity Building

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): ARC, GSFC, JPL, LaRC, MSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): USAID

Disaster Support

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): GSFC, JPL, LaRC, MSFC, 

Cost Share Partner(s): Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NOAA, 

USDA, USGS, USAID

Mission and Applied Research

Provider: Various

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): ARC, GSFC, JPL, LaRC, MSFC, 

Cost Share Partner(s): USDA, CNES, ISRO, Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Science: Earth Science

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Acquisition Strategy

NASA bases the Earth Science Applied Science acquisitions on full and open competition. Grants are 

peer reviewed and selected based on NASA research announcements and other related announcements.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Relevance

Applied Sciences 

Advisory 

Committee

June 2017

Review strategy and 

implementation. 

Reports to NASA 

SMD/Earth Science 

Division Director.

Review examples of 

Applications topic in 

NAS Continuity 

Study

Feb 2018; 

semi-annual 

Relevance

Applied Sciences 

Advisory 

Committee

February 

2018 

Review strategy and 

implementation. 

Reports to NASA 

SMD/Earth Science 

Division Director.

TBD Feb 2020; 

semi-annual
Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE

PS-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Planetary Science Research 230.1 -- 258.0 247.6 247.6 247.6 247.6

Planetary Defense 60.0 -- 150.0 150.0 150.0 150.0 150.0

Lunar Discovery and Exploration 19.0 -- 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0

Discovery 194.6 -- 381.2 476.6 375.0 355.6 348.5

New Frontiers 134.0 -- 130.2 163.7 245.0 327.6 388.4

Mars Exploration 647.0 -- 601.5 529.7 371.9 290.8 215.3

Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds 359.5 -- 285.6 213.8 373.3 372.5 375.5

Technology 183.3 -- 210.2 200.2 200.0 200.0 200.0

Total Budget 1827.5 -- 2234.7 2199.6 2180.8 2162.1 2143.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Planetary Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH ........................................................................PS-3

Other Missions and Data Analysis ...................................................................................... PS-7

PLANETARY DEFENSE .........................................................................................PS-11

Double Asteroid Redirection Test [Formulation]................................................................PS-13

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-19

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION ............................................................PS-23

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-27

DISCOVERY ...........................................................................................................PS-29

InSight [Development] ....................................................................................................... PS-32

Lucy [Formulation] ............................................................................................................. PS-38

Psyche [Formulation]......................................................................................................... PS-43

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-48

NEW FRONTIERS...................................................................................................PS-51

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-54

MARS EXPLORATION............................................................................................PS-58

Mars Rover 2020 [Development].......................................................................................PS-60
Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE

PS-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-69

OUTER PLANETS AND OCEAN WORLDS.............................................................PS-76

Europa Clipper [Formulation].............................................................................................PS-78

Other Missions and Data Analysis ....................................................................................PS-85

TECHNOLOGY .......................................................................................................PS-87
Science: Planetary Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH

PS-3

This high-resolution radar image of asteroid 2015 

TB145 on a safe flyby of Earth on October 31, 2015, at 

about 1.3 lunar distances (300,000 miles, or 480,000 

kilometers) was obtained by NASA scientists using the 

230-foot (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at 

Goldstone, California, to transmit high-power 

microwaves toward the asteroid, from which the 

signal bounced back to Earth and its radar echoes 

were received by the National Radio Astronomy 

Observatory's 100-meter (330-foot) Green Bank 

Telescope in West Virginia. The radar image achieves 

a spatial resolution as fine as 13 feet (4 meters) per 

pixel and shows that asteroid 2015 TB145 is spherical 

in shape and approximately 2,000 feet (600 meters) in 

size, and reveals pronounced concavities, bright spots 

that might be boulders, and other complex features 

that could be ridges.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Planetary Science Research and Analysis 178.1 -- 210.3 190.7 190.2 184.1 182.9

Other Missions and Data Analysis 52.0 -- 47.7 56.9 57.4 63.5 64.7

Total Budget 230.1 -- 258.0 247.6 247.6 247.6 247.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Planetary Science Research program provides 

the scientific foundation for data returned from 

NASA missions exploring the solar system. It is 

also NASA’s primary interface with university 

faculty and graduate students in this field and the 

research community in general. The program 

develops analytical and theoretical tools, as well as 

laboratory data, to support analysis of flight mission 

data. These capabilities allow Planetary Science to 

answer specific questions about, and increase the 

understanding of, the origin and evolution of the 

solar system. The research program achieves this by 

supporting research grants solicited annually and 

subjected to a competitive peer review before 

selection and award. The Planetary Science 

Research program focuses on five key research 

goals:

• Explore and observe the objects in the solar 

system to understand how they formed and evolved;

• Advance the understanding of how the chemical 

and physical processes in our solar system operate, 

interact, and evolve;

• Explore and find locations where life could have 

existed or could exist today;

• Improve our understanding of the origin and 

evolution of life on Earth to guide our search for 

life elsewhere; and

• Identify and characterize objects in the solar 

system that pose threats to Earth or offer resources 

for human exploration.
Science: Planetary Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH

PS-4

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Near Earth Object Observations, formerly part of this Program, is now part of the Planetary Defense 

Program. Planetary R&A includes an increase for lunar research. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Although it is unknown when or where life on Earth began, geologists recently discovered putative 

microfossils, evidence for ancient life, in Greenland’s rocks dating back 3.7 billion years. The fossils 

were part of an outcrop of ancient rock that had lost its usual snow cover. The rock layer forming the 

outcrop, known to geologists as the Isua supracrustal belt, lies on the southwest coast of Greenland and is 

some 3.9 to 3.7 billion years old. A second line of evidence came from what is likely some of the earliest 

habitable environments, submarine-hydrothermal vents. Astrobiologists have found putative fossilized 

microorganisms that are at least 3.77 billion and possibly 4.28 billion years old in ferruginous 

sedimentary rocks, interpreted as seafloor-hydrothermal vent-related precipitates, from the Nuvvuagittuq 

belt in Quebec, Canada. These structures occur as micrometer-scale tubes and filaments with 

morphologies and mineral assemblages similar to those of filamentous microorganisms from modern 

hydrothermal vent precipitates and analogous microfossils in younger rocks. The Nuvvuagittuq rocks 

contain isotopically light carbon in carbonate and carbonaceous material associated with the putative 

microfossils and provide evidence for biological activity in submarine-hydrothermal environments more 

than 3.77 billion years ago.

Water ice in lunar polar regions may provide a valuable resource for planetary exploration. Humans can 

convert water to propellant to fuel exploration and it is essential for life support. Finding accessible 

concentrations of water can enable exploration by reducing the amount of material launched from Earth 

when explorers can use local material instead. The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) onboard the 

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shines laser light onto the surface of the Moon and observes the reflected 

light. Analysis of these LOLA observations reveal higher reflectivity than lunar regolith, indicating water 

ice. Within 5° of the South Pole, there is a correlation between a brightening of the surface and colder 

temperatures. The more reflective surfaces also correlate to regions previously identified to be potential 

exposed frost on the surface by LRO LAMP data. Thus now three data sets from LRO—Diviner 

temperature data, LAMP far-ultraviolet spectra, and LOLA near-IR reflectance—agree that water ice is 

exposed in regions of near the lunar south pole where the temperature is cold enough for water ice to be 

stable on the surface.

Remotely analyzing the composition of atmospheres on far distant exoplanets to try to detect life requires 

the development of convincing biosignatures of biospheres on such planets. Scientists consider chemical 

disequilibrium via large production fluxes of chemically incompatible gases to be a signature of 

continuous biological processes. The most frequently cited example of this concept is the coexistence of 

molecular oxygen (O2) and methane (CH4) here on Earth. While the potential for remote detectability of 

O2/O3, CH4, and O2 - CH4 at the same time exists, these relationships have not been the same 

throughout Earth’s history, based on recent results and coupled Earth-system models. Earth’s O2 only 

recently became detectable during the Phanerozoic eon, while CH4 detection beyond the Archean would 

have been unlikely. O3 is possibly detectable for the second half of Earth’s history, but detection could 

have been problematic depending on whether O2 approached the upper or lower estimate during the midProterozoic. Thus, as we assess exoplanets, we must take into account that their potential biosignatures 

are not likely to be uniform over the life history of a planet.
Science: Planetary Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH

PS-5

Lichens are globally critical organisms found within weathering rocks where few other organisms can live 

(i.e., the highest mountains in the world). For almost 150 years, scientists have considered lichens to be 

composed of a fungus partner and a photosynthetic microorganism or algae partner. They recently

discovered that a third partner, a yeast organism, is also participating in this important symbiosis, finding 

it in a wide variety of habitats on six continents.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In pursuit of fundamental science that guides planetary exploration, the Planetary Science Research 

program will continue to select highly rated R&A proposals that support planetary missions and goals. 

Planetary science will continue archiving and distributing relevant mission data to the science community 

and the public in a timely manner. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

In pursuit of fundamental science that guides planetary exploration, the Planetary Science Research 

program will continue to select highly rated R&A proposals that support planetary missions and goals. 

Planetary science will continue archiving and distributing relevant mission data to the science community 

and the public in a timely manner. 

Program Elements

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS (R&A)

Planetary Science R&A enhances the scientific return from on-going and completed spaceflight missions 

and provides the foundation for the formulation of new scientific questions and strategies for answering 

those questions. R&A develops new theories and instrumentation concepts that enable the next generation 

of spaceflight missions. R&A funds research tasks in areas such as astrobiology and cosmochemistry; the 

origins and evolution of planetary systems; the observation and characterization of extra-solar planets (i.e. 

exoplanets) and the atmospheres, geology, and chemistry of the solar system’s bodies other than the Earth 

or the Sun.
Science: Planetary Science

PLANETARY SCIENCE RESEARCH

PS-6

Program Schedule

The Planetary Science Research Program will conduct its next call for research proposals as part of the 

Science Mission Directorate’s annual Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 

research calls in 2018.

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

R&A

Provider: NASA

Lead Center: Headquarters (HQ)

Performing Center(s): Ames Research Center (ARC), Glenn Research Center 

(GRC), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), JPL, Johnson Space Center 

(JSC), Langley Research Center (LaRC), Marshall Space Flight Center 

(MSFC), HQ

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

The R&A budget will fund competitively selected activities from the ROSES omnibus research 

announcement.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality

Planetary Science 

Advisory 

Committee (PAC)

2017

Review to assess 

progress against 

strategic objectives 

of Planetary Science.

Recommendation 

was to maintain a 

strong program 

consistent with the 

decadal survey.

2018
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Science Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-7

On March 2, 2017, asteroid 2017 EA, a small 

near-Earth asteroid less than 3 meters 

across, passed by Earth at a distance so close 

that it passed well inside the ring of 

geosynchronous satellites. Astronomers at 

the Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, 

Arizona detected it only 6 hours before 

closest approach. At its closest point, this 

asteroid was 20 times closer than the Moon. 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Joint Robotics Program for Exploration 9.1 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Planetary Science Directed R&T 0.0 -- 11.1 23.2 23.2 28.9 29.6

Science Innovation Fund 5.0 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Planetary Data System 14.5 -- 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4

Astromaterial Curation 9.1 -- 11.8 9.8 10.1 10.4 10.7

Science Data & Computing 2.4 -- 2.7 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.9

Rosetta 7.8 -- 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Robotics Alliance 4.1 -- 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1

Total Budget 52.0 -- 47.7 56.9 57.4 63.5 64.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Other Missions and Data Analysis includes supporting 

mission functions such as Planetary Data Systems, Science 

Data and Computing, and Astromaterial Curation, as well as 

the NASA portion of the European Space Agency (ESA)

Rosetta mission.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY

2019

None. 

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

ROBOTICS ALLIANCE PROJECT 

The Robotics Alliance Project (RAP) is dedicated to 

increasing interest in engineering, technology, science, and 

mathematics disciplines among youth in the United States.

RAP’s goal is to create an inspired, experienced technical 

workforce for the aerospace community, fostering the 

growth of a new national economic engine. Annual 

activities and events expose students to challenging applications of engineering and science. The Robotics 
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Science Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-8

Alliance Project supports national robotic competitions in which high school students team with 

engineering and technical professionals from government, industry, and universities to gain hands-on 

experience and mentoring.

Recent Achievements

In FY 2017 RAP sponsored 280 FIRST Robotics Competition teams (approximately 7,000 students), 50 

VEX robotics teams (approximately 500 students), and sponsored and/or supported 18 FIRST Robotics 

Competition events (affecting approximately 45,000 students).

PLANETARY SCIENCE DIRECTED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

This project funds the civil service staff that will work on emerging Planetary Science flight projects, 

instruments, and research. The workforce and funding will transfer to projects by the beginning of 

FY 2019.

PLANETARY DATA SYSTEM (PDS)

The PDS is an online data archive. Scientists with expertise in planetary science disciplines designed the 

PDS, and they curate its data. The PDS furthers NASA’s Planetary Science goals by efficiently collecting, 

archiving, and making accessible digital data produced by, or relevant to, NASA’s planetary missions, 

research programs, and data analysis. The archives include imaging experiments, magnetic and gravity 

field measurements, orbit data, and various spectroscopic observations. All space-borne data from over 50 

years of NASA-funded exploration of comets, asteroids, moons, and planets is publicly available through 

the PDS archive.

Recent Achievements

PDS has received data from 16 planetary missions in 2017. PDS also received data sets from groundbased observations, laboratory data, and higher order data sets from NASA data analysis investigations. 

The archive grew by approximately 200 TB to a total holding of approximately 1.3 Petabytes.

ASTROMATERIAL CURATION

The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at JSC curates all extraterrestrial material and spaceexposed flight hardware under NASA control. Curation is an integral part of all sample return missions. 

Activities conducted by the Curation Office range from research into advanced curation techniques to 

support future missions, sample-return-mission planning, archiving of engineering and reference 

materials, recovery and transport of returned materials, initial characterization of new samples, 

preparation and allocation of samples for research, and providing clean and secure storage for the benefit 

of current and future generations. Samples currently include Antarctic meteorites, cosmic dust, and 

returned samples from the Moon (Apollo and Luna), the Sun (solar wind captured by Genesis), a comet 

(Stardust), an asteroid (Hayabusa), and interplanetary dust (on space-exposed hardware). Planning and 

research are currently underway for future curation of samples from asteroids (Origins, Spectral 

Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2), Mars, 

Mars’ moons (MMX), and comets; Hayabusa2 and MMX samples are planned under international 
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Science Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-9

agreements with JAXA. New laboratory space is being constructed and outfitted within the Curation 

facility to prepare for receipt of the OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa 2 materials.

Recent Achievements

In the past year, the Curation Office began the design phase for new advanced-curation and advancedcleaning facilities to support upcoming sample return missions, and installed and began operating a new 

X-ray CT scanner for astromaterials (the first facility of its type in the world dedicated to astromaterials).

The Curation Office is developing techniques for a new, state-of-the-art micromanipulator, applied new 

high-resolution 3D imaging techniques to two collections, and initiated advanced curation activities for 

contamination control (including organics and microbiological characterization of existing labs). This is 

in addition to maintaining 8 collections and 22 clean rooms, and, over the past year, allocating nearly

1400 samples to over 400 registered PIs from around the world.

SCIENCE DATA AND COMPUTING

This project, through the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC), preserves NASA’s science data 

collected since the first robotic missions in the 1960s. The NSSDC also serves as the back-up archive for 

the PDS. In addition to being a depository that makes unique data and metadata available, the NSSDC 

provides the space science community with stewardship, guidance, and support so that data made 

available to the research community is well documented to provide independent usability.

Recent Achievements

The NSSDC is currently working to convert many of the original data sets, which exist in analog form in 

their original media, to digital data sets accessible on-line by researchers. The PDS Lunar Data Node is 

charged with restoring old Apollo data, packaging the data, and overseeing their archive with PDS. This 

involves reading the data, converting it to standard digital formats, and collecting and making sense of the 

data formats and documentation so the data can be easily accessed and used by researchers. Currently we 

have completed archive of 12 data sets with PDS, completed packaging of 18 data sets in PDS compliant 

format, now awaiting review or lien resolution circa March 2018, and have restored and are in the process 

of packaging 9 data sets which should undergo review in the summer of 2018.

ROSETTA

Rosetta is an ESA-led comet rendezvous mission, with NASA participation, in its operations phase. It 

launched in March 2004, and has enabled scientists to look at some of the most primitive material from 

the formation of the solar system 4,600 million years ago. Rosetta is studying the nature and origin of 

comets, the relationship between cometary and interstellar material, and the implications of comets with 

regard to the origin of the solar system. The Rosetta spacecraft is the first to undertake long-term 

exploration of a comet at close quarters. It comprises a large orbiter designed to operate for a decade at 

large distances from the Sun, and a small lander. Each of these elements carries a large number of 

scientific experiments and examinations designed to complete the most detailed study of a comet ever 

attempted. Rosetta arrived at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in FY 2014. The operational phase of 

the mission ended with the controlled descent of the spacecraft onto the comet at the end of FY 2016.
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OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-10

Recent Achievements

Science data analysis continued in FY 2017 with the Rosetta Data Analysis Program AO released in the 

fall of 2017. Scientists are comparing remote sensing with in-situ data to improve the understanding of 

cometary behavior and activity, particularly before and after the perihelion phases. The Rosetta mission 

will end at the end of FY 2018.
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PLANETARY DEFENSE

PS-11

Planetary radar images of large asteroids during closeapproach to Earth. (Left) Goldstone radar imagery of 

asteroid (3122) Florence, which measures 2.8 miles in 

rough diameter, revealed surface features along with 

two moons orbiting the asteroid and measuring ~300-

1000 feet in size. Florence passed 4.4 million miles from 

Earth on September 1, 2017 and was the largest asteroid 

to make such a close approach since NASA began its 

Near-Earth Object Observations program in 

1998. (Right) Arecibo radar imagery of asteroid 2014 

JO25, which approached Earth on April 19, 2017 at 1.1 

million miles, less than 4.6 times the distance to the 

Moon. Measuring ~950 meters long, its asymmetric, 

two-lobed structure might indicate a contact binary and 

is reminiscent of the target of ESA’s Rosetta mission, 

comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

DART 0.0 -- 90.0 71.0 48.0 8.0 2.0

Other Missions and Data Analysis 60.0 -- 60.0 79.0 102.0 142.0 148.0

Total Budget 60.0 -- 150.0 150.0 150.0 150.0 150.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The focus of planetary defense missions is 

centered upon the initial detection and subsequent 

follow-up observations for precision orbit 

determination and physical characterization of 

asteroids and comets with the potential to impact 

the Earth, as well as mounting efforts (from civil 

disaster response preparations to in space object 

deflection or disruption missions) to mitigate the 

effects of an impending near-Earth object (NEO) 

impact event.

The NASA Planetary Defense program is 

managed by the Planetary Defense Coordination 

Office (PDCO). PDCO administers the NearEarth Object Observations (NEOO) project, 

which funds and coordinates efforts to find, track 

and characterize any asteroid or comet that could 

become an impact hazard to Earth. Scientists 

conduct these NEO observation efforts at 

observatories supported by NASA on the ground 

and in space, as well as by the National Science 

Foundation and space situational awareness 

facilities of the United States Air Force. In 

addition to finding, tracking, and characterizing 

NEOs, NASA’s planetary defense goals include 

researching techniques for deflecting or 

disrupting, if possible, potentially hazardous 

objects (PHOs) that are determined to be on an 

impact course with Earth to provide options for 

US government response to any detected impact 

threat. In the event that deflection or disruption is not possible due to too short of time available before 

impact, the PDCO is responsible for providing expert input to other government agencies such as the 

Federal 
Science: Planetary Science

PLANETARY DEFENSE

PS-12

Emergency Management Agency for emergency response operations, should a PHO be on an impact 

course or actually impact Earth.

Planetary Defense program responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the early detection of PHOs—asteroids and comets whose orbit are predicted to bring 

them within 0.05 Astronomical Units of Earth, and of a size large enough to reach Earth’s surface 

(i.e., greater than perhaps 30 to 50 meters);

• Tracking and characterizing PHOs and issuing warnings about potential impacts;

• Providing timely and accurate communications about PHOs; and

• Performing as a lead coordination node in U.S. Government planning for response to an actual 

impact threat. See https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/overview

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

NASA has established a new Planetary Defense Program to manage all aspects of the effort, from finding 

and tracking hazardous NEOs to demonstration of space technologies to deflect or disrupt one. This 

currently includes the Double Asteroid Redirection Test and Near-Earth Object Observations projects.

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test is a demonstration of an asteroid deflection technology, using the 

kinetic impactor technique to change the orbit of a small moon circling the asteroid Didymos. The NearEarth Object Observations project will continue to fund ground-based NEO discovery, tracking, and 

characterization efforts, while also enabling the development of future space-based NEO detection 

missions.
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Defense

DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

Formulation Development Operations

PS-13

Artists depiction (not to scale) of the DART spacecraft 

approaching impact with the moonlet of the double 

asteroid Didymos at a time when Didymos is close enough 

to the Earth to allow ground-based telescopes to measure 

the change in the moonlet’s orbit caused by the impact.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 0.0 -- 90.0 71.0 48.0 8.0 2.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)

is the first planetary defense mission, 

demonstrating the kinetic impact technique to 

change the motion of an asteroid in space. The 

target asteroid for DART is the double Asteroid 

Didymos. The Didymos system consists of the 

primary asteroid Didymos that is about 780 

meters (1/2 mile) in diameter and a “moonlet”

that is about 163 meters (535 feet) in diameter. 

The DART spacecraft will demonstrate the 

kinetic impact deflection method by deliberately 

crashing into the moonlet at a speed of 

approximately 6 kilometers per second (13,000 

miles per hour), with the aid of an onboard 

camera and sophisticated autonomous 

navigation software. The collision will change the orbital period of the moonlet for its orbit around the 

main body by a fraction of one percent, enough to be measured using telescopes on Earth. By targeting 

the small moonlet in a binary system, the DART mission plan makes this demonstration possible without 

changing the orbit of the system about the Sun. The DART mission will demonstrate the effectiveness of 

the kinetic impact technique for deflecting a hazardous asteroid and NASA will use it to improve our 

readiness to respond to an actual asteroid impact threat.

NASA’s DART spacecraft has a launch readiness date range from late December 2020 to May 2021 and a 

launch period of 5-7 months. The targeted impact date with the Didymos system moonlet is October 

2022, when the Didymos system is within 11 million kilometers of Earth, enabling observations by 

ground-based telescopes and planetary radar.
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DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

Formulation Development Operations

PS-14

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

NASA has moved the DART project from the Planetary Research Program into the Planetary Defense 

Program.

PROJECT PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

NASA plans to launch DART as a secondary payload sometime between December 2020 and May 2021. 

DART carries a single camera, the Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for OpNav (DRACO), 

used by the DART SMARTNav system to guide the spacecraft to impact the moonlet of the double 

asteroid Didymos. DART will use X-Band communications through the NASA Deep Space Network 

(DSN) to downlink the DRACO images prior to impact, which will allow the reconstruction of where on 

the moonlet the impact occurred. The DART spacecraft will utilize the NASA Evolutionary Xenon 

Thruster – Commercial (NEXT-C) solar electric propulsion system as its primary in-space propulsion 

system. NEXT-C based its next generation system on the Dawn spacecraft propulsion system. The 

NEXT-C propulsion system provides the DART project with significant flexibility in the mission 

timeline, including significantly widening the viable launch period (compared to most planetary 

missions), as well as decreasing the cost of the launch service. Researchers will measure the change in the 

orbital period of the moonlet caused by the impact during the 2022 Didymos double asteroid close pass 

by the Earth, using the world-wide network of optical and radio telescopes.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

DART completed its Phase A concept study and was approved to enter into Phase B preliminary design 

and technology completion.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

DART transitioned from the Near Earth Object Observations (NEOO) Program to the Planetary Defense

Program, managed by the Planetary Missions Program Office. 

The DART asteroid deflection technology demonstration will complete Phase B design and pass 

confirmation to begin Phase C full-scale final design and fabrication (development) activities. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

DART will complete detailed design and fabrication activities, its critical design review and mission 

operations review in preparation to pass the KDP-D gate review in FY 2020 to begin Phase D spacecraft 

assembly, integration and test activities.

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE

All dates are preliminary.
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DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

Formulation Development Operations

PS-15

Milestone Formulation Authorization

Document FY 2019 PB Request

Formulation Authorization March 2016 (Rev B)

MCR May 2015 May 2015

SRR/MDR August 2016 September 2016

KDP-B October 2016 March 2017

PDR February 2018 April 2018

KDP-C February 2018 May 2018

CDR December 2018 March 2019

KDP-D November 2019 December 2019

FRR Early December 2020 December 2020 - May 2021

Launch Readiness December 2020 December 2020 - May 2021

KDP-E January 2021 Launch + 1 month

Asteroid Impact/End of Flight 

Operations October 2022 October 2022

End of Ground Observations and 

Data Analysis July 2023

Formulation Estimated Life Cycle Cost Range and Schedule 

Range Summary

Life cycle cost estimates are preliminary. A baseline cost commitment does not occur until the project 

receives approval for implementation (KDP-C), which follows a non-advocate review and/or preliminary 

design review. The lifecycle cost of DART does not include the cost of the NEXT-C propulsion system, 

which DART will use as a demonstration of a new propulsion technology. Life cycle cost estimates are 

preliminary. A baseline cost commitment does not occur until the project receives approval for 

implementation (KDP-C), which follows a non-advocate review and/or preliminary design review. 

KDP-B Date Estimated Life Cycle 

Cost Range ($M) Key Milestone Key Milestone Estimated Date Range

June 2017 248 - 291 Launch December 2020 to May 2021
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DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

Formulation Development Operations

PS-16

Project Management & Commitments

The Principal Investigator is from John Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory and leads the 

management of the mission.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

DART Project

DART Project design and 

implementation, with the 

exception of subcontracted 

subsystems and the 

government-provided NEXTC electric propulsion system

Provider: JHU-APL

Lead Center: JHU-APL

Performing Center(s): JHU-APL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

No

NEXT-C Government-furnished 

electric propulsion system

Provider: Aerojet

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): PSD

Yes, NASA 

decision to use 

NEXT-C after 

approval of the 

Formulation 

Agreement 

Document 

(FAD)

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: the SMARTNav autonomous guidance 

system used to guide the spacecraft during 

the final approach to impact is not 

sufficiently robust to variations in the 

observed binary system

Then: the spacecraft may not hit the target

The Project has developed and is continuing to refine a highfidelity emulator of the end-to-end performance of the DRACO 

camera, image processing pipeline, and SMARTNav algorithms. 

The Project is varying (in a Monte Carlo analysis) the 

characteristics of the Didymos system (size, shape, and albedo of 

each body, orbit characteristics, etc.), the approach conditions, 

and the DRACO and spacecraft parameters to demonstrate the 

robustness of the design to the range of variations that DART 

may encounter when it arrives at Didymos.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA is acquiring the flight system for the DART mission from JHU/APL. The acquisition of host 

launch capability with DART as a secondary payload is to be determined. NASA is acquiring the NEXTC propulsion system via the GRC from Aerojet.
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DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

Formulation Development Operations

PS-17

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Prime Contract, Mission 

Formulation, and Mission 

Implementation

JHU-APL Laurel, MD

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance

Institutional 

Review Team 

(IRT)

September 

2016

System 

Requirements 

Review (SRR) to 

assess readiness for 

preliminary design 

and technology 

completion (Phase B)

After the SRR, 

NASA decided to 

establish the DART 

SRB and insert an 

SRB Status Review 

before approving 

KDP-B

PDR*

Performance Standing Review 

Board (SRB)

February 

2017

SRB Status Review 

to assess SRR

results, progress/ 

resolution of SRR 

actions, changes 

since the SRR, and to 

assess readiness for 

Phase B

Successful, project 

ready to proceed to

Phase B

PDR

Performance Standing Review 

Board (SRB) April 2018

Preliminary Design 

Review (PDR) to 

assess readiness for 

final design and 

fabrication (Phase C)

CDR

Performance Standing Review 

Board (SRB)

March 

2019

Critical Design 

Review (CDR) to 

assess readiness for 

to assess readiness 

for project to begin 

system assembly, 

integration, and test 

(start of Phase D)

ORR
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DOUBLE ASTEROID REDIRECTION TEST

Formulation Development Operations

PS-18

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance Standing Review 

Board (SRB)

October 

2020

Operational 

Readiness Review 

(ORR) to assess 

readiness for system 

launch, checkout, 

(completion of Phase 

D), operations, and 

sustainment (Phase 

E)

* After the SRR, NASA decided to establish the DART SRB and insert an SRB Status Review before 

approving KDP-B. 
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Defense

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-19

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Near Earth Object Observations 60.0 -- 60.0 79.0 102.0 142.0 148.0

Total Budget 60.0 -- 60.0 79.0 102.0 142.0 148.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Mission Planning and Other Projects

NEAR-EARTH OBJECT OBSERVATION (NEOO)

The NEOO Project was established to detect and track at least 90 percent of the asteroids and comets 

greater than 140 meters in diameter that come within 1.3 astronomical units of the Sun (within about 30 

million miles of Earth’s orbit). The NEOO project, using ground and space-based assets, looks for NEOs 

that have any potential to collide with Earth and characterizes them to assess if any could do significant 

damage to the planet. NEOs range in size from a few meters to approximately 34 kilometers, with smaller 

objects being two orders of magnitude more numerous than larger objects.

The NEOO project supports a network of search and characterization observatories and the data 

processing and analysis required to understand the near-Earth population of small bodies. In accordance 

with the findings and recommendations of the January 2010 National Academies study on the NEO 

hazard, NASA continues to: 

• Analyze the small body data collected by the reactivated WISE mission, now called NEOWISE, 

and support increased follow-up and analysis of this data; 

• Increase collection of NEO detection and characterization data by the Catalina Sky Survey, the 

Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Reporting System (Pan-STARRS) and the United States 

Air Force’s (USAF) newly commissioned Space Surveillance Telescope; 

• Support the operation of the two small telescope wide field survey system called the Asteroid 

Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), designed to detect smaller asteroids as they 

approach the Earth and warn of any imminent impact;

• Support the continued and enhanced operation of planetary radar capabilities at the National 

Science Foundation’s Arecibo and NASA’s Goldstone facilities; and

• Investigate both ground and space-based concepts for increasing capacity to detect, track, and 

characterize NEOs of all sizes.

Since NASA’s search started in 1998, the project has found over 94 percent of these objects that are 1 

kilometer and larger, and about 30 percent of all those larger than 140 meters in size. The project also 
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Defense

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-20

discovers and characterizes NEOs that could be viable targets for robotic and crewed exploration, and 

possible eventual candidates for asteroid mining operations. 

For more information on NEOO: https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/about/search_program.html

The Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) is NASA’s infrared-optimized 3-meter telescope sited at altitude 

of 13,600 feet on the extinct volcano Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawai’i. The University of Hawai’i 

Institute for Astronomy operates the IRTF for NASA under contract. The NEOO project funds IRTF 

operations and IRTF is a primary NASA planetary defense asset for NEO physical characterization. IRTF 

continues its mission of strategic support of NASA flight missions and science goals in both planetary 

science and astrophysics while being on-call for rapid response observations of NEO targets of 

opportunity and potential threats.

For more information on IRTF: http://irtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu/

The NEOWISE mission uses the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft, a 40 cm (16 in) 

diameter infrared telescope in Earth-orbit that continues an all-sky astronomical survey with its two noncryogenic detectors, which remain operational. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates the NEOWISE 

mission. NEOWISE capabilities and vantage point enable contribution to NEO discovery and more 

significantly physical properties of large numbers of NEOs, comets, main-belt asteroids, and other minor 

planets. 

For more information on NEOWISE: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/neowise/mission/index.html

The Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam) is a space-based 0.5-meter infrared telescope concept 

optimized for NEO search and characterization that could survey from the L1 Lagrange point between the 

Earth and the Sun. NEOCam is in Phase A study led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. However, the 

NEOCam concept is unaffordable in the current budget environment, and NASA is looking for ways to 

substantially reduce the costs before pursuing a NEO search mission. NASA intends to initiate 

development of a lower-cost space-based NEO search capability in FY 2019.

Recent Achievements

Asteroid search teams funded by the NEO Observations project found, in FY 2017, another six asteroids 

larger than one km in size with orbits that come close to Earth’s vicinity. Asteroid search teams also 

found 1,850 asteroids less than one km in size, along with the first interstellar object observed passing 

through our Solar System. Observers found no additional Earth approaching comets. This brought the 

total known population of NEOs to 16,851 as of September 30, 2017. The high-precision orbit predictions 

computed by the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) show 

that none of these objects is likely to strike the Earth in the next century. However, 1840 near-Earth 

asteroids (of which 157 are larger than one km in diameter), with 110 found in FY 2017, are in orbits that 

could become a hazard in the more distant future and warrant continued monitoring (i.e. they are 

potentially hazardous asteroids or PHAs).

The NEOO project conducted an exercise of the International Asteroid Warning Network that attracted 

involvement by observatories worldwide. Scientists predicted the small asteroid 2012 TC4, not observed 

since its discovery in 2012, would make a close approach to Earth on Oct. 12, 2017. Although determined 

there was no chance that 2012 TC4 would impact Earth, observers were not certain of its precise orbit, 

making it a good target for an exercise of a response to a potential impact threat. NEOO and worldwide 
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OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-21

assets worked to observe 2012 TC4 on its approach toward Earth (first recovered by the European Very 

Large Telescope in late July 2017) and precisely determine the closest approach distance. Other efforts 

included future orbit determination and hypothetical threat assessment (e.g., damage to Earth) based on 

the observations. NASA program executives exercised detection and observation status notifications up 

through NASA management to the Executive Office of the President and to other US government 

agencies, as outlined in NASA Policy Directive 8740.1 - "Notification and Communications Regarding 

Potential Near-Earth Object Threats".

Researchers studied other asteroids in detail during their close-approaches to Earth, characterizing small 

or potentially hazardous asteroids and yielding important new near-Earth asteroid discoveries. On March 

2, 2017, asteroid 2017 EA, a few meters in size, dipped below the geosynchronous ring of satellites soon 

after discovery, passing within just 12,830 km (7,970 miles) of the Earth’s surface at closest approach. On 

April 4, asteroid 2017 GM, 3-6 meters in size, was discovered just hours before passing within 9900 

kilometers of Earth’s surface and over the orbit plane of the ring of geosynchronous satellites. Observers 

of the Catalina Sky Survey discovered both of the asteroids. The potentially hazardous asteroid 3122 

Florence made a close approach of 4.4 million miles (7.0 million kilometers) on September 1. At 2.7 

miles (4.3 kilometers) in size, it was the largest asteroid to pass this close since the NEOO project began 

in 1998. Observations with the NEOO-funded Goldstone radar revealed that Florence has TWO satellites, 

making it only the third known trinary system in the near-Earth asteroid population. See 

https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/images/news/florence.arecibo.sep4.gif

NEOWISE completed its seventh full sky survey. Over 10 million sky images have been downlinked, 

processed for moving object detection, and archived. NEOWISE discovered 31 near-Earth asteroids and 

one comet in FY 2017.

NASA approved an Extended Phase A for the NEOCAM concept study to modify it from the original 

Discovery Program science proposal to focus exclusively on planetary defense asteroid and comet survey 

requirements, and advance technology development needs for the project, particularly in the development 

of the infrared focal plane detector.

WORK IN PROGRESS FY 2018

The first month of FY 2018 saw the discovery and confirmation of the first interstellar object seen passing 

through the solar system. The Pan-STARRS 1 telescope (atop Haleakala on Maui, Hawaii) discovered the 

interstellar interloper, provisionally designated A/2017 U1, on Oct. 18, 2017 during routine NEO survey 

operations. (Researchers later extracted two prior observations from routine NEO survey images by the 

Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, dated Oct. 14 and 17.) Several other telescopes also provided 

follow-up observations critical for interstellar trajectory determination and confirmation by the Minor 

Planet Center and JPL’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. A/2017 U1, a “deep space asteroid” or 

possibly an extinct comet (no coma has been observed), is estimated to be less than ~0.5 kilometer in size.

The Pan-STARRS 2 telescope will begin routine NEO survey operations. Researchers expect to increase 

the discovery productivity of the project by about 50 percent with its use.

The NEOWISE spacecraft, whose orbit has been precessing away from the ideal sun synchronous orbit 

alignment since its year of prime operations in 2010, will reach a point where the Sun's light is reaching 

too far down into the telescope and the heat will effectively blind the infra-red detectors, terminating the 
Science: Planetary Science: Planetary Defense

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-22

useful life of the spacecraft. Precessing means a change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a 

rotating body.

NASA will continue to explore cost-effective options for a space-based NEO search capability, which 

could include a phased approach with a visible survey telescope focused on asteroid detection, followed 

later by an infrared telescope for follow-up characterization. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will continue to support a network of search and characterization observatories and the data 

processing and analysis required to understand the near-Earth population of small bodies. Depending on 

the outcome of studies conducted in FY 2018, NASA may initiate development of a space-based NEO 

search capability.
Science: Planetary Science

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION

PS-23

The Moon, our nearest neighbor, a location rich in 

scientific interest and potential resources.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Other Missions and Data Analysis 19.0 -- 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0

Total Budget 19.0 -- 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA's new Exploration Campaign will be an 

innovative and sustainable program of 

exploration with commercial and international 

partners to enable human expansion across the 

solar system, and to bring new knowledge and 

opportunities back to Earth. This will be 

accomplished through public-private 

partnerships with the emerging commercial 

capabilities and innovative approaches to 

achieving human and science exploration goals, 

including the eventual return of humans to the 

moon. The Lunar Discovery and Exploration

program in Science is a key component of the Exploration Campaign, and will support activities such as 

the establishment of commercial contracts for transportation services, the development of small rovers to 

be delivered via commercial landers, and the building and launching of instruments that serve lunar 

science, long-term exploration and utilization needs. 

The Moon is a stepping-stone, a training ground, and a venue to strengthen our commercial and 

international partnerships. As the nation turns its attention back toward our nearest celestial neighbor, we 

will renew our exploration of Earth’s natural satellite. 

To begin this journey, instruments, experiments, or other payloads on the lunar surface can address the 

variety of exploration, science, technology demonstration, and utilization objectives identified by NASA.

In partnership with US industry and the scientific community, the Lunar Discovery and Exploration 

Program will develop lunar surface payloads (and supporting orbital payloads), along with cost-effective 

ways to deliver and provide services for these payloads. These payloads and services will address the 

nation’s lunar exploration, science, and technology demonstration goals, many of which are outlined in 

the National Academies of Sciences 2011 Decadal Survey: Vision and Voyages for Planetary Sciences in 

the Decade 2013-2022, and the National Research Council 2007 Report: The Scientific Context for the 

Exploration of the Moon and the NASA Strategic Knowledge Gaps (see 

https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/library/skg.html).

Through the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program, NASA will solicit transportation and delivery 

services from Earth to the lunar surface for NASA payloads. NASA expects to fly NASA payloads or 
Science: Planetary Science

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION

PS-24

instruments on existing and forthcoming commercial missions and purchase transportation to the Moon 

for the NASA payloads or instruments (to include landing and surface access to agreed-upon locations on 

the lunar surface). NASA payloads will obtain "utilities" from commercial landers such as power, 

communications, thermal control, etc., during launch integration, launch, and cruise phase, and potentially 

after landing. In addition, NASA will pursue the purchase of science or engineering data provided by 

contractor payloads, and the return of payload and/or samples to the Earth. This approach offers NASA 

the potential to address critical strategic objectives related to exploration, science, and technology 

demonstration using commercially provided domestic space services and hardware. 

In parallel with the development of commercial partnerships to provide lunar surface payload delivery 

and support services, the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program will develop the exploration, science, 

and technology payloads to support this on-going investment. One area of focus will be instrumentation 

to advance the knowledge and technologies for the use of local resources, such as lunar water ice.

Working with the science and human exploration communities, our international partners, and US 

industry, NASA will refine the goals and objectives for a robust lunar exploration and science program. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

In FY 2019, NASA will initiate the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program, commencing new efforts 

to develop exploration, science, and technology payloads for delivery to the lunar surface. It will utilize

US commercial capabilities to deliver these payloads, and integrate and coordinate NASA’s on-going 

lunar research and robotic mission activities. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

In FY 2017, NASA released the Lunar Surface Cargo Transportation Services Request for Information 

(RFI) soliciting information under this Request for Information (RFI) to determine the extent of interest 

and availability of domestic vendor sources capable of providing commercial launch and landing services

on commercial missions to the lunar surface for NASA payloads.

NASA continued operations of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) under the Planetary Science 

Discovery Program. LRO continues to provide a treasure trove of lunar data that directly supports the 

advancement of lunar science and the planning of future lunar missions by helping to characterize and to 

conduct detailed surveys of potential landing sites for commercial missions.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018, NASA will follow up the Lunar Surface Cargo Transportation Services Request for 

Information (RFI) with a Request for Proposals (RFP) with the intent of establishing contracts for the 

purchase of commercial transportation and services to deliver NASA scientific, exploration, and 

technology payloads to the surface of the Moon. 

NASA will work with the science community, NASA’s international exploration partners, and US 

industry to refine the exploration, scientific, and technology objectives in support of the Lunar Discovery 

and Exploration Program in FY 2019. 
Science: Planetary Science

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION

PS-25

NASA will issue competitive solicitations to develop lunar surface payloads compatible with the expected 

commercial lunar surface cargo transportation services. Robotic payload proposals will be selected that 

advance NASA’s exploration, scientific, and technology goals. 

NASA will continue operations of LRO in support of scientific research and future science and 

exploration mission planning. Early in FY 2018 the scientific journal Icarus published Part III of the 

three-part Special Issue on the scientific results from LRO. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

In FY 2019, NASA will award contracts solicited through the FY 2018 Request for Proposals (RFP) 

enabling the purchase of commercial transportation and services to deliver NASA scientific, exploration, 

and technology payloads to the surface of the Moon. 

NASA will competitively select robotic lunar surface payloads that advance NASA and U.S. industry’s 

exploration, scientific, and technology goals to include resource utilization. These payloads will leverage 

the expected commercial lunar surface cargo transportation services for delivery to the lunar surface. 

NASA will continue operations of LRO in support of scientific research and future science and 

exploration mission planning. 

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

FY 2018 Request for proposal for commercial lunar payload services

End of FY 2018 Solicit robotic surface payloads

FY 2019 Award multiple IDIQ procurements for commercial lunar payload services

FY 2019 Award robotic surface payloads procurements

Program Management & Commitments

The Planetary Mission Program Office at MSFC will manage this program.

Program Element Provider

Lunar Future

Provider:

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s):

Cost Share Partner(s):
Science: Planetary Science

LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION

PS-26

Program Element Provider

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Provider:

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC, APL, JPL

Cost Share Partner(s):

Commercial Lunar Payload 

Services

Provider: TBD

Lead Center: JSC

Performing Center(s): TBD

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

Acquisition Strategy

The Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program acquisition strategy is to establish flexible contract 

mechanisms, such as indefinite delivery, infinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, that enable the flexible and 

rapid procurement of commercial transportation and services to deliver NASA scientific, exploration, and 

technology development payloads to the surface of the Moon, including potential supporting services and 

sample return. 

In parallel, NASA will use its established solicitation mechanism, such as the Research Opportunities in 

Space and Earth Science (ROSES) NASA Research Announcement (NRA) and the Stand Alone Missions 

of Opportunity (SALMON) Announcement of Opportunity (AO) processes, to select and develop

exploration, scientific, and technology development payloads for delivery to the Moon. In some cases, 

NASA may direct a NASA Center to develop a lunar capability or surface payload when it is in the 

government's interest, such as when that capability supports multiple NASA applications or when a 

commercial entity or international partner identifies a near-term opportunity for a lunar surface mission 

on a timeframe that does not support competitive selection. However, to the extent possible, NASA will 

leverage commercial efforts. 

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

None

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Program Management Planetary Management Program 

Office MSFC

Payload Services TBD JSC

Science and technology payload 

development

Planetary Management Program 

Office MSFC
Science: Planetary Science: Lunar Discovery and Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-27

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Lunar Future 0.0 -- 200.0 200.0 200.0 200.0 200.0

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) 19.0 -- 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0 18.0

Total Budget 19.0 -- 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0 218.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Mission Planning and Other Projects

LUNAR FUTURE

Lunar Future Missions will support public-private partnerships and innovative approaches to achieving 

human and science exploration goals, including the eventual return of humans to the moon. It will also 

support activities such as the establishment of commercial contracts for transportation services, the 

development of small rovers to be delivered via commercial landers, and the building and launching of 

instruments that serve lunar science and exploration needs. Example missions include deploying nodes for 

the Lunar Geophysical Network, a priority identified by the National Academy of Sciences; in situ 

investigation of potential lunar resources, a priority identified in the Exploration Strategic Knowledge 

Gaps; and the demonstration of technologies to enable long-term robotic missions on the lunar surface 

despite the power and thermal challenges imposed by the lunar night.

Operating Missions

LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER (LRO)

Over the upcoming year, LRO will continue characterizing areas on the Moon that spend most of the time 

in shadow but that the Sun briefly illuminates for a few hours to a few days over the 18-year lunar 

precession cycle. If these measurements show that surface frosts change during and just after illumination, 

this will provide new constraints on the transport of polar volatiles. Another focus in the coming year will 

be to continue probing the vertical distribution of volatiles. Each of the instruments onboard LRO 

contributes to understanding volatiles by probing different depths, from coatings on the surface to 

volatiles mixed within the first few feet (about one meter) below the surface. 

Having initiated a new operating mode for the ultraviolet instrument (the Lyman Alpha Mapping Project, 

or LAMP), allowing 80 times more light into the instrument during dayside observations, LRO will use 

this increased signal to improve our understanding of the day/night variability of the ultraviolet water 
Science: Planetary Science: Lunar Discovery and Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-28

signature on the lunar surface. LRO will continue work examining recent and ongoing surface changes 

and observing how the regolith (the loose material on the surface of the Moon) evolves over time. This 

includes additional measurements by LROC, Diviner, LAMP, and Mini-RF to determine if additional

unique signatures of contemporary impact craters exist.

LRO’s observations will continue to improve what we know about the interior of the Moon based on 

surface observations, by examining the interactions between the Moon and the space environment, the 

solar wind and galactic cosmic radiation.

Recent Achievements

The LRO mission continues to focus on lunar volatiles such as water ice, where these volatiles come 

from, how they move about on the lunar surface, and where they end up. By re-imaging the Moon to 

detect changes in the surface over the life of the mission, LRO continues to refine constraints on the rate 

at which meteor impacts disturb and overturn of the surface. The reimaging of sites captured by previous 

LRO camera images under similar lighting and viewing conditions creates temporal pairs and enables the 

automatic detection of surface changes. In addition to the new impact craters, these image pairs show 

extensive disturbances of the surface surrounding the new impact craters as well as distant secondary 

cratering. The imaging team (LROC) has uncovered several impact craters with ejecta blankets large 

enough for other instruments on board the spacecraft to observe them. The Diviner team has found that 

these areas exhibit unusual thermal properties, probably related to how ejecta initially connect themselves

(thermally) to the underlying surface. Scientists are using additional measurements by LAMP and MiniRF to determine if other unique signatures of contemporary impact craters exist. These results are unique 

to LRO, in that only a mission with an extended baseline of high-resolution observations can generate the 

necessary coverage over time to discover such changes.
Science: Planetary Science

DISCOVERY

PS-29

All completed Discovery missions have achieved groundbreaking science, each taking a unique approach to space 

exploration, doing what’s never been done before, and 

driving new technology innovations . The Dawn spacecraft 

gently settled into orbit at the dwarf planet Ceres in early 

March 2015 to begin its 16-month study of this largest 

object in the main asteroid belt. Early images revealed a 

heavily cratered surface and enigmatic bright spots. Claylike minerals with little or no obvious ice dominates the 

surface, which has scientists rethinking the formation and 

evolution history and the internal structure of this small 

world.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

InSight 32.3 109.4 22.3 11.8 9.0 9.0 9.0

Lucy 54.5 -- 153.3 209.8 154.7 56.4 16.5

Psyche 47.3 -- 171.2 214.6 173.3 163.0 40.1

Other Missions and Data Analysis 60.5 -- 34.4 40.4 38.0 127.2 282.9

Total Budget 194.6 -- 381.2 476.6 375.0 355.6 348.5

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s Discovery program supports 

innovative, relatively low-cost, competitively 

selected Planetary Science missions. Discovery 

provides scientists the opportunity to identify 

innovative ways to unlock the mysteries of the 

solar system through missions to explore the 

planets, their moons, and small bodies such as 

comets and asteroids.

The Discovery program currently has one

operational spacecraft: Dawn; two mission(s) in 

formulation: Lucy and Psyche; and one flight 

mission in development: the Interior 

Exploration using Seismic Investigations, 

Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight). The 

program has also developed and delivered the 

Strofio instrument as a part of ESA’s 

BepiColombo mission to Mercury. NASA and 

JAXA are engaged in joint studies for NASA’s 

participation in the MMX mission to the moons 

of Mars, planned for launch in 2024. NASA has 

competitively selected MEGANE, a neutron and 

gamma ray spectrograph, for flight on the MMX 

spacecraft.
Science: Planetary Science

DISCOVERY

PS-30

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission has moved into the Lunar Discovery and Exploration 

Program.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The program office established contracts for Phase B for the new missions, Lucy and Psyche.

InSight continued testing and integration throughout FY 2017, with delivery of the SEIS instrument in

July 2017.

Dawn completed its high altitude extended mission in the third quarter and initiated a highly elliptic orbit

around Ceres. NASA extended the mission for an additional year, its second mission extension.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA will launch InSight in May 2018. Lucy and Psyche will work towards their Preliminary Design 

Reviews (PDRs) and prepare to enter implementation upon confirmation. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will release an Announcement of Opportunity for the Discovery Program.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

May 2018 InSight Launch at Vandenberg

2019 Discovery 15 Announcement of Opportunity (AO)

2021 Lucy Launch

2022 Psyche Launch
Science: Planetary Science

DISCOVERY

PS-31

Program Management & Planned Cadence

The Discovery Program is a multiple-project program, with responsibility for implementation assigned to 

the Planetary Missions Program Office, located at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

The Discovery Program has an objective to launch a flight mission an average of one every 36 months, 

with a goal of one every 24 months, commensurate with the availability of adequate funding. This budget 

provides for a mission every 30 months.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA competitively selects new Discovery missions, releasing announcements of opportunity when 

available funding allows. 

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

The Discovery Program’s next Program Implementation Review (PIR) will occur in 2019.

Review 

Type Performer Date ofReview Purpose Outcome Next Review

PIR SRB

Aug 2016

Review 

implementation of 

Program

Passed 2019
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

INSIGHT

Formulation Development Operations

PS-32

Scientists have determined the deep structure of only one 

planet: Earth. To obtain vital clues to how Mars formed, 

InSight will deploy a German-built drill nicknamed “The 

Mole” to pound 16 feet into the Martian crust for thermal 

measurements, and a sensitive French-built seismometer 

to detect “Marsquakes.” Through these and other 

instruments, scientists will be able to deduce the deep 

structure of Mars, which currently is a mystery.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 98.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 98.9

Development/Implementation 554.3 32.3 86.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 673.5

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 22.5 22.3 11.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 56.6

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 653.1 32.3 109.4 22.3 11.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 828.9

Total Budget 653.1 32.3 109.4 22.3 11.8 9.0 9.0 9.0 0.0 855.9

Change from FY 2018 -87.1

Percentage change from FY 2018 -79.6%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

InSight is a Mars lander mission to investigate 

fundamental issues of terrestrial planet 

formation and evolution with a study of the deep 

interior of Mars. This mission will seek to 

understand the evolutionary formation of rocky 

planets, including Earth, by investigating the 

crust and core of Mars. InSight will also 

investigate the dynamics of any Martian tectonic 

activity and meteorite impacts and compare this 

with like phenomena on Earth.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES 

IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

NASA plans to launch InSight in May 2018, landing on Mars in November 2018. The InSight lander will 

be equipped with two science instruments that will conduct the first “check-up” of Mars in its more than 
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

INSIGHT

Formulation Development Operations

PS-33

4.5 billion years, measuring its “pulse,” or internal activity; its temperature; and its “reflexes” (the way 

the planet wobbles when it is pulled by the Sun and its moons). The science payload comprises two major 

instruments: the SEIS and the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3). SEIS will take precise 

measurements of quakes and other internal activity on Mars to help understand the planet’s history and 

structure. HP3 is a self-penetrating heat flow probe that burrows up to five meters below the surface to 

measure how much heat is coming from Mars’ core. In addition, the Rotation and Interior Structure 

Experiment will use the spacecraft communication system to provide precise measurements of planetary 

rotation. InSight will spend roughly two years (720 Earth days or 700 “sols” Martian days) investigating 

the deep interior of Mars. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

NASA demonstrated the validation and qualification of a new design for the SEIS instrument and 

completed its development. The project delivered the instrument in July 2017 for spacecraft integration, 

and installed the instrument into the spacecraft in September 2017. NASA also started the Assembly, 

Test, Launch and Operations (ATLO) phase for the mission in July of 2017.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA will continue with spacecraft integration and tests in the early part of FY 2018, and plans to ship 

the spacecraft to the launch site Vandenberg Air Force Base in February 2018, with the launch to Mars 

planned for May of 2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The landing date for InSight is November 26, 2018, with instrument deployment starting immediately 

after landing. The project plans to begin science operations after instrument deployment completion (60-

90 days after landing). 

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

Launch Mar 2016 May 2018

Start of Prime Mission Apr 2016 June 2018

Mars Landing Sep 2016 Nov 2018

End of Prime Mission Sep 2018 Nov 2020
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

INSIGHT

Formulation Development Operations

PS-34

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milesto

ne

Base Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2014 541.8 70 2018 673.5 24.3 LRD Mar 2016 May 2018 26

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

NASA approved a new launch date of May 2018 at the replan review in August 2016. NASA held the 

delta KDP-D in July 2017. The development cost details in the table below reflect the budget approved at 

the delta KDP-D. Total development cost has not grown since the replan review in August 2016.

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 541.8 673.5 131.7

Aircraft/Spacecraft 196.9 277.7 80.8

Payloads 18.1 80.2 62.1

Systems I&T 0.0 3.0 3.0

Launch Vehicle 159.9 167.0 7.1

Ground Systems 7.4 17.6 10.2

Science/Technology 7.1 16.0 8.9

Other Direct Project 

Costs 152.4 112.0 -40.4
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

INSIGHT

Formulation Development Operations

PS-35

Project Management & Commitments

NASA selected the InSight project through the competitive Discovery 2010 AO. The principal 

investigator for InSight is from JPL. JPL will manage the InSight mission and will provide systems 

engineering, safety and mission assurance, project scientists, flight dynamics, payload management, and 

mission system management.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Spacecraft

Similar in design to the Mars 

lander that the Phoenix 

mission used successfully in 

2007

Provider: Lockheed Martin

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

SEIS

Will take precise 

measurements of quakes and 

other internal activity on Mars

Provider: CNES

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

JPL to design 

and develop the 

evacuated 

container for 

SEIS

HP3

A heat flow probe that will 

hammer five meters into the 

Martian subsurface (deeper 

than all previous arms, 

scoops, drills and probes) to 

measure heat emanating from 

the core

Provider: DLR

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Rotation and 

Interior 

Structure 

Experiment 

(RISE)

Uses the spacecraft’s 

communication system to 

provide precise measurements 

of planetary rotation

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Launch Vehicle Atlas V launch vehicle and 

related launch services

Provider: United Launch Alliance 

(ULA)

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

INSIGHT

Formulation Development Operations

PS-36

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: Mars environment, entry conditions, or 

spacecraft behavior is not as anticipated,

Then: Landing may not be successful.

Project will build comprehensive simulations of landing 

scenarios and test entry descent and landing systems, including 

independent verification of analysis. The project employs 

personnel who conducted previous successful Mars landings. The 

project will certify potential landing ellipses for elevation, slopes, 

and rock abundance. The project will use validated 

environmental models informed by atmospheric measurements 

from the previous three decades of observations at Mars.

If: Deployment of SEIS is not successful,

Then: The project will not be able to meet its 

science objectives.

The project will conduct extensive testing of deployments in test 

beds, including fault scenarios. Test beds will also be available 

during mission operations to verify actual deployment moves, 

with ground verification deployed at each step during operations. 

The project will certify potential landing ellipses for elevation, 

slopes, and rock abundance.

If: SEIS develops a problem during ATLO-2,

Then: Spacecraft could miss its launch date

The project has developed a spare flight unit that can replace the 

current flight unit in case a technical problem develops during 

ATLO-2.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA selected the InSight mission through a competitive Discovery Program 2010 AO and a down 

selection in September 2012. All major acquisitions are in place.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

A contract with Lockheed Martin is in place for the flight system.

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Spacecraft Lockheed Martin Denver, CO
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

INSIGHT

Formulation Development Operations

PS-37

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Feb 2015 SIR

InSight successfully 

met the criteria for 

SIR and the PMC 

decision authority 

approved the project 

to continue to the 

next phase at KDPD.

June 2017

Performance SRB June 2017 SIR-2

InSight successfully 

met the criteria for 

SIR-2 and the PMC 

decision authority 

approved the project 

to continue and start 

ATLO-2 in July 2017

Jan 2018

Performance SRB Jan 2018 ORR TBD April 2018
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

LUCY

Formulation Development Operations

PS-38

Lucy will for the first time investigate Trojan asteroids, 

which are of particular scientific interest because they are 

leftovers of giant planet formation and thus provide a fossil 

record of the early history of the outer Solar System.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 54.5 -- 153.3 209.8 154.7 56.4 16.5

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Lucy will investigate the fossils of planet 

formation. The mission name honors the 

primitive Australopithecus human fossil Lucy 

and the influence it has had in advancing 

understanding of the history of our species. The 

Lucy mission embodies the goal of advancing

the knowledge of our planetary origin, and 

gaining understanding of the formation and 

evolution of our solar system.

The Lucy mission will investigate six primitive 

bodies, including one binary system (two 

asteroids in orbit around each other), in stable 

orbits near the L4 and L5 Lagrange points with 

Jupiter, known as the Jupiter Trojans. Scientists 

believe Trojans are primitive, volatile, and 

organic rich bodies that are gravitationally 

shepherded by Jupiter. Lucy is the first mission 

to visit the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, and NASA

plans to launch it by November of 2021.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

NASA selected the Lucy mission in December 2016 from the Discovery Program’s most recent AO. 

Lucy, with a launch date range from October 2021 to November 2021, will reach its first Trojan in 2027, 

and it will have its final Trojan asteroid encounter in 2033. During its lifetime, Lucy will perform five 

Trojan encounters, closely studying these fascinating objects (one encounter is of a nearly equal mass 

binary).
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

LUCY

Formulation Development Operations

PS-39

Lucy’s instrument payload includes a panchromatic and color visible imager (L’Ralph), a high-resolution 

visible imager (L’LORRI), and a thermal infrared spectrometer (L’TES). In addition, Lucy will perform 

Doppler mass determinations using its radio subsystem.

Lucy will have a heliocentric trajectory and performs all its flybys in a period of 11.6 years. Lucy will fly 

by and extensively study several different taxonomic classes of Jupiter Trojans. A fortuitous orbital 

alignment that is unlikely to recur in the near future enables this comprehensive Trojans tour.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Lucy will continue with project formulation and risk reduction activities throughout FY 2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

After completing its preliminary design review (PDR) in FY 2018, Lucy will pass its KDP-C review and 

enter into its final design and fabrication phase of the mission (KDP-C) in FY 2019.

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE

All dates are preliminary.

Milestone Formulation Authorization

Document FY 2019 PB Request

PDR Sep 2018 Sep 2018

KDP-C Dec 2018 Dec 2018

CDR Oct 2019 Oct 2019

KDP-D Aug 2020 Aug 2020

ORR Jul 2021 Jul 2021

Launch Oct 2021 Oct 2021- Nov 2021

Formulation Estimated Life Cycle Cost Range and Schedule 

Range Summary

Life cycle cost estimates are preliminary. A baseline cost commitment does not occur until the project 

receives approval for implementation (KDP-C), which follows a non-advocate review and/or preliminary 

design review. 

KDP-B Date Estimated Life Cycle 

Cost Range ($M) Key Milestone Key Milestone Estimated Date Range
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

LUCY

Formulation Development Operations

PS-40

KDP-B Date Estimated Life Cycle 

Cost Range ($M) Key Milestone Key Milestone Estimated Date Range

Jan 4, 2017 930 - 990 Launch Oct 2021 - Nov 2021

Project Management & Commitments

The Principal Investigator and Deputy Principal Investigator are both from the Southwest Research 

Institute (SwRI) in Boulder CO, and lead the management of the mission. GSFC serves as the

development Center for the Lucy mission, working for the Principal Investigator. GSFC provides systems 

engineering; mission assurance; spacecraft design, build and test; mission and science operations; 

navigation; and ground data systems.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Spacecraft Spacecraft bus and 

propulsion system

Provider: Lockheed Martin

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Panchromatic 

visible imager and 

IR spectrometer 

(L’Ralph=MVIC+

LEISA)

Provides color and near IR 

images to discriminate 

between and map 

compositional units.

Provider: SwRI/GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

High resolution 

visible imager 

(L’LORRI)

Provides high resolution 

images to determine shape, 

geology and albedo of the 

Trojans asteroids

Provider: Johns Hopkins University 

(JHU)/Applied Physics Laboratory 

(APL)

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Thermal Emission 

Spectrometer 

(L’TES)

Provides, thermal inertia 

maps of the Trojans 

elemental composition.

Provider: ASU

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Radio Science

Utilizes the X-band radio 

telecommunications system 

to measure the Trojans 

mass

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

LUCY

Formulation Development Operations

PS-41

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Navigation

Provides mission navigation 

design and operations.

Provider: KinetX

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Project Risks

There are no major risks at this time.

Risk Statement Mitigation

N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA competitively selected the mission through an AO. The major elements of the mission and 

spacecraft are as proposed for the AO.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA selected Lucy through the Discovery Program AO released on November 5, 2014. The Planetary 

Missions Program Office in Huntsville, Alabama provides programmatic oversight of the mission. The 

major contracts are under development.

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Spacecraft Lockheed Martin Denver CO

PI, Co-Is, Science data center Southwest Research Institute 

(SWRI) Boulder Co

Project management, systems 

engineering, SMA, spacecraft 

design, build and test, 

navigation, operations, ground 

data system, L’Ralph instrument

NASA GSFC Greenbelt MD
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

LUCY

Formulation Development Operations

PS-42

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Sep 2018 PDR TBD Oct 2019

Performance SRB Oct 2019 Critical Design 

Review (CDR) TBD July 2020

Performance SRB Jul 2020 System Integration 

Review (SIR) TBD Jul 2021

Performance SRB Jul 2021 Operations Readiness 

Review (ORR) TBD
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

PSYCHE

Formulation Development Operations

PS-43

Only the 16th minor planet to be discovered, hence its 

formal designation, 16 Psyche. At 16 Psyche, scientists 

will explore, for the first time ever, a world made of 

metal, rather than of rock or ice. It appears to be the 

exposed nickel-iron core of a protoplanet, one of the 

building blocks of the Sun's planetary system.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 47.3 -- 171.2 214.6 173.3 163.0 40.1

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Psyche mission will explore one of the most 

intriguing targets in the main asteroid belt—a 

giant metal asteroid, known as 16 Psyche, 

approximately three times farther away from the 

Sun than the Earth. This asteroid measures about 

140 miles in diameter and, unlike most other 

asteroids that are rocky or icy bodies, is likely

comprised mostly of metallic iron and nickel, 

similar to Earth’s core. Scientists wonder whether 

Psyche could be an exposed core of an early 

planet that could have been as large as Mars, but 

which lost its rocky outer layers due to a number 

of violent collisions billions of years ago. The 

mission will help scientists understand how 

planets and other bodies separated into their 

layers—including cores, mantles, and crusts—

early in their histories.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN 

FY 2019

None. 

PROJECT PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

NASA plans to launch the mission in the summer of 2022 for arrival at 16 Psyche in January 2026. 

Psyche's instrument payload includes a multispectral imager, a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, and 

a magnetometer. Psyche will use the X-band radio telecommunications system to measure 16 Psyche's 

gravity field.

Psyche will spend 21 months orbiting 16 Psyche in four different orbital periods. The mission will seek to 

aid in our understanding of iron cores. It will provide insight into terrestrial planets, including Earth, by 
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

PSYCHE

Formulation Development Operations

PS-44

directly examining what was once the interior of a differentiated body. In addition, it will allow us to 

explore a world not made of rock or ice, but of metal.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Psyche continued activities to reduce mission risk and completed a thorough cost and schedule review to 

develop an updated budget estimate for the 2022 launch date.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Psyche will continue with project formulation and risk reduction activities throughout FY 2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Psyche will hold its Preliminary Design Review in March 2019 and plans to pass Key Decision Point C in 

May 2019.

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE

All dates are preliminary.

Milestone Formulation Authorization

Document FY 2019 PB Request

PDR Mar 2019 Mar 2019

KDP-C May 2019 May 2019

CDR Apr 2020 Apr 2020

KDP-D Jan 2021 Jan 2021

ORR May 2022 May 2022

Launch Aug 2022 Aug 2022

Formulation Estimated Life Cycle Cost Range and Schedule 

Range Summary

Life cycle cost estimates are preliminary. A baseline cost commitment does not occur until the project 

receives approval for implementation (KDP-C), which follows a non-advocate review and/or preliminary 

design review. 
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

PSYCHE

Formulation Development Operations

PS-45

KDP-B Date Estimated Life Cycle 

Cost Range ($M) Key Milestone Key Milestone Estimated Date Range

Jan 4, 2017 907 - 957 Launch Aug 2022

Project Management & Commitments

The Principal Investigator and Deputy Principal Investigator are both from ASU and lead the 

management of the mission. JPL serves as the development Center for the Psyche mission, working for 

the Principal Investigator. JPL provides systems engineering; mission assurance; spacecraft design, build 

and test; mission and science operations; navigation; and ground data systems.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Solar electric 

propulsion 

chassis

Spacecraft bus and propulsion 

system

Provider: Space Systems Loral

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Psyche 

Multispectral

Imager

Provides high-resolution 

images using filters to 

discriminate between 16 

Psyche's metallic and silicate 

constituents.

Provider: ASU

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Magnetometer

Detects and measures the 

remnant magnetic field of 16 

Psyche. 

Provider: UCLA

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Gamma Ray and 

Neutron 

Spectrometer

Detects, measures, and maps 

16 Psyche's elemental 

composition.

Provider: APL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Gravity Science

Utilizes the X-band radio 

telecommunications system to 

measure 16 Psyche's gravity 

field.

Provider: Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology (MIT)

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

PSYCHE

Formulation Development Operations

PS-46

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Deep Space 

Optical 

Communication

s (DSOC)

Demonstrates DSOC 

technology's capabilities.

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): NASA Human 

Exploration and Operations Mission 

Directorate (HEOMD)/Space 

Technology Mission Directorate 

(STMD)

N/A

Project Risks

There are no major risks at this time.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA competitively selected the mission through an Announcement of Opportunity (AO). The major 

elements of the mission and spacecraft are as proposed for the AO.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA selected Psyche through the Discovery Program AO released on November 5, 2014. The Planetary 

Missions Program Office in Huntsville, Alabama provides programmatic oversight of the mission. 

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Spacecraft Space Systems Loral Palo Alto CA

Project management, systems 

engineering, SMA, spacecraft 

design, build and test, navigation, 

operations, ground data system

JPL Pasadena CA

PI, Co-Is, Imager, Science data 

center ASU Tempe AZ
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

PSYCHE

Formulation Development Operations

PS-47

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

All dates are preliminary.

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Mar 2019 PDR TBD April 2020

Performance SRB April 2020 CDR TBD Dec 2020

Performance SRB Dec 2020 SIR TBD May 2022

Performance SRB May 2022 ORR TBD N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-48

Enigmatic bright spots in Occator crater on the 

dwarf planet Ceres as seen by the Dawn 

spacecraft from its high-altitude mapping orbit 

of 915 miles (1470 kilometers). Based on the 

absence of other craters within it, Occator is a 

very recent 56-mile (90-kilometer) wide impact 

crater. The intense brightness of the persistent 

spots is due to the presence of a highly reflective 

material on the surface, possibly a mineral salt 

or pure water ice. The smooth crater floor 

indicates possible flowing material – either 

impact debris or post-impact melting or 

volcanism.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Strofio 0.1 -- 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4

International Mission Contributions (IMC 1.9 -- 3.5 2.4 2.2 2.0 2.0

Planetary Missions Program Office 12.2 -- 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5 16.5

Discovery Future 33.9 -- 5.3 11.8 9.7 99.1 255.0

Discovery Research 11.4 -- 8.5 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0

Dawn 1.0 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 60.5 -- 34.4 40.4 38.0 127.2 282.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Other Missions and Data Analysis funds research and 

analysis, management activities, operations of active 

missions, small projects, and international collaborations. 

It includes missions of opportunity (e.g., the instrument 

Strofio; operating missions (Dawn); competed research; 

funding for future mission selections; and program 

management activities.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

STROFIO

Strofio is a unique mass spectrometer, part of the 

SERENA suite of instruments that will fly onboard the 

ESA BepiColombo spacecraft, scheduled for launch in 

2018. Strofio will determine the chemical composition of 

Mercury’s surface, providing a powerful tool to study the 

planet’s geologic history.

Recent Achievements

The Strofio instrument is on board the BepiColombo 

spacecraft ready for launch in 2018.
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-49

INTERNATIONAL MISSION CONTRIBUTIONS (IMC)

There are more scientifically interesting destinations across the solar system than any one country’s 

program can quickly undertake. NASA works closely with the planetary science programs of other space 

agencies to find opportunities to participate in each other’s missions. Under the International Mission 

Contributions, NASA funds instruments and scientific investigators, and will provide navigation and data 

relay services, in exchange for participation. International missions in FY 2019 include the Japanese 

Space Agency’s Hayabusa-2 and Akatsuki (Venus Climate Orbiter) missions. The Akatsuki mission is in 

orbit around Venus and will investigate the planet Venus for at least the next five years. Hayabusa-2, 

which launched in 2014, will arrive at asteroid Ryugu in 2018 and capture and return a sample by 2020.

PLANETARY MISSIONS PROGRAM OFFICE

The Planetary Missions Program Office (PMPO) at the MSFC manages all Planetary Science flight 

projects that are not part of the Mars Exploration Program. This currently includes the competed

Discovery and New Frontiers missions, and the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) and Europa 

projects. PMPO includes support for the day-to-day efforts of the mission managers and business office, 

as well as standing review boards and external technical support as needed for the projects. It also funds

the Science Office for Mission Assessments (SOMA) at LaRC to support the mission selection process 

including the development of AOs and the formation and operations of independent panel reviews to 

evaluate mission proposals. 

DISCOVERY FUTURE

Discovery Future funds new missions selected through the AO process, specific technology investments 

to enable future missions, and small missions of opportunity. NASA plans to release the next Discovery 

AO in 2019 with selection in 2021.

DISCOVERY RESEARCH

Discovery Research funds analysis of archived data from Discovery missions, and supports participating 

scientists for the, Dawn and InSight missions. Discovery Research gives the research community access 

to samples and data and allows research to continue for many years after mission completion. Scientists in 

the U.S. planetary science community submit research proposals that NASA selects through competitive 

peer review.

Discovery Research also funds the analysis of samples returned to the Earth by the Stardust and Genesis 

missions as well as the development of new analysis techniques for samples returned by future missions.

Recent Achievements

The CHILI instrument (CHicago Instrument for Laser Ionization), recently completed at the University of 

Chicago, performs isotopic and elemental analyses with unprecedented spatial resolution, sensitivity, and 

control of interferences. Researchers have demonstrated the instrument's capabilities in a variety of 

publications on presolar grains and meteorites, and work on samples by Discovery missions Stardust and 

Genesis are underway. Scientists will use the instrument in the future on samples returned by Hayabusa2 

and OSIRIS-REx in coming years.
Science: Planetary Science: Discovery

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-50

One of the great benefits of sample-return missions is that the science payoff is great, but it can take many 

years to achieve the most challenging goals, some of which may be beyond technological capabilities at 

the time of the mission. The community has now reviewed the state of Stardust and Genesis science in a 

pair of publications (Westphal et al. 2017; Burnett and Jurewicz 2017), and outlined the highest priority 

science goals that remain for the future. These will guide future research solicitations. In FY 2017, 

eighteen peer-reviewed publications resulted from studies of these samples, including results on 

interstellar grains collected by Stardust, and results on the Fe and Ni content of solar wind collected by 

Genesis.

Operating Missions

DAWN

Dawn is completing its journey to two of the most massive, intact bodies in the main asteroid belt 

between Mars and Jupiter. By closely orbiting asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres with the same set 

of instruments, Dawn has the unique capability to compare and contrast these bodies, enabling scientists 

to answer questions about the formation and evolution of the solar system. Their surfaces preserve clues 

to the solar system’s first 10 million years, along with alterations since that time, allowing Dawn to 

investigate both the origin and the current state of the main asteroid belt. Launched in September 2007, 

Dawn reached Vesta in July 2011, left in August 2012, and arrived at Ceres in March 2015. Dawn is 

currently on a second extended mission period and will continue studying Ceres until the fall of 2018.

Data from the Dawn mission revealed the rugged topography and complex textures on the surface of 

Ceres. Additional data, such as the chemical composition, interior structure, and geologic age, are helping

scientists to understand the history of the only dwarf planet of the inner solar system and the planetary 

evolution processes that took place in the early solar system.

Recent Achievements

Early images of Ceres revealed a heavily cratered surface and enigmatic bright spots. The mission has 

shown that clay-like minerals with only small areas of ice dominate the surface, which has scientists 

rethinking the formation and evolution history and the internal structure of this small world. The intense 

brightness of the persistent spots is due to the presence of highly reflective materials on the surface, which 

appear to be mineral salts and water ice. In 2016, Dawn completed its primary mission. NASA approved 

the mission to remain in orbit at Ceres for a 12-month extended mission. During the extended mission,

Dawn moved to a high, elliptical orbit to obtain an improved calibration of its gamma ray and neutron 

detector, which provides information about the elemental composition of Ceres' surface. In October 2017, 

NASA approved Dawn for a second extension of a year's duration in which it will orbit Ceres in a highly 

elliptical orbit with a low altitude perigee.
Science: Planetary Science

NEW FRONTIERS

PS-51

NASA's Juno spacecraft is in orbit at Jupiter where it 

captured this beautiful image of Jupiter's swirling 

clouds. Juno's primary science goal is to use science 

instruments to probe beneath those clouds to 

understand Jupiter's interior structure. Knowing the 

details of the interior will tell us how Jupiter formed and 

by extension, how planets throughout the Universe form.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Other Missions and Data Analysis 134.0 -- 130.2 163.7 245.0 327.6 388.4

Total Budget 134.0 -- 130.2 163.7 245.0 327.6 388.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The New Frontiers program explores our solar 

system with medium-class spacecraft missions. 

Within the New Frontiers program, possible 

mission destinations and the science goals for each 

competitive opportunity are limited to specific 

science targets announced for the competition.

The program is currently comprised of three 

missions in operations: New Horizons, Juno, and 

OSIRIS-REx. 

The New Horizons mission is helping us 

understand worlds at the edge of the solar system. 

Having completed the first-ever reconnaissance of 

Pluto and its moons, the spacecraft is on its way to 

a fly-by of MU69, a small world in the Kuiper 

Belt.

Juno is a mission to Jupiter that is significantly 

improving our understanding of the origin and evolution of the gas giant planet. Juno is helping us 

understand the formation of planets and the origins of our solar system.

OSIRIS-REx will bring pristine samples from a carbon-rich asteroid (Bennu) to study and analyze on 

Earth. This will increase our understanding of the role that primitive bodies such as Bennu played in 

planet formation and the origin of life. In addition to its science objectives, OSIRIS-REx will improve our 

knowledge of how to operate human and robotic missions safely, in close proximity to a large Near-Earth 

Object (NEO). This knowledge will provide significant insight for potential planetary defense strategies. 

Potential future missions identified by the National Academies include Venus in Situ Explorer, Saturn 

Probe, Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, the Comet Surface Sample Return, Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin 

Sample Return, Io Observer, and Lunar Geophysical Network. NASA added, to the current New Frontiers 

4 AO, Ocean Worlds targets Enceladus and Titan.
Science: Planetary Science

NEW FRONTIERS

PS-52

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The New Horizons mission successfully completed a set of stellar occultation observations which has 

aided in the trajectory development for its next Kuiper Belt target on January 2019, called MU69.

Juno successfully completed eight polar orbits (each orbit duration is 53 Earth days), achieving a 

significant portion of their level one science.

The OSIRIS-REx mission completed its Earth gravity assist on September 2017, and is currently in a 

direct trajectory to its main belt asteroid sample return target, Bennu.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The New Horizons mission is developing the scientific observational sequences for its next Kuiper Belt 

target, called MU69. MU69 encounter phase is from mid-2018 through March 2019.

Juno is operating in a high radiation environment from pole to pole, and planning to complete their level 

one science in FY 2019.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is preparing for its rendezvous with Bennu. The approach phase starts in 

August 2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA expects to select the next New Frontiers mission.

The New Horizons mission plans to fly-by by its next Kuiper Belt target on January 2019, called MU69, 

and start downlink of the data.

The Juno mission will complete its prime science and submit an extended mission request.

The OSIRIS-REx mission will start mapping while flying in tandem with Bennu in preparation for the 

selection of the sample location region. OSIRIS-REx will map Bennu for two years before performing its 

sample return collection.
Science: Planetary Science

NEW FRONTIERS

PS-53

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Date Significant Event

December 2017 NF4 Step 1 Selection

April 2019 NF4 Step 2 Down-selection

2022 NF5 AO release

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & PLANNED CADENCE 

The New Frontiers Program is a multiple-project program, with responsibility for implementation 

assigned to the Planetary Missions Program Office, located at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). 

The New Frontiers Program AO cadence is approximately every 5-6 years.

ACQUISITION STRATEGY

NASA competitively selects New Frontiers missions, releasing announcements of opportunity when 

available funding allows.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

PIR MSFC 2016

Program 

Implementation 

Review

completed 2021
Science: Planetary Science: New Frontiers

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-54

Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, 

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft looked back toward the Sun and 

captured a near-sunset view of the rugged, icy mountains and flat 

ice plains extending to Pluto's horizon. Scientists think the

mountains of Pluto are made of water ice, which is one of the few 

materials on Pluto that is strong enough at the extremely low 

temperatures to form the steep slopes of the huge mountains. The 

smooth expanse of the informally named Sputnik Planum (right) is 

flanked to the west (left) by rugged mountains up to 11,000 feet 

(3,500 meters) high, including the informally named Norgay 

Montes in the foreground and Hillary Montes on the skyline. 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

New Frontiers Future Missions 1.5 -- 30.8 64.1 183.3 271.0 351.2

New Frontiers Research 1.7 -- 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.5

Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource 39.5 -- 50.3 50.7 21.6 22.2 27.7

New Horizons 29.4 -- 14.7 14.5 5.7 0.0 0.0

Juno 61.9 -- 25.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 0.0

Total Budget 134.0 -- 130.2 163.7 245.0 327.6 388.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

New Frontiers Other Missions and Data 

Analysis supports operating New 

Frontiers missions (New Horizons, Juno

and OSIRIS-REx), analysis of data from 

those missions, as well as preparation for

future missions.

Mission Planning and 

Other Projects

NEW FRONTIERS FUTURE

MISSIONS

New Frontiers Future supports 

technology development for future 

missions, and provides the funding 

required for the next AO. NASA released

the fourth New Frontiers AO in early 

December 2016, and expects to select a 

new mission in April 2019.

NEW FRONTIERS RESEARCH

New Frontiers Research funds analysis of archived data from New Frontiers missions. New Frontiers 

Research gives the research community access to samples and data and allows research to continue for 

many years after mission completion. This allows the maximum science return from each of the missions. 

Scientists in the U.S. planetary science community submit research proposals that NASA selects through 
Science: Planetary Science: New Frontiers

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-55

competitive peer review. NASA will select new research in 2019, using the New Horizons mission data 

returned from Pluto and the Juno mission data returned from Jupiter.

Operating Missions

NEW HORIZONS

New Horizons is the first scientific investigation to obtain a close look at Pluto and its moons Charon, 

Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx (scientists discovered the last four moons after the spacecraft's launch in 

2006). Scientists aim to find answers to basic questions about the surface properties, geology, interior 

makeup, and atmospheres on these bodies. 

New Horizons launched on January 19, 2006. It successfully encountered Pluto in July 2015, and 

completed downloading all the primary science observation of the Plutonian System on October 2016. 

The spacecraft will next venture deeper into the Kuiper Belt, and as part of a NASA-approved extended 

mission, study one of the small icy bodies in this region approximately two billion miles beyond Pluto’s 

orbit. The project has completed the maneuvers required to fly by Kuiper Belt Object 2014MU69 in 

January 2019.

Recent Achievements

The New Horizons project developed the Kuiper Belt Extended Mission (KEM) Integrated Master 

Schedule (IMS), and established the baseline in April 2017. The Student Dust Counter continues to 

collect unprecedented new data of an area of our Solar System little explore before.

Some of the surprising findings from Pluto by New Horizons include: 

• Charon’s enormous equatorial extensional tectonic belt hints at the freezing of a former water ice 

ocean inside Charon in the distant past. Other evidence found by New Horizons indicates Pluto 

could well have an internal water-ice ocean today.

• All of Pluto’s moons that can be age-dated by surface craters have the same, ancient age—adding 

weight to the theory that they formed together in a single collision between Pluto and another 

body in the Kuiper Belt long ago.

• Charon’s dark, red polar cap is unprecedented in the solar system and may be the result of organic 

atmospheric gases that escaped Pluto and then accreted on Charon’s North Pole.

• Pluto’s vast 1,000-kilometer-wide heart-shaped nitrogen glacier (called Sputnik Planum) that 

New Horizons discovered is the largest known glacier in the solar system.

• Pluto shows evidence of vast changes in atmospheric pressure and, possibly, past presence of 

running or standing liquid volatiles on its surface and underneath its icy crust – something only 

seen elsewhere on Earth, Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan in our solar system.

• The New Horizons project successfully completed stellar occultations on June and July 2017 to 

determine that MU69 is possibly a binary object 14 to 25 miles (22 to 40 kilometers) wide. The 

overflight of this new world MU69 is on target for 1/1/2019. There is currently a public 

engagement competition to name MU69.
Science: Planetary Science: New Frontiers

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-56

JUNO

Juno is conducting an in-depth study of Jupiter, the most massive planet in the solar system. Juno’s 

instruments seek information from deep in Jupiter’s atmosphere, enabling scientists to understand the 

fundamental processes of the formation and early evolution of the solar system. Juno launched on August 

5, 2011 and entered Jupiter's orbit on July 4, 2016. During its science operations mission, Juno is 

sampling Jupiter’s full range of latitudes and longitudes. From its polar perspective, Juno combines 

remote sensing observations to explore the polar magnetosphere and determine what drives Jupiter’s 

remarkable auroras. Juno has an onboard camera that is producing images and providing unique 

opportunities to engage the next generation of scientists.

Recent Achievements

Juno is currently in a 53-day orbit and has successfully completed nine science flybys of Jupiter. Juno's 

instruments have started their mapping of Jupiter's previously unknown interior structure. 

Initial results indicate that limited rocky material is spread out in a diffuse, "fuzzy" deep core and that the 

magnetic field may have multiple origins. Deep atmospheric mapping indicates that there is a wide 

current of ammonia flowing up from the deeps at the equator, hinting at deep circulation patterns. The 

deep atmosphere below the iconic Great Red Spot is clearly warmer than the surroundings for as far down 

as we can see, thus hinting at the origins of the Earth-sized superstorm. 

Particles creating the blazing auroral lights are being mapped back to volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io but 

the mysterious, beautiful patterns in the auroral images (in the ultraviolet and infrared) are still being 

deciphered.

OSIRIS-REX

OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. mission to bring a sample from an asteroid back to Earth. The OSIRISREx spacecraft will travel to (101955) Bennu, a near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid formerly designated 

1999 RQ36, study the asteroid in detail, and bring back a sample (at least 60 grams or 2.1 ounces) to 

Earth. This sample will yield insight into planet formation and the origin of life, and the data collected at 

the asteroid will aid in understanding asteroids that can collide with Earth. This mission will also measure 

the Yarkovsky effect on a potentially hazardous asteroid and measure the asteroid properties that 

contribute to this effect. The Yarkovsky effect is a small force on an asteroid caused by the Sun, as the 

asteroid absorbs sunlight and re-emits that energy as heat. The small force adds up over time, but it is 

uneven due to an asteroid’s shape, wobble, surface composition, and rotation. For scientists to predict an 

Earth-approaching asteroid’s path, they must understand how the effect will change its orbit. By 

describing the integrated global properties of a primitive carbonaceous asteroid, this mission will allow 

for direct comparison with ground- based telescopic data of the entire asteroid population.

OSIRIS-REx launched on September 8, 2016 and flew by the Earth on September 22, 2017. After almost 

two years in space, OSIRIS-REx will approach Bennu, arriving close enough to begin observations in 

August 2018. The mission will study the asteroid for about one year, globally mapping the surface from 

distances of about three miles to less than half a mile. The spacecraft cameras and instruments will 

photograph the asteroid and measure its surface topography, composition, and thermal emissions. Radio 

science will provide mass and gravity field maps. This information will help the mission team select the 

most promising location to collect a sample of pristine asteroid material. In 2020, the spacecraft will 
Science: Planetary Science: New Frontiers

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-57

descend to the surface of the asteroid, and gently contact the surface, collecting a sample, before backing 

away. The spacecraft will remain near the asteroid for almost another two years before beginning its 

return to Earth. To deliver the sample to Earth, OSIRIS-REx has a capsule similar to the one that returned 

the sample of Comet 81P/Wild on the Stardust spacecraft. The capsule with its pristine sample from 

Bennu will land at the Utah Test and Training Range on September 24, 2023. NASA will transport the 

capsule containing the sample to JSC for processing, analysis, and curation at a dedicated research 

facility. JSC will make subsamples available for research to the worldwide science community.

Recent Achievements

In February 2017, OSIRIS-REx conducted a search for asteroids near one of the Earth Trojan points, 

exercising the observations and analysis planned for asteroid approach to search for small satellites that 

might be orbiting Bennu. OSIRIS-REx flew by the Earth on September 22, 2017, receiving a gravity 

assist to change the plane of its orbit to match the orbit of its target asteroid, Bennu. OSIRIS-REx took 

advantage of this flyby to obtain calibration observations of the Earth and Moon.
Science: Planetary Science

MARS EXPLORATION

PS-58

Every time we feel close to understanding Mars, new 

discoveries send us straight back to the drawing board to 

revise existing theories. We've discovered that today's 

Martian wasteland hints at a formerly volatile world 

where volcanoes once raged, meteors plowed deep craters, 

and flash floods rushed over the land, and yet we now 

know that early Mars could have supported microbial life.

Mars continues to throw out new enticements with each 

landing or orbital pass made by our spacecraft.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Mars Rover 2020 408.0 374.3 348.0 296.9 154.8 133.0 60.4

Other Missions and Data Analysis 239.0 -- 253.5 232.7 217.1 157.8 154.9

Total Budget 647.0 -- 601.5 529.7 371.9 290.8 215.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Mars Exploration Program seeks to 

understand when Mars was habitable, is Mars 

habitable today, or can it be a habitable world in 

the future, and whether it ever supported life. As 

the most Earth-like planet in the solar system, 

Mars has a landmass approximately equivalent 

to the Earth’s as well as many of the same 

geological features, such as riverbeds, past river 

deltas, and volcanoes. Mars also has many of the 

same “systems” that characterize Earth, such as 

air, water, ice, and geology that all interact to 

produce the Martian environment. Mars also has 

fundamental differences from Earth including 

the lack of a global magnetic field and chaotic 

changes in the orientation of its spin axis over 

tens of millions of years, which have affected its 

environment.

The four broad, overarching goals for Mars 

Exploration are to:

• Determine if life ever arose on Mars:

• Characterize the climate of Mars;

• Characterize the geology of Mars; and

• Prepare for human exploration.

Today, our robotic scientific explorers are paving the way. Together, humans and robots will pioneer 

Mars and the solar system.
Science: Planetary Science

MARS EXPLORATION

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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This Budget, through funding in the Mars Future project, supports studies and technology development in 

support of a Mars Sample Return mission. In developing concepts for a Mars Sample Return mission, 

NASA intends to leverage commercial and other partnerships. 

The MER mission has been extended through FY 2019 and the Odyssey mission has been extended from 

FY 2019 through FY 2022.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

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Mars 2020 will re-use the basic engineering of NASA's Mars 

Science Laboratory to send a different rover to Mars, with 

new objectives and instruments, launching in 2020. The 

rover will carry seven instruments to conduct its science and 

exploration technology investigations including two 

contributed by international partners and one to 

demonstrate a critical technology for future human 

exploration.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 393.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 393.1

Development/Implementation 227.3 425.2 400.9 355.4 277.6 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 1687.6

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 23.4 157.6 134.8 61.7 0.0 377.5

2017 MPAR LCC Estimate 620.4 425.2 400.9 355.4 301.1 158.7 134.8 61.7 0.0 2458.2

Total Budget 575.1 408.0 347.3 348.0 296.9 154.8 133.0 60.4 0 2350.5

Change from FY 2018 -45.5

Percentage change from FY 2018 -11.3%

Total NASA Budget 620.4 425.2 400.9 355.4 301.1 158.7 134.8 61.7 0.0 2458.2

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The MPAR LCC estimate is higher than the Total Budget because it includes contributions from other Mission 

Directorates. Total Budget reflects the total SMD budget.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Mars 2020 science rover is a mission, 

currently in development, that will advance 

the scientific priorities detailed in the National 

Research Council’s Planetary Science Decadal 

Survey, entitled “Vision and Voyages for 

Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022.” 

In addition, the mission provides an 

opportunity for payload elements provided by 

the HEOMD and the STMD that align with 

their priorities and are compatible with SMD 

priorities.

NASA’s Mars 2020 mission will build upon 

many discoveries from the Mars Curiosity 

rover and the two Mars Exploration Rovers, 

Spirit and Opportunity, by taking the next key 

steps in our understanding of Mars’ potential 

as a habitat for past or present life. The Mars 

2020 rover will seek signs of past life on 
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

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Mars, collect and store a set of samples for potential return to Earth in the future, and test new technology 

to benefit future robotic and human exploration of Mars. The mission will also deploy new capabilities 

developed through investments by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, Human Exploration 

and Operations Mission Directorate, and contributions from international partners.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

The Mars 2020 mission is planned to launch in July 2020, landing on Mars in February 2021, and 

spending at least one Mars year (two Earth years) exploring the landing site region. The mission uses 

much of the design of the highly successful Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) “Curiosity” rover, which has 

been exploring Mars since 2012. The Mars 2020 rover body and other major hardware (such as the cruise 

stage, aeroshell, and heat shield) will be near-duplicates of the systems of MSL and will take maximum 

advantage of engineering heritage. The new rover will carry more sophisticated, upgraded hardware and 

new instruments to conduct geological assessments of the rover's landing site, determine the potential 

habitability of the environment, and directly search for signs of ancient Martian life. To minimize costs 

and risks, NASA will use a proven landing system and rover chassis design as much as possible, while 

still delivering a highly capable rover.

The Mars 2020 rover is carrying a competitively selected science and technology instrument payload of 

seven instruments. NASA chose five of those instruments to provide the clearest possible measurements 

for seeking possible signs of ancient life (potential “biosignatures”) on Mars over its long, 4.6 billion-year 

history. NASA chose the remaining two instruments to assess environmental hazards and resources for 

future human exploration. The rover also will collect and store samples of rocks and soils in sealed tubes, 

which will be stored on the surface of Mars for possible return to Earth by a subsequent mission. NASA 

is exploring a range of potential options to return these cached samples to Earth, including a future NASA 

Science or NASA-sponsored mission, or via a commercial or international partnership. We are exploring 

opportunities to partner with industry to leverage their future missions to advance decadal survey science 

objectives.

The rover’s baseline power source is a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG). 

It uses the heat from the natural decay of plutonium-238 to generate electricity. NASA and ESA 

telecommunications relay assets in Mars orbit will support the mission.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The Mars 2020 mission completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) and continued design and 

fabrication.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

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WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The Mars 2020 mission will complete the System Integration Review (SIR) and begin Assembly, Test, 

and Launch Operations (ATLO).

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The Mars 2020 mission will deliver the instrument payload to spacecraft assembly, test, and launch 

operations (ATLO).

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Jun 2016 Jun 2016

CDR Dec 2016 Feb 2017

KDP-D Jan 2018 Apr 2018

Launch Readiness Date Jul 2020 Jul 2020

Landing Feb 2021 Feb 2021

End of Prime Mission Jun 2023 Jun 2023

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2017

SMD 

1620.1

NASA 

1676.9

70 2018

SMD 

1620.1

NASA 

1687.6

0.6 LRD Jul 2020 Jul 2020 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

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Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 1676.9 1687.6 10.7

Technology Development 88.4 135.6 47.2

Aircraft/Spacecraft 527.4 685.4 158.0

Payloads 155.4 199.5 44.1

Systems I&T 71.1 71.1 0

Launch Vehicle/Services 342.5 239.5 -103.0

Ground Systems 80.4 98.8 18.4

Science Technology 16.5 20.3 3.8

Other Direct Project 

Costs 395.1 237.4 -157.8
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

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Project Management & Commitments

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has project management responsibility for Mars 2020.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Mastcam-Z

Advanced camera system 

with panoramic and 

stereoscopic imaging 

capability with the ability to 

zoom

Provider: ASU

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

SuperCam

Instrument that can provide 

imaging, chemical 

composition analysis, and 

mineralogy

Provider: Los Alamos National 

Laboratory

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): CNES

None

PIXL

An X-ray fluorescence 

spectrometer that will also 

contain an imager with high 

resolution to determine the 

fine scale elemental 

composition of Martian 

surface materials

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

SHERLOC

A spectrometer that will 

provide fine-scale imaging 

and uses an ultraviolet (UV) 

laser to determine fine-scale 

mineralogy and detect organic 

compounds.

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

RIMFAX

A ground-penetrating radar 

that will provide centimeterscale resolution of the 

geologic structure of the 

subsurface

Provider: Norwegian Defense Research 

Establishment, Norway

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): NASA SMD

None

MEDA

A set of sensors that will 

provide measurements of 

temperature, wind speed and 

direction, pressure, relative 

humidity and dust size and 

shape

Provider: Centro de Astrobiologia, 

Instituto Nacional de Tecnica 

Aeroespacial, Spain

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): NASA 

HEOMD/STMD

None
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

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Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

MOXIE

An exploration technology 

investigation that will 

produce oxygen from Martian 

atmospheric carbon dioxide

Provider: Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): HEOMD/STMD

None

MEDLI-2

A set of engineering sensors 

embedded in the aeroshell to 

gather data on the aerothermal 

conditions, thermal protection 

system, and aerodynamic 

performance during 

atmospheric entry and 

descent.

Provider: NASA Langley Research 

Center (LaRC)

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): LaRC/JPL

Cost Share Partner(s): HEOMD/STMD

None

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: SHERLOC has significant 

implementation issues (technical, schedule, 

or cost) due to the large number of new and 

challenging subassemblies (laser, laser power 

supply, scan mirror, etc.), 

Then: Direct development cost (instrument 

side) and project ripple effects (flight system 

thermal/mechanical/ATLO) and schedule 

impacts could result.

The project initiated a schedule optimization process with focus 

on the engineering model delivery schedule. Additional 

resources and institutional support provided to address key risk 

areas.

The project aggressively mitigated subassembly level risks at the 

component and subassembly level and continually develops 

further subsystem level schedule mitigations.

If: Planned supersonic parachute 

development and risk reduction testing are

not successful in addressing parachute 

inflation survivability concerns,

Then: Additional development cycles and 

test campaigns may be required and could 

consume all available project schedule 

margin.

Assess the outcome of planned supersonic parachute 

development and risk reduction testing. Investigate long lead 

needs for both additional parachute development and testing.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

PS-66

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: One or several of the aggregated EDL

residual risks or unknown-unknowns that are 

inherited from MSL is realized (such as 

single point failures, environmental factors),

Then: Could cause loss of mission.

Risk updated to remove risks retired by MSL's flight itself and 

Mars 2020 plans that will correct some testing shortfalls. 

Previously 43 identified risks; reduced to 27.

Reexamine aggregated risks to understand if any baseline 

changes affect them. It is very likely that the Mars 2020 mission

will need to accept most, if not all, of the aggregated residual 

risks.

Engineers have brought identified mitigations forward for 

approval as part of the flight software scrub.

If: Complexity of the Sampling and Caching 

Subsystem (SCS) drives delays in 

development/test activities, or new actuators 

are late being delivered by the Motion 

Control Subsystem (MCS), or new or 

modified contamination control requirements 

require additional time to complete 

assembly/test, or additional re-design cycles 

of SCS hardware delays build/testing, 

Then: The delivery of the Sampling and 

Caching System (SCS) hardware to ATLO 

may be later than planned.

The Flight System has worked with the Project and the SCS and 

MCS subsystems to do the following:

Mostly retired initial design and fabrication risk. Focus is on endeffector and bit carousel. Engineering development unit delivered 

to SCS testbed for use in risk reduction. Developed a plan to 

ensure engineering development and test effectively influences 

flight hardware while minimizing the impact to delivery dates.

Finalized end-effector design and actuator selection, allowing 

closure of performance requirements; finalized vendors and 

designs for all new actuators required for SCS; finalized rover 

motor controller design relative to actuators; reduced complexity 

by removing tube warming station and adding T-0 purge to the 

SCS caching assembly.

MCS actuator development detailed design reviews and SCS 

critical design review are complete; SCS is moving into 

fabrication, assembly, and test.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

PS-67

Acquisition Strategy

NASA is acquiring the spacecraft and flight systems for the Mars 2020 mission through JPL and the 

radioisotope power system through the Department of Energy, taking advantage of the previous 

investment in the MSL project to maximize heritage. By using contracts existing from the MSL project to 

procure new versions of the as-flown hardware, JPL plans to maintain the lowest possible costs. NASA 

competitively selected the Mars 2020 investigations payload.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA released an announcement of opportunity for the Mars 2020 rover instruments on September 24, 

2013, with selections announced on July 31, 2014. NASA selected seven science instruments and 

exploration technology investigations for the Mars Rover 2020 payload. 

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Aeroshell Lockheed Martin Denver, CO

Actuators Cobham Hauppauge, NY

Robotic arm Motiv Pasadena, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Oct 2014 / 

Mar 2015 SRR & MDR

Mars 2020 

successfully 

met the 

criteria and 

the PMC 

decision 

authority 

approved 

the project 

to continue 

to the next 

phase.

Feb 2016

Performance SRB Feb 2016 PDR Complete Feb/Mar 

2017

Performance SRB Feb/Mar 

2017 CDR Complete Feb/Mar 2018

Performance SRB Feb/Mar

2018 SIR TBD May 2020
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

MARS ROVER 2020

Formulation Development Operations

PS-68

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB May 2020 ORR TBD
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-69

Rigorous scientific questions will drive all of our 

future missions. The questions will continuously 

evolve as we make new discoveries. Brand new 

technologies will enable us to explore Mars in ways 

we never have before, resulting in higher-resolution 

images, precision landings, longer-ranging surface 

mobility, and the ability to cache samples.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) 12.1 -- 8.5 6.7 6.9 6.0 6.0

Aeroscience Ground Test Capabilities 14.6 -- 21.5 22.2 22.2 22.2 22.2

ExoMars 2.2 -- 2.3 2.1 2.2 0.0 0.0

Mars Program Management 24.2 -- 19.8 19.8 20.0 13.7 15.3

Mars Future Missions 20.0 -- 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0 50.0

Mars Mission Operations 1.9 -- 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

Mars Research and Analysis 10.0 -- 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0

Mars Technology 22.9 -- 8.5 4.0 4.5 4.5 4.5

2011 Mars Science Lab 56.2 -- 54.0 54.0 50.0 0.0 0.0

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter 2005 (MRO) 28.0 -- 27.0 27.0 26.0 26.0 25.0

Mars Exploration Rover 2003 12.5 -- 12.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Mars Odyssey 2001 10.8 -- 11.5 11.5 0.0 0.0 0.0

Mars Express 3.0 -- 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Mars Atmosphere & Volatile EvolutioN 20.5 -- 23.5 23.5 23.5 23.5 20.0

Total Budget 239.0 -- 253.5 232.7 217.1 157.8 154.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Other Missions and Data Analysis includes the 

mission planning and other projects such as NASA's

contribution (MOMA) to the European Space 

Agency ExoMars 2020 rover, Aeroscience Ground 

Test Capabilities, ExoMars, Mars Program 

Management, Mars Mission Operations, Mars 

Research and Analysis, Mars Technology, and Mars 

Future. In addition to the mission planning projects 

are the operating projects which include Mars 

Science Laboratory (MSL), Mars Reconnaissance 

Orbiter 2005 (MRO), Mars Exploration Rover 2003 

(MER,) Mars Odyssey 2001, Mars Express, and 

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN). 

Also included are the flight operations, NASAcontributed Electra communications radios, and the 

participation of co-Investigators on two instruments 

of the 2016 Exobiology on Mars (ExoMars) Trace 

Gas Orbiter (TGO).
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-70

Mission Planning and Other Projects

MARS ORGANIC MOLECULE ANALYZER (MOMA)

MOMA is the core astrobiology instrument on the ESA ExoMars 2020 rover, and it addresses the top 

ExoMars science goal of seeking signs of past or present life on Mars. The MOMA-MS is the NASAprovided subsystem of MOMA, which is in development. It is primarily a dual-source mass spectrometer, 

including laser desorption capability, to detect a wide range of organic molecules in Martian samples. 

Organic structure and distribution can be indicators of past or present life.

AEROSCIENCE GROUND TEST CAPABILITIES

NASA established the Aeroscience Ground Test Capabilities project to help sustain the Agency's entry, 

descent, and landing test capabilities. This budget consists of SMD’s contribution to this agency-wide 

effort to maintain capabilities, to ensure they are available when needed for specific missions, including 

Mars.

EXOMARS

The ExoMars program is a series of two missions designed to understand if life ever existed on Mars. The 

first mission in the ExoMars program is the 2016 TGO. For this mission, NASA contributed two Electra 

telecommunication radios, identical to those used successfully on NASA’s MRO and MAVEN. Electra 

acts as a communications relay and navigation aid for Mars spacecraft. Electra’s ultra-high frequency 
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-71

(UHF) radios support navigation, command, and data-return needs. Furthermore, two instruments have 

significant contributions from US co-Investigators.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

The ExoMars trace gas orbiter entered Mars orbit in late October of 2016 and the spacecraft is now 

aerobraking towards achieving the science orbit in April of 2018.

MARS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Mars Program Management provides for the broad-based implementation and programmatic management 

of the Mars Exploration program. Mars Program Management also supports independent panel reviews, 

studies regarding planetary protection, advanced mission studies and program architecture, program 

science, and telecommunications coordination and integration.

MARS MISSION OPERATIONS

Mars Mission Operations provides management and leadership for the development and operation of 

Mars multi-mission systems for operations. Mars Mission Operations supports and provides common 

operational systems and capabilities at a lower cost and risk than having each Mars project produce 

systems individually.

MARS RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS (R&A)

Mars R&A provides funding for research and analysis of Mars mission data in order to understand how 

geologic, climatic, and other processes have worked to shape Mars and its environment over time, as well 

as how they interact today. Specific investments include: 

• Mars Data Analysis, which analyzes archived data collected on Mars missions; and

• Critical Data Products, which provide data and analyses for the safe arrival, aero-maneuver, 

entry, descent, and landing at Mars. 

Data analysis through Mars R&A enables a much broader and objective analysis of the data and samples. 

It also allows research to continue for many years after the mission completion. These research projects 

increase our scientific understanding of Mars’ past and present environments, disseminating the results 

through the scientific publications. By using data collected by spacecraft, researchers are able to make 

scientific discoveries and test hypotheses about the Martian environment.

Recent Achievements

Recently published papers have provided significant new information on the water cycle of Mars, the 

nature and formation mechanisms of active wind-driven deposits, and the potential habitability of Mars. 

One of these papers concludes that hydrothermal deposits are present on Mars (a potential site for the 

origin of life). In addition, additional research has opened the debate about whether liquid water is the 

cause of recurring slope lineae on Mars.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

PS-72

MARS TECHNOLOGY

Mars Technology focuses on technological investments that lay the groundwork for successful future 

Mars missions, such as entry, descent, and landing capabilities; Mars ascent vehicle components, sample 

handling and processing technologies; and surface-to-orbit communications improvements.

MARS FUTURE 

Mars Future Missions funds the planning of future robotic missions to Mars that build on scientific 

discoveries from past missions and incorporate the lessons learned from previous missions. Mars Future 

supports study and technology development for a potential Mars Sample Return mission. In developing 

concepts for a Mars Sample Return mission, NASA intends to leverage commercial and other 

partnerships. 

Operating Missions

2011 MARS SCIENCE LAB (MSL)

MSL and its Curiosity rover, which successfully landed in August 2012, completed its prime mission 

exploration activities. The Curiosity rover is exploring and quantitatively assessing regions on Mars as 

potential past habitats for life, and has determined that Mars, at least at one point in time, was once able to 

support microbial life. Curiosity is twice as long and three times as heavy as the Mars Exploration Rover 

Opportunity. The Curiosity rover is collecting Martian soil and rock samples and analyzing them for 

organic compounds and environmental conditions that could have supported microbial life, and making 

measurements of the Martian atmosphere, the radiation environment, and the weather. MSL is the first 

planetary mission to use precision landing techniques, steering itself toward the Martian surface. This 

landing method enabled the rover to land in an area less than 12 miles in diameter, about one-sixth the 

size of previous landing zones on Mars, and this successful system is the basis of the system architecture 

of the Mars 2020 mission. In addition, Curiosity is the first planetary rover to make use of a nuclear 

power source, which gave the rover the ability to travel up to 12 miles during the two-year primary 

mission. This international partnership mission uses components provided by the space agencies of 

Russia, Spain, and Canada.

Recent Achievements

Curiosity has traveled over 11 miles and has been exploring the lower reaches of Mt. Sharp – the prime 

science target of the mission and is now in its second extended mission. Scientists can attribute mineralfilled veins in multiple locations with varying mineral assemblages (starting at the base and going up Mt. 

Sharp) to multiple generations of water at the surface, extending both the extent and to younger times that 

the environment could have supported microbial life. Also accomplished are the first crystallographic and 

chemical ground truth of clays identified from orbit, the first characterization of the radiation environment 

on the surface of another planet, and the first study of an extraterrestrial active dune field.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

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MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER 2005 (MRO)

MRO, currently in its fourth extended operations phase, carries HiRISE, the most powerful camera ever 

flown on a planetary exploration mission. This capability provides a more detailed view of the geology 

and structure of Mars, and helps identify obstacles that could jeopardize the safety of future landers and 

rovers. MRO also carries a radar sounder to find subsurface water, an important consideration in selecting 

scientifically worthy landing sites for future exploration. A second camera acquires medium-resolution 

images that provide a broader geological context for more detailed observations from higher-resolution 

instruments; it has covered most of the planet and searches for new phenomena, such as new impact 

craters, revealing ice. In addition, MRO carries a high resolution imaging spectrometer, the Compact 

Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), which can map minerals at unprecedented 

spatial resolution. A wide-angle camera provides daily global weather maps and an atmospheric sounder 

shows how the Martian atmosphere transports dust and water ice. MRO will follow up on recent 

discoveries of an increasingly diverse array of ancient aqueous environments and enough buried carbon 

dioxide ice that, if released, would double the present atmospheric pressure. In the final years of its fourth 

extended mission, MRO will extend mapping of the three dimensional structure and content of the polar 

ice deposits, characterize the episodic nature of great dust storms, expand coverage of surface changes, 

and monitor possible seasonal surface color changes suggestive of liquid water flow on Mars today. MRO 

is characterizing landing sites for the 2018 Insight Lander, Mars 2020 Rover, and the 2020 ESA ExoMars 

Rover. It continues a survey of possible landing sites for potential human missions. As it explores, MRO 

also serves as a major installment of an “interplanetary Internet,” as a relay communications orbiter 

relaying commands to and data from surface assets to Earth.

In FY 2018, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will focus on the detection of modern surface changes and 

on extending surveys for the detection of aqueous minerals that indicate water-related environments 

(ground water, paleolakes, and possible ocean) on early Mars. In FY 2019 MRO will characterize activity 

during the upcoming great dust storm season on Mars. Programmatically, MRO will observe the landing 

of the InSight spacecraft in November 2018, while continuing to provide relay for all landed missions.

Recent Achievements

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) had several significant accomplishments during FY 2017, both 

scientifically and programmatically. Scientifically, the mission found evidence that liquid water carved a 

network of valleys between paleolakes relatively late in Mars history; that extensive ice deposits from the 

last glacial age remain in the subsurface today; and that seasonally subliming carbon dioxide ice is 

responsible for many new surface changes seen in the polar regions. Characterization continues of the 

enigmatic Recurring Slope Lineae, which are possible brine flows on modern Mars. Programmatically, 

MRO has completed acquisition of the key data needed to characterize and certify the candidate landing 

sites for the InSight and 2020 Mars Rover missions, while continuing to provide relay for the ongoing 

Curiosity and Opportunity rovers.

MARS EXPLORATION ROVER 2003

For over 14 years, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has explored geological settings on the 

surface of Mars. It has expanded understanding of the history and the geological processes that shaped 

Mars, particularly those involving water. Opportunity has trekked 27.9 miles across the Martian surface, 

(continually breaking the distance record for traverse on a planetary body beyond Earth, well over a 

marathon), conducting field geology, making atmospheric observations, finding evidence of ancient 
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

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Martian environments where intermittently wet and habitable conditions existed, and sending back to 

Earth well over 223,000 spectacular, high-resolution images.

Recent Achievements

Opportunity has begun an extensive campaign to explore the clays identified by MRO’s CRISM from

orbit. The rover is in the process of surviving its eighth Martian winter on the south facing slopes of 

Perseverance Valley, maximizing its solar panel exposure as it continues exploring the most ancient 

terrain explored to date. This includes an ongoing investigation of the geology of a water-carved gulley, 

located in Endeavour Crater, for the first time from the surface.

MARS ODYSSEY 2001

Mars Odyssey, currently in its seventh extended mission operations phase, is still in orbit around Mars. It 

continues to send information to Earth about Martian geology, climate, and mineralogy. Measurements by 

Odyssey enabled scientists to create maps of minerals and chemical elements and identify regions with 

buried water ice. Images that measure the surface temperature provided spectacular views of Martian 

topography. Mars Odyssey will continue critical long-term longitudinal studies of the Martian climate. 

Odyssey has served as the primary means of communications for NASA Mars surface explorers over the 

past decade, and continues that role for the Opportunity and Curiosity rovers.

In future years, Mars Odyssey will observe the moons of Mars, providing the first-ever thermal infrared 

imaging of the surface under different illumination conditions, to provide evidence of the surface 

compositions. This will test the two opposing hypotheses for the origins of these moons: Captured 

asteroids or formation in orbit from impact debris.

Recent Achievements

The Mars Odyssey orbiter detected high-energy particles encountering Mars during the passage of a solar 

storm and observed atmospheric phenomena (hazes, clouds, fog, and frost) in the early morning and late 

evening hours not viewed systematically by other orbiters.

MARS EXPRESS

Mars Express, currently in its sixth extended mission operations phase, is an ESA mission that provides 

an understanding of Mars as a “coupled” system: from the ionosphere and atmosphere down to the 

surface and sub-surface. This mission addresses the climatic and geological evolution of Mars as well as 

the potential for life on the planet. NASA contributed components for the Mars Advanced Radar for 

Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) and Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms 

(ASPERA) instruments aboard Mars Express, and participates in the scientific analysis of mission data. 

Recent Achievements

Mars Express has been performing an ongoing series of tests between the spacecraft and the Opportunity 

and Curiosity rovers to demonstrate and evaluate proximity radio links between orbiting and surface 

assets.
Science: Planetary Science: Mars Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

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MARS ATMOSPHERE AND VOLATILE EVOLUTION (MAVEN)

MAVEN, successfully launched in 2013, is providing a comprehensive picture of the Mars upper 

atmosphere, ionosphere, solar energetic drivers, and atmospheric losses, to determine how the Mars 

atmosphere evolved through time. The mission is answering long-standing questions regarding the loss of 

the Mars atmosphere, climate history, liquid water, and habitability. MAVEN is the first mission devoted 

to studying Mars' upper atmosphere, with the most comprehensive measurements ever taken to address 

key scientific questions about Mars’ evolution. It is exploring the upper atmosphere, ionosphere, 

interactions with the Sun and solar wind, and the resulting loss of gas from the atmosphere to space. 

Scientists are using MAVEN data to determine the role that loss of volatile compounds (such as carbon 

dioxide and water) from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time, and the importance of 

this loss in changing the Mars atmosphere and climate through time. As with all Mars Exploration 

Program orbiters, MAVEN also carries an Electra radio for communications with rovers and landers on 

the Mars surface. NASA prepared MAVEN to provide contingency relay support during its primary 

science mission and it is evolving into a more regular communications role.

After successfully completing its primary mission in Nov 2015, MAVEN completed its first extended 

mission (EM-1) in Sep 2016, and is now executing its second extended mission (EM-2) with an expanded 

suite of science objectives and observational techniques.

Recent Achievements

MAVEN science results in FY 2017 include the first in situ detection of persistent metal ions in Mars’ 

upper atmosphere from the influx of interplanetary dust and measurements showing that magnetic fields

in Mars’ crust affect the distant boundary of the Mars-solar wind interaction. A pivotal conclusion from 

MAVEN’s measurements of Argon isotopes is that the majority of Mars’ atmospheric gas was lost to 

space. MAVEN had its most significant opportunity thus far to study atmospheric loss processes when, on 

September 12, 2017, a coronal mass ejection from the Sun hit the Martian atmosphere and lit it up in a 

global ultraviolet aurora that was 25 times brighter than any previously seen by MAVEN. The MAVEN 

team uses measurements of events like this to infer how such storms may have stripped away so much of 

the Martian atmosphere over time, a primary mission objective. In FY 2018, the MAVEN team will 

continue this investigation of Mars’ atmospheric loss over time while planning for science operations 

from a future modified orbit that will support relay communications for new and existing surface assets at 

Mars.
Science: Planetary Science

OUTER PLANETS AND OCEAN WORLDS

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Europa, with its probable vast subsurface ocean 

sandwiched between a potentially active silicate interior 

and a highly dynamic surface ice shell, offers one of the 

most promising extraterrestrial habitable 

environments, and a plausible model for habitable

environments beyond our solar system - Vision and 

Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Europa Clipper 275.0 -- 264.7 200.2 359.5 358.9 361.0

Other Missions and Data Analysis 84.5 -- 20.9 13.6 13.8 13.6 14.5

Total Budget 359.5 -- 285.6 213.8 373.3 372.5 375.5

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds program 

enables the exploration of worlds in our solar 

system possessing vast expanses of liquids, just as 

Earth does. These liquid reservoirs, most notably 

those composed of liquid water, provide insight 

into some of the most fundamental questions about 

life and the evolution of the solar system. The 

exploration of ocean worlds has the highest 

relevance and potential in the search for extant life 

and its habitable environments beyond Earth, one 

of NASA’s strategic objectives.

NASA missions have revealed an increasing 

number of ocean worlds in our solar system while 

at the same time providing enticing though limited 

details about these unexpected oceans. Not far 

underneath its icy crust, Europa contains a global 

liquid water ocean twice as large as Earth’s 

oceans. Recent observations suggest active plumes emanating from the surface of Europa, possibly 

bringing an ocean sample within easier reach. Scientists detected a similar though smaller global ocean on 

Enceladus, a small moon orbiting Saturn, also emanating active plumes. Other moons (such as 

Ganymede, Callisto, and Titan) have been shown to possess perched oceans deep beneath their surfaces, 

and Titan has also been shown to possess huge lakes of liquid methane on its surface – the only place 

beyond Earth with lakes exposed to an atmosphere.

Simultaneously with these discoveries, astrobiology research along with the exploration of Earth’s oceans 

have demonstrated the pervasiveness of life given the proper conditions and environment. Research has 

increasingly indicated that ocean worlds possess at least some of the conditions necessary for extant life: 

long-lived oceans providing liquid water and a stable habitat, hydrothermal activity providing energy, and 

organics providing the necessary materials, among others. Thus, ocean worlds are the most likely places 

to search for currently habitable environments in the solar system and the life forms that could exist in 

those environments.
Science: Planetary Science

OUTER PLANETS AND OCEAN WORLDS

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The Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds program enables science investigations spanning the diversity of 

worlds hosting large liquid bodies in the outer solar system. The strategic missions currently in this 

portfolio investigate a broad array of science disciplines with more depth than is possible for smaller, 

tightly focused missions in the Discovery and New Frontiers programs. These missions in turn enable the 

definition of focused questions that smaller missions in the Discovery and New Frontiers programs can 

pursue. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This budget enables a Europa Clipper launch readiness date in 2025. The Administration proposes to 

launch the Clipper on a commercial launch vehicle, which would be several hundreds of millions of 

dollars cheaper than an SLS flight and would not impact the availability of SLS rockets to support human 

exploration. The Administration recognizes the benefits of using an SLS vehicle, including a shorter 

cruise to Europa and a more direct trajectory (enabling a simpler thermal design and earlier science return 

to inform future outer planet missions), but makes this proposal primarily due to budget considerations.
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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NASA designed the Europa Clipper spacecraft to collect 

data with four in situ and five remote sensing 

instruments, thoroughly characterizing Europa’s 

habitability.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 237.4 -- 264.7 200.2 359.5 358.9 361.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

Jupiter’s moon Europa has the largest known 

ocean in the solar system, and is one of the most 

likely places to find current life beyond our Earth. 

For over 18 years NASA has developed concepts 

to explore Europa and determine if it is habitable 

based on characteristics of its vast oceans (twice 

the size of all of Earth’s oceans combined), the ice 

surface – ocean interface, the chemical 

composition of the intriguing, irregular brown 

surface areas, and the current geologic activity 

providing energy to the system. After thorough 

investigation of concept options, NASA initiated 

the Phase A study of a multiple flyby mission that 

delivers the most science for the least cost and 

risk of all the concepts studied. The flyby concept 

takes advantage of solar power and requires no 

new technology development, despite the harsh 

radiation environment that the spacecraft will 

encounter during the flybys. The Clipper mission 

will explore Europa and investigate its habitability.

NASA established the Europa Clipper project in FY 2015, initiating the formulation phase, and 

competitively selected nine instruments for development. In FY 2016, the project formulated 

requirements, architecture, planetary protection requirements, risk identification and mitigation plans, cost 

and schedule range estimates, and payload accommodation for a mission to Europa. In FY 2017, the 

project entered its preliminary design phase, and in FY 2018 conducted approximately 21 independent or 

peer reviewed preliminary design reviews at the sub-system, system or instrument level.

Costs and schedule for the Europa Clipper mission are not baselined, as the mission is still in formulation 

and NASA does not commit to costs and schedules until KDP-C. The budget provides no funding for a 
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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multi-billion-dollar mission to land on Europa that was not in the last Decadal Survey and would send 

another flagship mission to Europa before analysis of the Europa Clipper data is completed.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The FY 2019 request enables a launch readiness date of 2025 for the Europa Clipper.

PROJECT PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

NASA formulated the Europa Clipper mission in response to the National Research Council’s Vision and 

Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 (2011), which identified a strategic mission to 

Europa as the second highest priority for planetary science flagship missions. This mission will leverage 

the selected payload of nine investigations to characterize the ice shell and any subsurface water, 

including their heterogeneity, ocean properties, and the nature of the surface-ice ocean exchange. It will 

also understand the habitability of Europa’s ocean through composition and chemistry of the surface and 

exosphere; understand the formation of surface features, including sites of recent or current activity; and 

identify and characterize high science interest localities. This will be the first NASA mission explicitly 

designed to explore an ocean world.

The Europa Clipper mission will spend four years in orbit around Jupiter, conducting its scientific 

observations by completing multiple close fly-bys of Europa, minimizing the spacecraft's exposure to the 

harsh radiation environment near Europa.

The Administration proposes to launch the Clipper on a commercial launch vehicle, which would be 

several hundreds of millions of dollars cheaper than an SLS flight. While the Administration recognizes 

the benefits of using an SLS vehicle, including a shorter cruise to Europa and a more direct trajectory 

(enabling a simpler thermal design), the additional costs of adding an SLS flight for the Clipper outweigh 

the benefits. Additionally, the Deep Space Exploration Systems program, under which SLS is managed, 

will be focused on supporting the Administration’s new space exploration strategy and prioritizing the 

return of astronauts to the surface of the Moon. Consistent with Public Law 115-31, NASA is currently 

maintaining the capability to launch the Clipper on an SLS rocket.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The Europa Clipper mission passed its KDP-B gate review in February 2017 and is in the preliminary 

design and technology completion phase (Phase B).

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The Europa Clipper mission will continue its preliminary design and technology development efforts and 

complete numerous preliminary design reviews. The project will procure long lead parts in FY 2018. 
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

After successfully completing numerous preliminary design reviews, the Europa Clipper mission will 

advance from Phase B (preliminary design and technology completion) to Phase C (final design and 

fabrication) at the beginning of FY 2019. This review will formally establish and baseline the cost and 

schedule commitments for this mission. Following confirmation, final designs will be determined and 

critically reviewed.

Budget for 2022 Launch

Per Public Law 114-113, Division B, Title III, the following table provides rough estimates for the current 

mission design, including launch vehicle, assuming launch in 2022. NASA does not recommend 

acceleration of the launch to 2022, given potential impacts to the rest of the Science portfolio. The 

Administration supports a balanced science program, as recommended in the Decadal Survey. 

FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY 23

Europa 2022 ($M) 410.0 565.0 594.0 479.0 397.0 102.0

The profile assumes $432 million for a commercial launch vehicle, which may be reduced as commercial 

offerings and pricing continue to evolve. It is not possible to launch the Clipper on an SLS earlier than 

2024 without disrupting current NASA human exploration plans.

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE

The dates below are consistent with launch in 2022. As noted above, costs and schedule for the Europa 

Clipper mission are not baselined, as the mission is still in formulation and NASA does not commit to 

costs and schedules until KDP-C. 

Milestone Formulation Authorization

Document FY 2019 PB Request

Formulation Authorization Apr 2015 April 2015

SRR Jun 2016 Jan 2017

KDP-B Jul 2016 Feb 2017

PDR Mar 2019 Aug 2018

KDP-C May 2019 Oct 2018

CDR Nov 2020

SIR Oct 2021

KDP-D TBD Dec 2021

Launch (or equivalent) TBD TBD
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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Formulation Estimated Life Cycle Cost Range and Schedule 

Range Summary

Life cycle cost estimates are preliminary. A baseline cost commitment does not occur until the project 

receives approval for implementation (KDP-C), which follows a non-advocate review and/or preliminary 

design review. 

KDP-B Date Estimated Life Cycle 

Cost Range ($M) Key Milestone Key Milestone Estimated Date Range

Feb 2017 3,100-4,000 LRD Jun 2022 - Jul 2023

Project Management & Commitments

Responsibility for Europa Clipper project management resides at JPL, with program management 

authority assigned to MSFC. 

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Spacecraft

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL, APL, GSFC, 

MSFC, JSC, KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Europa UVS 

Instrument Ultraviolet Spectrograph

Provider: SwRI

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): SwRI

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

MASPEX Time-of-Flight Mass 

Spectrometer

Provider: SwRI

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): SwRI

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Europa Imaging 

System (EIS)

Narrow Angle and Wide 

Angle cameras

Provider: APL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): APL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

SUDA Dust Analyzer; Mass 

Spectrometer

Provider: LASP - CU

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): LASP - CU

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

E-THEMIS Thermal Imager

Provider: ASU

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): ASU, BATC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

ICEMAG Magnetometer

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL, UCLA

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

PIMS Plasma Instrument - Faraday 

Cups

Provider: APL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): APL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

MISE Infrared Spectrometer

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL, APL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

REASON Sounding Radar

Provider: Univ. of Texas

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL, UT, U. Iowa

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

Launch Vehicle uncertainty due to 

congressional direction on using an SLS and 

Administration position on using a 

commercial launch vehicle 

Maintaining compatibility with both EELV and SLS. Assessing 

information on launch vehicles in development as it becomes 

available. Regular meetings with SLS on performance, 

interfaces, and environments. If the Congress were to support the 

Administration’s position, NASA could move forward this year 

with securing a commercial launch vehicle.

Radiation Effects (including total dose, 

spacecraft charging, and internal electrostatic 

discharge)

Early parts testing for radiation tolerance and lot buys of 

compatible parts made available to subsystems and instruments; 

development of preferred parts list; early radiation modeling to 

optimize shielding.

Planetary Protection and Flight System 

Bioburden Reduction

Early and regular engagement with the Planetary Protection 

Officer and planning for bioburden reduction efforts and 

assessment.

Acquisition Strategy

The Europa Clipper spacecraft is a JPL "in-house" build with each subsystem doing its internal make/buy 

assessment, with competed industry contracts where appropriate. JPL has entered into a partnership with 

APL for this build, leveraging each other's strengths as well as those of other NASA centers. As a result, 

APL is responsible for propulsion module and the telecom subsystem, and GSFC will be providing the 

propulsion subsystem. The Europa Clipper payload comprises nine investigations, each competitively 

selected via a SMD AO. 

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Telecom and Propulsion 

Subsystems APL Laurel, MD

Greenbelt, MD (GSFC)

EIS instrument APL Laurel, MD

PIMS instrument APL Laurel, MD

REASON instrument

University of Texas

JPL

U. of Iowa

Austin, TX

Pasadena, CA

Iowa City, IA

MISE instrument

JPL

APL

Pasadena, CA

Laurel, MD

ICEMAG instrument JPL Pasadena, CA
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

EUROPA CLIPPER

Formulation Development Operations

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Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

SUDA instrument LASP - University of Colorado Boulder, CO

MASPEX instrument SWRI San Antonio, TX

UVS instrument SWRI San Antonio, TX

E-THEMIS instrument

ASU

Ball Aerospace

Raytheon Vision Systems

Tempe, AZ

Boulder, CO

Goleta, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Jan 2017 Europa SRR and 

MDR

SRB recommend 

project proceed into 

phase B

Aug. 2018

Performance SRB Aug 2018 PDR TBD Nov 2019

Performance SRB Nov 2019 CDR TBD Sep 2020

Performance SRB Sep 2020 SIR TBD N/A
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

JUICE - Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer 22.9 -- 10.3 5.1 5.3 5.1 6.0

Outer Planets Research 7.5 -- 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5

Cassini 54.1 -- 2.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 84.5 -- 20.9 13.6 13.8 13.6 14.5

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Other Missions and Data Analysis includes the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), Outer Planets 

Research, and the operating mission Cassini.

Mission Planning and Other Projects

JUICE-JUPITER ICY MOONS EXPLORER 

NASA is collaborating with ESA on this ESA-led mission to Ganymede and the Jupiter system. The 

JUICE mission provides an opportunity for comparative investigation of three of the ocean worlds in the 

Jupiter system: Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Researchers believe Ganymede and Callisto possess 

liquid water oceans sandwiched between ice layers deep beneath their surfaces. ESA plans to launch the 

mission in 2022 for arrival at Jupiter in 2030. It has a tentative model payload of 11 scientific 

instruments. The NASA contribution consists of three separate pieces of hardware: one full instrument, 

Ultra Violet Spectrometer (UVS); two sensors for the Particle Environment Package suite of instruments

(PEP-Hi); and the transmitter and receiver hardware for the Radar for Icy Moon Exploration (RIME) 

instrument.

Recent Achievements

The JUICE UVS instrument successfully held its CDR in September 2017 with the RIME and PEP-Hi 

CDRs scheduled for the first half of 2018.

OUTER PLANETS RESEARCH 

Outer Planets Research increases the scientific return of current and past NASA outer planets missions, 

guides current mission operations (e.g., selecting Cassini imaging targets), and paves the way for future 

missions (e.g., refining landing sites on Titan, reconsidering the ice shell thickness on Europa).
Science: Planetary Science: Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

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RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS

A new analysis showed that the magnetospheric structure at Titan’s orbit is much more complex and 

variable on short timescales than previously thought, and this can drive significant variations in the Titan 

plasma interaction, which in turn affects Saturn's larger magnetosphere. Meanwhile, work continues on 

understanding Titan's weather. Titan has weather like Earth, though liquid methane replaces the liquid 

water in Earth's weather systems at the extremely cold temperatures on Titan. Cassini has observed areas 

with steady precipitation, though these areas are limited and cannot account for the many of the liquidcarved surface features Cassini has revealed. The influence of extreme precipitation on Titan in these 

areas with less regular rainfall has been demonstrated by showing that alluvial fans (liquid-generated 

surface features) are not found in regions of steady precipitation but rather in regions where the most 

extreme storms and most variable rainfall occur. Though the rains on Titan fall gently on the plains, in 

other areas there are occasional torrential downpours that cause flooding.

Operating Missions

CASSINI

Cassini is a flagship mission that ended its 13-year exploration of Saturn in September 2017. It vastly 

increased our understanding of the planet, its famous rings, magnetosphere, icy satellites, and particularly 

the moons Titan and Enceladus. Cassini completed its prime mission in July 2008, completed its Equinox 

extended mission in July 2010, and began the Solstice extended mission in October 2010. It has finished 

its detailed exploration of the Saturn system, including its rings and moons. A major focus was on the 

ocean worlds in the Saturn system, Titan (Saturn’s largest moon), with its dense atmosphere, methanebased meteorology, and geologically active surface; and Enceladus, a tiny icy body with its unexpected 

global ocean and steady plumes ejecting water from the South Pole. The Solstice mission observed 

seasonal and temporal change in the Saturn system, especially at Titan, to understand underlying 

processes and prepare for future missions. In FY 2017, an encounter with Titan changed its orbit in such a 

way that, at closest approach to Saturn, it would be only about 1,800 miles above the planet’s cloud tops, 

and below the inner edge of the D ring. This sequence of approximately 22 orbits, named the Grand 

Finale, provided an opportunity for an entirely different mission for the Cassini spacecraft, investigating 

science questions never anticipated at the time Cassini launched. The Cassini mission ended September 

15, after the proximal orbits when a final encounter with Titan sent the Cassini probe into Saturn’s 

atmosphere.

Recent Achievements

The Cassini mission completed its exploration of the Saturn system, including the sequence of orbits 

named the Grand Finale. The mission provided an incredibly rich dataset that will take years to analyze

completely.
Science: Planetary Science

TECHNOLOGY

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MMRTG undergoing acceptance testing at Idaho 

National Laboratory.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 183.3 -- 210.2 200.2 200.0 200.0 200.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Planetary Science missions demand advances in 

technology to enable successful trips to distant solar 

system destinations, harsh environments, and 

missions with highly challenging trajectories and 

operations. To meet these needs, Planetary Science 

supports the development of advanced multimission capabilities through technology investment 

in key spacecraft systems, such as power, 

propulsion, and mission operations. The Planetary 

Science Technology program includes the 

Radioisotope Power System (RPS) Program 

managed by Glenn Research Center, DOE-managed 

Plutonium production and Production Operations 

infrastructure, Planetary Science Exploration 

Technology and Advanced Multi-Mission 

Operations System (AMMOS) projects.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN 

FY 2019

With Pu 238 production going operational in 

FY 2019, the Plutonium and the DOE Radioisotope Power System Infrastructure projects have 

been integrated to manage the supply chain for production of new Pu 238, full clad assemblies, 

infrastructure, and RPS proficiencies as efficiently as possible. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The RPS Program awarded four contracts to assess the state of Stirling technologies across industry and 

define goals and requirements for future Stirling development projects. RPS will continue to advance 

towards a gate review of the Skutterudite thermoelectric technology transfer effort and develop the plan 

for the next phase. Additionally, the RPS Program supported the New Frontiers AO, allowing for a 

potential mission requirement for MMRTGs or Radioisotope Heater Units. As part of preparing to 

support future flight missions that require nuclear power, such as New Frontiers, NASA worked with
Science: Planetary Science

TECHNOLOGY

PS-88

DOE to develop a constant fuel clad production process, which will reduce schedule risk and mission 

support cost. 

NASA's Advanced Technology project competitively selected mission concept studies, under the Small 

Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration call, to identify high-priority planetary science objectives 

that CubeSats and SmallSats can address, and to guide NASA’s development of small spacecraft 

technologies relevant to deep space science investigations. These selections span a broad range of science 

objectives and spacecraft configurations, and will inform the design of future planetary smallsat missions. 

This activity is the Planetary Science component of the broader SmallSat/CubeSat initiative discussed in 

the Science overview section of this document.

NASA's Advanced Technology project competitively awarded research grants for development of high 

temperature (greater than 500 degrees Celsius) electronic components to survive on the surface of Venus, 

the hottest planetary destination in the solar system. This research will enable the future development of 

long-lived landers for Venus.

NASA's Icy Satellites Technology project competitively awarded research grants for development of 

technology required to land explore, and investigate the icy moons of Jupiter or Saturn. These awards

included concepts specific to life detection technology, helping to develop the technology for future 

landed missions to the icy satellites.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The RPS Program supports Mars 2020 by providing an MMRTG flight unit in FY 2018 for preparation 

for fueling, assembly, test, and launch operations. DOE will be performing its second plutonium 

production demonstration as part of its efforts to restart plutonium production. LANL will be installing 

the new plutonium hot press that will reduce the schedule risk for producing plutonium fuel clad 

assemblies to future NASA missions.

Planetary Science proposed a new solar system robotic exploration technology initiative in 2018. The new

Planetary Exploration Science Technology Office will lead this effort. This initiative will accelerate 

technological innovations that will change the paradigm for robotic solar system exploration, such as

small satellite technologies to enable solar system exploration using small satellites and/or cubesats; lifedetection instruments; and/or commercial partnerships to support future robotic solar system exploration.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

This project will develop new technology based upon advanced technology work begun in 2017 in high 

temperature electronics, and icy satellite technologies.
Science: Planetary Science

TECHNOLOGY

PS-89

Program Elements

DOE OPERATIONS AND ANALYSIS

NASA funds the DoE personnel and infrastructure required to maintain the capability to develop and fuel 

radioisotope power systems for deep space spacecraft missions. DoE performs the work required for 

NASA. NASA and DoE are restarting domestic production of Plutonium-238 for the first time since the 

1980’s. NASA funds the effort and the DOE Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the effort, and 

irradiates targets at their High Flux Isotope Reactor. The DOE Idaho National Lab participates in the 

development of targets for future irradiation at the Advanced Test reactor, which will be required to 

support target production rates. An initial production of 100 grams was achieved in FY 2016, and as the 

process is refined and automated over the next several years, it is expected to ramp up to a full operational 

capability of 1.5 kilograms per year. In FY2019, the NASA incorporated the Plutonium project into the 

DOE Operations and Analysis budget as part of the DOE Constant Rate Production plan to better support 

NASA missions by producing plutonium heat sources at a constant rate, as opposed to periodic mission 

focused campaigns. 

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

NASA continues to study emerging planetary mission requirements to identify needs for new technology 

investment. NASA also engages with stakeholders to ensure the relevance and priorities for existing 

investments, consistent with the NASA Strategic Space Technology Investment Plan. NASA will 

continue investments in advanced energy production and conversion technologies and spacecraft 

technologies that can uniquely enable future planetary missions, including partnerships with STMD. 

Starting in FY 2018, NASA will focus this work on developing new approaches to planetary exploration, 

to reduce costs and enhance opportunities for scientific investigation through smallsat technologies and 

commercial partnership opportunities. 

RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEM

The radioisotope power system (RPS) Program is continuing technology development and certification of 

advanced power conversion in preparation for the development of future RPS systems, and is supporting 

production and certification of the MMRTG for Mars 2020.
Science: Planetary Science

TECHNOLOGY

PS-90

Operating Missions

ADVANCED MULTI-MISSION OPERATION SYSTEM (AMMOS)

AMMOS provides multi-mission operations, navigation, design, and training tools and services for 

Planetary Science flight missions, as well as other Science Mission Directorate missions, and invests in 

improved communications and navigation technologies. The AMMOS project will continue to provide 

and develop multi-mission software tools for spacecraft navigation, command, control, assessment, and 

mission planning. In addition, AMMOS will pursue complementary collaborations with the Agency’s 

crosscutting Space Technology program. Utilizing the AMMOS common tools and services lowers 

individual mission cost and risk by providing a mature base for mission operations systems at 

significantly reduced development time.

AMMOS also provides support to our international space agency partners, on an as-needed basis. This 

support typically pertains to navigation assistance and scheduling of NASA’s Deep Space Network 

(DSN) assets. 

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

RPS Program

Provider: GRC

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): GRC, JPL, GSFC, KSC, DOE

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Plutonium

Provider: DOE

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): GRC, DOE

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

DoE Operations and Analysis

Provider: DOE

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): GRC, DOE

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Planetary Science Exploration 

Technology

Provider: N/A

Lead Center: Headquarters

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, GSFC, LaRC, JPL, JSC, MSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

AMMOS

Provider: JPL

Lead Center: JPL

Performing Center(s): JPL, GSFC, JSC, ARC, MSFC, APL

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A
Science: Planetary Science

TECHNOLOGY

PS-91

Acquisition Strategy

DOE provides radioisotope power systems, production operations, and the Plutonium production projects 

on a reimbursable basis. The Planetary Science Exploration Technology project will fund competitively 

selected activities from the ROSES omnibus research announcement.
Science

ASTROPHYSICS

ASTRO-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Astrophysics Research 190.1 -- 259.2 280.8 321.5 318.4 310.0

Cosmic Origins 779.4 -- 491.4 354.5 311.9 312.7 312.7

Physics of the Cosmos 106.2 -- 136.8 139.1 113.3 108.3 105.0

Exoplanet Exploration 152.6 -- 52.4 44.5 44.6 44.4 44.9

Astrophysics Explorer 124.1 -- 245.6 366.5 394.0 401.6 412.8

Total Budget 1352.3 -- 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4 1185.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH.......................................................................... ASTRO-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. ASTRO-9

COSMIC ORIGINS.......................................................................................... ASTRO-12

James Webb Space Telescope [Development] ........................................................ ASTRO-14

Hubble Space Telescope Operations [Operations]................................................... ASTRO-23

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) [Operations]................. ASTRO-26

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-31

PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS .......................................................................... ASTRO-34

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-36

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION......................................................................... ASTRO-41

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-43

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER ........................................................................ ASTRO-48

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) [Development] .................................. ASTRO-52

Other Missions and Data Analysis ............................................................................ ASTRO-57
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-2

The Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) 

balloon-borne experiment searches for the signature of 

primordial gravity waves excited by an inflationary 

epoch in the early universe by studying the cosmic 

microwave background. The picture above shows the 

payload on the launch vehicle in Ft Sumner, NM shortly 

before its successful launch on October 13, 2017.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Astrophysics Research and Analysis 73.5 -- 83.4 86.6 90.2 92.2 94.2

Balloon Project 34.0 -- 39.2 41.7 40.4 40.5 40.6

Science Activation 37.0 -- 44.6 44.6 44.6 44.6 44.6

Other Missions and Data Analysis 45.6 -- 92.0 108.0 146.4 141.1 130.7

Total Budget 190.1 -- 259.2 280.8 321.5 318.4 310.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Astrophysics Research program develops 

innovative technologies for future missions to 

explore and understand the cosmos, from the nature 

of planets circling other stars to the birth of distant 

galaxies and the earliest cosmic history. 

High-altitude balloon and sounding rocket flights 

test new types of instruments. These flights also 

allow a quick response to unexpected events, such as 

the appearance of a new supernova.

The program provides basic research awards for 

scientists to test their theories and to understand how 

they can best use data from NASA missions to gain 

new knowledge from the cosmos. Awardees analyze 

the data from Astrophysics missions to understand 

astronomical events, such as the explosion of a star 

or the fingerprints of early cosmic history in the 

microwave background. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The Research and Analysis budget includes a significant increase in FY 2019, enabled by redirecting 

funds made available due to the proposed termination of WFIRST. Funding for the civil servants 

previously planned within WFIRST is carried within Other Missions and Data Analysis.
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-3

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The Colorado High-resolution Echelle Stellar Spectrograph (CHESS) launched on a sounding rocket in 

FY 2017. CHESS tested new high collecting-area, high-resolution ultraviolet dispersion gratings. It

observed some of the brightest stars in the constellation Scorpio, surrounded by translucent clouds that

will eventually merge to form new stars and planets. These observations will give an accurate inventory 

of both the hydrogen and the carbon in the clouds, providing clues to the types of planets that may form.

The Balloon project supported the annual Antarctic long-duration balloon flights, a super-pressure 

balloon campaign to New Zealand, and two conventional balloon campaigns from Palestine, TX and 

Fort Sumner, NM.

In FY 2017, three long-duration balloons launched from McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The first payload, 

named BACCUS (Boron and Carbon Cosmic rays in the Upper Stratosphere), is designed to measure the 

elemental spectra of cosmic rays to very high energies. BACCUS advanced our understanding of the 

acceleration mechanisms that drive cosmic rays to their extreme energies. This payload flew for 30 days. 

The second balloon instrument, the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA), can detect neutrinos 

by their distinct radio impulse. ANITA produced interactions in the ice sheet below. The experiment aims

to identify and characterize the highest energy astrophysical accelerators in the universe. It flew for 

27 days. The third payload, the Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory (STO2), used far-infrared light to 

trace molecules. STO2 used interstellar gas through the life cycle from molecular clouds to star 

formation. It flew for 22 days.

NASA completed the reconfiguration of the successful balloon-borne Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass 

(CREAM) payload to fly on the International Space Station (ISS). On August 14, 2017, ISS-CREAM

launched on a SpaceX rocket and is now operating on the ISS. The science team is working on on-orbit 

calibration before transitioning to the science mode.

Research on exoplanets confirmed the nature of exoplanet candidates and explored the nature of planets 

circling other stars. In addition, theoretical and computational efforts advanced our understanding of how 

black holes merging release gravitational waves.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA has scheduled seven Astrophysics sounding rockets for launch in FY 2018. Two of these will fly 

from the Kwajalein atoll performing high-resolution spectroscopy in the x-ray and ultraviolet parts of the 

spectrum. Both flights will test out new water recovery systems. Four sounding rockets will fly from the 

White Sands Missile Range. The first sounding rocket experiment will study the impact of star formation 

on stellar environments; the second will use an advanced micro calorimeter detector to obtain 

high-resolution spectral data from the Puppis A supernova remnant; the third will study the diffuse 

infrared background; and the fourth will measure the absolute calibration of stars from infrared to 

ultraviolet wavelengths. A single sounding rocket experiment will launch from Poker Flats to study the 

diffuse x-ray background. 

NASA is planning four science payloads for the FY 2018 Palestine, TX campaign. The fall 2018 

Fort Sumner, NM campaign will involve four science launches, two student-led launches, and two 

technology test launches.
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-4

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will continue a competed Astrophysics Research program with emphasis on suborbital payloads 

and on development of key technologies for use in future missions. Theoretical work will provide the 

foundation to develop science requirements for new missions. Data analysis will multiply the science 

yield from NASA’s astrophysics missions.

The Sounding Rocket program is planning a campaign in Australia in 2019. This will allow flights to 

observe celestial targets in the Southern Hemisphere. At least two research groups plan to launch 

Astrophysics experiments on sounding rockets in FY 2019 from the Northern Hemisphere. One 

investigation will test out new, high resolution x-ray gratings for spectroscopy. The other will measure the 

absolute flux of nearby UV-bright stars in the extreme UV, a region in which the existing data is poorly 

calibrated. 

The Balloon project plans to support two campaigns outside the continental U.S., including the annual 

Antarctic long-duration balloon flights and a super-pressure balloon launch from New Zealand, plus two 

domestic campaigns with conventional balloon flights from Palestine, TX, and Fort Sumner, NM.

The Antarctic campaign plans to launch three payloads for science investigations. The first payload will 

study the polarization of x-ray sources; the second payload will employ a submillimeter telescope to study 

the effects of magnetic fields on star formation; and the third payload will search for signature of inflation 

in the cosmic microwave background using transition edge sensors. 

The Palestine, TX campaign plans to launch at least four payloads for science investigations. The first 

balloon payload will map the cosmic microwave background (PIPER); the second payload will study 

weak lensing of galaxy clusters and cosmic shear (SuperBIT); the third payload is a medium-energy 

gamma-ray instrument with greater capability than the Comptel instrument (ASCOT); and the fourth 

payload will study the cosmic microwave background (BOBCAT). 

The Fort Sumner, NM campaign in the fall of 2018 plans to launch four science investigations in addition 

to student and technology demonstration launches. The first payload will map the cosmic microwave 

background (PIPER), the second payload will test a new technology for direct imaging of exoplanets 

(PICTURE-C), the third payload will provide in-situ measurements needed to cross-calibrate space 

missions (REMOTE), and the fourth payload will study weak lensing of galaxy clusters and cosmic shear 

(SuperBIT).

ISS-CREAM science operations will continue in FY 2019. 

During FY 2019, NASA will enhance its investment in CubeSats/SmallSats that can achieve specific 

Astrophysics objectives at low cost.

Program Elements

RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

This project supports basic research, solicited through NASA’s annual Research Opportunities in Space 

and Earth Sciences (ROSES) announcements. NASA solicits investigations relevant to Astrophysics over 
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-5

the entire range of photon energies, gravitational waves, and particles of cosmic origin. Scientists and 

technologists from a mix of disciplines review proposals and provide findings that underlie NASA’s 

merit-based selections. To better support strategic research investment for the community, this budget 

supports a rebalance of fellowship awards and research grants.

Astrophysics Research and Analysis solicits technology development for detectors and instruments for 

potential use on future space flight missions and science and technology investigations using sounding 

rockets, high-altitude balloons, and similar platforms. A new type of scientific instrument often flies first 

on a stratospheric balloon mission or on a sounding rocket flight, which takes it briefly outside Earth’s 

atmosphere. Instruments for balloons and sounding rockets are less expensive than orbital missions, and 

experimenters can build them quickly to respond to unexpected opportunities, such as a newly discovered 

supernova. The experimenter usually retrieves the equipment after the flight so that new instruments can 

be tested, improved, and flown again. Suborbital flights are important for training the next generation of 

scientists and engineers to maintain U.S. leadership in STEM. The project also supports small 

experiments to be flown on the ISS, laboratory astrophysics, and limited ground-based observations.

The Astrophysics Theory program element solicits basic theory investigations needed to interpret data 

from NASA’s space astrophysics missions and to develop the scientific basis for future missions. 

Astrophysics Theory topics include the formation of stars and planets, supernova explosions and 

gamma-ray bursts, the birth of galaxies, dark matter, dark energy, and the cosmic microwave background.

The Exoplanet Research program element solicits observations to detect and characterize planets around 

other stars and to understand their origins.

The Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship develops early career researchers, who could lead 

future flight instruments and missions. Initially, NASA identifies promising early career researchers and 

supports their investigations. NASA then selects a subset of fellows for additional funding to start a 

laboratory or develop a research group at the Fellow’s institution. 

The NASA ISS-CREAM experiment is a former balloon payload, which is now operating on the ISS. The 

science goal is to extend the reach of direct measurements of cosmic rays to the highest energy possible, 

to probe their origin, acceleration, and propagation. The long exposure provided by the ISS above the 

atmosphere offers more than an order of magnitude improvement in data, yielding much greater statistical 

accuracy and lower background noise. The University of Maryland in College Park leads the 

ISS-CREAM mission, with collaboration teams from the United States, South Korea, Mexico, and 

France.

SCIENCE ACTIVATION

he FY 2019 Budget continues support for multi-year Science Activation awards made in 2016. The 

peer-evaluated competition produced 27 awards that deliver SMD’s unique content and expertise more 

efficiently and effectively into the learning environment for learners of all ages. Based on 

recommendations from the National Academies and other stakeholders, the awardees of these cooperative 

agreements work collaboratively with each other. They also work with local and national partners to 

achieve a multiplier effect utilizing NASA and SMD investments. The number of awardees in 2019 is 

reduced to 24 due to the phasedown of awardees that supported the successful 2017 total solar eclipse. A

recent University of Michigan survey found that 88 percent of U.S. adults (an estimated 215 million) saw

the eclipse in person, on television, or online.
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-6

By 2020, the program aims to enable learners in all 50 states; improve U.S. scientific literacy; support 

Federal STEM Education Five-Year Strategic Plan goals; and increase the number of strategic partners, as 

appropriate, to enhance the overall effort. 

The budget supports all planned activities within SMD’s Science Activation program. All awards include 

independent evaluation to assess the merits of the program.

BALLOON PROJECT

The Balloon project offers inexpensive, high-altitude flight opportunities for scientists to conduct research 

and test new technologies before space flight application. Balloon experiments cover a wide range of 

disciplines in astrophysics, solar physics, heliospheric physics, and Earth upper-atmosphere chemistry as 

well as selected planetary science, such as comet observations. Observations from balloons have even 

detected echoes of the Big Bang and probed the earliest galaxies. The Balloon project continues to 

increase balloon size and enhance capabilities, including an accurate pointing system to allow 

high-quality astronomical imaging and a super-pressure balloon that maintains the balloon’s integrity at a 

high altitude to allow much longer flights at mid-latitudes that include nighttime viewing of astronomical 

objects.

Program Schedule

The program issues solicitations every year. A Senior Review process assesses all missions in the 

extended operations phase every three years and all data archives every three or four years.

Date Significant Event

Mar 2016 Senior Review Operating Missions

Feb 2017 NASA Research Announcement (NRA) Solicitation

Feb 2018 NRA Solicitation

Mar 2019 Senior Review Operating Missions

Feb 2019 NRA Solicitation

Apr 2020 Senior Review Data Archives

Feb 2020 NRA Solicitation

Feb 2021 NRA Solicitation

Mar 2022 Senior Review Operating Missions
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-7

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Research and Analysis Project

Provider: All NASA Centers

Lead Center: Headquarters (HQ) 

Performing Center(s): All

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Balloon Project

Provider: Wallops Flight Facility (WFF)

Lead Center: WFF

Performing Center(s): WFF

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA issues solicitations for competed research awards each February through ROSES. Panels of 

scientists conduct peer reviews on all proposals. A Senior Review process reviews all missions in 

extended operations phase every three years, and all data archives every three or four years.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Balloon Management

Operation of the Columbia 

Scientific Balloon Facility in 

Palestine, TX 

Orbital-ATK

Palestine, TX and other balloon 

launch sites

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality Archives Senior 

Review Panel 2015

A comparative 

evaluation of 

Astrophysics data 

archives

Recommended 

improvements in

archives

2019

Quality

Astrophysics 

Research Program 

Review Panel

2011 Review of competed 

research projects

Panel praised scope 

and impact of 

programs

TBD

Quality Mission Senior 

Review Panel 2019

A comparative 

evaluation of 

Astrophysics 

operating missions 

Ranking of missions, 

citing strengths and 

weaknesses

2019, 2022, 

2025
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS RESEARCH

ASTRO-8

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality

Independent 

Evaluation of 

STEM Science 

Activation

2017

Validation of 

approach and Logic 

Model

Baseline towards 

meeting overall 

Desired Outcome by 

2020

Annual
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-9

Floating clouds of the interstellar medium are the focus of 

the NASA-funded CHESS sounding rocket mission, which 

investigates the earliest stages of star formation. Here, the 

CHESS payload joins with the sounding rocket before 

launch. CHESS launched on June 27, 2017, at 1:10 a.m. 

EDT from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Astrophysics Directed R&T 0.0 -- 39.0 54.4 59.1 51.3 39.9

Contract Administration, Audit & QA Svcs 12.6 -- 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7

Astrophysics Senior Review 0.0 -- 0.0 0.0 31.5 33.0 33.0

Astrophysics Data Program 17.6 -- 19.1 20.4 21.6 22.6 23.6

Astrophysics Data Curation and Archival 15.4 -- 21.2 20.5 21.5 21.5 21.5

Total Budget 45.6 -- 92.0 108.0 146.4 141.1 130.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Astrophysics Research program prepares for 

the next generation of missions through both 

theoretical research and applied technology 

investigations. This program uses data from 

current missions and suborbital science 

investigations to advance NASA’s science goals. 

One of these goals is to create new knowledge as 

explorers of the universe, and to use that 

knowledge for the benefit of all humankind.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

DIRECTED RESEARCH AND 

TECHNOLOGY

This project funds the civil service staff that will 

work on emerging Astrophysics projects, 

instruments, and research. FY 2019 funding for the civil servants previously planned for WFIRST is 

shown within Astrophysics Directed R&T. NASA will identify work for those employees and propose 

funding transfers to other Projects in an FY 2019 Operating Plan.

CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, AUDIT, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICES

This project provides critical safety and mission product inspections and contract audit services from the 

Defense Contract Management Agency and Defense Contract Audit Agency, respectively. It also 
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-10

provides for contract assurance audits, assessments, and surveillance by the NASA Contract Assurance 

Services Program. 

ASTROPHYSICS SENIOR REVIEW

The Astrophysics Senior Review project enables extension of the life of current operating missions. Every 

three years, the Astrophysics division conducts a senior review to do comparative evaluations of all 

operating missions that have successfully completed or are about to complete their prime mission 

operation phase. The senior review findings help NASA prioritize which missions will receive funding 

for extended operations. The next Senior Review will take place in spring 2019.

ASTROPHYSICS DATA ANALYSIS PROGRAM (ADAP)

ADAP solicits research that emphasizes the analysis of NASA space astrophysics data archived in the 

public domain at one of NASA’s Astrophysics Data Centers. With the ongoing successful operation of a 

portfolio of missions, ranging from modest Explorer-class missions like Swift and the Nuclear 

Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) to the great observatories Hubble and Chandra, the size and 

scope of NASA’s archival astronomical data holdings continue to grow. Investigations funded under the 

ADAP ensure that NASA’s astrophysics data holdings continue to be the subject of vigorous scientific 

analysis, thereby maximizing the scientific return on NASA mission investments.

Recent Achievements

The scope of the investigations conducted under the ADAP include focused investigations involving 

novel analyses of archival data from a single mission, as well as broad investigations that combine data 

from multiple missions to span a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Such multi-mission, 

multi-wavelength studies are almost exclusively the province of the ADAP and are a particularly exciting 

aspect of the program, especially since combinations of data collected by different missions operating in 

different regions of the spectrum often yield new scientific insight beyond that derived from the original 

observations individually. 

During FY 2017, the ADAP supported more than 160 science investigators at institutions across the 

United States. The investigations span the range from searching for potentially habitable planets in the 

solar neighborhood to exploring the emergence and evolution of the first galaxies in the early universe. In 

addition, the program supports two citizen science programs – planethunters.org and diskdetective.org –

that together are engaging thousands of people in the search for planets, and planetary systems using 

archival data from a variety of NASA missions.

ASTROPHYSICS DATA CURATION AND ARCHIVAL RESEARCH (ADCAR)

The Astrophysics Data Centers constitute an ensemble of archives that receives processed data from 

individual missions and makes them accessible to the scientific community. After the completion of a 

mission, the relevant, active, multi-mission archive takes over all data archiving activities. ADCAR 

covers the activities of the Astrophysics Data Centers and the NASA Astronomical Virtual Observatories 

(NAVO).
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-11

Recent Achievements

The Astrophysics Data Centers tackled challenges and opportunities presented by a tremendous growth of 

content, and collaborated effectively on integrated infrastructure in support of the NAVO. In FY 2017, the 

Astrophysics Data System added over 1 million records and 10 million citations to its bibliographic 

databases, bringing the total number of publications to 12.6 million and citations to 100 million. 

Additional workflows and services are now available under its new, cloud-based Application 

Programming Interface. The Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) handled 35 million 

database searches and delivered over 422 terabytes of data to users; more than 1,300 scientific 

publications referenced use of the data. The data holdings of MAST were more than doubled, and 

programmatic user queries to their catalog holdings and observation holdings both increased by more than 

a factor of 50.

The High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Center (HEASARC) continued to support active NASA 

missions Chandra, Fermi, NuSTAR, and Swift, NASA’s international collaboration with ESA’s 

XMM-Newton observatory, and the legacy archive for 40+ past high-energy astrophysics missions. 

HEASARC staff participated in all dataflow and mission readiness tests for the U.S. NICER mission, and 

NICER data began to flow into the HEASARC in September. HEASARC completed the reprocessing of 

the entire Suzaku and Hitomi archives, and made the data made publicly available. The archive total 

volume exceeded 100 terabytes for the first time, and the HEASARC responded to over 20 million user 

queries.

The Infrared Science Archive (IRSA) responded to over 30 million queries. All major IRSA data sets 

(images, catalogs, and spectra) are now available through Virtual Observatory (VO) protocols. IRSA 

released approximately 20 new datasets, including the 2017 NEOWISE Data Release, the Herschel 

SPIRE Point Source Catalog, and an updated Planck Public Release 2. IRSA released a Time Series Tool 

that allows users to visualize light curves from WISE/NEOWISE, and designed an archive user interface 

for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) for data available through IRSA this coming year. The 

NASA Extragalactic Database (NED) fielded 80 million database queries and added over 83 million new 

objects and cross-ids from the literature and from catalogs such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the 

Spitzer Enhanced Imaging Products Source List. In FY 2017, approximately 675 refereed journal articles 

acknowledged using NED. 

NAVO completed their deployment of the initial version of the NASA Virtual Observatory archive 

standard machine interface. For the broad range of NASA astronomy missions – in all wavelength 

regimes – VO-enabled tools can make positional and data base queries and download images or spectra 

using common protocols. During this period, the NAVO archives supported over 30 million requests for 

data using VO protocols. NAVO continued to lead NASA's Virtual Observatory efforts within the U.S. 

and world communities and completed a detailed study of the efficacy of methods for indexing very large 

databases.
Science: Astrophysics

COSMIC ORIGINS

ASTRO-12

By his death in 1817, Charles Messier had compiled a group of 103 

objects known as Messier's Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters. The 

catalog includes some of the most fascinating astronomical objects that 

can be observed from Earth's Northern Hemisphere.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

James Webb Space Telescope 569.4 533.7 304.6 197.2 149.8 150.0 150.0

Hubble Space Telescope Operations 97.3 -- 78.3 88.3 93.3 98.3 98.3

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared 

Astronomy (SOFIA)

85.2 -- 74.6 39.8 16.6 0.0 0.0

Other Missions and Data Analysis 27.5 -- 33.9 29.1 52.2 64.4 64.4

Total Budget 779.4 -- 491.4 354.5 311.9 312.7 312.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

"How did we get here?” This simple 

but fundamental question drives the 

broad science objectives of NASA’s 

Cosmic Origins program. Our 

search for answers raise underlying 

questions and topic areas, such as, 

how and when did the first stars and 

galaxies form? When did the 

universe first create the elements 

critical for life? How did galaxies 

evolve from the very first systems to 

the types we observe “in the here 

and now,” such as the Milky Way in 

which we live? How do stars and 

planetary systems form and change 

over time?

No individual space observatory or 

airborne observatory can 

completely address all of these 

questions, but in partnership, they 

can begin to unravel the answers. Currently operating facilities in the Cosmic Origins program are the 

Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 

(SOFIA). Under development is the James Webb Space Telescope, a large, next generation, cryogenic 

infrared observatory to launch in 2019. Working collectively across a wide swath of wavelengths, from 

the far-ultraviolet through the far-infrared and sub-millimeter, these observatories create a comprehensive 

web of information and data that spans both the electromagnetic spectrum and time itself. 

For more information, see: http://cor.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
Science: Astrophysics

COSMIC ORIGINS

ASTRO-13

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The budget reflects moving the James Webb Space Telescope into the Cosmic Origins Program of the 

Astrophysics Theme, where it will be managed following launch and commissioning in 2019. Due to 

program efficiencies and appropriation of funds above the request for the past few years, both the Hubble 

and SOFIA missions are carrying excess funding. This budget reflects use of excess funds from prior 

years, resulting in less resources requested in FY 2019. These adjustments are not expected to impact the 

workforce or science generated from these missions. 
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-14

Completion of Webb telescope center-of-curvature test.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 1800.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1800.1

Development/Implementation 4810.6 569.4 533.7 227.6 47.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6188.8

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 77.0 149.8 149.8 150.0 150.0 160.0 836.6

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 6610.7 569.4 533.7 304.6 197.2 149.8 150.0 150.0 160.0 8825.4

Total Budget 6538.6 569.4 533.7 304.6 197.2 149.8 150.0 150.0 160.0 8753.3

Change from FY 2018 -229.1

Percentage change from FY 2018 -42.9%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) is a 

large, space-based astronomical observatory. 

The mission is in many ways a successor to the 

Hubble Space Telescope, extending Hubble’s 

discoveries by looking into the infrared 

spectrum. Webb will observe the highly 

red-shifted early universe and study relatively 

cool objects like protostars and protoplanetary 

disks, which emit infrared light strongly where

dust obscures shorter wavelengths. With more 

light-collecting area than Hubble and with 

near- to mid-infrared-optimized instruments, 

Webb will observe objects farther away and 

further back in time.

The four main science goals are:

• Search for the first galaxies or luminous objects formed after the Big Bang;

• Determine how galaxies evolved from their formation until now;

• Observe the formation of stars from the first stages to the formation of planetary systems; and

• Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems and investigate the potential 

for life in those systems.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-15

While Hubble greatly improved knowledge about distant objects, its infrared coverage is limited. Light 

from distant galaxies is red-shifted out of the visible part of the spectrum into the infrared by the 

expansion of the universe. Webb will explore the poorly understood epoch when the first luminous 

objects in the universe came into being after the Big Bang. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2018

NASA moved the mission launch date roughly six months later (Mar-Jun 2019) due to delays associated 

with the spacecraft and sunshield schedules. Two propulsion problems required additional schedule to 

resolve and sunshield integration took longer than planned.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

Webb is an infrared-optimized observatory that will conduct imaging and spectrographic observations in 

the 0.6- to 28-micrometer wavelength range. Webb will be roughly 100 times more capable than Hubble 

because its mirror is seven times larger. It will spend about twice as much time observing targets since the 

Earth will not be in the way. Its detectors cover larger regions of the sky and are always on (i.e., can 

always be running in parallel), and its multi-object spectroscopic capabilities greatly expands the number 

of spectra per field.

The 6.5-meter primary mirror consists of 18 actively controlled segments. A multilayer sunshield the size 

of a tennis court passively cools the mirror, telescope optics, and instruments to about 40 Kelvin. Webb 

will launch in 2019 from Kourou, French Guiana on an Ariane 5 rocket, contributed by the European 

Space Agency (ESA). Webb will operate in deep space about one million miles from Earth.

Webb’s instruments include the Near Infrared Camera, Near Infrared Spectrograph, Mid-Infrared 

Instrument, and the Fine Guidance Sensor / Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph.

The Near Infrared Camera takes images with a large field of view and high resolution, over the 

wavelength range of 0.6 to 5 micrometers. The Near Infrared Camera also aligns and focuses the optical 

telescope. The Near Infrared Camera detects light from the earliest stars and galaxies in the process of 

formation, stars in nearby galaxies, young stars in the Milky Way, and solar system Kuiper Belt 

objects. The Near Infrared Camera is equipped with coronagraphs, which allow astronomers to view 

dimmer objects near stars. With the coronagraphs, astronomers hope to determine the characteristics of 

planets orbiting nearby stars.

A spectrograph disperses light from an object into a spectrum. The atoms and molecules in the object 

imprint lines on its spectrum that uniquely fingerprint each chemical element present. Analyzing the 

spectrum of an object provides information on its physical properties, including temperature, mass, 

chemical composition, and motion. 

The Near Infrared Spectrograph can obtain simultaneous spectra of more than 100 objects in a single 

exposure, over the wavelength range of 0.6 to 5 micrometers. 
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-16

The Mid-Infrared Instrument takes wide-field images and narrow-field spectra, over the wavelength range 

of 5 to 28 micrometers. The Mid-Infrared Instrument operates at about seven degrees Kelvin, which an 

onboard cooling system makes possible.

The Fine Guidance Sensor is a camera that provides fine pointing control and locks the telescope onto its 

target. The sensor operates over a wavelength range of 1 to 5 micrometers. The Near Infrared Imager and 

Slitless Spectrograph instrument provides unique imaging and spectroscopic modes to investigate the 

distant universe, as well as exoplanets.

For more information, go to http://www.jwst.nasa.gov.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

NASA made significant progress in the development, fabrication, and testing of many components of the 

Webb system. The project also completed the following significant and technically challenging 

developments and tests successfully: 

• Completed the environmental testing of the integrated science instruments and telescope; 

• Delivered the first release of the integrated software system for Webb operations at the Space 

Telescope Science Institute;

• Integrated the MIRI cryocooler into the spacecraft bus;

• Completed electrical testing of the spacecraft bus;

• Completed end-to-end testing of the ground system; 

• Completed the integration of the sunshield onto the spacecraft bus; and

• Completed the Missions Operations Review.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018, the project plans to complete:

• Complete cryogenic testing and test analyses of the Optical Telescope/Integrated Science module 

(OTIS);

• Deliver OTIS to Northrop-Grumman, Space Park for integration with the spacecraft element;

• Conduct spacecraft element environmental testing;

• Select the Early Release Science programs;

• Integrate OTIS to the spacecraft element; and

• Issue General Observers Call for Proposals for the first year of Webb observing time.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-17

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The President’s FY 2019 Budget request provides the full level of funding required to keep Webb on 

schedule for a 2019 launch. In FY 2019, the project plans to:

• Complete testing of Webb;

• Conduct testing of the Webb flight operations system and science processing system; 

• Install ground support equipment at the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana; 

• Transport Webb to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana; and

• Launch Webb and start the commissioning phase of the mission.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

NASA plans to launch Webb between March and June of 2019 to begin a five-year prime mission. The 

following timeline shows the development agreement schedule per the rebaseline plan from 

September 2011.

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

Key Decision Point (KDP)-C Jul 2008 Jul 2008

Mission Critical Design Review 

(CDR) Mar 2010 Apr 2010

Rebaseline/KDP-C Amendment Sep 2011 Sep 2011

System Integration Review (SIR) Jul 2017 Jul 2018

Launch Oct 2018 Mar-Jun 2019

Begin Phase E Apr 2019 Dec 2019

End of Prime Mission Apr 2024 Dec 2024
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-18

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2012 6,197.9 66 2017 6,188.8 -0.2 LRD Oct 2018 Mar -Jun 

2019 TBD

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. NASA originally baselined Webb in 2009, it was re-baselined in 2012. The original baseline is provided in 

the Supporting Data section.

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 6,197.9 6,188.8 -9.1

Aircraft/Spacecraft 2,955.0 3,482.2 527.2

Payloads 695.1 804.8 109.7

Systems Integration & 

Test (I&T) 288.4 448.6 160.2

Launch Vehicle 0.9 0.6 -0.3

Ground Systems 652.3 599.8 -52.5

Science/Technology 42.7 40.5 -2.2

Other Direct Project 

Costs 1,563.5 812.3 -751.2
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-19

Project Management & Commitments

NASA Headquarters is responsible for Webb program management. GSFC is responsible for Webb

project management.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Observatory

Includes Optical Telescope 

Element (OTE), spacecraft, 

sunshield, observatory 

assembly integration and 

testing, and commissioning. 

Designed for at least a fiveyear lifetime. Northrop 

Grumman Aerospace Systems 

(NGAS) has the lead for the 

OTE, sunshield, spacecraft 

bus, and selected assembly, 

integration, and testing 

activities.

Provider: NGAS and GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Mission 

management 

and system 

engineering

Includes management of all 

technical aspects of mission 

development, and system 

engineering of all 

components.

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

ISIM

Contains the science 

instruments and Fine 

Guidance Sensor. Provides 

structural, thermal, power, 

command and data handling 

resources to the science 

instruments and Fine 

Guidance Sensor.

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

NIRCam

Operates over the wavelength 

range of 0.6 to 5 micrometers, 

and optimized for finding first 

light sources.

Provider: University of Arizona, 

Lockheed Martin

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

NIRSpec

Operates over the wavelength 

range of 0.6 to 5 micrometers 

with three observing modes.

Provider: ESA

Lead Center: ESA

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA

N/A
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-20

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

MIRI

Operates over the wavelength 

range of 5 to 28 micrometers, 

providing imaging, 

coronagraphy, and 

spectroscopy.

Provider: ESA, University of Arizona, 

JPL

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA

N/A

Fine Guidance 

Provides scientific target 

pointing information to the 

observatory's attitude control 

sub-system 

Provider: Canadian Space Agency 

(CSA) 

Lead Center: CSA 

Performing Center(s): N/A 

Cost Share Partner(s): CSA 

N/A 

Launch vehicle 

and launch 

operations 

Ariane 5 

Provider: ESA 

Lead Center: ESA 

Performing Center(s): N/A 

Cost Share Partner(s): ESA 

N/A

Ground control 

system and 

science 

operations and 

control center 

Includes mission operations 

and science operations center 

Provider: Space Telescope Science

Institute (STScI)

Lead Center: GSFC 

Performing Center(s): N/A 

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A 

Ground control 

system and 

science 

operations and 

control center 

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: If issues arise during environmental 

testing of OTIS, spacecraft, sunshield, or 

observatory, 

Then: This may delay completion of testing 

of the affected element, adding risk to 

achieving the June 2019 launch. 

The project has established an environmental testing plan that 

includes testing at lower levels of assembly prior to integration 

and testing at higher levels of assembly, to reduce risk to testing 

at higher levels of assembly.

Acquisition Strategy

The project has awarded all major contracts.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-21

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Science and Operations Center STScI Baltimore, MD

NIRCam University of Arizona;

Lockheed Martin

Tucson, AZ

Palo Alto, CA

Observatory

NGAS

Ball Aerospace

ITT/Exelis/Harris

Alliant Techsystems

Redondo Beach, CA

Boulder, CO

Rochester, NY

Edina, MN

Near Infrared Detectors Teledyne Imaging Systems Camarillo, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance Standing Review 

Board (SRB) Apr 2010 CDR 

Determined mission 

design is mature and 

recommended a more 

in-depth review of 

the integration and 

testing plan

May 2011

Quality Test Assessment 

Team Aug 2010

Evaluate plans for 

integration and 

testing. See the full 

report at 

http://www.jwst.nasa

.gov/publications.ht

ml

The team 

recommended 

several changes to 

the test plan

N/A

Other

Independent 

Comprehensive 

Review Panel 

Oct 2010

Determine the causes 

of cost growth and 

schedule delay on 

Webb, and estimate 

the launch date and 

budget, including 

adequate reserves

The report made 22 

recommendations, 

covering several 

areas of management 

and performance

N/A

Other The Aerospace 

Corporation Apr 2011 Analysis of alternatives 

Determined that 

Webb design was 

still the best value to 

achieve the primary 

scientific objectives 

of the mission

N/A
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-22

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Other SRB May 2011

Review technical, 

cost, and schedule 

plans

The SRB proposed 

rebaselined project 

technical, cost, and 

schedule plans and 

made 

recommendations to 

the Agency

Apr 2016

Performance

NASA 

Headquarters 

Office of 

Evaluation

Jun 2012 Replan assessment 

review

A review assessed 

progress against 

replan

N/A

Performance SRB Apr 2016

OTE/Integrated 

Science

SIR

Completed Aug 2016

Performance SRB Aug 2016

OTE/Integrated 

Science

Pre-Environmental 

Review

Completed July 2018

Performance SRB July 2018 Observatory SIR TBD TBD

Performance SRB TBD ORR
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins 

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OPERATIONS 

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-23

On August 17, 2017, the Laser Interferometer 

Gravitational-Wave Observatory detected 

gravitational waves from a neutron star collision. 

Within 12 hours, observatories had identified the 

source of the event within the galaxy NGC 4993, 

shown in this Hubble Space Telescope image, and 

located an associated stellar flare called a kilonova. 

Hubble observed that flare of light fade over the 

course of six days, as shown in these observations 

taken on August 22, 26, and 28 (insets).

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 97.3 -- 78.3 88.3 93.3 98.3 98.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

One of NASA’s most successful and long-lasting 

science missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, has 

beamed hundreds of thousands of images back to 

Earth, helping resolve many of the great mysteries of 

astronomy. The telescope helped scientists determine 

the age of the universe, the identity of quasars, and the 

existence of dark energy. Hubble launched in 1990 and 

is currently in an extended operations phase. The fifth 

servicing mission, in 2009, the last visit by a Space 

Shuttle crew, added new batteries, gyroscopes, and 

instruments to extend Hubble’s life even further into 

the future.

April 24, 2017 marked the start of Hubble’s 27th year 

in orbit. The observatory is currently in its most 

scientifically productive period.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN 

FY 2019

As in recent years, this budget reflects efficiencies 

realized by the project's excellent cost performance 

over the last few years. The change is consistent with 

operations that are more efficient and aligned with the 

observatory scientific program. Due to program 

efficiencies and appropriation of funds above the 

request for the past few years, the Hubble mission is 

carrying excess funding. This budget reflects use of 

excess funds from prior years, resulting in less resources requested in FY 2019. This adjustment is not 

expected to impact the workforce or science generated from the mission.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins 

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OPERATIONS 

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-24

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Astronomers used data from HST to find evidence for a stratosphere on a planet orbiting another star. As 

on Earth, the planet's stratosphere is a layer where temperatures increase with higher altitudes, rather than 

decrease. To study the stratosphere of WASP-121b, scientists analyzed how different molecules in the 

atmosphere react to particular wavelengths of light, using Hubble's capabilities for spectroscopy. Water 

vapor in the planet's atmosphere, for example, would glow at particular wavelengths depending on the 

temperature of the water. These observations found the telltale glow of water in the atmosphere of 

WASP-121b, indicating the planet has water in its atmosphere and the water is within the stratosphere. 

The 2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions recommended continuing Hubble operations as long as 

the observatory remains highly capable scientifically. This budget supports that recommendation.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018 and beyond, NASA will support mission operations, systems engineering, software 

maintenance, ground systems support, and guest-observer science grants. Work continues on mission life 

extension initiatives, such as optimizing the use of Hubble’s gyroscopes and extending the lifetime of 

Hubble's instruments. NASA will announce Cycle 26 selections of GO proposals late in FY 2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which manages Hubble’s science program, will select 

Cycle 27 science observations. Similar to other recent competitions for Hubble observing time, NASA 

expects requested observational orbits to outnumber the available orbits by a factor of six to one, 

indicating that Hubble remains one of the world’s preeminent astronomical observatories. 

Project Schedule

Date Significant Event

May 2018 Release of Cycle 26 Call for Proposals 

Aug 2018 Deadline for Cycle 26 Proposal Submissions

Nov 2018 Approximate date for Announcement of Cycle 26 selections

Jan 2019 Release of Cycle 27 Call for Proposals

Apr 2019 Deadline for Cycle 27 Proposal Submissions

Jul 2019 Approximate date for Announcement of Cycle 27 selections
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins 

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OPERATIONS 

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-25

Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Observatory 

Operation

Provides safe and efficient 

control and utilization of 

Hubble, maintenance and 

operation of its facilities and 

equipment, as well as 

creation, maintenance, and 

utilization of Hubble 

operations processes and 

procedures

Provider: Lockheed Martin

Lead Center: Goddard Space Flight 

Center (GSFC)

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Science 

Management

Evaluates proposals for 

telescope time and manages 

the science program

Provider: STScI/Association of 

Universities for Research in Astronomy 

(AURA)

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): European Space 

Agency (ESA)

N/A

Acquisition Strategy

NASA competes all new Hubble research opportunities.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Observatory Operation Lockheed Martin Littleton, CO

Science Management STScI/AURA Baltimore, MD

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance Senior Review 2016

Evaluate efficiency 

and productivity of 

Hubble operations

Maximize Hubble

science return and 

reliability within 

available resources

2019, 2022, 

2025
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY 

(SOFIA)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-26

Spatially resolved mid-infrared images of planetary 

nebula NGC 7027, located around 3,000 light years away 

in the constellation Cygnus, using the Faint Object 

Infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST). 

Planetary nebulae play a crucial role in the chemical 

evolution of our galaxy by expelling elements to the 

interstellar medium. 

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 85.2 -- 74.6 39.8 16.6 0.0 0.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

SOFIA is an airborne astronomical observatory 

that provides the international research 

community with access to infrared data 

unattainable from either ground-based or space 

telescopes. The images, spectra, and polarimetry 

have significant scientific value due to their 

coverage of mid- to far-infrared wavelengths. 

SOFIA investigates the cycle of material in the 

universe by peering through veils of dust to reveal 

physical phenomena hidden at other wavelengths. 

These wavelengths are key to unlocking questions 

regarding:

• Earliest phases of star birth;

• Formation of new planetary systems and 

implications for life-supportingconditions;

• Dust grain production;

• Space chemistries of life-sustaining molecules 

like water;

• Composition of comets and asteroids, which are 

ancient relics from our own solar system and 

provide clues to its beginnings; and

• Physical properties of planets both near and far 

(exoplanets), which provide context in 

understanding the habitability of our own Earth.

SOFIA officially entered the operations phase in May 2014.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY 

(SOFIA)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-27

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This budget reflects efficiencies and lower-than-expected fuel costs realized by the project in the past few 

years. No impacts to science are expected in FY 2019. SOFIA will participate in the 2019 Astrophysics 

Senior Review. NASA will budget for the period of the mission extension if NASA grants SOFIA a 

mission extension following the senior review. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

NASA selected Cycle 5 proposals in January 2017 with a suite of seven instruments and observations

began in early February. Researchers used SOFIA to solve questions on the formation and evolution of 

gas in clouds, local galaxies, and massive protostar nurseries, and investigated the role of density waves 

on star formation in grand design spirals.

The SOFIA project team conducted significant instrument commissioning and validation/verification 

support activities for the HAWC+ with improvement of the Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator 

(ADR) hold time and upGREAT cryocooler, respectively. 

In June through mid-August 2017, NASA conducted a seven-week deployment to the Southern 

Hemisphere to observe astronomical objects that are not visible in the skies from SOFIA’s home base in 

California, followed by a scheduled period of aircraft maintenance. The SOFIA team shipped over 

1000 cubic feet of Science Instrument equipment, weighing over 16.6 thousand pounds, to 

Christchurch New Zealand for the 2017 deployment.

SOFIA successfully flew (July 9-10) in the predicted path of the shadow (occultation) of a background 

star cast by MU69, the Kuiper belt object that is the target of the January 2019 flyby of New Horizons. 

The team also supported an occultation of Neptune’s moon Triton, over the Atlantic Ocean, in early 

October 2017.

The High Resolution Mid Infrared Spectrometer (HIRMES) Instrument conducted a successful delta 

Preliminary Design Review in March 2017 and Critical Design Review in August 2017.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

SOFIA is nearing the completion of Cycle 5 observations, with the start of Cycle 6 observations 

commencing in February 2018. Cycle 6 has planned research hours allocated to Guest Investigators for 

programs covering a wide range of astronomical science areas. 

HAWC+ will complete formal acceptance activities in January 2018. HAWC+ provides a new capability 

for SOFIA, a far-infrared polarimeter, which enables investigations into the roles magnetic fields play our 

galaxy. The development phase for the third-generation science instrument, the High Resolution 

Mid-Infrared Spectrometer (HIRMES) also continues in FY 2018.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY 

(SOFIA)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-28

The SOFIA project will release its Next-Generation Instrument Solicitation in January 2018 and they plan 

to down select for the instrument concept studies in July. The project will be conducting its down 

selection for the instrument development following the 2019 Senior Review. The planned schedule 

expects to infuse new capabilities on SOFIA no later than 2022.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

The third-generation SOFIA instrument HIRMES will complete its build and test phase with delivery to 

SOFIA in the first quarter of FY 2019. SOFIA will participate in the 2019 Senior Review. Whether or not 

NASA continues SOFIA operations including moving forward with development of the instrument is 

contingent on the result of the 2019 Senior Review.

Project Schedule

Date Significant Event

Apr 2017 Release of Cycle 6 Call for Proposals

Nov 2017 Announcement of Selected Cycle 6 Investigations

Jun 2018 Summer Deployment Observation - New Zealand

Jan 2019 Next Generation SOFIA Instrument Proposals Due

Mar 2019 HIRMES Instrument Delivery

Apr 2019 SOFIA Senior Review

Aug 2019 Cycle 7 (GO) Proposals Due
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY 

(SOFIA)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-29

Project Management & Commitments

The Ames Research Center (ARC) manages SOFIA.

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

Science 

Operations 

Center

Science Operations Center 

will solicit and select new 

investigations, schedule 

observations, and manage 

data acquisition and 

processing

Provider: ARC/ USRA

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): ARC

Cost Share Partner(s): German 

Aerospace Center (DLR)/Deutsches 

SOFIA Institute (DSI)

N/A

Flight 

Operations

Flight crew, maintenance, and 

fuel

Provider: Armstrong Flight Research 

Center (AFRC)/Computer Sciences 

Corporation (CSC) DynCorp

Lead Center: AFRC

Performing Center(s): AFRC

Cost Share Partner(s): DLR/DSI

N/A

Upgraded 

HAWC+

HAWC+ far-infrared camera 

to be upgraded with the 

addition of polarimetry 

capability and new state of the 

art detectors

Provider: Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

(JPL), GSFC

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): JPL, GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

SOFIA Program 

Management

Program management of 

flight and science Lead Center: ARC Yes

HIRMES 

HIRMES will enable unique 

spectroscopic capability, 

providing a higher sensitivity 

and a higher spectral 

resolving power, from the 25 

to 112 micrometer 

wavelength range, over any 

existing observatory.

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

STRATOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY FOR INFRARED ASTRONOMY 

(SOFIA)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-30

Acquisition Strategy

The project has awarded all major contracts. SOFIA awarded a new primary contract for its Science 

Mission Operations to the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) in March 2017.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Science & Mission Operations USRA Moffett Field, CA and 

Palmdale, CA

Platform L3 Communications Palmdale, CA

Cavity Door Drive System Woodward MPC Skokie, IL

Aircraft Maintenance Support L3 Vertex Aerospace (under AFRC 

shared service contract) Palmdale, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality Mission Senior 

Review N/A

Evaluate operations 

efficiency, merit of 

science case, and 

scientific 

productivity

Ranking of SOFIA 

science return and 

reliability within 

available resources

will contribute to 

NASA decision on 

whether to extend 

SOFIA beyond 

FY 2019 into an 

extended mission 

phase

2019 
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-31

On February 22, 2017, NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope 

revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size 

planets around a single star and a new record for greatest 

number of habitable-zone planets found around a single 

star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets 

could have liquid water under the right atmospheric 

conditions, but the chances are highest with the three (e, f, 

and g) in the habitable zone.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Cosmic Origins Program Management 2.7 -- 2.7 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2

Cosmic Origins SR&T 12.8 -- 17.6 16.8 18.4 18.4 18.4

Cosmic Origins Future Missions 0.0 -- 2.7 2.2 28.7 43.8 43.8

SIRTF/Spitzer 11.0 -- 11.0 8.0 3.0 0.0 0.0

Herschel 1.0 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 27.5 -- 33.9 29.1 52.2 64.4 64.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Cosmic Origins Other Missions and Data 

Analysis funds the Spitzer Space Telescope, 

program management, supporting research and 

technology, and early studies of potential future 

Cosmic Origins missions.

Mission Planning and Other

Projects

COSMIC ORIGINS PROGRAM 

MANAGEMENT

Cosmic Origins (COR) program management 

provides programmatic, technical, and business 

management, as well as program science 

leadership.

Recent Achievements

The COR program office continued to provide support with communications, by publishing theme 

Newsletters; enabling and facilitating community forums and meetings; and monitoring two of the large 

mission concept studies. This support has provided a unified and clear approach to the cosmic origins’ 

goals and objectives.
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-32

COSMIC ORIGINS STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (SR&T)

COR Strategic Research and Technology (SR&T) supports program-specific research and advanced 

technology development efforts, such as the Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) solicitation issued 

in FY 2016. In addition, funding supports the study of future NASA space observatories.

Recent Achievements

The COR program released its updated Program Annual Technology Report based on the technical 

advances generated by the Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) selected investigations. This report 

summarizes the status of technology development funded by the program in prior years and in FY 2017. 

This report describes the prioritization of future technology needs.

A copy of the report is available at 

https://apd440.gsfc.nasa.gov/technology/patrs/documents/cor/2017_COR_PATR.pdf

This budget request supports a solicitation for industry for a future segmented-aperture Mirror 

Technology Development program. This new effort will develop end-to-end integrated 

telescope/coronagraph system-level engineering designs, modeling studies and associated testbed 

demonstrations. 

The scientific community is actively engaged to lay the groundwork to mature mission concept studies 

and identify technology developments that will eventually provide inputs to the 2020 Astronomy and 

Astrophysics Decadal Survey. The four mission concept studies are Large Ultraviolet/Visible/Infrared 

Surveyor, Origins Space Telescope, Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission, and Lynx X-ray Surveyor. 

The four mission concept studies and the science case and notional telescope design and instrument 

studies began in FY 2016. These mission concepts will issue final reports during FY 2019. 

COSMIC ORIGINS FUTURE MISSIONS

COR Future Missions funding supports studies of future mission concepts. COR Future Missions also 

supports the extension of COR missions following the Senior Review.

Recent Achievements

The COR scientific community is engaged in identifying meritorious and compelling science drivers that 

could lead to diverse mission concept studies and technology development that will inform the 

2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey.

Operating Missions

SPITZER

The Spitzer Space Telescope, launched in 2003 as the final element of NASA’s series of Great 

Observatories continues in extended operations. Spitzer is an infrared telescope that uses two channels of 

the Infrared Array Camera instrument to study exoplanet atmospheres, early clusters of galaxies, 

near-Earth asteroids, and a broad range of other phenomena. Spitzer completed its cryogenic mission in 
Science: Astrophysics: Cosmic Origins

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-33

FY 2009 and extended warm operations through FY 2016. The 2016 Senior Review of Operating 

Missions recommended continuing Spitzer operations until 2019, following launch of the James Webb 

Space Telescope (Webb). This budget supports that recommendation.

Recent Achievements

Spitzer continues to study exoplanets and exoplanetary systems. Recent Spitzer results show that large 

exoplanets comparable in size to Jupiter are more likely found around young stars that host such a debris 

disk than around naked, dust-free stars. This suggests that the presence of a debris disk would signal that a 

particular star would be a good candidate for future observatories, such as the James Webb Space 

Telescope, to search for exoplanets. Spitzer continues to make important connections between 

exoplanetary systems and the Solar System.

In another study, further analysis of Spitzer data on a planet called 55 Cancri e has provided new insights 

into this fascinating object. Previous analysis had shown that the surface temperature on this planet varies 

between 2,500 and 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It orbits very close to a bright star, which accounts for this 

high temperature. The new research suggests that the surface lies beneath a thick atmosphere, which

could contain nitrogen, water, and even oxygen, the main important constituents of Earth’s atmosphere.

Researchers also point out that it is too hot for water to be liquid on the surface of the planet and certainly 

too hot to support life as we know it. 55 Cancri e reminds us that the properties of exoplanets range far 

beyond those of the planets in the solar system and far beyond what even the most imaginative 

astronomers had anticipated. Nevertheless, studying these extreme systems continues to provide insights 

regarding the formation and evolution of our own familiar planets.
Science: Astrophysics

PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS

ASTRO-34

Fermi detected a burst of gamma rays (top panel) 3 

seconds after LIGO registered the signal from the merger 

(“chirp”, bottom panel) of two neutron stars in the local 

Universe. The detection of GW170817/GRB170817A 

marks the birth of multi-messenger astrophysics, where 

observations in the electromagnetic spectrum and 

gravitational waves combine to provide the most powerful 

probe yet of the Universe.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Other Missions and Data Analysis 106.2 -- 136.8 139.1 113.3 108.3 105.0

Total Budget 106.2 -- 136.8 139.1 113.3 108.3 105.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The universe can be viewed as a laboratory that 

enables scientists to study some of the most 

profound questions at the intersection of physics 

and astronomy. How do matter, energy, space, 

and time behave under extreme gravity? What is 

the nature of dark energy and dark matter? How 

did the universe grow from the Big Bang to its 

present size? The Physics of the Cosmos 

(PCOS) program incorporates cosmology, highenergy astrophysics, and fundamental physics 

projects that address central questions about the 

nature of complex astrophysical phenomena, 

such as black holes, neutron stars, dark matter 

and dark energy, cosmic microwave 

background, and gravitational waves.

The operating missions within the PCOS 

program continue to provide answers to these

fundamental questions and more. Scientists 

using data from the Fermi mission discovered a 

gamma-ray burst associated with a gravitational 

wave source detected by the Laser 

Interferometry Gravitational Observatory 

(LIGO). A few days later, the Chandra X-ray 

Observatory detected the X-ray glow of the 

newly born source, from jets of matter produced 

after the merger of the two neutron stars. The 

gravitational wave, gamma-ray, and X-ray detections, together with optical and infrared detections with 

other NASA and ground-based telescopes, marks the advent of multi-messenger astrophysics, a powerful 

new window on the Universe. 

Other PCOS missions, such as the X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM) continue to help astronomers 

progress in their understanding of some of the most mysterious phenomena, such as the condition of 

matter near supermassive black holes. 
Science: Astrophysics

PHYSICS OF THE COSMOS

ASTRO-35

PCOS includes a vigorous program to develop the technologies necessary for the next generation of space 

missions to address the science questions of this program.

For more information, see: https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/smd-programs/physics-of-the-cosmos

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This budget includes a significant increase in supporting research and technology for future strategic and 

competed missions, enabled by redirecting funds made available due to the proposed termination of 

WFIRST.
Science: Astrophysics: Physics of the Cosmos

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-36

This new image of the Crab Nebula combines data from 

five different telescopes: The VLA (radio) in red; Spitzer 

Space Telescope (infrared) in yellow; Hubble Space 

Telescope (visible) in green; XMM (ultraviolet) in blue; 

and Chandra X-Ray Observatory (X-ray) in purple.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Physics of the Cosmos SR&T 23.3 -- 33.5 41.1 39.4 34.1 30.9

Euclid 12.9 -- 20.2 16.4 9.4 9.5 8.9

Physics of the Cosmos Program 

Management

2.6 -- 2.9 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

Physics of the Cosmos Future Missions 0.1 -- 2.3 3.4 3.7 4.0 4.4

Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope 12.5 -- 15.5 14.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Chandra X-Ray Observatory 50.7 -- 58.9 58.4 58.4 58.4 58.4

XMM 3.5 -- 3.5 3.5 0.0 0.0 0.0

Planck 0.6 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 106.2 -- 136.8 139.1 113.3 108.3 105.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was 

not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is

operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 

2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-56, as amended). The 

amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level 

provided by the continuing resolution.

Other Missions and Data Analysis supports 

PCOS SR&T, PCOS Program Management, 

PCOS Future Missions, Euclid, Fermi, Chandra, 

and XMM.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

PCOS SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND 

TECHNOLOGY

PCOS Supporting Research and Technology

leads strategic technology development efforts,

to prepare for the next generation of PCOS space 

missions. This includes program-specific research and advanced technology development efforts, such as 

the Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) solicitation issued in FY 2016. 
Science: Astrophysics: Physics of the Cosmos

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-37

NASA and ESA are continuing defining partnership for NASA's contribution to ESA's Athena mission, 

an X-ray observatory dedicated to high-resolution spectroscopy, and ESA's LISA mission, a space-based 

gravitational wave observatory. This project supports the technology development and pre-formulation 

activities necessary to contribute to the ESA missions.

This budget includes a significant increase in technology for future strategic and competed missions, 

enabled by redirecting funds made available due to the proposed termination of WFIRST.

Recent Achievements

The PCOS program released its updated Program Annual Technology Report. This report summarizes the 

status of technology development funded by the program in FY 2017 and describes the prioritization of 

future technology needs. 

For more information, go to:

https://apd440.gsfc.nasa.gov/technology/patrs/documents/pcos/2017_PCOS_PATR.pdf

EUCLID

NASA is collaborating on Euclid, an ESA mission, selected as part of ESA’s Cosmic Visions program in 

June 2012 and scheduled for launch in 2021. Euclid seeks to investigate the accelerated expansion of the 

universe, the so-called “dark energy,” using a Visible Instrument and a Near Infrared Spectrometer and 

Photometer instrument, as well as ground-based data. The Euclid Consortium, comprised of over 

1,200 scientists and engineers from over 50 institutes in Europe, the United States, and Canada, is 

responsible for development of the two instruments and the Science Data Centers. NASA contributes 

flight detector subsystems for the Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer instrument and a NASA 

Euclid Science Center that forms part of the Euclid Science Ground System. In exchange, NASA receives 

membership in the Euclid Science Team and Consortium and competed science opportunities for 

U.S. investigators. 

Recent Achievements

Teledyne has delivered all 25-flight candidate detectors to NASA. NASA has completed acceptance 

vibration testing and performance testing for these 25 detectors sufficient to meet the delivery 

requirements of 16 flight units and four spares to ESA. NASA has also has completed the Cryo Flex 

Cables (CFC) which connect the detectors to the readout electronics known as Sensor Chip Electronics 

(SCE). To date NASA has delivered to ESA 9 flight grade detectors and CFCs. NASA plans to deliver 

remaining detectors and cables by early 2018. The SCEs have developed a significant problem during the 

testing at cryogenic temperatures. The lab testing has shown that the SCE is not fully able to 

communicate with the detectors. To investigate the problem NASA has formed a failure board. The 

proximate cause of this issue is a failure of Application Specific Integration Circuit (ASIC) packaging 

cracks while operating at cryogenic temperatures. Thermal stress likely causes this condition. NASA is 

developing an alternate design to remedy this problem, and a recovery plan for incorporation into ESA's 

mission development plan.
Science: Astrophysics: Physics of the Cosmos

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-38

PCOS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

PCOS program management provides programmatic, technical, and business management, as well as 

program science leadership.

Recent Achievements

NASA entered into a letter of agreement with ESA to contribute to their Large 2 mission, Athena, an 

X-ray observatory dedicated to high-resolution spectroscopy. The details of the contribution are still 

under discussion. PCOS is leading the management of this contribution.

NASA is also collaborating with ESA on the LISA mission, a low-frequency gravitational wave 

observatory, and is contributing elements of the payload. NASA established a LISA Study Office, hosted 

by the PCOS Program, to manage the LISA technology development. NASA is preparing a Letter of 

Agreement with ESA. 

PCOS FUTURE MISSIONS

PCOS Future Missions funding supports concept studies of future missions.

Recent Achievements

The PCOS program is engaging with the scientific community to lay the groundwork for design studies 

and technology development that will eventually provide inputs to the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics 

Decadal Survey.

Operating Missions

FERMI

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope explores extreme environments in the universe, from black holes 

to gamma-ray bursts, to expand knowledge of their high-energy properties. Fermi observations are 

answering long-standing questions across a broad range of topics, including solar flares, the origin of 

cosmic rays, and the nature of dark matter. NASA’s Fermi mission launched in June 2008 with 

contribution from international and the Department of Energy. Fermi entered extended mission operations 

in August 2013. The 2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions recommended continuing Fermi 

operations through FY 2019. This budget supports that recommendation.

Recent Achievements

For the first time, NASA scientists have detected light tied to a gravitational-wave event, caused by two 

merging neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 4993, located about 130 million light-years from Earth. On 

August 17, 2017, Fermi picked up a pulse of high-energy light from a powerful explosion and Fermi 

immediately communicated the status of the explosion to astronomers around the globe as a short 

gamma-ray burst. Just 1.7 seconds prior to Fermi’s detection, the National Science Foundation’s twin 

Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors caught a gravitational wave signal 

from the pair of smashing neutron stars that caused the gamma-ray burst. By combining information from 

Fermi, LIGO, and a worldwide network of telescopes observing in other wavelengths of light, scientists 
Science: Astrophysics: Physics of the Cosmos

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-39

identified the source as a collision between two neutron stars – ultra-dense, crushed leftover cores of huge 

stars that exploded as supernovae long ago. In their final moments, this neutron star pair whipped around 

at nearly the speed of light, ripping at each other and churning out torrents of gravitational energy until 

they smashed together with a blast of gamma rays that lasted only two seconds. Another combined 

analysis of data from Fermi and the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.), a ground-based 

observatory suggests the center of our Milky Way contains a "trap" that concentrates some of the 

highest-energy cosmic rays, among the fastest particles in the galaxy. The results imply that most of the 

more energetic cosmic rays populating the innermost region of our galaxy originate in active regions 

beyond the galactic center. These energetic cosmic rays will decelerate in the galaxy through interactions 

with gas clouds.

CHANDRA

Launched in 1999, Chandra is transforming our view of the universe with its high-quality X-ray images, 

providing unique insights into violent events and extreme conditions such as explosions of stars, 

collisions of galaxies, and matter around black holes. Chandra enables observations of clusters of galaxies 

that provide direct evidence of the existence of dark matter, and greatly strengthens the case for the 

existence of dark energy. Chandra observations of the remains of exploded stars, or supernovas, have 

advanced our understanding of the behavior of matter and energy under extreme conditions. Chandra also 

discovered and studied hundreds of supermassive black holes in the centers of distant galaxies. The 

2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions recommended continuing Chandra operations as long as the 

observatory remains highly capable scientifically. This budget supports that recommendation.

Recent Achievements

Chandra made four X-ray observations of the gravitational wave event detected by LIGO and Fermi, the 

first a non-detection and the other three, nine days later, showing a significant source coincident with the 

optical position of gravitational wave event. The detection of X-rays demonstrates that neutron star 

mergers can form powerful jets streaming out at near light speed. The delay was a result of our viewing 

angle, and it took time for the jet directed toward Earth to expand into our line of sight. Astronomers 

using Chandra have found evidence for a star that whips around a black hole about twice an hour, the 

tightest orbital dance ever witnessed for a likely black hole and a companion star. New Chandra data of 

this system show that it changes in X-ray brightness in the same manner every 28 minutes, which is likely 

the length of time it takes the companion star to make one complete orbit around the black hole at only 

about 2.5 times the separation between the Earth and the Moon. Chandra has discovered a mysterious 

flash of X-rays in the deepest X-ray image ever obtained. The X-ray source, located in a region of the sky 

known as the Chandra Deep Field-South, has remarkable properties. Prior to October 2014, this source 

not detected in X-rays, but then it erupted and became at least a factor of 1,000 brighter in a few hours. 

After about a day, the source had faded completely below the sensitivity of Chandra. Two of the three 

main possibilities to explain the X-ray source invoke gamma-ray burst events, which are jetted explosions 

triggered either by the collapse of a massive star or by the merger of a neutron star with another neutron 

star or a black hole. New Chandra observations revealed five pairs of supermassive black holes, each 

containing millions of times the mass of the Sun. These black hole couples formed when two galaxies 

collided and merged with each other, forcing their supermassive black holes close together. Before this 

study, scientists knew of fewer than ten confirmed pairs of growing black holes. The Chandra 

observations reveal how common supermassive black hole pairs are and help in predicting the signals for 

gravitational wave observatories
Science: Astrophysics: Physics of the Cosmos

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-40

X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM)

XMM is an ESA-led mission with substantial NASA contributions. The telescope launched in 

December 1999 and provides unique data for studies of the fundamental processes of black holes and 

neutron stars. XMM studies the evolution of chemical elements in galaxy clusters and the distribution of 

dark matter in galaxy clusters and elliptical galaxies. The 2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions 

recommended continuing operations through FY 2019. This budget supports that recommendation.

Recent Achievements

During the past year, a new study using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM 

suggests X-rays emitted by a planet’s host star may provide critical clues to how hospitable a star system 

could be. Researchers looked at the X-ray brightness from 24 stars with masses similar to the Sun or less, 

each at least one billion years old. The study has revealed that stars like the Sun calm down surprisingly 

quickly after a turbulent youth, which has positive implications for the long-term habitability of planets 

orbiting such stars. Using a trio of X-ray telescopes from XMM, Chandra and Swift, astronomers found 

evidence for a tidal disruption event, where the tidal forces due to the intense gravity from a black hole 

can destroy an object — such as a star — that wanders too close. A giant black hole ripped apart a star 

and then gorged on its remains for about a decade. This is more than ten times longer than any observed 

episode of a star's death by black hole. XMM focused on a black hole for 17 days straight, revealing the 

extremely variable nature of the winds. Using these most detailed observations yet of such an outflow, 

coming from an active galaxy, scientists concluded that the winds recorded from the black hole reach 

71,000 km/s, or about 0.24 times the speed of light, putting it in the top 5% of fastest known black hole 

winds.
Science: Astrophysics

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION

ASTRO-41

The Kepler-90 planetary system has a similar 

configuration to our solar system with small planets 

found orbiting close to their star, and the larger 

planets found farther away. The pattern we see 

around Kepler-90 could be evidence of that same 

process happening in this system.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Other Missions and Data Analysis 152.6 -- 52.4 44.5 44.6 44.4 44.9

Total Budget 152.6 -- 52.4 44.5 44.6 44.4 44.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Humankind stands on the threshold of a voyage 

of unprecedented scope and ambition, 

promising insight into timeless questions: Are 

we alone? Is Earth unique, or are planets like 

ours common? One of the most exciting new 

fields of research within the NASA 

Astrophysics portfolio is the search for planets, 

particularly Earth-like planets, around other 

stars.

Since the discovery of the first exoplanets in 

the mid-1990s, astronomers have discovered 

and confirmed over 3,500 planets orbiting stars 

of all shapes and sizes in our galaxy. At first, 

most of the planets discovered were so-called 

“Hot Jupiters”— gas giants similar in size to 

the planet Jupiter, but orbiting much closer to 

their parent stars. However, analysis of the complete Kepler data set suggests that smaller planets — with 

sizes in the Earth-to-Neptune range — are actually more common. Rocky planets in the habitable zone of 

their parent stars appear to be common. NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration program is advancing along a 

path of discovery leading to a point where scientists can directly study the atmospheres and surface 

features of habitable, rocky planets, like Earth, around other stars in the solar neighborhood.

In the future, NASA aims to develop systems that will allow scientists to take the pivotal step from 

identifying an exoplanet as Earth-sized to determining whether it is truly Earth-like, and possibly even 

detecting if it bears the fingerprints of life. Such an ambitious goal includes significant technological 

challenges. An important component of the Exoplanet Exploration effort is a robust technology 

development program with the goal of enabling a future direct detection and characterization mission.

For more information, go to https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/.
Science: Astrophysics

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION

ASTRO-42

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Given its significant cost and higher priorities within NASA, the budget proposes the termination of the 

WFIRST mission. Development of WFIRST would have required a significant funding increase in 

FY 2019 and future years, with a total cost of more than $3 billion, which cannot be accommodated 

within a reduced Astrophysics top line. Some of the previously planned FY 2019-2023 WFIRST funding 

is redirected towards other priorities of the astrophysics community, including competed astrophysics

missions and research.
Science: Astrophysics: Exoplanet Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-43

Small planets come mainly in two sizes; Super-Earths or 

Mini-Neptunes. The Kepler team announced this result 

on June 19, 2017 at NASA's Ames Research Center. The 

Keck Observatory obtained data on exoplanet masses to 

confirm this discovery.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

WFIRST 105.0 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Exoplanet Exploration SR&T 21.2 -- 28.5 27.2 28.4 28.3 28.3

Exoplanet Exploration Program 

Management

5.9 -- 8.0 7.8 8.0 7.9 8.3

Exoplanet Exploration Future Missions 0.9 -- 1.5 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0

Keck Operations 6.1 -- 6.5 6.7 6.9 7.0 7.2

Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer 2.6 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Kepler 11.0 -- 7.9 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 152.6 -- 52.4 44.5 44.6 44.4 44.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope 

(WFIRST)

WFIRST would have explored the nature of dark 

energy, in addition to completing the exoplanet 

census through a gravitational microlensing 

survey. It also would have directly detected

exoplanets through a coronagraph technology 

demonstration. 

Recent Achievements

WFIRST is currently in its concept and 

technology development phase, having entered 

formulation in February 2016. Two aerospace 

companies have completed formulation studies 

for the Wide Field Instrument Opto-Mechanical Assembly, a critical element of the mission payload 

system. The telescope contractor has completed environmental tests to demonstrate the suitability of key 

elements of the existing telescope hardware at WFIRST's cool operating temperature. Coronagraph 

instrument development continues to make excellent progress, with the developmental instrument

demonstrating very deep contrast across a wide wavelength band.
Science: Astrophysics: Exoplanet Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-44

In October 2017, NASA received the findings of the WFIRST Independent External 

Technical/Management/Cost Review (WIETR), conducted by a blue-ribbon panel of experts from outside 

the Agency. The WIETR found that the mission’s scope and requirements were inconsistent with the 

WFIRST life-cycle cost and budget profile set in the Agency’s management agreement, and 

recommended that NASA reduce the mission scope to fit within the management agreement.

The budget proposes termination of the WFIRST mission in FY 2019 given its significant cost and higher 

priorities within NASA. Development of the mission would have required a significant funding increase 

in 2019 and future years, which cannot be accommodated within a reduced Astrophysics top line. Some 

of the previously planned FY 2019-2023 WFIRST funding is redirected towards future competed 

astrophysics missions and research, consistent with priorities outlined in the Decadal Survey.

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

Exoplanet Exploration Strategic Research and Technology supports program-specific scientific research, 

in addition to technology development activities that support and enable future Exoplanet Exploration 

missions.

NASA currently supports ten competitively selected exoplanet technology development projects 

involving researchers across the Nation. The selected technology development projects all focus on 

advancing technologies for separating the feeble reflected light of an exoplanet from the overwhelming 

glare of its parent star, revealing clues to the planet’s nature. Those technologies will one day enable the 

ultimate goal of NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program: a future mission capable of imaging and 

measuring the spectra of habitable, Earth-like exoplanets in the solar neighborhood. Precision radial 

velocity technologies will enable better measurements of exoplanet masses. These precision radial 

velocity measurements, in conjunction with the transit photometric information that can provide 

the exoplanet radii, will result in the determination of exoplanet densities and structures before possible 

follow-ups in the search of chemical biomarkers of life.

Recent Achievements

Coronagraphs and starshades are enabling technologies for the direct detection of exoplanets around stars. 

They block the light from the stars and, thus, make possible the detection of planets orbiting the parent 

star. NASA could use this technology in possible future missions, enabling direct imagining of exoplanets 

and the search for spectral bio signatures. The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) 

coronagraph remains on schedule to execute its groundbreaking technology demonstration on the 

WFIRST observatory. In addition, NASA is assessing new coronagraph techniques for their application to 

the segmented optics of future large telescopes. The NASA starshade team, with membership from 

government, academia, and industry, has made excellent progress on defining a detailed plan for 

ground-based demonstration of the five critical starshade technology elements by the early 2020's.

The NASA and NSF partnership to develop a new precision radial velocity instrument for the WIYN 

telescope is progressing well, with commissioning of the new instrument on schedule for 2019.

This budget includes a significant increase in supporting research and technology for future strategic and 

competed missions, enabled by redirecting funds made available due to the proposed termination of 

WFIRST.
Science: Astrophysics: Exoplanet Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-45

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Exoplanet Exploration program management provides programmatic, technical, and business 

management, as well as program science leadership. Program management coordinates, supports, tracks 

the progress of the program’s numerous technology development tasks, and oversees the program’s

portfolio of projects.

Recent Achievements

Scientists have confirmed approximately 3,500 exoplanets among the approximately 6,100 candidates 

currently catalogued. Current estimates indicate that perhaps one in ten stars host rocky planets that exist 

in orbits where water may flow freely upon their surface. The program is managing design studies of 

mission opportunities. The program is also engaging with the scientific community on design studies and 

technology development that will eventually provide inputs to the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics 

Decadal Survey.

EXOPLANET EXPLORATION FUTURE MISSIONS

Exoplanet Exploration Future Missions funding supports the execution of the exoplanet mission science 

and technology definition teams, and ultimately the formulation, development, and implementation of a 

future Exoplanet Exploration flight mission.

Recent Achievements

Community-based science and technology teams continue to be engaged to develop mission concepts and 

technology development plans. To prepare for the next decade, NASA is studying the scientific merits of 

exoplanet missions in both the probe (medium) and large classes.

Operating Missions

KECK OPERATIONS

Keck Operations is the NASA portion of the Keck Observatory partnership. NASA uses its share of 

observing time in support of Astrophysics and Planetary Science programs. The project allocates 

observing time for NASA astrophysics science goals, as well as solar system objects and direct space 

mission support. Observation time is competed, selected, and managed by the NASA Exoplanet Science 

Institute. NASA is partner for one-sixth of the observing nights with the W.M. Keck Observatory 

(WMKO) for both 10-meter telescopes, the largest optical telescope pair in the world. The 

Keck Observatory Archive (KOA), managed by the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, ingests and 

curates existing and new data from the Keck Observatory.

Recent Achievements

The large number of proposals submitted continues to demonstrate strong demand for NASA observing 

nights. For example, in semester 2017B, scientists submitted 75 proposals requesting 109.13 nights,

yielding an overall oversubscription of 3.4 for both Keck telescopes. The astronomical community

actively uses the KOA. Currently, 14 percent of WMKO publications cite the archive as the source of the 
Science: Astrophysics: Exoplanet Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-46

data. The annual growth is attributable to the availability of more than 10 of instruments in KOA covering

25 years of the “Keck Sky.”

NASA’s current cooperative agreement with the W.M. Keck Observatory expires in 2018. On 

September 7, 2017, NASA announced the approval of the five-year renewal of the cooperative agreement 

after issuing a call for proposals, conducting an evaluation and considering the strategic value that the 

Keck observatory provides to NASA missions. This new Cooperative Agreement will run from

March 1, 2018 until February 28, 2023. 

LARGE BINOCULAR TELESCOPE INTERFEROMETER

The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) is the NASA portion of the Large Binocular 

Telescope partnership. Engineers and scientists designed the LBTI to allow high contrast, high spatial 

resolution infrared imaging of dust clouds around nearby stars. The system surveys nearby stars for dust 

and debris disks that may hamper the detection of planets around those stars. This information will be 

crucial for designing future space observatories capable of detecting and characterizing those planets by 

direct imaging.

Recent Achievements

LBTI images the dust and planets around nearby stars at infrared wavelengths using a technique called 

Nulling Interferometry. These observations provide a first look at some of the most interesting 

exoplanetary systems in the solar neighborhood. LBTI is currently executing the Hunt for Observable 

Signatures of Terrestrial Systems (HOSTS) survey.

At a NASA HQ review on July 28, 2017, LBTI reported observing 26 out of 35 stars, which amounts to 

74 percent completion of the HOSTS survey. The data suggest that dust disks around stars are not an 

obvious hindrance to future exoplanet imaging missions. The LBTI project will conclude the planned 

HOSTS survey observations during FY 2018. 

KEPLER

Kepler, launched in March 2009, surveys stars in the local region of the Milky Way galaxy to detect and

characterize rocky planets in or near the habitable zone of their host star. The habitable zone encompasses 

the distances from a star where liquid water can exist on a planet’s surface. As time progresses, smaller 

planets with longer orbital periods emerge from the data.

In June 2014, NASA approved Kepler to enter a new phase of operations, called K2, in which the 

spacecraft observes along the ecliptic plane, opening up new possibilities for discovery. Both the 2014 

and 2016 Senior Reviews of Operating Missions favorably reviewed the K2 operating mode.

The original phase of the mission ended September 30, 2017 with the delivery of all of the data acquired 

during this fully calibrated and vetted data to the Mikulski Archives at Space Telescope (MAST) for 

future use by the astronomical community. The extended (K2) phase of the mission will operate until the 

on-board fuel is depleted, estimated to occur in mid-CY2018. NASA continually monitors the estimate of 

the remaining fuel reserve. The 2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions recommended continuing the 
Science: Astrophysics: Exoplanet Exploration

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-47

K2 phase of the Kepler mission through the exhaustion of on-board fuel. This budget supports that 

recommendation. 

Recent Achievements

On March 12, 2017, Kepler released the data of the recently completed campaign 12, which included 

observations of the nearby multiple planetary system TRAPPIST-1. This is a system with previously 

observed three exoplanets, but subsequent Spitzer observations detected four additional Earth-size planets 

in this system. The Kepler data taken over 79 days of observations of TRAPPIST-1 confirmed all seven 

planets, determined a more accurate orbital period for the seventh planet of 18.7 days, a radius of 0.715 of 

the Earth radius, and a rotation period of 3.3 days for the star. Owing to the proximity and size of this 

system, Webb should be able to discern the properties of the atmospheres of this intriguing multiple 

planetary system.

NASA held a new media briefing on June 19, 2017, to announce the latest planet candidate results from 

the primary Kepler mission. After four years of continuous observation of the Cygnus field, NASA 

reported 219 new planet candidates, of which 10 are less than twice the size of the Earth and orbit in the 

habitable zone. With these new discoveries, Kepler has identified more than 4,500 planet candidates 

orbiting other stars and confirmed about 2,337 as planets. Overall, Kepler has discovered about 84 percent

of all candidates and confirmed exoplanets until now. 

Within the realm of stellar astrophysics, on August 25, 2017, Kepler released an important discovery in 

the Seven Sisters as part of the Pleiades cluster. Using a new algorithm to enhance observations, an 

observing team performed the most detailed study yet of the variability of these stars. Kepler searches for 

planets orbiting distant stars by looking for the dip in brightness as the planets pass in front. Kepler also 

enables asteroseismology, studying the structure and evolution of stars as revealed by changes in their 

brightness. Most of the seven stars are revealed to be slowly pulsating B stars, a class of variable star in 

which the star's brightness changes with daylong periods. The frequencies of these pulsations are key 

to exploring some of the poorly understood processes in the core of these stars.
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER

ASTRO-48

A titanic burst of energy from a dying star 13 billion light 

years away has been spotted (center) from Earth. The 

caption of the figure needs to identify the mission and the 

science.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite 

(TESS)

74.0 36.9 27.5 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0

Other Missions and Data Analysis 50.0 -- 218.1 362.8 394.0 401.6 412.8

Total Budget 124.1 -- 245.6 366.5 394.0 401.6 412.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Astrophysics Explorer program provides 

frequent flight opportunities for world-class 

astrophysics investigations using innovative and 

streamlined management approaches for 

spacecraft development and operations. The 

program is highly responsive to new knowledge, 

new technology, and updated scientific priorities 

by launching smaller missions that can be 

conceived and executed in a relatively short 

development cycle. NASA selects new missions

based on an open competition of concepts 

solicited from the scientific community. The 

program emphasizes the accomplishments of 

missions under the control of the scientific 

research community within constrained mission 

life-cycle costs.

Medium-Class Explorers (MIDEX) missions 

cost up to $400 million in total, including launch 

services. Small Explorers (SMEX) may cost 

about half that total. Explorer missions of 

opportunity (MO) have a total NASA cost of 

under $75 million and may be of several types. The most common type of MOs are those that will fly on

a non-NASA space mission. NASA conducts these missions on a no-exchange-of-funds basis with the 

organization providing the spacecraft for the mission. Other possible types are new science missions 

using existing spacecraft and small complete missions. NASA intends to solicit proposals for MOs

associated with each AO issued for MIDEX and SMEX investigations. 

For more information on Explorer missions, see: http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions.html.
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER

ASTRO-49

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

This budget includes a significant increase in FY 2019, enabled by redirecting funds made available due 

to the proposed termination of WFIRST. This increased funding will potentially enable the start of a 

competed probe-class mission.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

The Neutron-star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on 

June 3, 2017. NICER was installed on the external logistics carrier of the International Space Station and 

has completed in-orbit checkout. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission successfully 

completed its System Integration Review (SIR) in July 2017, and began Phase D, the system assembly, 

integration and test, launch and checkout phase of implementation. In June 2017, NASA released the first 

(Cycle 1) TESS General Investigator solicitation, an opportunity for the broader scientific community to 

participate in target selection and analysis of observations during the first year of mission operations. In 

January 2017, NASA selected the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission to begin 

preliminary design and technology completion activities. IXPE will be launched into a low inclination, 

low Earth orbit for a two-year mission beginning in April 2021. In March of 2017, NASA selected the 

GUSTO balloon payload as a Mission of Opportunity to launch on a high-altitude stratospheric balloon 

from McMurdo, Antarctica in 2021 for approximately 100 days. NASA and JAXA jointly agreed to 

participate in the X-ray Astronomy Recovery Mission (XARM), in order to recover the soft X-ray 

spectroscopic capability lost with the Hitomi mission in March 2016. The NASA contribution to XARM 

completed its System Requirements Review in September 2017. NASA selected three MIDEX proposals 

and three MO proposals for competitive Phase A concept studies.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NICER is operational and has successfully observed over 50 celestial targets. TESS will be ready for 

launch no later than June 2018. The scientific community submitted more than 140 proposals in response 

to the first TESS General Investigation (GI) solicitation. NASA will review these and select winning 

proposals before launch, to inform planning for the first year of mission operations. IXPE is now in Phase 

B after successful completion of the System Requirements Review in September 2017. In the last quarter 

of FY 2018 IXPE will pass its Key Decision Point (KDP)-C review to enter into Phase C, the final design 

and fabrication activities phase of development. GUSTO completed requirements tailoring to enter Phase 

B formulation in January 2018. NASA expects its contribution to XARM to pass reviews to enter Phase C 

during FY 2018. In summer 2018, NASA will receive and review the MIDEX and MO Phase A mission 

concept studies.

Later this fiscal year, NASA will begin discussions with the astrophysics community to formulate a plan 

for future competed missions (Explorers and probe-class).

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

TESS will continue its first year of operations. NASA will release a solicitation for the second TESS 

General Investigation program. IXPE will be in Phase C/D, the final design and fabrication activities 

phase of development. GUSTO will continue payload development leading up to the Integrated Baseline 

Review and Critical Design Review. The NASA contributions to XARM will continue fabrication. In the 
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER

ASTRO-50

first half of FY 2019 NASA will select MIDEX and MO investigations to proceed into implementation, 

based on review of the Phase A mission concept studies.

NASA will release an Announcement of Opportunity for Astrophysics Small Explorers and Missions of 

Opportunity. If the President’s Budget proposal for Astrophysics is enacted, including the termination of 

WFIRST and increase to the Astrophysics Explorer program, NASA will also issue an Announcement of 

Opportunity for a probe-class mission.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Feb 2019 Down select one MIDEX and one MO mission for implementation

Mar 2019 AO announcement of SMEX and MO opportunity to propose

Feb 2020 SMEX and Explorer MO KDP-A

Sep 2021 AO announcement for MIDEX and MO opportunity to propose

Feb 2022 Down select one SMEX and one MO mission for implementation

Aug 2022 MIDEX and Explorer MO KDP-A

Program Management & Planned Cadence

The Astrophysics and Heliophysics Explorer Programs are both coordinated sets of uncoupled missions, 

wherein each mission is independent and has unique science. The Programs share a common program 

office at GSFC and a common management structure. The Explorer program manager resides at GSFC, 

reporting functionally to the Center Director and programmatically through the Astrophysics and 

Heliophysics Division Directors to the Associate Administrator for SMD.

This submit brings the Astrophysics Explorer Program into alignment with the Decadal Survey’s 

recommendation of a two-to-three year mission cadence.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA selects all Explorer missions through competitive AOs.
Science: Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORER

ASTRO-51

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Program 

Independent 

Review

SRB Oct 2014 Assess performance 

of program Successful Sep 2019
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

TRANSITING EXOPLANET SURVEY SATELLITE (TESS)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-52

The TESS mission will detect small planets with bright 

host stars in the solar neighborhood, so that other 

telescopes can perform detailed characterizations of the 

planets and their atmospheres.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 27.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 27.1

Development/Implementation 187.1 74.0 20.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 281.4

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 16.6 27.5 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 47.9

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 214.2 74.0 36.9 27.5 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 356.4

Total Budget 214.2 74.0 36.9 27.5 3.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 356.4

Change from FY 2018 -9.4

Percentage change from FY 2018 -25.5%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

TESS will carry out the first space-borne all-sky 

exoplanet survey, searching for transiting 

exoplanets around 200,000 of the brightest and 

nearest stars to the Earth. TESS' three-year

prime mission lifetime includes two years of 

TESS observations with an additional third year 

of follow-up ground-based observations. 

To accomplish its mission, TESS will use an 

array of four wide-field cameras that together 

cover 400 times as much sky as any previous 

mission, including Kepler. It may discover

approximately 30 Earth sized planets, 200 

Super-Earth sized planets, and 400 sub-Neptune 

sized planets around other stars in the solar 

neighborhood.

With TESS, it will be possible to study the 

masses, sizes, densities, and orbits of small 

exoplanets, including a sample of rocky worlds 

in the habitable zones of their host stars. Whereas Kepler taught us about the demographics of 

exoplanetary systems. TESS will discover many of the closest exoplanetary systems to the Earth and 
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

TRANSITING EXOPLANET SURVEY SATELLITE (TESS)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-53

provide prime targets for further characterization by the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) as well as 

other future large ground-based and space-based telescopes.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

NASA will launch TESS into a high Earth elliptical orbit. TESS will make observations in the visible and 

near-infrared spectrum, utilizing four telescopic charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras. TESS will obtain 

imagery from both northern and southern hemispheres of the sky. TESS will orbit the Earth every 

13.7 days, and will downlink, via Ka-band, the data it has collected over a period of approximately 

five hours each orbit. TESS will be a three axis-stabilized spacecraft using both momentum wheels and 

hydrazine thrusters.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

TESS successfully completed the Systems Integration Review (SIR) in July 2017, the KDP-D review in 

August 2017, and is currently in Phase D. In June of 2017, NASA released the first (Cycle 1) TESS 

General Investigation (GI) solicitation. The Cycle 1 GI solicitation provides the opportunity for the 

broader scientific community to participate in target selection and analysis of observations conducted 

during the first year of mission operations.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The project has started Phase D, the completion of the TESS Observatory integration and testing, and the 

delivery of TESS to KSC and launch no later than June 2018. The science community submitted more 

than 140 proposals in response to the TESS Cycle 1 GI solicitation. NASA will conduct a review of those 

proposals and make selections during the first half of FY2018 so that the results can feed into planning 

the first year of mission operations.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

TESS flight operations will continue. NASA will issue a solicitation for Cycle 2 GI proposals and review 

and select proposals in time to feed into planning for the second year of TESS mission operations.
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

TRANSITING EXOPLANET SURVEY SATELLITE (TESS)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-54

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

NASA plans to launch TESS no later than June 2018 to begin a three-year prime mission. 

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

CDR Apr 2015 Dec 2015

SIR Oct 2016 July 2017

Start Phase D Nov 2016 August 2017

Operations Readiness Review 

(ORR)/Flight Readiness Review 

(FRR)

Dec 2017 Feb 2018

Launch Readiness Date 

(LRD)/Initial Operating Capability 

(IOC)/IC

Jun 2018 Jun 2018

Start Phase E Aug 2018 Aug 2018

End Prime Mission Aug 2021 Aug 2021

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 323.2 >70 2018 281.4 -13 LRD Jun 2018 Jun 2018 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

TRANSITING EXOPLANET SURVEY SATELLITE (TESS)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-55

Development Cost Details

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 323.2 281.4 -41.8

Aircraft/Spacecraft 43.0 66.1 23.1

Payloads 23.2 67.9 44.7

Systems I&T 3.7 4.7 1.0

Launch Vehicle 114.1 87.4 -26.7

Ground Systems 16.7 12.3 -4.4

Science/Technology 7.5 6.2 -1.3

Other Direct Project 

Costs 115.0 36.8 -78.2

Project Management & Commitments

GSFC is responsible for Project Management.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Instrument Visible-IR telescopic CCDs 

detectors

Provider: Massachusetts Institute of 

Technology (MIT)

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

Spacecraft Bus LEO Star three-axis stabilized 

spacecraft bus

Provider: Orbital ATK

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None

Launch Vehicle Launch Vehicle

Provider: Space Exploration 

Technologies Corporation (SpaceX)

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

None
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

TRANSITING EXOPLANET SURVEY SATELLITE (TESS)

Formulation Development Operations

ASTRO-56

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: the TESS observatory, integration and 

testing is not successfully completed 

Then: the TESS LRD will need to slip. 

The TESS Project will respond to any issues as required during 

Integration and testing, and coordinate into the KSC Launch 

Services Program as required.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA selected the mission through a competitive AO.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Spacecraft Bus Orbital ATK Dulles, VA

Launch Vehicle SpaceX Hawthorne, CA

Instrument MIT Boston, MA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Feb 2014 SRR Successful

Preliminary 

Design 

Review 

(PDR)

Performance SRB Sep 2014 PDR Successful CDR

Performance SRB

Start Aug 

2015/

completed 

Dec 2015

CDR/delta CDR Successful SIR

Performance SRB July 2017 SIR Successful 

Launch 

Readiness 

Review 

(LRR)

Performance SRB Feb 2018 ORR TBD N/A
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

ASTRO-57

Swift’s ultraviolet image of the galaxy NGC 4993 (box); the 

bright blob above the galaxy is the explosive result of two 

neutron stars merging. The picture combines images 

through three ultraviolet filters. It was taken about 

15 hours after gravitational waves from the explosion and a 

burst of gamma-rays arrived at Earth on August 17, 2017.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopi 2.4 -- 13.2 11.6 7.5 3.5 0.0

Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer 11.3 -- 65.9 67.3 40.7 5.0 4.2

Astrophysics Explorer Future Missions 15.2 -- 112.1 262.9 334.1 385.2 398.5

Astrophysics Explorer Program 

Management

6.1 -- 10.9 8.5 11.8 7.9 10.1

Neutron Star Interior Composition Explor 4.6 -- 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Swift 5.5 -- 5.4 5.5 0.0 0.0 0.0

Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array 5.0 -- 8.3 7.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Total Budget 50.0 -- 218.1 362.8 394.0 401.6 412.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Astrophysics Explorers Other Missions and 

Data Analysis includes funding for small 

missions in formulation and development 

(GUSTO, IXPE, XARM), operating missions 

(NICER, NuSTAR, Swift), and funding for 

future mission selections and program 

management functions.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

GALACTIC/EXTRAGALACTIC ULDB

SPECTROSCOPIC TERAHERTZ 

OBSERVATORY (GUSTO)

In March of 2017, NASA's Astrophysics 

Explorers Program selected the GUSTO 

balloon payload as a Mission of Opportunity. 

GUSTO will launch on a high-altitude stratospheric balloon from McMurdo, Antarctica in 2021 for 

approximately 100 days. GUSTO’s telescope and Terahertz heterodyne array receivers will provide the 

spectral and spatial resolution needed to study the interstellar medium. The GUSTO mission will provide 

the first complete study of all phases of the stellar life cycle, from the formation of molecular clouds, 

through star birth and evolution, to the formation of gas clouds and the reinitiation of the cycle. During 

flight, the GUSTO payload will conduct its scientific observation while tracking the prevailing 
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stratospheric winds at the float altitude of 33.5 km. GUSTO completed all requirements tailoring efforts 

required to begin Phase B formulation activities in January 2018. The FY 2019 Request supports payload 

development activities leading up to the planned GUSTO Integrated Baseline Review and Critical Design

Review.

THE IMAGING X-RAY POLARIMETRY EXPLORER (IXPE)

NASA selected the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) a small Explorer-class mission to 

continue into Phase B formulation in January 2017. IXPE will examine polarized x-ray emissions from 

both galactic and extragalactic x-ray sources such as neutron stars and black holes. This will allow the 

investigation of general relativistic and quantum effects in the extreme environment associated with these 

sources. IXPE will launch into a low Earth orbit at a low inclination for a two-year mission. IXPE entered 

Phase B formulation in October 2017, after completing a System Requirements Review. 

THE X-RAY ASTRONOMY RECOVERY MISSION (XARM)

X-ray Astronomy Recovery Mission (XARM) is a joint NASA and JAXA mission that will recover the 

soft X-ray spectroscopic capability lost with the Hitomi mission that ended in March 2016. The key 

scientific objective of XARM is to pioneer a new horizon of the Universe with unprecedented 

high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy. XARM will provide breakthrough science in a number of areas, 

including structure and formation of the Universe, the evolution of clusters of galaxies, and the transport 

and circulation of energy in the cosmos. NASA is developing key components of the main instrument, the 

Resolve Soft X-ray Spectrometer, and will supply the X-ray mirror assemblies for the observatory. 

NASA's contribution to XARM entered Phase A formulation after completing its System Requirements 

Review in September 2017.

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORERS FUTURE MISSIONS

Astrophysics Explorers Future Missions funding supports future astrophysics Explorers missions and 

MOs through concept studies and selections. During FY 2019, NASA will release an Announcement of 

Opportunity for Astrophysics Small Explorers and Missions of Opportunity. If the President’s Budget 

proposal for Astrophysics is enacted, including the termination of WFIRST and increase to the 

Astrophysics Explorer program, NASA will also issue an Announcement of Opportunity for a probe-class 

mission.

ASTROPHYSICS EXPLORERS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Astrophysics Explorers program management provides programmatic, technical and business 

management of ongoing missions in formulation and development.
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

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OPERATING MISSIONS

NEUTRON STAR INTERIOR COMPOSITION EXPLORER (NICER)

The NICER instrument launched on June 3, 2017 to the external logistics carrier of the ISS for an 

18-month mission. Its main goal is spectroscopic X-ray observations of neutron stars with high time 

resolution, to measure their masses and radii precisely and thus test models for how matter behaves at 

such extreme densities. A neutron star squeezes more than 1.4 solar masses into a city-size volume, so the

density and pressure are higher than in atomic nuclei. NICER also measures time-fluctuating X-rays from 

other sources, such as disks of hot gas pouring onto a black hole or neutron star from a stellar companion, 

or the gas around very massive black holes at the centers of galaxies.

Recent Achievements

NICER already made the most precise timing measurements of X-rays from the pulsar PSR J0030+0451, 

a neutron star that spins over 200 times per second. NICER has also observed X-ray flares from gas 

falling onto black holes from a companion star; scientists can use these data to measure how fast the black 

hole is spinning.

SWIFT

The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory is a multi-wavelength space-based observatory that studies the 

position, brightness, and physical properties of gamma-ray bursts. Swift is a MIDEX class mission that 

launched in 2004 and is now in extended mission operations. It continues to provide data that allows 

scientists to solve the mystery of the origin of gamma-ray bursts and observe the birth cries of black

holes. Swift is uniquely equipped to make rapid-response observations to fast-breaking events. Therefore, 

as well as revolutionizing gamma-ray burst science, Swift is a valuable facility for understanding the 

transient universe, ranging in distance from solar system studies to distant quasars, and in time from the 

present to the epoch of reionization. Scientists implemented the observations selected under Cycle 13 of 

the Guest Observer program, and NASA received proposals for Cycle 14 on February 22, 2017. The 

2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions recommended continuing Swift operations through FY 2019. 

This budget supports that recommendation.

Recent Achievements

Swift has detected and characterized more than 1,300 gamma ray bursts to date. Swift’s 

Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope imaged the kilonova produced by merging neutron stars in the galaxy NGC 

4993 on August 18, 2017, about 15 hours after LIGO and Fermi detected gravitational waves and the 

gamma-ray burst. The Swift observations represent the first detection of a gravitational wave event in the 

ultraviolet. This brief bright UV pulse likely came from material blown away by the short-lived disk of 

debris that powered the gamma-ray burst; its rapid fading implies that the debris was expanding at nearly 

a tenth of light-speed. An international team of astronomers used Swift and made a major modification to 

a popular theory for the active centers of galaxies, which says that active centers of galaxies appear to fall 

into two distinct types solely because we view the galaxies from Earth at different angles. Recent Swift 

results suggest that the central black holes in these two types of galaxy are in fact different: they consume 

matter and spit out energy at very different rates.
Science: Astrophysics: Astrophysics Explorer

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NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPIC TELESCOPE ARRAY (NUSTAR)

Launched in June 2012, NuSTAR completed its prime mission in July 2014 and is now in extended 

mission operations. NuSTAR enables scientists to locate massive black holes in other galaxies, locate and 

examine the remnants of collapsed stars in our galaxy, observe selected gamma-ray sources, and observe 

any new supernovae in the local group of galaxies. NuSTAR’s key science products are sensitive X-ray 

survey maps of the celestial sky. NuSTAR offers opportunities for a broad range of science 

investigations, ranging from probing cosmic ray origins and studying the extreme physics around 

collapsed stars to mapping micro flares on the surface of the Sun. NuSTAR performs follow-up 

observations to discoveries made by Chandra and Spitzer scientists. NuSTAR research teams collaborate 

with those using Fermi to make simultaneous observations. The NuSTAR mission implemented a Guest 

Observer Facility for U.S. observers in 2015 Scientists implemented the observations selected under 

Cycle 3 of the Guest Observer program, and NASA received proposals for Cycle 4 on January 19, 2017.

The 2016 Senior Review of Operating Missions recommended continuing NuSTAR operations through 

FY 2019. This budget supports that recommendation.

Recent Achievements

NuSTAR continued its highly successful science program, providing invaluable new insights into the 

high-energy phenomena in the universe. A study using NuSTAR shows that in the late stages of galaxy 

mergers, huge amounts of gas and dust fall inward, hiding the extremely bright active galactic nucleus. 

The combined effect of the gravity of two merging galaxies slows down the gas and dust that would 

otherwise orbit around the center, so that it falls towards the central black hole. NuSTAR observations of 

49 have revealed a tiny "dwarf" galaxy with a huge black hole, more than 2 percent of the galaxy's own 

mass, which is merging with a much larger galaxy. Astronomers had thought that actively feeding black 

holes would dominate the high-energy X-ray light in galaxies. However, NuSTAR has found two neutron 

stars, the dense remnants of dead stars, that are brighter than the black holes in the galaxy in the 

high-energy X-rays that NuSTAR is uniquely capable of measuring. NuSTAR observations of the 

brightest object in the Milky Way's close neighbor galaxy, Andromeda, shows that it is a pulsar, Swift 

J0042.6+4112, a highly magnetized and spinning neutron star. NuSTAR observations of a highly 

luminous source in the galaxy NGC 5907 showed that it too is a pulsar, spinning on its axis more than 

once a second while feeding on hot gas. The brightest known pulsar emits the same amount of energy in 

one second as our sun does in three-and-a-half years. 
Science

HELIOPHYSICS

HELIO-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Heliophysics Research 180.8 -- 242.7 234.3 226.7 217.9 220.6

Living with a Star 368.4 -- 247.8 103.4 83.5 93.2 127.8

Solar Terrestrial Probes 38.8 -- 91.0 89.9 177.7 175.6 247.9

Heliophysics Explorer Program 86.7 -- 109.2 263.1 202.9 204.1 94.4

Total Budget 674.7 -- 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7 690.7

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH .............................................................................HELIO-2

Other Missions and Data Analysis ................................................................................ HELIO-9

LIVING WITH A STAR .......................................................................................HELIO-14

Parker Solar Probe [Development].............................................................................. HELIO-16

Solar Orbiter Collaboration [Development].................................................................. HELIO-23

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-29

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PROBES .....................................................................HELIO-35

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-38

HELIOPHYSICS EXPLORER PROGRAM.........................................................HELIO-42

Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) [Development] ........................................... HELIO-45

Other Missions and Data Analysis .............................................................................. HELIO-51
Science: Heliophysics

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Heliophysics research studying space around Earth and 

our planets has applications far out into the universe, 

including supporting the search for life and habitable 

planets. Simulations of the radiation pouring out from 

the star Proxima Centauri show that an Earth-like 

rocky planet would not be able to hold onto its lifesustaining atmosphere in the same orbit as the recently 

found exoplanet Proxima b. In the absence of observing 

such exoplanets directly, using knowledge of our own 

star and planet is the best way to identify potentially 

habitable planets elsewhere.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Heliophysics Research and Analysis 39.4 -- 71.2 66.6 58.6 58.6 58.6

Sounding Rockets 53.3 -- 61.1 63.1 68.1 60.1 65.1

Research Range 24.3 -- 29.6 27.3 25.6 25.6 25.6

Other Missions and Data Analysis 63.8 -- 80.9 77.2 74.4 73.5 71.3

Total Budget 180.8 -- 242.7 234.3 226.7 217.9 220.6

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Sun, a typical small star midway through its 

life, governs the solar system. The Sun wields its 

influence through its gravity, radiation, solar 

wind, and magnetic fields, all of which interact 

with the Earth and its space environment to 

produce space weather, which can affect human 

technological infrastructure and activities. 

Heliophysics seeks to understand the Sun, 

heliosphere, and planetary environments as a 

single connected system. NASA seeks to answer 

these fundamental questions:

• How and why does the Sun vary?

• How do Earth and the heliosphere respond to 

the Sun’s changes?

• How do the Sun and the solar system interact 

with the interstellar medium?

• How do these processes affect human activities?

Heliophysics Research improves our understanding of fundamental physical processes throughout the 

solar system, and enables us to understand how the Sun, as the major driver of the energy throughout the 

solar system, affects our technological society. The scope of Heliophysics ranges from the Sun’s interior 

to Earth’s upper atmosphere and beyond, through interplanetary space to the end of the region of the 

Sun’s influence, far beyond the outer planets.

For more information, go to https://science.nasa.gov/heliophysics/programs/research.
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH

HELIO-3

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

The FY 2019 Request enables NASA to increase the funding for both Heliophysics Research and 

Analysis and Guest Investigators, as recommended in the Decadal Survey Diversify, Realize, Integrate, 

Venture, Educate (DRIVE) initiative. The Decadal Survey found the Principal Investigator grant program, 

comprising only 10 percent of the previous total Heliophysics budget, to be unsustainable for the 

community. The FY 2019 request increases the grant program to approximately 20 percent of the total 

budget, aligning it to Decadal Survey recommendations. The increase in funding for CubeSats is also in 

response to the DRIVE initiative. This increase enables the implementation of meaningful sciencedirected CubeSats (at a cost of ~$2-4 million), as compared to educational CubeSats (~$1 million). 

NASA plans at least two CubeSat launches in FY 2019, as well as additional selections and ongoing 

development of selected CubeSats.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

In FY 2017, NASA continued its restructured and improved portfolio of competed research programs by 

fully implementing the Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate (DRIVE) initiative, as outlined in 

the National Academies’ 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics. The Heliophysics Division 

continued implementation of CubeSats on behalf of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD).

NASA continued a competed Heliophysics Research program with emphasis on synergy of data analysis 

with key enhancement from numerical simulations, theory, or modeling. It will continue to focus on the 

development of key technologies for use in future missions. The current technology development focuses 

on reducing sensor size, weight, and power. Future missions will benefit from an increase in sensor 

density as well as the new option of constellations and swarms of in-situ measurements in a sensor web 

matched to the temporal and spatial scales of energetic space plasma phenomena.

The sounding rocket mission manifest featured 18 missions in FY 2017. Five rockets successfully 

launched from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska between January and March 2017. Two 

technology demonstration missions from the WFF enabled water recovery of vacuum-sealed telescope 

payloads, as well as more reliable deployment and detonation of small vapor tracer ampules for the 

purpose of upper atmosphere wind measurements. The Program continued planning for a potential 

FY 2019 campaign in Australia, which will likely feature several missions investigating celestial targets 

of interest in the Southern sky.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018, the Heliophysics Research program anticipates science results from the analysis of data from 

18 active space missions (27 individual spacecraft) that comprise the Heliophysics System Observatory. 

These include ACE, AIM, Geotail, Hinode, Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), Interface Region 

Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites (MMS) (four spacecraft), Ramaty 

High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Solar and 

Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), Thermosphere 

Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED), Time History of Events and Macroscale 

Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) (five spacecraft), Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom 

Spectrometers (TWINS), Van Allen Probes (two spacecraft), Voyager (two spacecraft), and Wind. The 

Space Environment Testbeds (SET) project, a collection of technology experiments, should fly along with 
Science: Heliophysics

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HELIO-4

several other spacecraft in spring 2018. The anticipated awards of small research investigations will also 

continue to contribute to heliophysics science advancements.

The current sounding rockets mission manifest features 18 missions in FY 2018 in multiple remote 

locations. The Program will go to the Poker Flat Research Range in the winter for four missions, Norway 

in the spring for two missions, and to Kwajalein in the summer for two missions. Furthermore, the 

Program will execute the bulk of the preparations for an early FY 2019 campaign in Norway, called the 

Grand Challenge. This will involve fabrication, testing, and ground support set-up for six missions from 

two launch sites (Andoya and Svalbard).

The sounding rocket program will also launch the first in a series of rockets for the Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory to test the re-entry dynamics of supersonic parachutes for future Mars landings. Additionally, 

the final prototype Peregrine motor will undergo an instrumented disposal/test burn at WFF that will 

include an adapter section to measure insulation erosion. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center 

redesign effort continues with the Critical Design Review (CDR) in the spring of 2018.

In addition, Heliophysics plans three CubeSats launches in FY 2018. Compact Radiation Belt Explorer 

(CeREs) will study what energizes electrons and causes their escape from the radiation belts. Scintillation 

Observations and Response of The Ionosphere to Electrodynamics (SORTIE) will study space weather 

sources of wave-like plasma perturbations in the ionosphere. The Tandem Beacon-Explorer (TBEx) will 

study tropical weather relationship to ionospheric bubbles.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

In FY 2019, the Heliophysics Research program anticipates significant science results from the analysis 

of data from the Ionospheric Connections Explorer (ICON) mission, from the Global-scale Observations 

of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission of opportunity, and from SET, as well as results from 18 active 

space missions (27 individual spacecraft) that comprise the Heliophysics System Observatory. The 

anticipated awards of small research investigations will also continue to contribute to heliophysics science 

advancements.

The current sounding rockets mission manifest features 18 missions in FY 2019 in multiple remote 

locations. The Program will go to the Poker Flat Research Range in the winter for four missions, Norway 

in the spring for the Grand Challenge campaign, and to Australia, which will feature several missions 

investigating celestial targets of interest in the Southern sky.

NASA plans to launch at least two CubeSats in FY 2019. The Electron Losses and Fields Investigation 

(ELFIN) will study dominant wave-loss mechanism of relativistic electrons. SMD will continue to 

collaborate with the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) to enable the 

CubeSat mission to Understand Solar Particles (CUSP) on the first flight using the Space Launch System 

(SLS), Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1). The EM-1 CubeSat began implementation in FY 2015, preparing 

for possible launch in FY 2019.
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH

HELIO-5

Program Elements

RESEARCH RANGE

The Research Range Services (RRS) project provides operations support, maintenance, and engineering 

for the Wallops Launch Range and Instrumentation. The range and instrumentation support suborbital, 

orbital, and aircraft missions conducted on behalf of NASA and the Department of Defense at the WFF

and at remote sites around the world. New work includes support for NASA technology missions, 

unmanned aerial vehicle flights, and commercial launch and flight projects.

The range instrumentation includes meteorological, telemetry, radar, command, launch and range control 

centers, and optical systems. RRS mobile assets provide range services at other ranges and remote 

locations around the world.

SOUNDING ROCKETS

The Sounding Rockets Project supports the NASA strategic vision and goals for Earth Science, 

Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. The missions flown annually by the project provide 

researchers with unparalleled opportunities to build, test, and fly new instrument and sensor design 

concepts while simultaneously conducting world-class scientific research. Coupled with a hands-on 

approach to instrument design, integration, and flight, the short mission life cycle helps ensure that the 

next generation of space scientists receives the training and experience necessary to move on to NASA’s 

larger, more complex space science missions.

With the capability to fly higher than many low Earth orbiting satellites and the ability to launch on 

demand, sounding rockets often offer the only means to study specific scientific phenomena of interest to 

many researchers. Unlike instruments on board most orbital spacecraft or in ground-based observatories, 

sounding rockets can place instruments directly into regions where and when the science is occurring to 

enable direct, in-situ measurements. The mobile nature of the project enables researchers to conduct 

missions from strategic vantage points worldwide. Telescopes and spectrometers to study solar and 

astrophysics phenomena fly on sounding rockets to collect unique science data and test prototype 

instruments for future satellite missions.

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

This project supports basic research, solicited through NASA’s annual Research Opportunities in Earth 

and Space Science (ROSES) announcements. These research activities address our understanding of the 

Sun and planetary space environments, including the origin, evolution, and interactions of space plasmas 

and electromagnetic fields throughout the heliosphere and in connection with the galaxy. Understanding 

the origin and nature of solar activity and its interaction with the space environment of the Earth is a 

particular focus. This project supports Heliophysics Grand Challenge Research (theory) (GCR), Low Cost 

Access to Space (LCAS) investigations, instrument development, and necessary research directly linked 

to Heliophysics science questions.

Heliophysics GCR investigations are the foundation of the Heliophysics Research and Analysis project. 

They lead the way to new understanding of previous investigations and drive science concepts for future 

missions. The Heliophysics GCR element supports large Principal Investigator (PI)-proposed team efforts 
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH

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that require a critical mass of expertise to make significant progress in understanding complex physical 

processes with broad importance.

LCAS investigations use spaceflight of experimental instrumentation to achieve scientific goals and 

proof-test new technology that may ultimately find application in larger or strategic Heliophysics space 

missions. These investigations may use a range of flight opportunities, including suborbital rockets, 

suborbital reusable launch vehicles, ISS payloads, CubeSats, and balloon flights.

Instrument development investigations develop technology with promise for use in scientific

investigations on future Heliophysics science missions. These investigations may include the 

development of laboratory instrument prototypes, but not of flight hardware. The goal is to define and 

develop scientific instruments and/or components of such instruments to the point where complete 

instruments are ready for future Announcements of Opportunity (AOs) or Missions of Opportunity (MO) 

without significant additional technology development.

Supporting research investigations guide the direction and content of future science missions. They 

employ a variety of fundamental research techniques (e.g., theory, numerical simulation, and modeling), 

analysis, and interpretation of space data, development of new measurement concepts, and laboratory 

measurements of relevant atomic, plasma and nuclear parameters. They are essential in fully exploiting 

Heliophysics mission research data collected between the outer edge of the Earth’s atmosphere and the 

interaction of the Sun and solar wind with the local galactic environment currently explored by Voyager.

Program Schedule

NASA implements the Heliophysics Research program via a competitively selected process. NASA 

releases research solicitations each year through the Research Opportunities in Earth and Space Science 

(ROSES) NASA Research Announcements (NRA), aiming to initiate research for about one-third of the 

program, given the selected investigations are typically three-year awards. Therefore, NASA will allocate 

FY 2019 funds to ROSES-2018, ROSES-2017, and ROSES-2016 selections.
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Date Significant Event

Q1, Q2 FY 2018 ROSES-2017 selections: Oct 2017–May 2018

Q2 FY 2018 ROSES-2018 solicitation: Feb 2018

Q3/Q4 FY 2018 Review of proposals submitted to Heliophysics ROSES-2018 

elements

Q1 FY 2019 ROSES-2018 selection within six to nine months of receipt of 

proposals

Q2 FY 2019 ROSES-2019 solicitation

Q1 FY 2020 ROSES-2019 selection within six to nine months of receipt of 

proposals

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Research and Analysis

Provider: Headquarters (HQ)

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Centers: Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Marshall Space 

Flight Center (MSFC), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Langley Research 

Center (LaRC), Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Cost Share Partners: None

Sounding Rockets and Research 

Range

Provider: GSFC

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center: GSFC

Cost Share Partners: None

Heliophysics Operating 

Missions

Provider: GSFC, JPL, MSFC

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center: GSFC, JPL, MSFC

Cost Share Partners: None

Acquisition Strategy

NASA issues solicitations for competed research awards each February in the ROSES NRAs. To the 

widest extent possible, NASA fully and openly competes all new acquisitions. Proposals are peerreviewed and selected from the annual ROSES announcement. Universities, government research 

laboratories, and industry partners throughout the United States participate in research projects. NASA 
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH

HELIO-8

previously selected the Heliophysics operating missions and instrument teams via NASA AOs. NASA 

evaluates the allocation of funding among the operating missions through the Heliophysics Senior Review 

process.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Sounding Rocket Operations Orbital ATK, Dulles, VA Various

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Quality Mission Senior 

Review Panel Oct 2017

A comparative 

evaluation of 

Heliophysics 

operating missions

The report, released

in Nov 2017, 

assessed missions 

individually, and as 

part of a system 

observatory

Apr 2020

Relevance

NASA Advisory 

Council 

Heliophysics

Advisory

Committee 

2017

To review progress 

towards Heliophysics

objectives in the 

NASA Strategic Plan 

All areas were rated 

green as documented 

in the FY 2017

Agency Financial 

Report

Future 

reviews will 

be conducted 

by newly 

chartered 

Heliophysics 

Advisory 

Committee

Relevance

Heliophysics 

Advisory 

Committee

2017

To review progress 

towards Heliophysics

objectives in the 

NASA Strategic Plan 

The HAC briefed the 

Heliophysics acting 

Division Director.

2018
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-9

The Voyager team tested a set of four backup thrusters, 

dormant since 1980– and discovered they still worked 

perfectly. They are located on the back side of the 

spacecraft in this orientation. "With these thrusters that 

are still functional after 37 years without use, we will be 

able to extend the life of the Voyager 1 spacecraft by two 

to three years," said Suzanne Dodd, project manager for 

Voyager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, 

California.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Science Planning and Research Support 6.7 -- 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7

Directed Research & Technology 0.0 -- 0.0 0.0 3.9 4.2 4.2

CubeSat 15.0 -- 22.0 18.5 10.0 10.0 10.0

Solar Data Center 1.1 -- 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2

Data & Modeling Services 2.8 -- 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

Space Physics Data Archive 2.3 -- 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3

Guest Investigator Program 11.6 -- 21.5 21.5 21.5 21.5 21.5

Community Coordinated Modeling Center 2.3 -- 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

Space Science Mission Ops Services 11.5 -- 11.5 11.6 13.1 11.9 10.7

Voyager 5.6 -- 5.6 5.5 5.5 5.5 4.9

SOHO 2.3 -- 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.4 2.2

Wind 2.2 -- 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0

Geotail 0.4 -- 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

Total Budget 63.8 -- 80.9 77.2 74.4 73.5 71.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA accumulates, archives, and distributes 

data collected by the Heliophysics System 

Observatory, a fleet of operating spacecraft. 

Combining the measurements from all of these 

observing platforms enables interdisciplinary, 

connected systems science across the vast spatial 

scales of our solar system. This collective asset 

enables the data, expertise, and research results 

to contribute directly to fundamental research on 

solar and space plasma physics and to the 

national goal of real-time space weather 

prediction. NASA teams support day-to-day 

mission operations for NASA spacecraft and 

data analysis to advance the state of space 

science and space weather modeling. NASA 

conducts science community-based projects to 

evaluate research models containing space 

weather information that is of value to industry 

and government agencies. Heliophysics data 

centers archive and distribute the science data 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-10

from operating missions in the Living With a Star (LWS), Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP), Research, and 

Explorer programs.

Mission Planning and Other Projects

SCIENCE PLANNING AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

This project supports NASA’s participation in proposal reviews by peer review panels, decadal surveys, 

and National Academies’ studies.

DIRECTED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

This project funds the civil service staff that work on emerging flight projects, instruments, and research.

CUBESAT

Heliophysics implemented a CubeSat project in response to the 2013 Decadal Survey DRIVE initiative 

recommendation. The aim of the project is to explore the viability of this lower-cost option for enabling 

scientific discovery.

CubeSats are small spacecraft, built to a standardized form-factor of size and mass, which can launch as

secondary or ride-share payloads. With development costs between $1 million and $6 million per 

investigation and with rapid development cycles, CubeSats can provide frequent science and technology 

flight opportunities.

This approach is similar to the traditional NASA suborbital programs that use sounding rockets, balloons, 

and aircraft, but extends the range of opportunities. CubeSats have significant potential to leverage 

exploratory and systematic science observations at minimal additional cost.

The CubeSat project initially encompassed all Science Mission Directorate (SMD) themes and 

disciplines. From 2014 to 2018, the CubeSat project initiated 21 investigations in an exploration of 

management and implementation required for a new kind of flight program. Beginning in 2018, SMD 

science divisions will conduct CubeSat investigations independently, using the lessons learned from the 

cross-discipline project.

The CubeSat project will complete the cross-discipline investigations already started and will initiate new 

Heliophysics investigations in the $1 million to $3 million range beginning in 2019. In addition, based on 

the capabilities demonstrated in the pathfinder stage, the Heliophysics CubeSat project will expand to 

take advantage of new science achievable via investigations in the $4 million to $7 million range. The 

larger investigations will enable the development of remote sensing investigations with more 

sophisticated CubeSats as well as small constellations of in-situ CubeSat investigations. 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-11

SOLAR DATA CENTER

The Solar Data Center provides mission and instrument expertise to enable high-quality analysis of solar 

physics mission data. It provides leadership for community-based, distributed development efforts to 

facilitate identifying and accessing solar physics data, including ground-based coordinated observations 

residing in the Virtual Solar Observatory. The center also provides a repository for software used to 

analyze these data. The Virtual Solar Observatory is a software system that links together distributed 

archives of solar data into a unified whole, along with data search and analysis tools.

DATA AND MODELING SERVICES

This project supports missions in extended operations and missions transitioning to decommissioning to 

prepare their data holdings for long-term archival curation. This project also provides for the creation of 

higher-level data products, which are of significant use to the science community and not funded during 

the prime mission. Higher-level data products are data that combine results of multiple missions and/or 

instruments. Elements of this project are competed through the annual ROSES competitive 

announcement.

SPACE PHYSICS DATA ARCHIVE

The Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) ensures long-term data preservation and online access to 

non-solar heliophysics science data. It operates key infrastructure components for the Heliophysics Data 

Environment, including inventory and web service interfaces to systems and data. It also provides unique 

enabling science data services.

GUEST INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM

The Guest Investigator program maximizes the return from currently operating Heliophysics missions by 

supporting studies consistent with the science goals of these missions and those expressed in the 2013 

decadal survey and 2014 SMD Science Plan. These competitive research investigations use data from 

multiple spacecraft, as appropriate. Investigations addressing global system science are strongly 

encouraged, as Heliophysics is, by its nature, the investigation of a large-scale, complex, connected 

system.

COMMUNITY COORDINATED MODELING CENTER (CCMC)

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a multi-agency partnership to enable and 

perform the research and development for next-generation heliophysics and space weather models. The 

center provides the United States and international research community access to simulations to enable 

“runs on demand,” using models to study space weather events in near-real time. This allows the 

comparison of observational data and model parameters during or shortly after solar activity, thereby 

improving accuracy of the models.
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-12

SPACE SCIENCE MISSION OPERATIONS SERVICES

Space Science Mission Operations Services manages the on-orbit operations of GSFC Space Science 

missions. Services include consistent processes and infrastructure for missions operated at GSFC, Johns 

Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU-APL), Orbital-Alliant Techsystems (OrbitalATK), Pennsylvania State University, and University of California at Berkeley. Space Science Mission 

Operations Services also sustains an operational infrastructure for current and future missions.

Operating Missions

VOYAGER

The Voyager Interstellar Mission is exploring the interaction of the heliosphere and the local interstellar 

medium. Voyager 1 is making the first in-situ observations of the region outside the heliosphere from 

about 138 astronomical units (AU), or 138 times Earth’s distance from the Sun, and is traveling at a speed 

of 3.6 AU per year. Voyager 2 is about 114 AU from the Sun and traveling at a speed of about 3.3 AU per 

year. Spacecraft power should be adequate for currently operating instruments through 2020.

Recent Achievements

Analysis of data from NASA Heliophysics Voyager, IBEX and Cassini missions proposes a new theory 

on the shape of the heliosphere. The data suggest that the heliosphere is spherical rather than 

comet-shaped as previously thought. A new analysis data, spanning a full 11-year solar cycle, supports 

the assertion that the heliosphere has no tail, and resembles more of a sphere. A rounded heliosphere 

could be the result of a number of factors. Data from Voyager 1 -- which is currently past the 

heliopause -- show that the interstellar magnetic field (IMF) beyond the heliosphere is stronger than 

scientists previously thought. This means that the IMF could interact with the solar wind at the edges of 

the heliosphere and compact what scientists thought was the heliosphere’s tail, creating a spherical shape. 

Measurements taken from Voyager show that it takes nearly one year for changes in solar activity carried 

in the solar wind, to propagate out to the nose of the heliosphere. Understanding the shape of the 

heliosphere gives us crucial information about the space that surrounds us, known as the local interstellar

medium.

SOLAR AND HELIOSPHERIC OBSERVATORY (SOHO)

SOHO reached a milestone on December 2, 2017, when the spacecraft turned 22 years old. SOHO, a joint 

mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, has been a dependable solar watchdog, 

providing the only Earth-Sun line coronagraph images of solar storms. Citizen scientists have used SOHO 

to discover more than 3,000 comets, a capability no one anticipated before launch. CMEs drive most of 

the space weather effects in the inner heliosphere. SOHO continues to provide essential early alert space 

weather observations used as inputs to models that further our understanding of the Sun’s effect on the 

Earth.

Recent Achievements

The first detection of gravity-wave modes on the Sun in SOHO data revealed that the solar core is rotating 

four times faster than the solar surface. This is the first (albeit) indirect measure of the rotation speed of 

the Sun’s core. It raises a new set of questions about, for example, how differently rotating layers of the 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Research

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-13

Sun interact, and what the rotation of the core tells us about its composition. Scientists consider this one 

of SOHO’s all-time top discoveries, which is opening a new area of solar research.

WIND

The Wind spacecraft studies the solar wind and its impact on the near-Earth environment. It addresses 

wave-particle interaction processes in the space environment, evolution of solar activity in the 

heliosphere, and geomagnetic impact of solar activity. Wind performs in-situ studies using unique 

capabilities, such as three-dimensional particle distributions over a wide range of energies, and delivers 

higher time resolution than available from any other mission. Wind provides critical measurements of the 

solar wind and space weather events. Correlating those with measurements from the upcoming Parker 

Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter Collaboration (SOC) missions will improve our understanding of these 

events as they move out from the Sun. These multi-spacecraft measurements constrain models of space 

weather events and improve their predictive capabilities.

Recent Achievements

One of the major goals of instruments on the Wind spacecraft is to extend the measurements of elemental 

abundances in Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events to include atoms throughout the periodic table. The 

extremely high temperatures in the solar wind tend to remove electrons from all elements leaving atoms 

with a net positive charge showing the elements as ions. Small impulsive events on the Sun produce a set

of Wind observations revealing a strong variation in the abundance of elements ranging from He 

(Helium) to Pb (Lead). The variation shows a dependence on the ratio of the ion mass to ion charge.

Variations in the temperature of these source regions can explain the variation of elements. This helps to 

explain many of the subtle event-to-event variations that suggest shocks at the Sun are averaging over 

many small impulsive events. With these new 2017 results, Wind is helping us understand the physics of 

the energetic particle enhancements originally observed over 30 years ago.

GEOTAIL

Geotail enables scientists to assess data on the interaction of the solar wind and magnetosphere. 

July 24, 2015 marked the 23rd anniversary of the launch of Geotail. Its instruments continue to function, 

sending back crucial information about how auroras form, how energy from the Sun funnels through nearEarth space, and the ways in which magnetic field lines move and rebound, creating explosive bursts that 

rearrange the very shape of our magnetic environment. The Geotail mission is a collaborative project 

undertaken by the Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and NASA.
Science: Heliophysics

LIVING WITH A STAR

HELIO-14

The Van Allen Belts, shown in green in this 

illustration, are concentric doughnut-shaped belts 

filled with charged particles, trapped by Earth’s 

magnetic field. Determining how these particles 

escape and affect near-Earth space requires having 

observatories in multiple locations – not unlike 

having terrestrial weather sensors around the globe. 

Late on January 20, 2016, the Van Allen Probes 

observed chorus waves within the belts and 

immediately after, the FIREBIRD II CubeSat saw 

microbursts of particles scattering out of the belts. 

The new results confirm that the chorus waves play 

an important role in controlling the outflow of 

energetic electrons — one extra piece of the puzzle 

to understand how high-energy electrons are hurled 

so violently from the radiation belts. This 

information can additionally help further improve 

space weather predictions.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Parker Solar Probe 232.5 241.6 107.2 30.6 22.1 22.2 21.2

Solar Orbiter Collaboration 79.9 59.2 62.3 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3

Other Missions and Data Analysis 56.0 -- 78.2 68.7 57.2 66.7 102.3

Total Budget 368.4 -- 247.8 103.4 83.5 93.2 127.8

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Living With A Star (LWS) program targets 

specific aspects of the Sun-Earth system that 

affect life and society. LWS provides a predictive 

understanding of the Sun-Earth system, linkages 

among the interconnected systems, and, 

specifically, space weather conditions at Earth 

and the interplanetary medium. Measurements 

and research from LWS missions may contribute 

to advances in operational space weather 

forecasting that help prevent damage to 

spacecraft, communications and navigation 

systems, and power grids. LWS products 

improve our understanding of ionizing radiation, 

which has human health implications on the ISS 

and high-altitude aircraft flight, as well as 

operations of future space exploration with and 

without human presence. LWS products improve 

the characterization of solar radiation for global 

climate change, surface warming, and ozone 

depletion and recovery.

For more information, go to 

http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/smdprograms/living-with-a-star/.
Science: Heliophysics

LIVING WITH A STAR

HELIO-15

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

An increase to LWS Science focuses on space weather research, enhancing the ability to forecast and 

characterize space weather events in collaboration with NASA's inter-agency partners. This investment 

would provide targeted research opportunities for research-to-operations and operations-to-research 

activities, as well as the necessary infrastructure (i.e., computational capacity, funding for high 

performance computing) and workforce needed to support research-to-operations efforts between NASA, 

the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-16

Eugene Parker, professor emeritus at the University of 

Chicago, visiting the spacecraft that bears his name,

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, on October 3, 2017. 

Engineers in the clean room at the Johns Hopkins

University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) in 

Laurel, Maryland, where the probe was designed and is 

being built point out the instruments that will collect data 

as the mission travels directly through the Sun’s 

atmosphere.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 247.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 247.1

Development/Implementation 545.2 232.5 241.6 31.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1050.3

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 76.2 30.6 22.1 22.2 21.2 78.5 250.8

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 792.3 232.5 241.6 107.2 30.6 22.1 22.2 21.2 78.5 1548.2

Total Budget 817.3 232.5 241.6 107.2 30.6 22.1 22.2 21.2 78.5 1573.2

Change from FY 2018 -134.4

Percentage change from FY 2018 -55.6%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

Parker Solar Probe (PSP) will explore the Sun’s 

outer atmosphere, or corona, as it extends out 

into space. Parker will orbit at a distance from 

the Sun of less than five times the Sun’s 

diameter, closer than any other spacecraft.

Parker will repeatedly obtain direct in-situ

coronal magnetic field, plasma, and white-light 

remote sensing observations in the region that 

heats the solar atmosphere and accelerates the 

solar wind. Parker’s findings could revolutionize 

our knowledge and understanding of coronal 

heating and of the origin and evolution of the 

solar wind, answering critical questions posed in 

the 2003 and 2013 Heliophysics Decadal 

Surveys.

Its seven-year prime mission lifetime will 

permit observations over a significant portion of 

a solar cycle. Parker will enable direct sampling 

of plasma, providing observations that until now 

have been impossible. These observations will 

allow heliophysicists to verify and discriminate 
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-17

between a broad range of theory and models that describe the Sun’s coronal magnetic field and the 

heating and acceleration of the solar wind. Parker will enable NASA to gain a better understanding of the 

radiation environment in which future space explorers will work and live.

For more information, go to https://science.nasa.gov/missions/solar-probe.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

After launch, expected in August 2018, Parker will orbit the Sun 24 times, gradually “walking in” toward 

the Sun with each pass. Parker’s first close approach to the Sun occurs just three months after launch.

Over a period of about seven years, seven Venus flybys will gradually reduce the spacecraft’s orbit 

around the Sun. The closest points of each orbit come well within the path of Mercury, the closest planet 

to the Sun. On the final three orbits, Parker will fly within 3.8 million miles of the Sun’s surface. That is 

about seven times closer than the Helios spacecraft, the current record holder for the closest solar pass. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

FY 2017 saw the completion of spacecraft systems and instruments, and integration and test of the 

spacecraft. Instruments and systems completed their assembly and test, and then each conducted a 

Pre-Environmental Review to approve going forward to final environmental testing. Upon successful 

completion of the environmental testing JHU/APL received the instruments or systems, where they 

underwent inspection and test prior to installation on the spacecraft. Throughout the year, JHU/APL 

conducted tests at various levels of the system, including electromagnetic interference and compatibility, 

magnetic characterization measurements, system functionality, fault management, mass and balance, and 

alignment of the Thermal Protection System sun shield. The Parker Project ended FY 2017 with a 

successful Mission-Level Pre-Environmental Review, allowing the Project to proceed to spacecraft-level 

environmental testing.

In May 2017, NASA officially renamed the mission (previously Solar Probe Plus) to 'Parker Solar Probe', 

after Dr. Eugene Parker, a world-renowned solar physicist and astrophysicist who, in the late 1950's while 

at the University of Chicago, predicted the solar wind. Some of the consequences of Dr. Parker’s work 

include the beginning of an understanding of the fundamental principles underlying space weather, now 

recognized as one of the important factors that can cause severe damage to the economy and endanger the 

safety of citizens worldwide. Based on Dr. Parker’s predictions, numerous researchers design their space 

missions to specifically validate and expand on his work. Dr. Parker also received NASA's Distinguished 

Public Service Award, NASA's highest recognition.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-18

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

In FY 2018, the project began spacecraft-level environmental testing. Parker successfully completed 

Vibration testing in October 2017. Acoustic testing and separation shock testing is planned for November 

2017, and the final test phase, Thermal Vacuum, is planned for December 2017 - January 2017. NASA 

plans to ship Parker to Cape Canaveral in early March 2018 for final integration and mating the launch 

vehicle. The Operational Readiness Review is planned for mid-May and the Key Decision Point-E 

(KDP-E) will take place in late June, approving the mission to proceed to the Operations and Sustainment 

phase. The launch window is July 31 - August 23 (24 days). The first Venus flyby will occur on 

September 28, 2018. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

In early FY 2019, the Parker mission will enter into Phase E, beginning its first science collection period 

in late October, and making its first close approach to the Sun on November 1, 2018. Within the year, the 

mission will make its second close approach/science collection phase and will return science data from 

both collection periods.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Mar 2014 Mar 2014

CDR Mar 2015 Mar 2015

System Integration Review (SIR) Jun 2016 May 2016

Launch Aug 2018 Aug 2018

Start of Phase E Oct 2018 Oct 2018

End of Prime Mission Sep 2025 Sep 2025
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-19

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 1,055.7 70 2018 1,050.3 -0.5 LRD Aug 

2018

Aug 

2018 0

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

NASA confirmed Solar Probe Plus to proceed into implementation phase in March 2014.

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 1,055.7 1,050.3 -5.4

Aircraft/Spacecraft 170.8 243.9 73.1

Payloads 143.4 164.2 20.8

Systems I&T 31.2 30.7 -0.5

Launch Vehicle 430.5 408.0 -22.5

Ground Systems 17.8 20.2 2.4

Science/Technology 4.5 4.5 0

Other Direct Project 

Costs 257.5 178.8 -78.7
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-20

Project Management & Commitments

GSFC provides program management. JHU-APL manages the project.

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Expendable 

Launch Vehicle

Deliver the spacecraft to 

operational orbit.

Provider: United Launch Alliance 

(ULA)

Lead Center: KSC

Participating Centers: KSC

Cost Share Partners: N/A

N/A

Ground Systems

Receive science and telemetry 

data from spacecraft, 

command spacecraft, and 

distribute science data to 

investigator teams.

Provider: JHU-APL

Lead Center: GSFC

Participating Centers: N/A

Cost Share Partners: N/A

N/A

Spacecraft

Transport instruments to 

science destination, operate 

instruments, and modify orbit, 

including several Venus 

gravity assists.

Provider: JHU-APL

Lead Center: GSFC

Participating Centers: N/A

Cost Share Partners: N/A

N/A

Instruments

Provide in-situ measurements 

and remote observations of 

the Sun.

Provider: NASA funded investigators

Lead Center: GSFC

Participating Centers: N/A

Cost Share Partners: N/A

N/A

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: The spacecraft is unable to resolve faults 

with sufficient speed,

Then: Over-exposure of critical components 

to the solar environment may occur, leading 

to a mission-ending failure.

The project will develop a system response for every manageable 

fault and perform extensive ground testing and simulation of 

system fault responses. Management will consider the risk 

mitigated after these activities are complete.

If: The optical properties of the solar array 

result in a solar array that is colder than 

expected,

Then: The cooling system margin above 

freezing may fall below acceptable levels, 

threatening the arrays.

The project will measure the optical properties of the solar array 

cover glass and perform the power-thermal analysis to assess 

margin during thermal vacuum testing in FY 2017. Management 

will consider the risk mitigated after these activities are 

complete.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-21

Acquisition Strategy

PIs selected through the competitive AO are building the science instruments. JHU-APL builds the 

spacecraft, and competitively procures the spacecraft subassemblies, components, and parts. The project 

is refining the ground system components and requirements. GSFC manages the operations contracts.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

Prime Contract and Mission 

Management JHU-APL Laurel, MD

FIELDS Experiment (FIELDS) 

magnetometers and plasma wave 

instrument

University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA

Integrated Science Investigation of 

the Sun (ISIS) energetic particle 

instruments

Southwest Research Institute

(SwRI) San Antonio, TX

Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and 

Protons (SWEAP) plasma 

instruments

Smithsonian Astrophysical 

Observatory Cambridge, MA

Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe 

Plus (WISPR) heliospheric imager

Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC

Heliophysics Origins Investigation JPL Pasadena, CA

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance Standing Review 

Board (SRB) Jan 2014

Preliminary Design 

Review (PDR) to 

assess readiness for 

KDP-C

Successful, project 

ready to proceed to 

development

Mar 2015

Performance SRB Mar 2015 CDR to assess 

readiness for KDP-D

Successful, project’s 

mission design is 

appropriately mature 

to continue with the 

final design and 

fabrication phase.

May 2016
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

PARKER SOLAR PROBE

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-22

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB May 2016

SIR to assess 

readiness for project 

to begin system I&T

Successful, project 

ready to proceed to 

integration and test

May 2018

Performance SRB May 2018

Operations Readiness 

Review (ORR) to 

assess readiness for 

project to operate the 

flight system

TBD N/A
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

SOLAR ORBITER COLLABORATION

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-23

This ESA-led mission will improve the understanding of 

how the Sun determines the environment of the inner solar 

system and how fundamental plasma physical processes 

operate near the Sun.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 41.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 41.5

Development/Implementation 110.8 79.9 59.2 60.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 310.0

Operations/Close-out 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 16.1 35.2

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 152.2 79.9 59.2 62.3 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 16.1 386.6

Total Budget 152.2 79.9 59.2 62.3 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.3 16.1 386.6

Change from FY 2018 3.1

Percentage change from FY 2018 5.2%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

The NASA and European Space Agency Solar 

Orbiter Collaboration mission will provide 

measurements that will give NASA better 

insight on the evolution of sunspots, active 

regions, coronal holes, and other solar features 

and phenomena. The instruments will explore 

the near-Sun environment to improve our 

understanding of the origins of the solar wind 

streams and the heliospheric magnetic field; the 

sources, acceleration mechanisms, and transport 

processes of solar energetic particles; and the 

evolution of CMEs in the inner heliosphere. To 

achieve these objectives, SOC will make in-situ 

measurements of the solar wind plasma, fields, 

waves, and energetic particles. SOC will also 

make imaging/spectroscopic observations. SOC 

will provide close-up views of the Sun’s polarregions and far side. SOC will adjust its orbit to 

the direction of the Sun’s rotation to allow the 

spacecraft to observe one specific area for much 

longer than is currently possible.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

SOLAR ORBITER COLLABORATION

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-24

ESA provides the spacecraft and operations, the ESA member states provide the majority of the 

instruments, and NASA provides the launch vehicle and two science investigations/instruments: the Solar 

Orbiter Heliospheric Imager (SoloHI) and the Heavy Ion Sensor (HIS). In return for its contributions, 

NASA will have access to the entire science mission data set.

For more information, go to https://science.nasa.gov/missions/solar-orbiter.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Integration issues with the spacecraft recently led ESA to request a delay in the Solar Orbiter Launch 

Readiness Date from October 2018 to February 2019. It is now apparent that the February 2019 launch 

date is also not achievable. Solar Orbiter is an interplanetary mission and its next known “planetary 

launch window” is in February 2020. As NASA is providing the launch vehicle, the Launch Services 

Program is moving to reserve February 2020 on the Cape Canaveral launch range manifest, and the 

project is now planning for a February 2020 launch.

PROJECT PARAMETERS

A NASA-provided launch vehicle will place the ESA-provided SOC spacecraft into an inner heliospheric 

orbit around the Sun, with its closest approach ranging from 0.23 to 0.38 AU and the farthest distance 

from 0.73 to 0.88 AU. In the first phase of mission operations, SOC will orbit around the Sun’s equator at 

about the same rate as the Sun’s rotation. In the second phase, it will perform a Venus gravity assist 

maneuver between each rotation around the Sun. Each gravity assist maneuver will increase the SOC’s

inclination with respect to the Sun’s equator so that the inclination will reach 27.5 degrees by the end of 

prime mission operations. This will enable the instruments to image the polar regions of the Sun clearly 

for the first time and make key measurements that will advance our understanding of the solar dynamo 

and the polarity reversal of the global magnetic field. The inclination will increase to 34 degrees by the 

end of a possible three-year extended mission, allowing better insight into the polar-regions.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) completed the pre-environmental review, environmental testing, 

instrument calibration, pre-ship review, and delivery of the SoloHI flight instrument to the spacecraft 

integrator Airbus. Airbus mechanically and electrically integrated SoloHi to the spacecraft.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) completed the pre-environmental review, environmental testing, 

instrument calibration, pre-ship review, and delivery of the HIS flight instrument to Mullard Space 

Systems laboratory (MSSL). MSSL electrically tested and integrated the HIS instrument with the rest of 

the Solar Wind Analyzer suite. 

SOC completed the Key Decision Point (KDP) Phase D. It captured all of the changes associated with the 

then planned Launch slip to February 2019.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

SOLAR ORBITER COLLABORATION

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-25

The United Launch Alliance team successfully completed the Mission Specific Requirements Review, 

Coupled Loads Analysis of Solar Orbiter, Mission Integration Working Group, Ground Operations 

Working Group and an updated version of the Launch Vehicle Interface Control Document.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

At Airbus, instrument teams will continue to support instrument integration, alignment, and functional 

testing in preparation for environmental testing. After environmental testing is complete, the spacecraft 

and instruments will ship to Kennedy Space Center to begin pre-launch processing.

The United Launch Alliance team will complete the Critical Design Review (CDR), final Coupled Loads 

Analysis, trajectory analysis, of Solar Orbiter, hold the last Mission Integration Working Group, Ground 

Operations Working Group and finalize the Launch Vehicle Interface Control Document.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA, ESA, and the instrument teams will continue preparations for the anticipated February 2020 

launch and the subsequent start of data collection.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Mar 2013 Mar 2013

SoloHI Instrument CDR Jun 2013 Oct 2013

HIS Instrument CDR Feb 2014 Mar 2014

Pre-ship review Jan 2015 Mar 2017

Launch Oct 2018 TBD

Begin Phase E Oct 2018 TBD

End of Prime Mission Nov 2026 TBD
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

SOLAR ORBITER COLLABORATION

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-26

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2014 376.9 N/A 2018 310.0 -17.8 LRD Oct 2018 Feb 2019 TBD

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

NASA confirmed SOC to proceed into implementation phase in March 2013.

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 376.9 310.0 -66.9

Aircraft/Spacecraft 0.0 0.0 0.0

Payloads 23.7 70.2 46.5

Systems I&T 0.0 0.0 0.0

Launch Vehicle 250.0 173.6 -76.4

Ground Systems N/A N/A N/A

Science/Technology 1.3 2.8 1.5

Other Direct Project 

Costs 101.9 63.4 -38.5

Project Management & Commitments

GSFC has program management responsibility for the LWS program and the SOC project. NASA 

procured all instruments provided by the United States through a competitive AO.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

SOLAR ORBITER COLLABORATION

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-27

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

SoloHI

Measures the solar wind 

formations, shock 

disturbance, and turbulence.

Provider: Naval Research Lab

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): GSFC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

HIS

Measures the range of heavy 

ion energies, charge states, 

masses, and elevation angles 

as part of the United 

Kingdom-provided Solar 

Wind Analyzer instrument 

suite.

Provider: SwRI

Lead Center: GSFC

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Expendable 

Launch Vehicle Launch vehicle

Provider: ULA

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): N/A

N/A

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: ESA hardware delivery for launch is 

delayed,

Then: NASA launch vehicle and 

development costs will increase.

Monitor ESA’s progress during its hardware development and 

maintain frequent communication between NASA and ESA at all 

levels of management.

Acquisition Strategy

NASA selected the instruments and science investigations from a competed AO. NASA competitively 

selected the launch vehicle through the NASA Launch Services-II contract.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

SoloHI Naval Research Lab Washington, DC

HIS SwRI San Antonio, TX
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

SOLAR ORBITER COLLABORATION

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-28

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Nov 2012 PDR to assess 

readiness for KDP-C

Successful, project 

ready to proceed to 

development

Sept 2013

Performance SRB Sept 2013

SoloHI Instrument to 

assess readiness for 

CDR

Successful Mar 2014

Performance SRB Mar 2014

HIS Instrument to 

assess readiness for 

CDR

Successful Mar 2017

Performance SRB Mar 2017

Pre-ship Review to 

assess readiness for 

shipment to ESA Successful

TBD

Performance SRB TBD

Operations Readiness 

Review/Mission 

Readiness Review to 

assess readiness for 

KDP-E

TBD
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-29

While the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle is currently 

going toward its minimum, September 2017 saw a 

spate of some of the most intense activity observed 

in the current solar cycle. This image shows a 

Sept. 10, 2017, solar flare as observed by NASA's 

Solar Dynamics Observatory. This flare is classified 

as an X8.2-class flare. X-class denotes the most 

intense flares, while the number provides more 

information about its strength. Harmful radiation 

from a flare cannot pass through Earth's 

atmosphere to physically affect humans on the 

ground, however — when intense enough — they 

can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS 

and communications signals travel.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

LWS Space Environment Testbeds 0.7 -- 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

LWS Science 23.8 -- 38.5 38.4 35.3 35.3 35.3

LWS Program Management and Future 

Missions

6.2 -- 14.2 9.3 9.9 19.4 55.8

Van Allen Probes (RBSP) 13.3 -- 13.0 9.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) 12.1 -- 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 11.2

Total Budget 56.0 -- 78.2 68.7 57.2 66.7 102.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The LWS Other Missions and Data Analysis 

budget includes operating LWS missions, a 

science research program, program management, 

and funding for missions to launch in the next 

decade.

For more information, go to 

http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/smdprograms/living-with-a-star/. 

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

LWS SPACE ENVIRONMENT 

TESTBEDS

The Space Environment Testbeds (SET) project 

seeks to improve the accommodation and/or 

mitigation of the effects of solar variability on 

spacecraft. It addresses the identification and 

understanding of the mechanisms of space 

environment interactions, modeling of these 

interactions, and development and validation of 

ground test protocols to qualify technologies for space. As the complexity of the technologies increases, 

models derived from the physics-based understanding of the effects are required, and the SET mission 

responds to these needs. The SET mission will reach medium-Earth orbit as a rideshare payload on the 
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-30

Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL’s) Demonstration and Space Experiments (DSX) spacecraft, 

with the launch expected no earlier than early 2018.

Recent Achievements

In anticipation of the upcoming launch of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) DSX spacecraft on 

a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, AFRL recently attended the STP-2 (Space Test Program-2) Ground Operations 

Working Group at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The AFRL DSX spacecraft contains the SET 

payload. SpaceX scheduled three upcoming launches of the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle starting in 

December 2017. The third launch of the Falcon Heavy includes the DSX spacecraft with the SET 

payload; the scheduled launch date is April 30, 2018 with a two-month window extending out to 

June 30, 2018.

LWS SCIENCE

Understanding space weather and improving the capability to address problems, such as predicting 

geomagnetic storms, pose two major challenges for the research community. First, research must couple 

traditionally separate disciplines in heliophysics, such as solar-heliospheric and geospace physics. 

Second, to be truly successful, research must also demonstrate how results would enhance an operational 

capability, such as the generation of forecasts for geomagnetic storms. 

LWS Science addresses these challenges through three main approaches:

• Builds expertise: This component includes funding to train the next generation of heliophysics 

experts, conduct a heliophysics graduate-level summer school, develop graduate course content, 

and support a limited number of space weather postdoctoral positions at universities and 

government laboratories;

• Addresses scientific needs: The goal of the project is to develop the scientific understanding 

needed for the United States to address those aspects of heliophysics that may affect life and 

society. To ensure this, the targeted research element solicits large-scale problems that cross 

discipline and technique boundaries. 

• Addresses strategic capabilities: A primary goal of this project is the development of firstprinciples-based models for the coupled Sun-Earth and Sun-solar system, similar to the firstprinciples models for the lower terrestrial atmosphere. Such models can act as tools for science 

investigations, as prototypes and test beds for prediction and specification capabilities, as 

frameworks for linking disparate data sets at vantage points throughout the Sun-solar system, and 

as strategic planning aids for enabling exploration of space and testing new mission concepts.

Recent Achievements

Recent LWS Focused Science Topic studies produced significant progress in heliophysics by examining 

fundamental chemical and physical processes and expanding modeling capabilities to include them. The 

investigation into how the Earth's atmosphere responds to impulsive solar events (ISE) addressed four 

primary questions: 1) How well do coupled chemistry climate models simulate effects of recent ISEs? 2) 

What are the primary factors that control the atmospheric response to ISEs? 3) What is the range and 

sensitivity of the atmospheric response to ISEs? 4) Are there long-term, cumulative effects of ISEs on the 

atmosphere and climate, and with what certainty can researchers model these effects? This research 

answered these questions by using the Community Earth System Model, version 1 (CESM1), which is a 

coupled climate model for simulating the Earth's climate system. Four separate models compose CESM1 
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-31

that simultaneously simulates the earth's atmosphere, ocean, land surface, and sea-ice. The atmospheric 

model is the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), Version 4. WACCM and 

WACCM-X provide a comprehensive numerical model spanning the altitude range from the Earth's 

surface, to the thermosphere up to 400 km.

This study addressed the sensitivity of ISEs to different atmospheric states, model simulations with solar 

input from the Flare Irradiance Spectral Model (FISM), model simulations with new Miniature X-ray 

Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS) solar soft X-ray observation-based input, atmospheric effects following 

several solar storms, atmospheric effects due to galactic cosmic rays, energetic particle precipitation, solar 

proton events, solar flares, and 27-day solar variability, and flare-induced traveling ionospheric 

disturbances. The results of this study clarify the role of a broad range of solar inputs to the terrestrial 

atmospheric system, and produced improved ability to model these effects.

Other studies examined the properties of solar flares and coronal mass ejection (CME) activities at high 

solar latitudes using SDO data. The primary scientific question addressed during the performance period 

was: Are polar-crown coronal mass ejections (CMEs) similar to the low-latitude counterparts in 

kinematics, morphology, energetics, and relationship with flares? Answering this question is important in 

understanding solar eruptions from closed field regions of the Sun, irrespective of the source location. 

While CMEs at low latitudes are common in both active regions and quiescent filament regions, the 

occurrence of high-latitude CMEs from polar crown filament region required additional study. This 

research showed that the high-latitude (or polar) CMEs are indeed similar to their low-latitude 

counterparts, thus providing a unified understanding of the eruption process. This investigation supports 

the view that closed field regions magnetically propel all CMEs, irrespective of their location on the Sun 

(polar crown filament regions, quiescent filament regions, or active regions).

Additional research examined the seed particle populations in the solar corona associated with Solar 

Energetic Events (SEP) events. These results provided observational verification of a pump acceleration 

mechanism. The specific output of the pump acceleration mechanism is a power law spectrum in particle 

speed, with spectral index of -5, when expressed as a distribution function, known as the common 

spectrum. This work showed that the common spectrum occurs downstream from shocks that contain 

compressive turbulence. These observations provide a validation of the pump acceleration mechanism, 

and illustrate the conditions in which it applies, and thus serve as the basis for applying the pump 

acceleration mechanism in the solar corona. 

LWS PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE MISSIONS

Program Management and Future Missions provide the resources required to manage the planning, 

formulation, and implementation of all LWS missions. The office resolves technical and programmatic 

issues and risks, monitors and reports on progress, and is responsible for achieving overall LWS cost and 

schedule goals. In addition, Future Missions support strategic planning for addressing the LWS 

recommendations of the Heliophysics decadal survey, and the pre-formulation activities for missions that 

are still merely concepts.

Recent Achievements

The next LWS mission identified by the Heliophysics Decadal Survey is the Geospace Dynamics 

Constellation (GDC). The primary objective of GDC is to "characterize and understand how the 

ionosphere-thermosphere behaves as a system, responding to, and regulating, solar wind/magnetospheric 
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-32

energy input." This mission will provide crucial understanding of the processes that govern the 

interactions between the solar wind that continually streams from the sun, and the Earth's upper 

atmosphere. These interactions affect the conditions and variability of the upper atmosphere that, in turn, 

impact the properties of a broad range of phenomena that range from natural geomagnetic events to the 

ionospheric effects on communication and navigation.

NASA is taking several steps in support of this upcoming opportunity. During FY 2017, NASA initiated a 

call for membership in the GDC Science and Technology Definition team (STDT). In addition, NASA 

issued an RFI to solicit input from the Heliophysics community for ideas on mission and technology 

concepts to address the GDC objectives and science goals as well as enhance those concepts outlined for 

GDC in the Decadal Survey. NASA has scheduled the start of the STDT for early 2018 with a completion 

date and final report due in late 2018.

Operating Missions

VAN ALLEN PROBES

The Van Allen Probes mission is helping scientists to understand the Sun’s influence on Earth and 

near-Earth space by studying Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The mission 

observes the processes that energize and transport radiation belt electrons and ions in Earth’s inner 

magnetosphere, the area in and around Earth’s radiation belts. These observations are providing new 

knowledge on the dynamics and extremes of the radiation belts that are important to all technological 

systems that fly in and through geospace. The mission will enable an understanding, ideally to the point 

of predictability, of how populations of relativistic electrons and penetrating ions in space form or change 

in response to variable inputs of energy from the Sun.

Recent Achievements

The magnetospheric community used Van Allen observations to make several recent discoveries about 

the complex dynamic evolution of the radiation belts. Van Allen observations showed that ultra-low 

frequency waves produced an extended dropout event, observed as an unusually long electron radiation 

belt flux dropout event that extended more than 10 days. This study focused on the recovery of the fluxes 

in the outer belt and what delayed these fluxes so long even with continued solar wind forcing. 

Simulations of this dropout event included several interactions and transport of electrons. The results 

showed that ultra-low frequency waves produced the extended depletion.

Other observations showed the impact of powerful very-low frequency transmitters over a 4-year period 

(2012-2016) on the radiation belts. Wave simulations based on this information demonstrated the crucial 

impact of these anthropogenic waves on electron radiation belt loss at L<2.5. 

In other studies, scientists used a comprehensive set of Van Allen observations to understand ultrarelativistic electron loss driven by various mechanisms. By examining the energy spectrum of electrons 

extending up to relativistic energies they were able to determine the balance between acceleration and 

loss processes in the radiation belts. Relativistic electrons were enhanced while ultra-relativistic electrons 

were significantly depleted. These researchers compared simulations and observations to demonstrate that 

electrons at ultra-relativistic energies were responsible for this dropout.
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-33

These and other recent discoveries show the progress in understanding processes in the magnetosphere 

made with the help of the Van Allen Probes mission.

SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY (SDO)

Launched on February 11, 2010, the SDO seeks to understand the Sun’s influence on Earth and 

near-Earth space by simultaneously studying the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time and 

in many wavelengths. The observatory enables scientists to determine how the Sun’s magnetic field is 

generated and structured and how stored magnetic energy is converted and released in the form of solar 

wind, energetic particles, and variations in the solar irradiance. SDO collects data to help explain the 

creation of solar activity, which drives space weather. Measurements of the interior of the Sun, the Sun’s 

magnetic field, the hot plasma of the solar corona, and the irradiance that creates Earth’s ionosphere are 

the primary data products. 

Recent Achievements

SDO investigations made significant progress on mission science questions and the SDO science 

investigation teams have achieved all of the original observing objectives of the mission. Studies related 

to SDO have led to the publication of over 2600 refereed papers (about 500 publications per year), about 

50 PhD dissertations, and over 1000 conference papers. Three research projects from SDO observations 

show the range of important results.

1) A recent study analyzed sequences of images from AIA, HMI and other observations, and determined 

the wave properties around a sunspot as a function of altitude. They could follow the waves from the 

photosphere through the chromosphere and into the corona. The wave paths are not vertical, but tilt away 

from the sunspot at the center of the images. Changes in the wave field as it moves upward determine the 

strength and direction of the magnetic field. This novel application of analysis techniques traditionally 

used on observations of the coupled photosphere-chromosphere-transition region-corona system for 

seismology of the solar interior demonstrates how SDO continues to enable leading edge science.

2) Researchers often observe coronal dimming after solar eruptions even though different physical 

processes can generate them. For space weather, the temporary void left by a coronal mass ejection 

(CME) is the most important property. Fast, massive CMEs tend to leave behind a darker void. If the 

darkening is associated with a solar flare, the light curve in the cooler emission can be isolated and 

removed using warmer coronal emissions. Researchers analyzed 37 events during two separate periods to 

parameterize coronal dimming in terms of the depth of the dimming and the slope of the decreasing 

irradiance. They determined the best linear relationships are between the velocity of the CME and the 

slope of the observed dimming and between the mass of the CME and the square root of the depth of the 

dimming.

3) Finally, coronal cavities are dark regions found above filaments on the solar surface that resemble 

tunnels through the corona. They have a dark core and bright edges. Several researchers used SDO data to 

study the evolution of coronal cavities in time and space. Coronal cavities correlate with the rise to solar 

maximum. As magnetic flux from the new cycle rises and disperses, some moves poleward and 

encounters the remnant flux from the previous cycle. A filament forms across the neutral line between 

these regions of opposite-polarity magnetic field. As this filament moves poleward, it tends to have a 

cavity, even though few other filaments do. After the old polar field disappears, cavities appear on 

filaments throughout the Sun. Researchers have seen the poleward migration of filaments before, but the 
Science: Heliophysics: Living with a Star

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-34

region between the migrating filament and the equator was dense with filaments. Measurements of the 

cavity of the persistent polar crown filament showed that eruptions destroyed it.
Science: Heliophysics

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PROBES

HELIO-35

STEREO — short for Solar and Terrestrial Relations 

Observatory —watched Comet 96P orbit around the Sun 

on October 26-28, 2017, from its vantage point on the far 

side of the Sun. These images joined others from the joint 

ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or 

SOHO. It is extremely rare for comets to be seen 

simultaneously from two different locations in space, and 

these are the most comprehensive parallel observations of 

comet 96P yet. Scientists are eager to use these combined 

observations to learn more about the comet’s 

composition, as well as its interaction with the solar wind, 

the constant flow of charged particles from the Sun.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Other Missions and Data Analysis 38.8 -- 91.0 89.9 177.7 175.6 247.9

Total Budget 38.8 -- 91.0 89.9 177.7 175.6 247.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) program 

focuses on understanding the fundamental 

physical processes of the space environment, 

from the Sun to the Earth, other planets, and 

beyond to the interstellar medium. STP provides 

insight into the basic processes of plasmas (fluid 

of charged particles) inherent in all astrophysical 

systems. STP missions focus on processes such 

as the variability of the Sun, responses of the 

planets to those variations, and the interaction of 

the Sun and the solar system. NASA defines 

specific goals for STP missions and selects 

investigations for each mission competitively. 

These missions allow the science community an 

opportunity to address important research focus 

areas and make significant progress in 

understanding fundamental physics. 

For more information, go to 

http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/smdprograms/solar-terrestrial-probes/.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES 

IN FY 2019

An increase in STP Program Management and 

Future Missions will fund seven months of 

Phase A studies from the STP-5 AO as well as 

five months of costs for Phase B for the selected 

mission. It will also fund part of the cost of an

ESPA ring, Phase A studies for the upcoming 

Heliophysics Science MoO and Technology Demonstration MoO.
Science: Heliophysics

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PROBES

HELIO-36

The launch of MMS was delayed by six months, through no fault of the project, so that their prime launch 

window was not met. As a result, the project has been doing a catch-up to recover the day-side 

science. The increase will allow MMS to meet fully its Level 1 science requirements, and to plan the 

transition to an extended mission phase.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

MMS completed Prime Operations and moved to extended operations. NASA released an AO for the 

STP-5 mission in FY 2017, named the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission in 

the 2013 Heliophysics decadal survey. IMAP will provide observations that will help us understand the 

global processes that act in the boundary in which the solar wind and the interstellar medium interact, 

which is the main barrier that shields the solar system against galactic cosmic rays. It will furthermore 

directly advance understanding of particle acceleration processes, knowledge that may become essential 

in reducing radiation exposure of astronauts on exploration missions.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Operations of the MMS, STEREO, Hinode, and TIMED missions continue. NASA plans to award 

Phase A (Concept and Technology Development) study contracts for IMAP, for a period of twelve 

months. NASA plans to release a Mission of Opportunity (MO) Program Element Appendix (PEA, 

solicitation), as well as a PEA for a Technology Development MO.

NASA and NOAA are exploring a potential partnership to use the same launch vehicle for IMAP and a 

NOAA space weather monitoring payload. The partnership would provide NOAA access to the L1 

Lagrange point for future space weather monitoring. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA plans to select to a single Principal Investigator to enter into Phase B (Preliminary Design and 

Technology Completion) of the IMAP mission. NASA also plans to select and enter into Phase B for the 

STP-Funded Mission of Opportunity.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

FY 2017 AO for IMAP Mission 

FY 2018 IMAP Phase A studies selection and MO release

FY 2019 IMAP KDP-B

Program Management

GSFC manages the STP program.
Science: Heliophysics

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL PROBES

HELIO-37

Acquisition Strategy

In the acquisition of STP scientific instruments, spacecraft, and science investigations (including 

Research and Analysis), NASA will use full and open competitions to the greatest extent possible. NASA 

may acquire certain instruments, missions, or mission systems without competition (e.g., through 

international partnerships or in-house builds), if there is a clear scientific, technological, or programmatic 

benefit to NASA to do so. NASA will acquire launch vehicles through existing contracts, managed by the 

HEOMD, except when an international partner provides them under an approved agreement.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Program

Independent

Review

SRB Nov 2014 Assess performance 

of program Successful Sept 2018

Program 

Independent 

Review

SRB Sept 2018 Assess performance 

of program
Science: Heliophysics: Solar Terrestrial Probes

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-38

This visualization of the boundary between Earth’s 

magnetic fields and the space that surrounds it is based on 

observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale, or 

MMS, mission. MMS spotted Kelvin Helmholtz waves –

which look like crashing ocean waves -- along this 

boundary, which can allow particles from the solar wind 

to enter near-Earth space.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

STP Program Management and Future 

Missions

2.8 -- 56.2 55.0 145.9 143.6 228.7

Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) 19.9 -- 17.0 17.0 15.0 15.0 4.0

Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory 

(STEREO)

6.5 -- 8.3 8.3 7.3 7.3 6.5

Hinode (Solar B) 7.0 -- 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 6.3

TIMED 2.6 -- 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.4

Total Budget 38.8 -- 91.0 89.9 177.7 175.6 247.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The STP Other Missions and Data Analysis 

budget includes operating STP missions, 

program management, and funding for future 

missions launching in the next decade. 

For more information, go to 

http://stp.gsfc.nasa.gov.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND 

FUTURE MISSIONS

Program Management and Future Missions 

provide the resources required to manage the 

planning, formulation, and implementation of all 

STP missions. The program office ensures 

successful achievement of STP program cost and 

schedule goals, while managing cross-project dependencies, risks, issues, and requirements as projects 

progress through formal key decision points. In addition, Future Missions supports the STP program 

strategic planning for addressing the recommendations of the Heliophysics Decadal Survey and the 

pre-formulation activities for STP missions not yet approved as projects.
Science: Heliophysics: Solar Terrestrial Probes

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-39

Operating Missions

MAGNETOSPHERIC MULTISCALE (MMS)

The MMS mission investigates how the magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth connect and disconnect, 

explosively transferring energy from one to the other. This magnetic reconnection process occurs 

throughout the universe. MMS uses Earth’s magnetosphere as a natural laboratory to study the 

microphysics of magnetic reconnection, a fundamental plasma-physical process that converts magnetic 

energy into heat and charged particle kinetic energy. In addition to seeking to solve the mystery of the 

small-scale physics of the reconnection process, MMS will investigate how the energy conversion that 

occurs in magnetic reconnection accelerates particles to high energies and what role plasma turbulence 

plays in reconnection events. Magnetic reconnection, particle acceleration, and turbulence occur in all 

astrophysical plasma systems, but researchers can only study them in-situ in the solar system, and most 

efficiently in Earth’s magnetosphere, where these processes control the dynamics of the geospace 

environment and play an important role in the phenomena known as space weather.

The MMS mission consists of four identically instrumented spacecraft that measure particles, fields, and 

plasmas. The MMS instrument payload measures electric and magnetic fields and the plasmas found in 

the regions where magnetic reconnection occurs. Fast, multi-point measurements are enabling

dramatically revealing direct observations of these physical processes. A highly elliptical orbit explores

how Sun-Earth magnetic fields reconnect in Earth’s neighborhood. The four spacecraft fly in a 

tetrahedron formation that allows them to observe the three-dimensional structure of magnetic 

reconnection events. The separation between the observatories is adjustable over a range of six to 250 

miles during science operations in the area of interest. 

For more information, go to http://science.nasa.gov/missions/mms/.

Recent Achievements

Electrons in a strong magnetic field usually exhibit a simple behavior: they spin tight spirals along 

magnetic field lines. In a weaker field region, where the direction of the magnetic field reverses, the 

electrons move more freely — bouncing and swaying back and forth in a type of movement called 

Speiser motion. New MMS results show, for the first time, what happens in an intermediate strength field. 

Electrons in these field strengths move in a hybrid, meandering motion — spiraling and bouncing about 

before ejecting from the region. This motion takes away some of the field’s energy and plays a key role in 

magnetic reconnection – a dynamic process, which can explosively release large amounts of stored 

magnetic energy. As MMS flew around Earth, it passed through an area of a moderate strength magnetic 

field where electric currents run in the same direction as the magnetic field, known as intermediate guide 

fields. While inside the region, the instruments recorded a curious interaction of electrons with the current 

sheet, the thin layer through which the current travels. As the incoming particles encountered the region, 

they started gyrating in spirals along the guide field – as they do in a strong magnetic field – but in larger 

spirals. The MMS observations saw signatures of the particles gaining energy from the electric field. 

Before long, the accelerated particles escaped the current sheet, and formed high-speed jets. In the

process, they took away some of the field’s energy, and caused it to gradually weaken. The new results 

help scientists better understand the role of electrons in reconnection, and how magnetic fields lose 

energy. With four spacecraft flying in a compact, pyramid formation, MMS is able to see fields and 

particles in three dimensions and look at small-scale particle dynamics in a way never before achieved.
Science: Heliophysics: Solar Terrestrial Probes

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-40

SOLAR TERRESTRIAL RELATIONS OBSERVATORY (STEREO)

STEREO enables studies of the origin of the Sun’s CMEs and their consequences for Earth, other planets, 

and interplanetary space. The mission consists of two spacecraft, one (STEREO-A) Ahead and the other 

(STEREO-B) Behind Earth in its orbit. STEREO’s instrumentation targets the fundamental process of 

energetic particle acceleration in the low solar corona and in interplanetary space. The mission can image 

the structure and evolution of solar storms as they leave the Sun and move through space toward Earth. 

The mission also provides the foundation for understanding space weather events and developing 

predictive models. The models in turn, help to identify and mitigate the risks associated with space 

weather events. In addition, STEREO improves our space weather situational awareness not only for 

Earth and in low Earth orbit, but also throughout the solar system.

On October 1, 2014, NASA lost communication with STEREO-B, just as the spacecraft was about to 

orbit around the other side of the Sun. In late 2015, the spacecraft finally emerged from behind the Sun. 

NASA re-established contact with STEREO-B for a short period in 2016. NASA made several attempts 

to establish control of the spacecraft with limited success. As of December 2017, the project team will 

make monthly attempts to re-establish contact with the spacecraft. STEREO-A continues to operate 

nominally and is still providing significant science data.

Recent Achievements

New research using data from the NASA Heliophysics STEREO A, B and SDO missions has revealed 

information about the sun that enables a new approach to developing predictive capabilities for space 

weather events. Scientists tracked coronal brightpoints — small, luminous features observed on the sun 

directly tied to magnetic activity beneath the surface. Trains of brightpoints circled the sun slowly, 

moving westward and revealing the magnetized Rossby waves flowing beneath the surface. Rossby 

waves are a type of inertial wave driven by the physical properties of a planet’s, or in this case, the sun’s 

rotation. The identification of the Rossby waves was only made possible through the use of 360-degree 

images of the Sun constructed by combining images from the STEREO satellites, in orbit ahead and

behind the Earth, with SDO images over a three-year period from 2010 to 2013. Rossby waves are 

responsible for day-to-day weather patterns at mid-latitudes as they form high and low-pressure systems. 

An important question is whether Rossby waves play a similar role in space weather events originating on 

the sun. Applying what we know about how Rossby waves behave on Earth may help us understand solar 

Rossby waves and the interior process that drive them, which is an important step towards the 

development of long-term space weather forecasting.

HINODE

Hinode is a joint JAXA and NASA mission, operating as a follow-on to the highly successful Japan, 

United States, and United Kingdom Yohkoh (Solar-A) collaboration. The mission consists of a 

coordinated set of optical, extreme ultraviolet, and X-ray instruments that are studying the basic heating 

mechanisms and dynamics of the active solar corona. By investigating the fundamental processes that 

connect the Sun’s magnetic field and the solar corona, Hinode is discovering how the Sun generates 

magnetic disturbances and the high-energy particle storms that propagate from the Sun to Earth.
Science: Heliophysics: Solar Terrestrial Probes

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-41

Recent Achievements

Most research has gone into investigating how magnetic topology on the Sun creates favorable conditions 

for eruptions, however, on September 30, 2014, multiple NASA observatories, including Hinode viewing 

in dozens of different wavelengths, watched as a filament rose from the surface, gaining energy and speed 

but instead of erupting from the Sun as expected, the filament weakened and collapsed. The observations 

in multiple wavelengths revealed conditions on the Sun’s surface and in its lower atmosphere during the

event. It appeared that the filament had encountered a magnetic boundary that prevented its eruption. 

Typically, when solar structures with opposite magnetic orientations collide, they explosively release 

magnetic energy, heating the atmosphere with a flare and erupting into space as a coronal mass ejection 

— a massive cloud of solar material and magnetic fields. But on the day of the September 2014 

near-eruption, the filament instead pushed up against a complex magnetic structure, shaped like two

igloos smashed against each other. This invisible boundary, called a hyperbolic flux tube, was the result 

of a collision of two bipolar regions on the sun’s surface. Evidence suggest that the hyperbolic flux tube 

broke the filament’s magnetic field lines reconnecting them with those of the ambient Sun, so that the 

filament’s magnetic energy was stripped away, effectively prevented the eruption from proceeding. This 

study indicates the Sun’s magnetic topology plays an important role in whether or not an eruption occurs.

THERMOSPHERE, IONOSPHERE, MESOSPHERE ENERGETICS AND DYNAMICS 

(TIMED)

The TIMED mission characterizes and studies the physics, dynamics, energetics, thermal structure, and 

composition of the least explored and understood region of Earth’s atmosphere, the mesosphere-lower 

thermosphere-ionosphere (MLTI). This region of interest, located between altitudes of approximately 

35 to 100 miles above the surface of Earth, helps protect Earth from harmful solar radiation. It is a 

gateway between Earth’s environment and space, where the Sun’s energy first affects Earth’s 

environment.

Recent Achievements

The TIMED satellite revealed a significant population of hot hydrogen atoms at altitudes as low as 

170 miles, much lower than previously expected. A comprehensive analysis of the TIMED data (which 

now spans more than a solar cycle) showed that the temperature of this atomic hydrogen rises when solar 

activity falls, counter to the behavior of most other neutral molecules in the atmosphere. Atomic 

hydrogen, the dominant neutral constituent of the upper layer of Earth’s atmosphere, is key to 

understanding many aspects of atmospheric chemistry, energetics, and ion-neutral coupling with the 

plasmasphere and magnetosphere. Atomic hydrogen is also the lightest neutral species, requiring the least 

amount of energy to escape Earth’s gravitational force. A lot of attention has been given, and will 

continue to be given, to understanding the processes that lead to hydrogen loss from the atmosphere.
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS EXPLORER PROGRAM

HELIO-42

NASA’s Global-scale Observations of the Limb 

and Disk, or GOLD, mission explores a little 

understood area close to home, but historically 

hard to observe: the lowest reaches of space, a 

dynamic area in Earth’s upper atmosphere that 

responds both to space weather above, and the 

lower atmosphere below. GOLD collects 

observations with a 30-minute cadence, much 

higher than any mission that has come before it. 

This enables GOLD to be the first mission to 

study the day-to-day weather of upper 

atmosphere –the overlapping thermosphere and 

the ionosphere -- rather than its long-term 

climate.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Other Missions and Data Analysis 86.7 -- 109.2 263.1 202.9 204.1 94.4

Total Budget 86.7 -- 109.2 263.1 202.9 204.1 94.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Heliophysics Explorer Program provides 

frequent flight opportunities for world-class 

scientific investigations on focused and timely 

science topics. Explorers use a suite of smaller, fully 

competed missions that address these topics to 

complement the science of strategic missions of the 

LWS and STP programs. Competitive selections 

ensure accomplishment of the most current and best 

science.

The Explorers Program provides several classes, 

Medium Explorers (MIDEX) and Small Explorers 

(SMEX), of flight opportunities to accomplish the 

goals of the science program. These mission classes 

enable NASA to increase the number of flight 

opportunities in response to recommendations from 

the scientific community.

The 2011 NASA AO introduced a new class of 

flight opportunity, the Explorers (EX) missions, in 

response to the currently available expendable 

launch vehicles. EX missions fall between the 

SMEX and MIDEX class missions. Awarded 

missions will utilize one of the several, lower-cost 

expendable launch vehicles available through 

NASA’s Launch Services Program.

Explorer Missions of Opportunity (MO) are smaller investigations, typically an instrument, characterized 

as being part of a host space mission, sub-orbital flight, small complete missions, and new science 

investigations using existing spacecraft or ISS-attached payloads.

Other Missions and Data Analysis supports numerous operating Heliophysics Explorer missions, as well 

as program management functions and funding for future mission selections.
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS EXPLORER PROGRAM

HELIO-43

For more information on Explorer missions, go to https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/smdprograms/explorers/.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

On July 28, 2017, NASA under the Heliophysics Announcement of Opportunity (AO) selected proposals, 

five Heliophysics Small Explorer missions and two Explorer Missions of Opportunity, for concept 

studies. These studies will span a broad range of investigations focusing on terrestrial weather in the 

near-Earth space environment; magnetic energy; solar wind; and heating and energy released in the solar 

atmosphere. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Missions selected for SMEX and MO Phase A concept studies will deliver their reports to NASA for 

evaluation in early summer 2018. NASA will launch the ICON and GOLD missions.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will make new mission selections from competitive concept studies (Phase A) for the SMEX and 

MO AO.

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

Early Summer 2018 Down select at least one SMEX and one MO mission for implementation

FY 2018 AO announcement for MIDEX and MO opportunity to propose

FY 2020 MIDEX and Explorer MO Phase-A selections

FY 2021 Down select one MIDEX and one MO mission for implementation
Science: Heliophysics

HELIOPHYSICS EXPLORER PROGRAM

HELIO-44

Program Management & Planned Cadence

The Heliophysics and Astrophysics Explorer elements are both coordinated sets of uncoupled missions,

wherein each mission is independent and has unique science, and share a common program office at 

GSFC and a common management structure. The Explorer program manager resides at GSFC, reporting 

functionally to the Center Director and programmatically through the Heliophysics and Astrophysics 

Division Directors to the Associate Administrator for SMD.

This budget brings the Heliophysics Explorer Program into alignment with the Decadal Survey’s 

recommendation of a two-to-three year mission cadence. 

Acquisition Strategy

NASA competitively selects new Explorer missions, releasing solicitations when available funding

allows, with the expectation of a three-year cadence. NASA acquires launch vehicles through existing 

contracts held by the HEOMD, except when an international partner provides them under an approved 

agreement or when the Explorer mission is not a primary payload on the launch vehicle.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Program

Independent

Review

SRB Nov 2014 Assess performance 

of program Successful Oct 2019
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER (ICON)

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-45

Recent discoveries show that unexplained variations in 

Earth’s space environment are connected to conditions in 

the atmosphere. NASA’s Ionospheric Connection 

Explorer, or ICON, is the first mission to focus on this 

interplay between terrestrial weather and space weather. 

ICON explores a little understood area close to home, but 

historically hard to observe: a region of the upper 

atmosphere called the ionosphere. The mission focuses on 

one of the most eye-catching phenomena there, colorful 

bands called airglow, which can be seen over the horizon 

in this artist’s rendition of ICON in space.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) Prior FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 BTC Total

Formulation 38.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 38.8

Development/Implementation 149.6 36.8 9.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 196.0

Operations/Close-out 0.0 2.6 9.4 4.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 17.9

2018 MPAR LCC Estimate 188.4 39.4 19.0 4.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 252.7

Total Budget 188.4 39.4 19.0 4.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 252.7

Change from FY 2018 -14.5

Percentage change from FY 2018 -76.3%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) is a 

single spacecraft mission dedicated to 

understanding neutral-ion coupling in the 

Earth’s upper atmosphere, also known as the 

thermosphere. It will resolve both long-standing 

and newly emerging questions about the 

mechanisms that control the daily development 

of plasma in Earth’s space environment.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES 

IN FY 2019

Due to issues involving the Pegasus launch 

vehicle’s bolt cutter assembly, the launch 

provider is in the process of rescheduling the 

launch readiness date, originally scheduled in 

October 2017, to a later date in FY 2018. The 

launch delay will cause the mission on-orbit 

operations to start later than planned. 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER (ICON)

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-46

PROJECT PARAMETERS

ICON will simultaneously measure altitude profiles of the thermosphere and ionosphere’s neutral winds, 

composition, density, temperature, and ion density. At the same time, it will make in-situ plasma 

measurements. Three institutions with a successful record of accomplishment of previous space missions 

will build the four high-heritage scientific instruments of ICON. The payload will fly on an Orbital ATK,

LEOStar-2 spacecraft bus with heritage from Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE), AIM, 

Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), Glory, and Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR). 

ICON will provide the data to “understand how neutral winds control ionospheric variability,” which is a 

goal in the 2010 Science Plan for NASA’s SMD.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

During this period, the ICON project successfully conducted the Observatory Pre-Environment Review 

(PER) on January 1, 2017; Operation Readiness Review (ORR) on April 6, 2017; and Observatory PreShip Review (PER) on July 19, 2017.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

The Project will complete all observatory testing and prepare the spacecraft for shipping. The Project will 

ship the spacecraft for integration to the launch vehicle at Vandenburg Air Force Base (VAFB). NASA 

plans to launch ICON in FY 2018 to begin a two-year prime mission. Due to issues involving the Pegasus 

launch vehicle’s Bolt Cutter Assembly, the launch provider, Orbital ATK, is in process of rescheduling 

the launch readiness date in FY 2018.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

In FY 2019, ICON will complete its first full year of operations.

SCHEDULE COMMITMENTS/KEY MILESTONES

Milestone Confirmation Baseline Date FY 2019 PB Request

KDP-C Oct 2014 Oct 2014

CDR Apr 2015 Apr 2015

SIR Jun 2016 Aug 2016

Launch Oct 2017 2018

Start of Phase E Nov 2017 2018

End of Prime Mission Dec 2019 2020
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER (ICON)

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-47

Development Cost and Schedule

Base 

Year

Base 

Year 

Development 

Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

JCL 

(%)

Current 

Year

Current 

Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate 

($M)

Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key 

Milestone

Base 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Current 

Year 

Milestone 

Data

Milestone 

Change 

(mths)

2015 196.0 70 2018 196.0 0.0 LRD Oct 2017 2018 TBD

Note: The confidence level estimates reported reflect an evolving process as NASA improves its probabilistic 

estimation techniques and processes. Estimate reflects the practices and policies at the time it was developed. 

Estimates that include combined cost and schedule risks are denoted as JCL (joint confidence level); all other CLs 

(confidence levels) reflect cost confidence without necessarily factoring the potential impacts of schedule changes 

on cost. 

Development Cost Details

NASA confirmed ICON to proceed into implementation in October 2014.

Element

Base Year Development 

Cost Estimate ($M)

Current Year 

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M)

Change from Base Year 

Estimate ($M)

TOTAL: 196.0 196.0 0.0

Aircraft/Spacecraft 29.8 47.9 18.1

Payloads 35.8 45.0 9.2

Systems I&T 9.4 3.3 -6.1

Launch Vehicle 54.3 56.3 2.0

Ground Systems 2.9 5.6 2.7

Science/Technology 3.0 4.0 1.0

Other Direct Project 

Costs 60.8 33.9 -26.9
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER (ICON)

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-48

Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details Change from 

Baseline

Expendable 

Launch Vehicle

Deliver the spacecraft to 

operational orbit

Provider: Orbital-ATK

Lead Center: KSC

Performing Center(s): KSC

Cost Share Partner(s): n/a

N/A

Spacecraft Transport instruments to 

science destination

Provider: Orbital ATK

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): n/a

N/A

Michelson 

Interferometer 

for Global Highresolution 

Thermospheric 

Imaging (MIGH

TI)

High resolution imager 

instrument

Provider: Naval Research Laboratory

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s):

N/A

EUV Extreme UV instrument

Provider: University of California, 

Berkeley

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s):

N/A

FUV Far UV instrument

Provider: University of California, 

Berkeley

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): Belgian Centre 

Spatial de Liège (CSL)

N/A

IVM Ion velocity meter instrument

Provider: University of Texas, Dallas

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s):

N/A
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER (ICON)

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-49

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

If: A Pegasus Launch Vehicle Bolt Cutter 

Assembly (BCA) fails a margin 

demonstration test to ensure there is enough 

energy to successfully fracture a bolt that is 

20 percent larger than the normal bolt size 

used.

Then: The ICON mission will be further 

delayed, potentially 6 months beyond the 

baseline commitment of October 2017

NASA HQ will continue to monitor the activities of the BCA 

anomaly investigation and evaluate schedules in planning for a 

new launch date and activities at the launch site. LSP will look at 

other launch opportunities for ICON in future.

If: The Pegasus launch vehicle Bolt Cutter 

Assembly (BCA) failure investigation 

options are not rendered before the end of 

April 2018;

Then: NASA will inform Congress of a 

schedule breach.

The launch services program (LSP) at KSC, NASA Headquarters 

and the project will strategize scenarios based upon the options. 

NASA will prepare the breach notification as required. LSP will 

update launch availability and NASA will perform cost analysis 

and determine the launch plan after approach for modifying 

separation system is developed.

Acquisition Strategy

All acquisitions are in place. NASA selected ICON through the AO two-step process, and awarded the 

science investigation to the University of California Berkeley PI in April 2013.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA awarded the mission Phase B through F (formulation through operations and closeout) 

procurement to the University of California at Berkeley for the PI-controlled mission. All major contracts 

are in place.

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

FUV and EUV instruments University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA

MIGHTI instrument Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC

IVM instrument University of Texas, Dallas Dallas, TX

Spacecraft, I&T Orbital ATK Dulles, VA

Payload integration Space Dynamics Laboratory Logan, UT

Launch Vehicle KSC KSC, FL
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER (ICON)

Formulation Development Operations

HELIO-50

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance SRB Jan 2014 SRR to evaluate 

ICON requirements Successful Jul 2014

Performance SRB Jul 2014 PDR to assess 

readiness for KDP-C Successful Apr 2015

Performance SRB Apr 2015 CDR Successful Aug 2016

Performance SRB Aug 2016

SIR to evaluate 

ICON readiness for 

KDP-D

Successful Jan 2017

Performance SRB Jan 2017

Mission PreEnvironmental 

Review

Successful Apr 2017

Performance SRB Apr 2017 ORR for KDP-E Jul 2017

Performance SRB Jul 2017 Observatory Pre-Ship 

Review 2018

Performance SRB 2018 KDP-E 2018
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-51

New data from NASA’s Cassini, Voyager and 

Interstellar Boundary Explorer missions show that 

the heliosphere — the bubble of the Sun’s magnetic 

influence that surrounds the inner solar system —

may be much more compact and rounded than 

previously thought. The image on the left shows a 

compact model of the heliosphere, supported by this 

latest data, while the image on the right shows an 

alternate model with an extended tail. The main 

difference is the new model’s lack of a trailing, 

comet-like tail on one side of the heliosphere. This 

tail is shown in the old model in light blue.

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Global-scale Observations of the Limb an 10.0 -- 7.7 5.2 0.4 0.0 0.0

Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) 39.4 19.0 4.5 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Heliophysics Explorer Future Missions 6.0 -- 67.9 224.6 173.7 175.5 69.4

Heliophysics Explorer Program 

Management

6.1 -- 5.0 9.1 6.4 6.3 4.9

Interface Region Imaging Spectogr (IRIS) 7.7 -- 7.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 5.9

Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) 3.4 -- 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.1

TWINS 0.6 -- 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

CINDI 0.3 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Aeronomy of Ice in Mesophere (AIM) 3.0 -- 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.7

Time History of Events and Macroscale In 5.4 -- 5.1 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.1

ACE 3.0 -- 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.7

RHESSI 1.9 -- 1.9 1.9 1.4 1.4 1.1

Total Budget 86.7 -- 109.2 263.1 202.9 204.1 94.4

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Heliophysics Explorer Other Missions and 

Data Analysis budget includes operating 

Explorer missions, program management, and 

funding for future missions not yet approved as 

projects.

For more information, go to 

http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/smdprograms/explorers/.

Mission Planning and Other 

Projects

GLOBAL-SCALE OBSERVATIONS OF THE 

LIMB AND DISK (GOLD)

The GOLD investigation will perform 

unprecedented imaging of the Earth’s 

thermosphere and ionosphere. For the first time, 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-52

GOLD will answer fundamental scientific 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-53

questions about how the thermosphere/ionosphere system responds to geomagnetic storms, solar 

radiation, and upward propagating waves and tides.

Recent Achievements

The commercial satellite vendor successfully integrated GOLD with the spacecraft, and 

completed vibration and spacecraft acoustics. GOLD continues test and integration with the host 

spacecraft.

EXPLORER FUTURE MISSIONS

Explorer Future Missions provides the resources required to manage the planning, formulation, 

and implementation of all Explorer missions. The program office ensures successful achievement 

of Explorer program cost and schedule goals, while managing cross-project dependencies, risks, 

issues, and requirements as projects progress through formal key decision points. Additionally, 

Future Missions supports pre-formulation activities for missions not yet approved as projects.

EXPLORER PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

Explorer Program Management encompasses the program office resources required to manage 

Explorer projects. The program office is responsible for providing support and guidance to 

projects in resolving technical and programmatic issues and risks, for monitoring and reporting 

technical and programmatic progress of the projects and for achieving Explorer cost, schedule, 

and technical goals and requirements.

Recent Achievements

The Explorers program held the Heliophysics Small Explorers (SMEX) kick off meeting with 

the five Principal Investigator teams selected to participate in the Concept Study Review (CSR). 

The CSR is part of the step 2 process in mission selection for the 2016 Explorers AO.

Operating Missions

INTERFACE REGION IMAGING SPECTROGRAPH (IRIS)

IRIS is a SMEX mission selected in June 2009 and launched on June 27, 2013. IRIS joined a 

network of solar spacecraft and ground-based observatories to provide unprecedented insight 

into a little understood region of the Sun called the interface region. IRIS is enabling scientists to 

understand what energizes the solar atmosphere, providing significant new information to 

increase our understanding of energy transport into the corona and solar wind, which provides a 

model for all stellar atmospheres. The mission will extend the scientific output of existing 

heliophysics spacecraft that follow the effects of energy release processes from the Sun to Earth. 

IRIS provides key insights into all these processes, and thereby advances our understanding of 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-54

the solar drivers of space weather from the corona to the far heliosphere by combining highresolution imaging and spectroscopy for the entire chromosphere and adjacent regions.

Recent Achievements

Most research has gone into investigating how magnetic topology on the Sun creates favorable 

conditions for eruptions. However, on September 30, 2014, multiple NASA observatories (SDO, 

IRIS, Hinode and the VAULT2.0 sounding rocket), viewing in dozens of different wavelengths, 

watched as a filament rose from the surface, gaining energy and speed. Instead of erupting from 

the Sun as expected, the filament weakened and collapsed. To investigate, researchers developed 

a model that located strongly compressed and distorted regions of magnetic field lines where 

they expect rapid energy releases to occur. Typically, when solar structures with opposite 

magnetic orientations collide, they explosively release magnetic energy, heating the atmosphere 

with a flare and erupting into space as a coronal mass ejection - a massive cloud of solar material 

and magnetic fields. However, on the day of the September 2014 near-eruption, the model 

indicated the filament instead pushed up against a complex magnetic structure, shaped like two 

igloos smashed against each other. This invisible boundary, called a hyperbolic flux tube, was 

the result of a collision of two bipolar regions on the sun’s surface. Evidence suggest that the 

hyperbolic flux tube broke the filament’s magnetic field lines reconnecting them with those of 

the ambient Sun, so that the filament’s magnetic energy was stripped away, effectively 

preventing the eruption from proceeding.

INTERSTELLAR BOUNDARY EXPLORER (IBEX)

IBEX is the first mission designed to image the edge of the solar system. As the solar wind from 

the Sun flows out beyond Neptune, it collides with the material between the stars, forming 

several boundaries. These interactions create energetic neutral atoms, particles with no charge 

that move very quickly. This region emits no light that conventional telescopes can see, so IBEX 

measures the particles that happen to be traveling inward from the boundary instead. IBEX 

contains two detectors designed to collect and measure energetic neutral atoms, providing data 

about the mass, direction of origin, and energy of these particles. From these data, researchers 

create maps of the boundary. The mission’s focused science objective is to discover the nature of 

the interactions between the solar wind and the interstellar medium at the edge of the solar 

system. This region is important because it shields a large percentage of harmful galactic cosmic 

rays from Earth and the inner solar system.

Recent Achievements

The IBEX mission, launched in 2008, is the first spacecraft designed to collect data across the 

entire sky about the heliosphere and the solar system’s boundary with interstellar space. A recent 

analysis of IBEX data has shown how the heliosphere “reacts” to variations in the polar coronal 

holes, which change in size with the 11-year solar cycle. The high-latitude polar coronal holes 

are the source of fast solar wind, while low latitude regions produce slow solar wind. A study by 

a team of scientists led by Dr. Eric Zirnstein of Princeton University analyzed IBEX 

observations of Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs) collected between 2009 and 2015 over a range 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-55

of energies (speeds of ~350 to 900 km/s). The team was able to track the Sun’s polar winds as 

they traveled out to the outer heliosphere where they interacted with hydrogen atoms, creating 

ENAs speeding back towards the Sun. Analysis of IBEX data reveals that it takes the solar wind 

near the Sun two to three years to travel to the heliosphere and then back toward the Sun to be 

seen as ENAs. In turn, the extent of the polar heliosphere expands and shrinks with changes at 

the Sun. These findings are generally consistent with Voyager observations.

TWO WIDE-ANGLE IMAGING NEUTRAL ATOM SPECTROMETERS (TWINS)

TWINS provides stereo imaging of Earth’s magnetosphere, the region surrounding the planet 

controlled by its magnetic field that contains the Van Allen radiation belts and other energetic 

charged particles. TWINS gives a three-dimensional global visualization of this region, which 

has led to a greatly enhanced understanding of the connections between different regions of the 

magnetosphere and their relation to solar variability. TWINS is a NASA-sponsored mission of 

opportunity that has been operational since 2008 and currently in extended operations.

Recent Achievements

TWINS have obtained new observations, which have provided a more systematic and expanded 

understanding of storm phases and geomagnetic activities. These observations show these 

phenomena are partly dependent on the overall population of different ions found in the 

magnetosphere. Scientists can trace the time between when we detect these storms in the low 

altitude emission region, versus the ring current emission region, by following the transport of 

singly ionized oxygen (O+). It also appears to be dependent on the solar cycle.

AERONOMY OF ICE IN THE MESOSPHERE (AIM)

AIM is a mission to determine why polar mesospheric clouds form, and why they vary. Polar 

mesospheric clouds, Earth’s highest-altitude clouds, form each summer in the coldest part of the 

atmosphere about 50 miles above the polar regions. These clouds are of particular interest, as the 

number of clouds in the middle atmosphere, or mesosphere, over Earth’s poles has been 

increasing over recent years, possibly related to climate change. The spacecraft launched on 

April 25, 2007, completed its prime mission in FY 2009, and is currently in extended phase.

Recent Achievements

Scientists used AIM satellite data to categorize the inter-annual variability of winter and 

springtime upper stratospheric methane (CH4). They showed the effects of this variability on the 

chemistry of the upper stratosphere throughout the following summer. Years with strong 

wintertime mesospheric descent followed by dynamically quiet springs, such as 2009, lead to the 

lowest summertime CH4. Years such as 2011, with relatively weak wintertime descent but 

strong springtime planetary wave activity, have the highest summertime CH4. Since 2015, AIM 

has been observing the effects of gravity waves entering the Earth’s mesosphere. Such 

observations have been key to understanding the global dynamic coupling between the Earth’s 

atmosphere and its geospace environment. 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-56

TIME HISTORY OF EVENTS AND MACROSCALE INTERACTIONS DURING 

SUBSTORMS (THEMIS)

THEMIS is a MIDEX mission that launched on February 17, 2007, and is currently in extended 

operations. Starting as a five-spacecraft mission, the three inner probes of THEMIS now focus 

on collecting data related to the onset and evolution of magnetospheric substorms, while the two 

outer probes (now referred to as ARTEMIS) have been repositioned into lunar orbits. 

Magnetospheric substorms are the explosive release of stored energy within the near-Earth space 

environment that can lead to space weather effects. The two ARTEMIS probes orbit the Moon’s 

surface at approximately 100 miles altitude and provide new information about the Moon’s 

internal structure and its atmosphere. ARTEMIS provides two-point observations essential to 

characterizing the Moon’s plasma environment and hazardous lunar radiation. THEMIS and 

ARTEMIS, among others in the Heliophysics portfolio, are examples of missions offering 

important dynamics knowledge useful for future human spaceflight.

Recent Achievements

Scientists used Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) simulations, motivated by THEMIS observations. The 

study finds that small fluctuations in the solar wind as it streams toward the Earth's magnetic 

shield can affect the speed and strength of these KH waves. The KH waves grow faster and 

stronger when solar wind fluctuations are stronger, under otherwise similar average conditions.

Gaining deeper insights into how solar wind conditions affect space hurricanes may someday 

provide better space-weather prediction and set the stage for safer satellite navigation through 

radiation belts. This is because solar wind can excite ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves by 

triggering KH instability, which can energize radiation belt particles. Space hurricanes are 

universal phenomena, occurring at the boundary layers of coronal mass ejections – giant balls of 

plasma erupting from the Sun’s hot atmosphere – in the magnetospheres of Jupiter, Saturn and 

other planets.

ADVANCED COMPOSITION EXPLORER (ACE)

ACE observes particles of solar, interplanetary, interstellar, and galactic origins as they pass by 

its location near the L1 Lagrangian point, located about a million miles from Earth toward the 

Sun. Changing conditions over the solar cycle are presenting new opportunities, including 

providing new insights relevant to space weather events.

Recent Achievements

In a recent paper researchers used ACE solar-wind flow-vector measurements and the properties 

of the ACE, Wind, and DSCOVR L1 orbits to estimate how well measurements of an upstream 

solar-wind monitor represent solar-wind properties hitting the Earth. This study shows that using 

a single spacecraft to study solar-wind driving of the magnetosphere system will not obtain the 

highest correlations, and that simulations of the reaction of the system to solar wind driving will 

not be the most accurate. Researchers suggested additional study could determine the optimum 
Science: Heliophysics: Heliophysics Explorer Program

OTHER MISSIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS

HELIO-57

number of spacecraft in orbit about L1 to provide needed improvements in forecasting, or

consider placing solar wind monitors closer to Earth. 

RAMATY HIGH ENERGY SOLAR SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGER (RHESSI)

The RHESSI satellite focuses on the highest energy X-rays and gamma rays produced by the 

Sun, helping to observe solar flares of all shapes and sizes.

Recent Achievements

Radio observations are an ideal complement to RHESSI hard X-ray flare observations since they 

provide physically distinct perspectives on energetic electrons, hot plasma, and the magnetic 

field. Combining X-ray and radio observations at different wavelengths leads to important new 

diagnostics. RHESSI celebrated its 15th anniversary on February 5, 2017. It continues to be the 

only active observatory that can provide imaging spectroscopy of the energetic electrons that 

carry such a predominant part of the energy released in a flare.

RHESSI has now covered more than a complete 11-year solar cycle, and it is continuing to 

observe as activity decreases to solar minimum (expected sometime in 2019). During that time, it 

has recorded over 114,000 X-ray events, 42 with gamma-ray emission above 300 keV, and 27 

with gamma-ray line emission.
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Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Airspace Operations and Safety Program 140.6 -- 90.8 96.2 120.4 122.7 122.9

Advanced Air Vehicles Program 274.6 -- 230.6 248.5 257.1 257.8 258.3

Integrated Aviation Systems Program 125.0 -- 189.2 154.1 106.6 103.3 102.5

Transformative Aero Concepts Program 115.8 -- 123.3 110.1 124.9 125.1 125.1

Total Budget 656.0 655.5 633.9 608.9 608.9 608.9 608.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Aeronautics ......................................................................AERO-2

AIRSPACE OPERATIONS AND SAFETY PROGRAM .......................................AERO-18

ADVANCED AIR VEHICLES PROGRAM ...........................................................AERO-28

INTEGRATED AVIATION SYSTEMS PROGRAM ..............................................AERO-40

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator [Formulation]..............................................................AERO-46

TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM ........................................AERO-52
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Airspace Operations and Safety Program 140.6 -- 90.8 96.2 120.4 122.7 122.9

Advanced Air Vehicles Program 274.6 -- 230.6 248.5 257.1 257.8 258.3

Integrated Aviation Systems Program 125.0 -- 189.2 154.1 106.6 103.3 102.5

Transformative Aero Concepts Program 115.8 -- 123.3 110.1 124.9 125.1 125.1

Total Budget 656.0 655.5 633.9 608.9 608.9 608.9 608.9

Change from FY 2018 -21.6

Percentage change from FY 2018 -3.3%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

An efficient and effective transportation system 

is fundamental to the future of the U.S.

economy. Aviation is a highly visible and 

forward-looking component of transportation.

Aviation moves the world, and the U.S. is a 

global leader in aviation technology.

Aviation accounts for more than $1.6 trillion 

annually of total U.S. economic activity1and is 

one of the few industries that generates a 

positive trade balance: $90 billion in 2016

alone.

2 The aviation industry supports more than 

10.6 million direct and indirect jobs, including 

more than one million high-quality 

manufacturing jobs.

1

NASA has had a highly productive research 

partnership with the U.S. aviation industry and 

the nation’s foremost universities that has lasted 

for decades. This partnership has led to 

breakthroughs that have improved the efficiency, performance, and safety of aviation for all citizens. For 

example, the FY 2015 completion of the Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) project 

 

1 “The Economic Impact of Civil Aviation on the U.S. Economy,” FAA November 2016

2 “Leading Indicators for the U.S. Aerospace Industry.” ITA, March 3, 2017

NASA used an Air Force Test Pilot School T-38 and 

schlieren photography to capture shockwaves formed as 

the aircraft transitioned to supersonic speed. The 

technique will be used for future low-boom supersonic 

flight demonstrator flights.
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demonstrated the potential impact of NASA Aeronautics research. Estimates for potential fuel savings 

through the application of ERA technologies through 2050 could approach 80 billion gallons.

Today, we stand on the cusp of the next era in aviation. Recent technology advances are coming together 

to enable breakthroughs in the speed and efficiency of the transport aircraft that are the backbone of the 

aviation system. Other breakthroughs will enable new markets for smaller aircraft, from unmanned 

aircraft systems (UAS) that serve search and rescue, agriculture, and commerce applications to the 

potential for new modes of personal transport. These innovations will support new jobs, new 

opportunities, and new ways for the U.S. to lead the world in technology and innovation.

To ensure research focus on enabling the next era in aviation, NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission 

Directorate (ARMD) guides its efforts with its visionary strategic implementation plan: 

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/strategic-plan.htm. The plan lays out NASA’s approach to addressing 

growing demand for global air mobility, the major challenges of energy efficiency and environmental 

sustainability, and the opportunity for convergence between traditional aeronautical disciplines and 

technology advances in information, communications, energy and other rapidly evolving technologies. 

The strategic implementation plan (SIP) identifies six research thrusts:

 Thrust 1: Safe, efficient growth in global operations.

 Thrust 2: Innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft.

 Thrust 3: Ultra-efficient commercial vehicles.

 Thrust 4: Transition to alternative propulsion and energy.

 Thrust 5: Real-time, system-wide safety assurance.

 Thrust 6: Assured autonomy for aviation transformation.

NASA’s investment strategy follows long-term research roadmaps in order to enable major outcomes in 

each of these thrusts. The roadmaps are implemented in partnership with the aviation community and 

reflect solutions to aviation system needs that will provide benefits in mobility, environmental 

sustainability, and safety, while ensuring continued long-term U.S. aviation technology leadership in this 

rapidly expanding global industry.

The Budget fully supports NASA’s new X-plane, the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD), which 

will demonstrate quiet overland supersonic flight and open a new market to U.S. industry. In FY 2018, 

NASA will award a competitive contract for the detailed aircraft design, build, and validation of this XPlane. The LBFD X-Plane is expected to achieve first flight by FY 2021. Initial flight activities will be

focused on the safe expansion of the LBFD’s flight envelope, but NASA will then proceed to conduct a 

sonic boom noise testing flight campaign. This campaign will generate data that will validate models used 

to design future airplanes with quiet supersonic features while also giving regulatory authorities a basis on 

which to set new supersonic noise regulations.

The Budget also increases funding for research on hypersonic flight by $5 million, which is critical to 

understanding how crewed and robotic spacecraft can safely enter and exit the atmospheres of planets. 

Hypersonics also has applications for national defense.

NASA has made significant advances in subsonic technologies that radically reduce fuel consumption, 

noise, and emissions. Among the key technologies are high aspect ratio wing, boundary layer ingestion 

engines, new aircraft configurations, and electric propulsion. NASA will develop these enabling 

technologies through physics-based simulations, ground test, and flight tests.
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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

Thrust 1: Safe, efficient growth in global operations

NASA successfully completed ATM Technology Demonstration 1 (ATD-1), also known as Interval 

Management - Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing. ATD-1 technologies will directly 

address airport terminal area congestion, by delivering the benefits of advanced flight arrival management 

technologies during moderate to high levels of traffic demand. The development of ATD-1 flight-deck 

interval management technologies culminated in a flight test in Washington State in February 2017. 

NASA installed and evaluated prototype flight hardware and software that allows pilots to manage the 

merging of their aircraft into the airport arrival stream and maintain safe spacing. ATD-1 closeout 

activities occurred in late FY 2017 after successful integration of the systems in the demonstration, final 

analysis, documentation, and technology transfer to the FAA. In September 2017, the ATD-1 software, 

known as Terminal Sequencing and Spacing for Air Traffic Control, was named NASA's 2017 Software 

of the Year.

NASA successfully completed preparations for an ATD-2 Phase 1 Departure Metering demonstration at 

the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the test site for this initial simulation of a new departure 

metering capability. This demonstration supported the FAA’s joint government/industry initiative aimed 

at improving air traffic flow management through increased information exchange among airline and 

airport stakeholders. The ATD-2 team and field demonstration partners have completed several additional 

shadow sessions, a major integrated human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation, Phase 1 requirements 

evaluation, and risk management review. These activities enabled an affirmative systems readiness 

decision to allow commencement of the Phase 1 demonstration in late September 2017 through fourth 

quarter FY 2018.

Thrust 2: Innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft

NASA reached a major milestone for commercial supersonic aircraft by developing "Intermediate Tools 

for Sonic Boom Community Reponses" which represents a key step for enhancing computational tools to 

aid in understanding the impact of noise from sonic booms. With these tools, NASA has created a 

foundation of innovative concepts that will enable future airport noise regulations to be met while 

enabling industry to demonstrate overland supersonic flight with acceptable sonic boom noise in the 

future. Data are necessary for supporting a change for regulation, but these tools are needed to help ensure 

that the best data are obtained and also to determine how to project the effects to a wider variety of 

locations because it would not be possible to actually fly a low boom aircraft over every community. 

Ultimately, this research will assist in the ability to establish a new low boom regulation that opens the 

door to a commercial supersonic transport market.

In addition to developing computational tools, NASA made significant progress during FY 2017 on the 

LBFD project. In FY 2017, NASA successfully completed the preliminary design for the LBFD test 

aircraft. This effort addressed integration of all aspects of a design that enables the mission requirements 

of the LBFD to be met. Scaled models of the design were tested in the NASA Glenn Research Center 

wind tunnels in 2017 to validate the performance against the project requirements.
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Thrust 3: Ultra-efficient commercial vehicles

NASA conducted research aimed at developing future aircraft that could dramatically reduce fuel burn, 

noise, and emissions substantially below current limits. At NASA's Glenn Research Center 8' x 6' wind 

tunnel, NASA completed the installation of a Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) System which will enable 

radical reductions in fuel burn and noise reductions for future generations of aircraft, primarily by 

reducing the amount of drag created by conventionally mounted engines. This new capability was 

successfully used during a collaborative effort between NASA and United Technologies Research Center 

to conduct a transonic wind tunnel test of a new gas turbine engine fan design that could withstand the 

distorted air inflow due to BLI with minimal effect on fan performance and stability. These experiments 

assisted in the quantification of the BLI impact on fan performance and structural characteristics at cruise 

conditions. Ultimately, BLI technology could provide a significant improvement in the efficiency of 

future aircraft. 

NASA collaborated with Aurora Flight Sciences to validate operational benefits and identify integration 

challenges associated with a new fuel-efficient aircraft configuration that incorporates BLI for reduced 

airframe drag. This validation was done by completing a Conceptual Design Review of the aircraft 

configuration and a Preliminary Design Review of the aircraft structure. These reviews helped NASA and 

Aurora to understand the feasibility and risks associated with how well this new aircraft concept will 

perform as well as how to potentially integrate BLI technology on future unconventional configurations.

NASA completed Phase I tasks in the Advanced Composites Project, which focused on reducing the time 

and/or cost of implementing new composites structures in future air vehicle designs. A key aspect of the 

completed Phase I work was the assessment and initial development of computational tools that would 

accurately predict the strength and life of composite designs. In addition, NASA also advanced key 

technologies to rapidly test and inspect composite structures for possible damage. The Advanced 

Composites Project is scheduled to conclude in FY 2019.

NASA conducted flight tests of the aerodynamics of a wing with an adaptive compliant trailing edge 

(ACTE) and a new landing gear fairing concept designed to reduce noise. To date, the flight tests have 

verified improved wing aerodynamics with the ACTE flap installed, and significant acoustic benefits 

through the use of landing gear noise reduction fairings; in addition, flight tests have enabled acoustic tool 

validation that will be instrumental in developing landing gear noise reduction treatments for future 

aircraft. ACTE testing will continue into early FY 2018, and additional testing of the landing gear noise 

reduction fairing concept and tool validation will continue into late FY 2018.

NASA, in partnership with the U.S. Army and Penn State University, has successfully designed, patented 

and fabricated two innovative two-speed transmission systems for vertical lift vehicles, the Dual-Star 

Idler and the Offset Compound Gear, including the development of a unique test facility for scaled 

transmission configurations for these vehicles. This new technology enables a turbine engine to continue 

to operate efficiently even while its internal speed is slowed down. NASA has also developed and 

patented new hybrid metal/composite gears to reduce transmission system weight compared to the current 

all-metal systems. The ability to slow a rotor provides a long sought-after capability for vertical lift 

vehicles that allows significant improvements in performance and reduction of noise. The reduction in 

weight resulting from the use of lightweight hybrid component technologies could be applied beyond 

vertical lift to other aviation vehicles and the automotive industry.
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Thrust 4: Transition to alternative propulsion and energy

NASA worked with airframe and engine manufacturers as well as universities to identify and analyze

propulsion and power system options for next generation aircraft. These analyses verified the benefits of 

the new propulsion systems for a single aisle class of transport airplane and will be used to guide the 

technology development efforts on specific components. For example, turboelectric and hybrid electric 

designs are showing promising energy reductions of up to 15 percent for the propulsion system alone, 

which can also be augmented by improvements in other technologies, such as materials and wing design.

NASA brought online the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) to support its first powertrain testing 

of subscale (kilowatt) aircraft systems. The NEAT facility enables powertrain research and technology 

development for electric aircraft systems at power levels relevant to a full-scale, single-aisle aircraft. The 

testbed successfully passed safety reviews and tests were completed at the 125 kilowatt and 250 kilowatt 

power levels. These tests validated and matured the strategies required for using electric machine pairs to 

emulate the coupling between a turbine engine and an integrated electrical generator, and an electric 

motor driving a propulsive fan. These strategies are the key building blocks for electrified aircraft 

powertrains that will be tested over the next several years while increasing power, voltage levels, and 

architectural complexity, eventually leading up to full-scale (megawatt) systems.

NASA, along with its partner Boeing, made substantial progress in advancing technologies aimed at 

hybrid electric propulsion for large commercial aircraft. In FY 2017 system-level assessments of several 

promising hybrid electric/turboelectric concepts, such as those that utilize a turbine engine that not only

provides thrust, but also generates electricity that can be used to turn fans located in different parts of the 

aircraft. Such configurations offer a possibility for increased efficiency that is not possible with traditional 

configurations that we see today. All configurations that were assessed showed significant reductions in 

fuel burn compared to conventional aircraft. In addition to the system-level assessments, NASA designed 

high-efficiency and high specific power megawatt-scale powertrain components such as the electric 

motors/generators and power converters.

In addition to the design and advancement of components to enable all-electric or hybrid gas-electric 

propulsion systems, NASA investigated small-core combustion engine technologies. The collective effect 

of this research is the potential for low or nearly no carbon emission propulsion advancements. In the area 

of advanced combustors, NASA and United Technologies Research Center completed initial single-sector 

concepts for the 2035 timeframe focusing on lowering emissions, fuel flexibility, and advancing small 

core combustor architectures that reduce landing and take-off nitrogen oxides by 80 percent below the 

standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization and its committee on Aviation 

Environmental Protection in 2010.

NASA continued the development of the X-57 Maxwell aircraft, a general aviation-scale aircraft to test 

highly integrated distributed electric propulsion technology. This demonstration is an important first step 

toward assessing the benefits and challenges of operating more electrified aircraft. The X-57 effort is 

being conducted in multiple phases called “Mods.” For Mod II, the gas-powered engines of the aircraft 

will be replaced by electric cruise motors. For Mod III, the wing will be replaced with a newly-designed 

high aspect ratio wing, and the electric cruise motors will be installed on the wing tips. And for Mod IV, 

an array of smaller electric propulsors will be installed along the wing leading edge to demonstrate the 

effectiveness of Distributed Electric Propulsion. Beyond demonstrating the increased efficiency and 

feasibility of electric propulsion technologies, the single most important achievement for the X-57 effort 

will be the learning associated with successfully integrating electrified propulsion, and the highly 
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complex supporting systems, into an aircraft. This learning will be broadly shared with the aviation 

community to advance U.S. readiness for application of electric propulsion technology.

Thrust 5: Real-time, system-wide safety assurance

NASA sponsored a study on real-time safety conducted by a committee convened by the National 

Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The committee is developing recommendations for a 

national research agenda to develop in-time capabilities to detect, predict, and prevent safety problems in 

the National Airspace System. The report was delivered in January 2018.

NASA continued to develop and transfer tools and methods to assure safety in complex aviation systems 

and data. At the request of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), NASA identified 

and solved a problem with an algorithm in the world’s automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast 

specification and provided multiple solutions to permanently remedy the error. Researchers developed 

and demonstrated a framework that verifies streaming FAA System-Wide Information Management 

aviation data feeds. NASA also delivered a Verification and Validation (V&V) Toolbox to the FAA 

Technical Center. The NASA developed tools provide automated assurance of the code underlying air 

traffic management systems. Tools to verify systems at the design level will be added to the FAA 

Technical Center toolbox in FY 2018. All tools are open source and available to system developers in 

industry as well as at the FAA.

In addition, NASA continued progress on research to evaluate causes of loss of energy state and/or 

attitude state awareness in support of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team’s (CAST's) Safety 

Enhancements. Activities included validating scenarios for attention-related performance limitations, 

maturing avionics display concepts and technologies and development of Augmented Flight Deck 

Countermeasures – work that was highlighted in briefings to the RTCA. NASA completed the Stall 

Recovery Guidance simulator study, which investigated pilots’ failure to recognize conditions leading to 

aerodynamic stall and limitations in their ability to respond appropriately to an unexpected stall or upset 

event.

Thrust 6: Assured autonomy for aviation transformation

NASA developed, matured, and tested the second technical capability level (TCL2) for UAS traffic 

management (UTM) for small UAS operating at low altitudes which incorporated weather/wind 

integration, trajectory routing, object avoidance, and congestion management at an initial flight trial at 

Nevada's Reno-Stead Airport. The initial flight trial was followed-up with TCL2 distributed tests 

(National Campaigns) using selected FAA UAS Test Sites across the United States. TCL2 technology 

was an integral part of the completed National Campaign 2 where six geographically diverse UAS Test 

Sites flew multiple pilot operations beyond visual line of site in lightly populated rural environments 

(May 2017 to June 2017). Researchers tested technologies that allowed dynamic adjustments to userrequested flight plans based on availability of airspace and contingency management. The TCL2 flight 

validation connected real drone-tracking systems to the UTM research platform, providing alerts for 

approaching drones and piloted aircraft (live or simulated), as well as providing information about 

weather and other hazards. NASA delivered the results from TCL2 flight test to the Unmanned Aircraft 

Safety Team, the FAA Research Transition Team, the Science and Research Panel, and the Association 

for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. A NASA Technical Memorandum describing the 

demonstration of necessary data exchange between the UTM TCL2 components was included in the 

technology transfer to the FAA in April 2017.
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NASA's UAS Integration in the NAS (UAS-NAS) project closed out Phase 1 in parallel with the 

execution of Phase 2. The UAS-NAS Phase 1 effort informed the development of Phase 1 Detect and 

Avoid Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for large UAS transiting through Class E 

Airspace to high altitude enroute airspace (Class A) for RTCA’s Special Committee on UAS Integration 

into the NAS (SC 228) Special Committee 228. The project is working in conjunction with RTCA in 

developing standards necessary for UAS operations in the NAS. This MOPS will enable the FAA to 

develop Technical Standard Orders so that Industry can build UAS flight hardware capable of safely 

integrating into the NAS.

NASA, in cooperation with the FAA, began planning to obtain a No Chase Certificate of Waiver or 

Authorization (NCC) for a UAS flight demonstration. The planned FY 2018 demonstration will be the 

first-ever flight of a UAS in the NAS without a safety chase aircraft to enable a pilot to “see and avoid” 

other aircraft. The purpose of the demonstration is to fly a UAS in multiple Classes of airspace in order to 

demonstrate the feasibility of integrating the Phase 1 Detect and Avoid (DAA) technologies as an 

alternate means of compliance with the current rule for pilots to “see and avoid” aircraft.

Cross-Cutting Capabilities

NASA completed a diverse set of hardware modifications in the Ames Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel 

creating an "Optical Test Section of Tomorrow." For this transonic/supersonic wind tunnel, modifications 

were made to upgrade the data acquisition system for test model surface pressures and off-body 

aerodynamic measurements, and also increase productivity and data accuracy through advanced optical 

instrumentation and techniques. This new capability will allow researchers to accurately and efficiently

identify and understand the complex flow phenomena of next generation aircraft and space vehicles in 

realistic flight conditions.

NASA improved the accuracy of critical turbulence models and numerical methods for separated flows by 

reducing the predictive error by 40 percent against standard test cases. Current fluid models have been 

unreliable in representing turbulent flow regions including separated flows. These limitations have 

prevented the broader use of numerical modeling for aircraft design, leading to higher costs and less than 

optimal designs. NASA’s turbulence models are one key contribution to the CFD 2030 Vision, a 

collaborative effort recently established by leading fluid dynamics experts from government, industry, 

and academia. 

NASA demonstrated a high-temperature material system for turbine engine components that enable a 

6 percent reduction in fuel burn while meeting 2700 F use temperature and durability metrics. Higher 

temperature materials reduce the amount of cooling needed in engine turbines, improve fuel efficiency, 

lower operating cost, and reduce emissions. As part of this effort, NASA has been collaborating with a 

U.S. engine company to advance these high-temperature ceramic matrix composites (CMC) materials. 

The company plans to incorporate CMCs into the hot section of a new engine that will power the next 

generation of commercial airplanes.

NASA completed feasibility assessments for four Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) activities. 

These studies culminated the initial exploration of innovative new aeronautics concepts and contributed 

knowledge and technology advancements across several areas. Contributions include a new toolset for 

designers of small unmanned aerial vehicles and a concept that uses robotic construction of aircraft 

structures using strong, lightweight materials; another concept can significantly reduce ground testing 

time by allowing a new aircraft to "learn" its control system in flight similar to how a young bird learns to 

fly by jumping out of the nest. NASA is discussing a potential technology transition of this concept to a 
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U.S. aerospace company. The final CAS activity demonstrated a concept that uses advanced sensors and 

models to create a "digital twin" that can predict the performance of a physical system over its lifecycle. 

NASA will use all results from the assessments to guide future investments and to provide essential

knowledge that can benefit other ARMD programs and the aviation community.

NASA executed the first round of the competitive University Leadership Initiative awards under the 

University Innovation (UI) Project with five awards. These awards are the result of university leaders 

independently identifying technical barriers inherent in achieving ARMD’s strategic outcomes, and 

proposing multi-disciplinary solutions to address those barriers. Total participants for all awards include 

twenty-one universities, seven companies, and one non-profit organization across twenty-one states.

Hypersonic Capabilities

In FY 2017, NASA started the Hypersonic Technology Project to develop synergistic technology and 

knowledge that benefit NASA’s long-term interests for commercial applications while leveraging 

Department of Defense interests. During the year, NASA completed an assessment of approaches to 

better estimate the uncertainty of models and designs of hypersonic systems. These approaches will be 

applied to computer models and validated with ground test and flight data. Ultimately, this will lead the 

way to new design tools that facilitate the development of a variety of hypersonic vehicles. Additionally, 

NASA conducted tests that improved the project’s understanding of how to develop a high-speed 

propulsion system that can take off like a traditional jet airplane and transition to a scram jet for increased 

speed. NASA is researching how to optimally make this transition and is developing tools and guidance 

that others can eventually use to design reusable hypersonic vehicles.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

Thrust 1: Safe, efficient growth in global operations

NASA has begun operational evaluation and demonstration of ATD-2 technologies that improve sharing 

of operational information to better plan and schedule aircraft movement. The ATD-2 computer-driven 

scheduling tools will help traffic managers coordinate flight schedules at the ramp, tower, terminal and 

center control facilities, and make better decisions about how to reduce congestion during the busiest 

times at airports and improve departure times saving fuel, time, and money. ATD-2 operational 

evaluations and demonstration will be conducted in three phases: Phase 1 will demonstrate a baseline 

integrated arrival, departure and surface system, to include the FAA’s Surface Collaborative Decision 

Making concept, at CLT in Charlotte, NC and the FAA Air Traffic Control Center in Washington, DC 

and in FY 2020 phases 2 and 3 including a field demonstration with participation of NASA and FAA Air 

Traffic Control Centers in Charlotte, NC; Washington, DC; and Atlanta, GA in FY 2020.

Thrust 2: Innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft

While significant progress has been made in developing noise prediction tools, there is still more work 

needed to provide the comprehensive understanding that the rule making community will need to actually 

change regulations. NASA is continuing development of additional models for the prediction of the 

community response to noise created by the overflight of future supersonic commercial aircraft. Based on 

simulations conducted in NASA’s Interior Effects Laboratory, the first of these models will be capable of 

predicting the response of a person who hears supersonic overflight noise while indoors. The second of 

these models will be used to predict the indoor noise created by supersonic overflight in a wide variety of 
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homes with different room arrangements and construction techniques. With the combination of these 

models, NASA will perform analytical studies of community responses to the overflight noise of future 

supersonic commercial aircraft, which will provide the underlying data needed for NASA to develop

future community overflight experiments. 

NASA will award a contract for the LBFD flight demonstrator aircraft to perform detailed design, build, 

test, and flight validation. This demonstrator will be used to collect the flight and community response

data necessary to establish overland supersonic noise regulations. In addition, NASA will conduct the 

KDP-C for the LBFD aircraft. The successful completion of KDP-C will represent Authorization to 

Proceed to the execution phase of the project with validated plans for the cost and schedule of the LBFD 

project.

Thrust 3: Ultra-efficient commercial vehicles

NASA will build upon the significant advances in recent years for new ideas and concepts for designing 

much more efficient aircraft and further explore some of the most promising technologies to ensure that 

they can be used by industry for future products. For example, NASA is continuing to investigate the 

potential benefits of the integrated Boundary Layer Ingestion technology for engines that can be mounted 

and partially embedded, on top of an airframe in a way that is much more efficient than traditional underthe-wing engine configurations. Recent boundary layer ingestion test results show an overall vehicle 

efficiency benefit, but another key factor in determining if this concept is viable is to determine if an 

engine’s fan can be designed to handle the uneven air flow resulting from this configuration. The newly 

installed Boundary Layer Ingestion system at NASA Glenn will continue to be utilized to better 

understand how to design future fans for such a configuration. If successful, this work will lay the path for 

new designs that offer significant aircraft performance benefits.

NASA is focusing on reducing community noise through the Landing Gear Noise Reduction (LGNR) 

effort to demonstrate novel landing gear porous fairing and wheel cavity treatments. Flight testing is 

planned during spring 2018. In addition, the LGNR effort will extend the simulation-based airframe noise 

prediction methodology to the undercarriage and high-lift systems of large civil transports. The goal is to 

reduce the airframe component of community noise by 1.5 PLdB [Perceived Level (PL), decibels (dB)], 

or approximately 30 percent, with minimal impact on aircraft weight and performance, and to validate an 

advanced, physics-based methodology for the accurate prediction of airframe noise.

In order to help improve the performance, efficiency, and noise reduction for new higher-speed vertical 

lift configurations, NASA is demonstrating Multi-Fidelity Design Optimization processes for low-noise 

and low-emissions Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) designs. The ability to use computational 

optimization processes will enable design engineers to efficiently assess and compare design and 

technology options to create advanced concepts for cleaner and quieter VTOL configurations. These 

advances will help pave the way for new vehicles that can be used for new missions such as economical 

inter-urban transport.

Thrust 4: Transition to alternative propulsion and energy

NASA will continue to partner with universities, industry, and other government agencies to investigate, 

develop, and test small-core, fuel-flexible combustor technologies that take full advantage of the 

attributes of alternative drop-in jet fuels. These advanced technologies have the potential to reduce 

nitrogen oxide emissions and particulate matter pollutants to 80 percent below the international standard 
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with minimal impacts on weight, noise and component life. Additionally, these benefits will be 

compatible with both gas-turbine-only and hybrid-gas electric architectures.

NASA, in partnership with United Technologies Research Center, Pratt and Whitney, and Woodward, 

will continue studying newly designed small-core combustors in order to obtain landing and take-off 

nitrogen oxide emissions data at relevant engine operating conditions. In addition, NASA will continue to 

focus on establishing a viable concept for a 5-10 megawatt hybrid gas-electric propulsion system for 

commercial transport aircraft focusing on demonstrating an overall system-level energy usage reduction. 

NASA will continue to advance propulsion concepts in the NEAT facility by preparing and testing a 

simplified subscale powertrain for NASA’s 2.6 megawatt Single-aisle Turboelectric Aircraft with Aft 

Boundary Layer (STARC-ABL). STARC-ABL is a lightly distributed architecture where power is drawn 

from two under-wing turbine engines and transferred to the tail of the aircraft where an electric motor 

drives a propulsive fan. This concept provides additional thrust while reducing drag because of how it 

interacts with the air moving close to the aircraft body, known as the boundary layer. Tests currently 

underway are resolving controls, safety, and electromagnetic interference issues using non-flight weight 

components at 500 kilowatts and 600 Volts. Designs for a megawatt-scale powertrain with additional 

systems added for energy storage, fault isolation and dynamic controls will be completed in FY 2018 and 

plans are in place to install and demonstrate a MW- class powertrain in FY 2019.

NASA's X-57 project is conducting Mod II configuration flights. These flights represent a crucial step in 

the flight test process as the conventional fuel engines will be replaced with electric motors and electrical 

storage and power distribution systems needed for all-electric flight. Following Mod II flights, the X-57 

aircraft will be modified to the Mod III configuration; this includes integrating the newly designed, highaspect ratio wing on the aircraft, and integrating the electric cruise motors onto the wing tips. The Mod III 

high aspect ratio wing will be delivered in FY 2018. Cruise efficiency gains are anticipated for the X-57 

during the Mod III flights planned for FY 2019.

Thrust 5: Real-time, system-wide safety assurance

NASA will transfer safety assessment tools and build on legacy system-wide safety work to make 

progress toward in-time monitoring and assessment capabilities. A validated human fatigue monitoring 

tool will become publicly available in the Apple App Store and NASA-developed anomaly detection code

(currently in use by several airline partners) will be integrated into the FAA’s Aviation Safety 

Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) vulnerability database. NASA will also look to address future 

potential safety risks associated with emerging markets. Researchers will develop a baseline data 

monitoring functional design and requirements for selected safety risks associated with new entrants such 

as UAVs as well as a baseline capability simulation and/or flight tests to support in-time risk assessment 

and conformance-related monitoring.

NASA will continue to develop and evaluate tools and methods that support the ability to assure safety in 

aviation systems early in the development lifecycle. These improvements will reduce cost, as well as 

support industry use of these new verification and validation (V&V) methods by helping the FAA 

develop new paths to certification that employ evidence from these methods. NASA will deliver an 

automated tool that assures safe design of new systems to the FAA for inclusion in their NASA V&V 

toolbox. NASA will also continue development of automated solutions for assurance of automated 

systems by defining requirement categories for classes of autonomy algorithms involving learning and/or 

optimization, as well as developing tools to check systems for these requirements. In addition, NASA will 

determine whether there are means for automated safety assessment of non-deterministic systems either 
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pre-deployment or in operation. A joint NASA/Air Force Research Laboratory symposium for V&V of 

autonomous systems will be held at NASA Ames Research Center in August 2018. 

NASA will conclude most of the work in support of the CAST Safety Enhancement for airplane state 

awareness. A simulation will evaluate piloted models that support stall training requirements. NASA will 

also coordinate with the FAA and manufacturer research organizations to develop enhanced tools and 

methods to represent flight crew responses in situations associated with loss of energy state and/or 

attitude state awareness.

Thrust 6: Assured autonomy for aviation transformation

NASA will develop and demonstrate the third technical capability level (TCL3) for UTM focusing on the 

requirements to manage separation by vehicle and/or ground-based capabilities under higher densities. 

The focus areas will build upon research validated under TCL2 (demonstrating operations beyond the 

visual line-of-sight) over moderately populated land with some interaction with manned aircraft. In 

addition, vehicle tracking/internet connectivity will enable validation of requirements for active 

monitoring of trajectory conformance. This capability is relevant to public safety concerns (i.e., 

emergency and disaster response, fire management, HAZMAT, etc.) and commercial interests (i.e., 

package delivery, security, telecommunications, etc.).

NASA’s UAS-NAS project will continue the development of Phase 2 Minimum Operational Performance 

Standards (MOPS) in support of the FAA. As a key part of this development, the project will continue to 

work with industry to develop an alternative airborne surveillance sensor system for mid-size UAS. The 

sensor will be designed to be low size, weight, and power due to the size constraints for a mid-size UAS. 

RTCA Special Committee 228 is the primary stakeholder to in developing MOPS for this airborne 

surveillance sensor. The sensor will undergo flight testing to validate the simulations.

Cross-Cutting Capabilities

NASA will complete the design and installation of a new acoustical treatment in the Glenn Research 

Center 9x15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. This improvement will further reduce the facility’s

background noise to levels that will enable testing of next-generation low-noise propulsion system 

concepts. 

NASA will continue working on computational tools that improve new air vehicle design such as 

Revolutionary Computational Aerosciences, Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization, and 

Combustion Modeling. These tools will evaluate key enabling technologies for future subsonic aircraft 

configurations, advanced gas turbine engines, and/or hybrid electric propulsion systems that will achieve 

revolutionary levels of economic and environmental performance. 

NASA’s CAS Project initiates three new activities that support the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) domain. 

The first activity, Autonomy Teaming and Trajectories for Complex Trusted Operational Reliability, will 

develop and measure trust inherent in autonomous systems. The second activity, Fit-2-Fly, will focus on 

conducting automated monitoring and inspection of UAVs. Finally, the third activity, Quantum

Technologies for UAS, will apply quantum computing technologies to support secure UAV 

communications.
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Hypersonic Capabilities

NASA will continue to coordinate closely with partners in the Department of Defense (DoD) to leverage 

their investments in flight activities that develop and validate advanced physics-based models, while at 

the same time the DoD leverages NASA expertise, analyses, testing capabilities and computational 

models. NASA will also conduct ground test experiments to advance the feasibility of future systems that 

could use a turbine engine at slow speeds and then transition to a scramjet for high-speed operations. In 

addition, NASA will perform fundamental research in the areas of high-speed propulsion, re-usable 

vehicle technologies, and high-temperature materials. Systems analysis will also be performed greatly 

increasing the flexibility and utility of high-speed vehicles.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

Thrust 1: Safe, efficient growth in global operations

NASA will conduct the ATD-2 Phase 2 operational demonstration to evaluate the fused Integrated 

Arrival/Departure/Surface (IADS) system capability. Phase 2 will demonstrate the benefits of strategic 

surface metering during periods of significant demand/capacity imbalance and enhance tactical surface 

metering to improve non-movement area predictability and throughput. The ATD-2 capability will be 

expanded to validate more scheduling scenarios for Washington and Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control 

Centers and will culminate in a Phase 3 full system Metroplex IADS demonstration in FY 2020.

Thrust 2: Innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft

NASA will complete a "Sonic Boom Community Response Metric and Methodology" technical challenge 

by validating field study methodology, including indoor and outdoor noise metrics, exposure estimates, 

survey tools, and test protocols to support community studies for a low-boom flight demonstration.

NASA will conduct a Critical Design Review (CDR) as the culminating event to final design activities for 

the LBFD aircraft. Following a successful CDR, the aircraft contractor will conduct aircraft build 

activities that include component fabrication and assembly, integration of government furnished 

equipment, and final systems checkout in anticipation of NASA conducting a Flight Readiness Review 

late in FY 2020.

Thrust 3: Ultra-efficient commercial vehicles

NASA will explore a concept of tailoring aircraft structures so that weight is minimized in areas where it 

is not needed. NASA will focus on completing three key technical challenges in the area of accurate 

strength and life prediction, rapid inspection and characterization, and efficient manufacturing process 

development to help demonstrate the viability of this concept. An important milestone will also be 

accomplished by demonstrating computer-based tools, methodologies and system-level assessments,

which will reduce the time required to develop and certify composite structures.

NASA will continue Landing Gear Noise Reduction work on a simulation-based airframe noise 

prediction methodology for the undercarriage and high-lift systems of large civil transports. Through 

simulations, this effort plans to demonstrate approximately a 30 percent reduction in the airframe 

component of community noise with minimal impact on aircraft weight and performance. Planned work 

on this advanced physics-based methodology for the accurate prediction of airframe noise will be 

completed in FY 2019.
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NASA will lay the foundation for establishing a new multi-disciplinary design capability that will benefit 

a wide variety of vertical lift vehicle sizes. This new design approach will enable industry to develop 

conceptual designs of advanced vertical lift vehicles while taking into account multiple disciplines and 

aspects of the configuration design. Additionally, a focus in FY 2019 will be to complete a technical 

challenge for demonstrating design and flight operation methods for reducing VTOL aircraft noise 

impact, while accomplishing a milestone for achieving noise reductions of at least five decibels (dB) on 

approach for VTOL tests designed for low noise.

NASA will complete the Advanced Composites project, which will deliver a variety of computational 

tools and guidance that will significantly reduce the time needed to develop and certify new composite 

structures for aerospace applications. Currently, this process is very time-consuming due to the significant 

testing that is needed. The goal of this project is not to eliminate testing, but rather supplement such 

testing more effectively with computational models that will allow industry to conduct more efficient 

tests, thus reducing the development time by up to 30 percent, which will also reduce the cost 

significantly. Among the computational tools being developed by NASA are those capable of modeling 

composite materials to better predict their strength and durability. NASA will advance the methods that 

are used to inspect structures to both ensure the models are accurate and to improve the quality of 

production. Finally, NASA will develop methods to better implement these tools and practices into the 

manufacturing process so that they can be used most effectively. This project utilizes a public-private 

partnership to ensure that NASA is closely coordinated with both the FAA and industry so that the results 

can be implemented quickly and effectively.

Thrust 4: Transition to alternative propulsion and energy

NASA will establish a viable concept for 5-10 megawatt hybrid gas-electric propulsion system required 

for commercial transport aircraft. A main focus area is in the superconducting motor component, which

advances a key technology needed to realize practical larger-scale hybrid electric propulsion systems for

the future. Further, in partnership with industry, NASA will advance a megawatt-scale nonsuperconducting inverter to a higher technical maturity level. This advancement complements the 

superconducting motor and increases the technology options available to hybrid electric propulsion 

system designers as they identify and develop larger ground and flight demonstration opportunities.

NASA's X-57 Maxwell will conduct flights in the Mod III configuration. These flights will be performed

following the integration of the new, high-aspect ratio wing. In addition, the Mod III configuration, while 

still utilizing all-electric systems, will feature mounting electric motors for primary propulsion on the 

wing tips. As a result of these significant aircraft modifications, many of the integration challenges 

associated with installation of electrical and power distribution components will be addressed as the 

aircraft is prepared for flight.

Thrust 5: Real-time, system-wide safety assurance

NASA will provide an initial demonstration of in-time hazard identification by using a NASA-developed 

framework at the FAA to monitor and identify incident precursor patterns. Flight anomaly detection code 

will also undergo a final hand-off and be integrated into daily operations at the FAA’s Aviation Safety 

Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS), a database of safety related data from across government and 

industry. In addition, NASA will develop a framework for representing and managing uncertainties in 

streaming aviation data.
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NASA efforts in the area of V&V will include developing and delivering draft guidance for 

demonstrating confidence in safety claims based on a system’s overarching properties, opening the way 

for an automated safety assurance process. NASA will also develop a safety assurance dashboard that can 

give a comprehensive view of retired and residual risks and will document a new Model-Based Safety 

Analysis approach for complex, safety-critical systems. NASA will continue to provide automated safety 

assurance methods for autonomous systems by developing foundations for mitigation of residual risk in 

autonomous algorithms and techniques for (semi-) automatic mitigation of numerical errors in safetycritical autonomous systems.

NASA will also complete the final deliverables to Commercial Aviation Safety Team. NASA will deliver 

formal reporting methods to reduce risk of loss-of-control accidents (SE-200, "Virtual Day-Visual 

Meteorological Conditions Display Systems") and an evaluation of display strategies to provide control 

guidance for recovery from approach-to-stall (SE-207, "Attitude, Energy State and Airplane Systems 

Awareness Technologies). Closeout activities for this effort will be complete by fourth quarter FY 2019.

Thrust 6: Assured autonomy for aviation transformation

NASA will develop and demonstrate the fourth and final technical capability level (TCL4) for UTM

focusing on large-scale UAS operations in higher-density urban areas. The demonstration will also test 

technologies that could be used to manage large-scale contingencies (i.e., communication/navigation 

failures, disaster scenarios, etc.). These focus areas will build upon all research validated under TCL3

(managing safe spacing of vehicles and ground-based capabilities under higher densities) over densely

populated land with some interaction with manned aircraft. In addition, autonomous vehicle-to-vehicle

communications and internet connectivity will enable validation of requirements for active monitoring of 

trajectory conformance. This capability is relevant to commercial interests (i.e., news gathering, package 

delivery, security, telecommunications, etc.).

NASA's UAS-NAS project will complete flight testing of a low size, weight, and power airborne Detect 

and Avoid (DAA) surveillance capability. This flight demonstration is a key contributing event to Phase 2 

DAA MOPS development in support of RTCA Special Committee 228 standards development for UAS.

Also, the project will complete a flight test of a new control and non-payload communications radio in 

expected relevant operational environments. The test will demonstrate command and control capability in 

flight and contribute to Phase 2 standards development in support of RTCA Special Committee 228.

Cross-Cutting Capabilities

NASA will complete a series of new capabilities and test technologies for several wind tunnels. NASA's 

Propulsion Systems Laboratory will confirm its capability to simulate the high ice water content cloud 

conditions experienced in nature to the degree required to simulate the aviation safety issue of engine 

icing. 

NASA will begin new CAS activities from incubation supporting multiple strategic thrusts. The following 

CAS activities will go to close-out/transition: Lithium-Oxygen battery for NASA; Spanwise Adaptive 

Wing; Fostering Ultra-Efficient, Low-Emitting Aviation Power; Compact Additively Manufactured 

Innovative Electric Motor; and Conformal Lightweight Antenna Systems for Aeronautical 

Communication Technologies.
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Hypersonic Capabilities

NASA’s work on creating better methods to predict the uncertainty of computational models for 

hypersonic systems will be put to practice on the first demonstrations to explore the effect on an overall 

system. This will provide needed information to more efficiently design future hypersonic vehicles and 

also help identify which components have the biggest impact on vehicle performance, which will help 

NASA focus other research to have more impact. The results of this work will be shared with U.S. 

partners and applied to both ground and flight testing in the future. 

NASA will conduct a key experiment to demonstrate an autonomous mode transition in a turbine-based 

combined cycle system. NASA has developed the underlying theory and technologies to enable this to 

occur, but demonstrating such a transition is a key enabler for a practical system. NASA will develop the 

underlying algorithms and techniques that will allow industry to implement this concept in a variety of 

systems and provide a flexible operational capability that does not exist today. Ultimately, such a system 

may allow more effective and flexible access to space.

Programs

AIRSPACE OPERATIONS AND SAFETY PROGRAM

AOSP develops and explores fundamental concepts, algorithms, and technologies to increase throughput 

and efficiency of the NAS safely. The program works in close partnership with the FAA and the aviation 

community to enable and extend the benefits of NextGen, the Nation’s program for modernizing and 

transforming the NAS to meet evolving user needs. Integrated demonstrations of these advanced 

technologies will lead to clean air transportation systems and gate-to-gate efficient flight trajectories. The 

program is on the leading edge of research into increasingly autonomous aviation systems, including 

innovation in the management of UAS traffic and other novel aviation vehicles and business models. The 

program is also pioneering the real-time integration and analysis of data to support system-wide safety 

assurance, enabling proactive and prognostic aviation safety assurance. The program takes lead 

responsibility for three of ARMD’s Strategic Thrusts:

 Thrust 1: Safe, efficient growth in global operations;

 Thrust 5: Real-time, system-wide safety assurance; and 

 Thrust 6: Assured autonomy for aviation transformation (co-lead).

ADVANCED AIR VEHICLES PROGRAM

AAVP develops the tools, technologies, and concepts that enable new generations of civil aircraft that are 

safer, more highly energy efficient, and have a smaller environmental footprint. The program focuses on 

enabling major leaps in the safety, efficiency, and environmental performance of subsonic fixed and 

rotary wing aircraft to meet challenging and growing long-term civil aviation needs; pioneering lowboom supersonic flight to achieve new levels of global mobility; and sustaining hypersonic competency 

for national needs while advancing fundamental hypersonics research. In partnership with academia, 

industry and other government agencies such as the FAA, AAVP pioneers fundamental research and 

matures the most promising technologies and concepts for transition to system application by the aviation 

industry. The program also works in partnership with the DoD to ensure both NASA and DoD vehicle-
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focused research is fully coordinated and leveraged. The program sustains and advances key national 

testing capabilities that support aeronautics research and development needs. The program takes lead 

responsibility for three of ARMD’s Strategic Thrusts:

 Thrust 2: Innovation in commercial supersonic aircraft;

 Thrust 3: Ultra-efficient commercial vehicles; and,

 Thrust 4: Transition to alternative propulsion and energy.

INTEGRATED AVIATION SYSTEMS PROGRAM

IASP focuses on experimental flight research and the spirit of integrated, technological risk-taking that 

can demonstrate transformative innovation. Therefore, the program complements both AOSP and the 

AAVP by conducting research on the most promising concepts and technologies at an integrated system 

level. The program explores, assesses, and demonstrates the benefits of these potential technologies in a 

relevant environment. The program works in partnership with the other Aeronautics programs, other 

government agencies, academia, the aviation industry, and international partners as appropriate. The 

program supports the flight research and demonstration needs across all six ARMD Strategic Thrusts. The 

program takes lead responsibility for the following Strategic Thrust:

 Thrust 6: Assured autonomy for aviation transformation (co-lead).

TRANSFORMATIVE AERONAUTICS CONCEPTS

The Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP) cultivates multi-disciplinary, revolutionary 

concepts to enable aviation transformation and harnesses convergence in aeronautics and non-aeronautics 

technologies to create new opportunities in aviation. The program’s goal is to demonstrate initial 

feasibility of internally and externally originated concepts to support the discovery and initial 

development of new, transformative solutions for all six ARMD Strategic Thrusts. The program provides 

flexibility for innovators to explore technology feasibility and provide the knowledge base for 

transformational aviation concepts by using sharply focused activities. The program solicits and 

encourages revolutionary concepts, creates the environment for researchers to become immersed in trying 

out new ideas, performs ground and small-scale flight tests, allows failures and learns from them, and 

drives rapid turnover into new concepts. The program also supports research and development of major 

advancements in cross-cutting computational tools, methods, and single discipline technologies to 

advance the research capabilities of all Aeronautics programs.
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 140.6 -- 90.8 96.2 120.4 122.7 122.9

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The current U.S. air transportation system is 

widely recognized to be among the safest in the 

world. While the FAA-led NextGen effort will 

meet growing air traffic demand by enabling 

efficient passage through the increasingly 

crowded skies, it will come with increased 

operating complexity. Current aviation 

participants and the Air Traffic Management 

(ATM) system face many challenges related to 

global competitiveness, efficiency, productivity, 

higher mobility needs, and emergence of newer 

airspace uses (such as commercial space 

launches, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) 

in low and high altitudes).

Therefore, advanced automation technologies 

that work in harmony with human operators are 

critical for the United States to meet the public 

expectations for safety in this complex, dynamic 

domain. To achieve a modernized National Airspace System (NAS), the systems and processes of today 

must be rigorously and systematically transformed through the sustained, coordinated, and integrated 

efforts of many stakeholders. NASA looks to ensure that the future ATM system will accommodate these 

needs in a safe and affordable manner for service providers, vehicle/platform operators, and passengers as 

well as cargo. NASA will conduct research and develop autonomous technologies for aircraft/platforms 

as well as managing the airspace to support diverse operations. The transformation to modernize the NAS 

will be achieved through the deployment of new operational concepts and capabilities and advanced 

technologies, implemented in a service-oriented architecture for higher levels of commercial and 

automated services as applied to the Nation’s air transportation system. 

The Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) performs foundational air traffic management and 

operational safety research to enable continued improvement and transformation of the NAS. Moving key 

concepts and technologies from the laboratory into the field ultimately benefits the public by increasing 

capacity and reducing the total cost of air transportation. 

AOSP (with the Federal Aviation Administration and its other industry and academic partners) conceives, 

develops, and demonstrates NextGen technologies to improve the intrinsic safety of current and future 

aircraft systems that will operate in the NAS.

NASA's air traffic management technology enables 

improved flight schedule predictability and helps air 

traffic controllers increase efficiency in aircraft 

movement on the ground and during take-off. This 

results in reductions in flight delays, fuel usage, and 

noise.
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AOSP aims to:

 Enable NextGen from gate-to-gate to support projected growth and reduce the total cost of air 

transportation operations. NASA will work to reduce operator workload, fuel consumption, and 

environmental impacts while identifying and mitigating safety risks under hazardous constraints 

in a manner that is scalable over time to meet operational growth.

 Enable safe operation of emerging aviation markets, including low altitude autonomous vehicles, 

such as urban air mobility (UAM) markets (small autonomous UAS up through passengercarrying autonomous urban air taxis); high altitude, long endurance UAS; and, the potential 

reemergence of short-haul/thin-haul aviation. NASA will support the safe and efficient 

integration of traditional and emerging market operations, including high density, high frequency 

operations from many more access points in current low-density airspace.

 Enable more proactive system-wide “in-time” safety assurance management through the 

development of efficient tools and technologies to support real-time detection and mitigation of 

safety hazards, and assurance of new systems and operations.

NextGen technologies will provide advanced levels of automated support to air navigation service 

providers and aircraft operators for reduced travel times and travel-related delays both on the ground and 

in the sky. These advanced technologies provide shortened routes for time and fuel savings, with 

associated improvements in noise and emissions, and permit controllers to monitor and manage aircraft 

for greater safety in all weather conditions. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

AOSP will accelerate the technology transfer of the Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration 

(ATD)-3 subproject in FY 2018 and conduct an early closeout in FY 2019. In FY 2018, ATD-3 will 

conduct and complete the planned Traffic Aware Strategic Aircrew Requests (TASAR) flight trial with 

Alaska Airlines. TASAR allows the pilots to request more efficient and direct routes around other aircraft 

traffic and weather from the cockpit. The results of the flight trial will allow the FAA to develop 

minimum standards and concepts of operation for air/ground integrated airline requested efficient 

routing. AOSP will coordinate with the FAA to allow for limited acceleration of the ATD-3 FY 2019 

planned integration efforts into FY 2018.

In FY 2019, AOSP will complete an orderly closeout of the ATD-3 subproject, and transfer all data and 

research prototype tools to the FAA. NASA will deliver to FAA a Concept of Operations for Integrated 

Air/Ground user preferred routing utilizing NASA’s TASAR, Dynamic Weather Routing (DWR), Multiflight Common Routes (MFCR), and Dynamic Routes for Arrivals (DRAW), along with their research 

prototypes. FAA will use the technology transfer data to make their initial investment decision for 

integration of these capabilities into the FAA Time Flow Based Management (TBFM) system. The FAA 

will use the technology transfer data to make their initial investment decision for integration of these 

capabilities into the FAA Time Flow Based Management (TBFM) system.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 NASA successfully completed ATM Technology Demonstration 1 (ATD-1). ATD-1 closeout 

activities occurred late FY 2017 after successful integration of the systems in the demonstration, 

final analysis, documentation, and technology transfer to the FAA. In September 2017, the ATD-
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1 software, known as Terminal Sequencing and Spacing for Air Traffic Control, was named 

NASA's 2017 Software of the Year. (Thrust 1/ATD)

 NASA completed an initial air traffic simulation test bed for airspace systems that delivers 

capabilities to (1) evaluate emergent air traffic behavior due to novel air traffic control concepts 

and (2) provide the FAA and airspace users the ability to evaluate mature concepts/technologies 

in complex NextGen environments. (Thrust 1/Air Traffic Management – Exploration [ATM-X])

 NASA sponsored a study through the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, 

to develop a research agenda to support progress toward the vision of in-time safety assurance. In 

addition, NASA made progress on some of the fundamental challenges associated with moving 

toward in-time safety, including demonstration of a tool to verify streaming data and 

demonstration of tools to provide ongoing monitoring and assessment of safety margins for both 

in-flight and surface operations. (Thrust 5/System-Wide Safety [SWS])

 NASA developed, matured, and tested the second technical capability level (TCL2) for UAS 

traffic management (UTM) which incorporated weather/wind integration, trajectory routing, 

object avoidance, and congestion management in an initial flight trial at Nevada's Reno-Stead 

Airport. Researchers tested technologies that allowed dynamic adjustments to user-requested 

flight plans based on availability of airspace and contingency management. A NASA Technical 

Memorandum describing the demonstration of necessary data exchange between the UTM TCL2 

components was included in the technology transfer to the FAA in April 2017. (Thrust 6/UTM)

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 NASA will begin the ATD-2 testing technologies that improve sharing of operational information 

to better plan and schedule aircraft movement. The ATD-2 computer-driven scheduling tools will 

help traffic managers coordinate flight schedules at the ramp, tower, terminal and center control 

facilities, and make better decisions about how to reduce congestion during the busiest times at 

airports and improve departure times saving fuel, time, and money. (Thrust 1/ATD)

 In support of developing urban air mobility operations, the ATM-X project will leverage NASAdeveloped technologies such as air traffic simulation test bed capabilities to evaluate automated 

trajectory negotiation, collaborative decision making, and connected trajectory-based 

technologies. NASA will also develop an Integrated Demand Management (IDM) concept that 

coordinates state-of-the-art capacity, demand, and weather forecasts across different traffic flow 

management capabilities to better regulate demand/capacity imbalances under adverse weather 

conditions. (Thrust 1/ATM-X)

 NASA is completing a safety assessment of selected air traffic management systems in a 

distributed environment and demonstrate a flexible framework for evaluating ATM and avionics 

systems. Upon successful demonstration, these tools will be transferred to the FAA and the 

avionics industry in FY 2019. NASA will simulate piloted models that support stall training 

requirements. NASA will also coordinate with the FAA and manufacturer research organizations 

to develop enhanced tools and methods to represent flight crew responses in situations associated 

with loss of energy state and/or attitude state awareness. (Thrust 5/SWS)

 NASA is developing and will demonstrate the third technical capability level (TCL3) for UTM, 

focusing on the requirements to manage separation by vehicle and/or ground-based capabilities 

under higher densities. The focus areas will be research validated under TCL2 demonstrating 

operations beyond the visual line-of-sight over moderately populated land with some interaction 

with manned aircraft. In addition, vehicle tracking/internet connectivity will enable validation of 

requirements for active monitoring of trajectory conformance. (Thrust 6/UTM)
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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

 NASA will conduct the ATD-2 Phase 2 demonstration to evaluate the fused Integrated 

Arrival/Departure/Surface (IADS) system capability. Phase 2 will demonstrate the benefits of 

strategic surface metering during periods of significant demand/capacity imbalance and enhance 

tactical surface metering to improve non-movement area predictability and throughput. The ATD2 capability will be expanded to validate more scheduling scenarios for the Washington and 

Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Centers and will culminate in a Phase 3 full system Metroplex 

IADS demonstration in FY 2020. (Thrust 1/ATD)

 NASA will provide an initial demonstration of near real-time hazard identification by using a 

NASA-developed framework at the FAA to monitor and identify incident precursor patterns. 

Flight anomaly detection code will also undergo a final handoff and be integrated into daily 

operations at the FAA’s Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS). In addition, 

NASA will develop a framework for representing and managing uncertainty in streaming aviation 

data. (Thrust 5/SWS)

 NASA will complete the final deliverables to the Commercial Aviation Safety Team, including 

delivering formal reporting methods to reduce risk of loss-of-control accidents (SE-200, “Virtual 

Day-Visual Meteorological Conditions Display Systems”) and an evaluation of display strategies 

to provide control guidance for recovery from approach-to-stall (SE-207, "Attitude, Energy State 

and Airplane Systems Awareness Technologies”). Closeout activities for the effort will be 

completed by fourth quarter FY 2019. (Thrust 5/SWS)

 NASA will develop and demonstrate the fourth and final technical capability level (TCL4) for 

UTM, focusing on large-scale UAS operations in higher-density urban areas. The demonstration 

will also test technologies that could be used to manage large-scale contingencies (i.e., 

communication/navigation failures, disaster scenarios, etc.). The focus areas will be all research 

validated under TCL3 (managing safe spacing of vehicles and ground-based capabilities under 

higher densities) over densely populated land with some interaction with manned aircraft. 

(Thrust 6/UTM)

.
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Program Elements

AIRSPACE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS (ATD)

The ATD project is comprised of a suite of critical technology development and demonstration activities 

geared toward delivery of near-term benefits to air transportation system stakeholders. ATD supports the 

ARMD safe efficient growth in global operations strategic thrust by two sub-projects with each focused 

on a technical challenge.

 ATD-1 (Interval Management - Terminal Area Precision Scheduling and Spacing) will directly 

address terminal area congestion, and evaluate the benefits of advanced flight arrival management 

technologies across a range of aircraft equipment levels during moderate to high levels of traffic 

demand. When integrated, the ATD-1 technologies will allow the pilots to achieve precise 

spacing separation between aircraft, and the controllers to manage the variability between flights 

and respond to disturbances to the schedule. This integrated set of capabilities will enable 

increased fuel efficiency while maintaining runway throughput to high-density airports.

 The Integrated Arrival, Departure, Surface (IADS) technology demonstration will develop and 

demonstrate an integrated suite of tools to provide the FAA and airline operators precision 

schedules for gates, runways, arrival, and departure fixes while ensuring efficient individual 

aircraft routes. IADS, also known as ATD-2, will reduce unnecessary buffers imposed by the 

human workload associated with the tasks of simultaneously coordinating and scheduling of 

arrivals, departures, and runway and surface operations.

AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - EXPLORATION (ATM-X)

The Air Traffic Management - eXploration (ATM-X) project will transform the air traffic management 

system to accommodate the growing demand of new entrants with their new mission requirements while 

also allowing established large commercial aircraft operators to fly more user-preferred routes with 

improved predictability. To achieve the goal of greater universal access with safe efficient operations for 

all users and allow for more flexible flight routes, ATM-X will utilize a two-phase approach. 

In the first phase, the project will explore challenging use cases (e.g., high-density vertical lift vehicle 

operations for urban air mobility (UAM)) in an open airspace management system architecture to 

establish key performance parameters and prioritized technical challenges. Phase 1 will also provide early 

demonstration of emerging market operations by simulating higher levels of industry-provided services to 

validate the potential for more rapid modernization by incorporating innovations at "industry" speeds. 

Phase 2 will then pursue the baselined technical challenges and further develop, validate and transfer the 

key concepts and technologies to stakeholders. Phase 2 will also demonstrate that the open architecture 

approach, integration of air traffic technologies, system-wide data use, and advances in human-machine 

teaming and increasingly autonomous decision-making will provide comprehensive situational awareness 

and improved coordinated decision-making and disruption management using advisories to enable 

flexible, user-preferred, predictable, and robust operations. ATM-X will leverage the FAA’s

infrastructure modernization investments and NASA’s Airspace Technology Demonstrations, as well as 

the NASA Test Bed (which will also provide a common simulation platform with the System-Wide 

Safety project, thereby enabling areas of overlapping requirements such as disruption management to be 

achieved collaboratively) to support research. The air traffic simulation test bed will provide the building 

blocks to enable all current and future ARMD airspace operations simulations.
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SYSTEM-WIDE SAFETY (SWS)

The SWS project will perform research to (1) explore, discover, and understand the impact on safety of 

the growing complexity introduced by advances aimed at improving the efficiency of flight, the access to 

airspace, and/or the expansion of services provided by air vehicles; and (2) develop and demonstrate 

innovative solutions that enable these advances, and the aviation transformation envisioned by ARMD, 

through proactive mitigation of risks in accordance with target levels of safety. The project will develop 

tools, methods and technologies to enable capabilities envisioned by ARMD’s Strategic Thrust 5, RealTime System-Wide Safety. The following conditions expand system safety awareness:

 increased access to relevant data;

 integrated analysis capabilities;

 improved real-time detection and alerting of hazards at the domain level;

 decision support, and in some cases; and

 automated mitigation strategies. 

The System-Wide Safety project also addresses the need, identified in Strategic Thrusts 1 and 6, for 

safety-related advances in methods used for the verification and validation of advanced increasingly 

autonomous systems.

SWS research and development achieves its two-fold goal by developing and demonstrating:

 An integrated risk assessment capability that continuously monitors airport terminal area safety 

margins and recommends timely operational changes based on data analytics and predictive 

models derived from large heterogeneous data sets and their time histories;

 Dependable monitoring, assessment and mitigation capabilities for safety-critical risks to beyond 

visual line-of-sight low altitude unmanned aircraft operations near populated areas;

 Cost-efficient verification and validation methods that provide justifiable confidence in safety 

claims for designs of complex ATM/avionics systems, including increasingly autonomous, nondeterministic systems; and

 On-board systems and new training capabilities that reduce susceptibility to precursor conditions 

that have led (and can lead) to aircraft loss-of-control accidents in commercial aviation.
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UAS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (UTM)

In support of ARMD’s strategic thrust toward assured autonomy for aviation transformation and safe, 

efficient growth in global operations, the UTM project will conduct research and development activities 

to ensure that the future airspace management system will initially accommodate small UAS operating in 

low-altitude airspace beyond the visual line of sight with far greater levels of system complexity. The 

airspace management system will need to accommodate greater diversity of aircraft performance, user 

business models, and airspace requirements for these emerging airspace users. The system must also 

ensure scalability of operations, and affordability for service providers and users. The fundamental 

objective of the UTM project is to develop technologies, roles, responsibilities, and procedures to 

demonstrate feasibility of autonomous aircraft operations in populated areas. This development must 

enable autonomous traffic flow management that allows more robust decision-making in the presence of 

weather forecast uncertainties, developing alternative plans and dynamically changing the plans as 

forecasts change, and using learning algorithms/automation based on historical analysis of performance.
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Program Schedule 

Date Significant Event

Mar 2018 UTM – Initiate TCL3 to incorporate TCL2 research and to manage separation by 

vehicle and/or ground-based capabilities under higher densities.

Apr 2018 ATM-X – Develop a UAM concept of operations and an initial UAM system 

architecture

Jun 2018 SWS – Validate technologies to enhance flight crew attitude and energy state awareness

Jun 2018

SWS – Validate human fatigue monitoring tool publicly available in the Apple App 

Store; demonstrate code analysis techniques on airspace management software at the 

FAA; define requirements for classes of autonomy algorithms involving learning and or 

optimization and develop (semi-) automated tools for checking these requirements

Aug 2018

SWS – Demonstration of safety countermeasures for spatial disorientation and 

attentional performance limitations in relevant environment at the DoD Naval Medical 

Research Unit Disorientation Research Device facility.

Sep 2018 SWS – Anomaly detection tool with active learning integrated into ASIAS vulnerability 

database and demonstrated to work with FAA Threaded Track data

Jan 2019 ATM-X – Flight test demonstration of automated system negotiation and trajectory 

management

Mar 2019 SWS – Evaluation of displays and predictive alerting algorithms that indicate systems 

status and the interaction of systems in time-critical situations involving system failures

Jun 2019 UTM – Initiate TCL4 to incorporate TCL3 research and to manage large-scale 

contingencies.

Jun 2019

SWS – Demonstrate use of RACE framework at FAA to monitor and identify incident 

precursor patterns in-time; develop foundations for mitigation of residual risk in 

autonomous algorithms

Sep 2019 SWS – Develop a safety assurance dashboard that can give a comprehensive view of 

retired and residual risks.

Aug 2019 ATM-X – Development of UAM Services dynamic scheduling and congestion 

management operations.

Sep 2019 ATM-X – Release of the NASA Test Bed Build 2 with modeling of emergent vehicles 

and missions

Dec 2019 ATM-X – Simulation demonstration of the Integrated Demand Management concept of 

operations with weather disruptions

Jun 2020

ATD – Full-system demonstration of the IADS metroplex departure scheduling concept.

SWS – Demonstration of tools for identifying, measuring, and tracking proximity to a 

variety of heterogeneous safety margins during airport terminal area operations.

Sep 2020 ATM-X – Human-in-the-loop simulation of mixed legacy and new entrants interacting 

in controlled airspace
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Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

ATD

Provider: ARC, Langley Research Center (LaRC), GRC

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): ARC, LaRC, GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): FAA, Honeywell, General Electric, Boeing, Raytheon, 

Rockwell Collins, Goodrich, Cessna Aircraft Co., American Airlines, United 

Airlines, EasyJet, Southwest Airlines, DoD, French Aerospace Lab (ONERA)

ATM-X

Provider: ARC, LaRC, GRC

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): ARC, LaRC, GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): FAA, American Airlines, Boeing, Delta Airlines, 

General Electric, Southwest Airlines

SWS

Provider: ARC, LaRC, GRC

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, LaRC, GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): FAA, DoD-AFRL, DoD-NAMRU, NRC, NITRD, 

Rockwell-Collins, Honeywell, Boeing, American Airlines, Commercial 

Aviation Safety Team, Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team

UTM

Provider: ARC, LaRC, GRC 

Lead Center: ARC

Performing Center(s): ARC, LaRC, GRC

Cost Share Partner(s): FAA, DHS, DoD, AeroVironment, Amazon, AT&T, 

Google, AirMap, Aurora, General Electric, Gryphon Sensors, Intel, 

Qualcomm, Rockwell Collins, Simulyze, Verizon, JAXA

Acquisition Strategy

The AOSP spans research and technology from foundational research to integrated system capabilities. 

This broad spectrum necessitates the use of a wide array of acquisition tools relevant to the appropriate 

work awarded externally through full and open competition. Teaming among large companies, small 

businesses, and universities is highly encouraged for all procurement actions.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA’s Aeronautics programs award multiple smaller contracts, which are generally less than 

$5 million. They are widely distributed across academia and industry.
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INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Formulation: 

ATM-X and 

SWS Projects

ARMD Senior 

Management and 

Expert Review

Sep 2017 The Key Decision 

Point (KDP) 

Formulation Review 

evaluates the 

projects’ goals and 

stated deliverables to 

ensure proper 

formulation and 

alignment with 

Agency and ARMD 

strategic objectives. 

The review assesses 

the competence of 

technical challenge 

pre-formulation 

efforts. 

ATM-X passed 

preliminary KDP-A 

review and was 

approved to continue 

formulation planning 

for final KDP-C 

approval.

SWS approved for 

FY 2018 execution in 

final KDP-C review.

Early 

Spring 

2018

Performance 

(Annual)

Expert Review Oct 2017 The 12-month review 

is a formal 

independent peer 

review. Experts from 

other government 

agencies report on 

their assessment of 

technical and 

programmatic risk 

and/or program 

weaknesses.

Determined that the 

projects made 

satisfactory progress 

in meeting technical 

challenges and met 

all annual 

performance 

indicators.

Oct 2018
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 274.6 -- 230.6 248.5 257.1 257.8 258.3

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

AAVP develops knowledge, technologies, 

tools, and innovative concepts to enable safe 

new aircraft that will fly faster, cleaner, 

quieter, and use fuel far more efficiently 

than in the past. NASA research is 

incorporated into all major modern U.S.

aircraft, and the type of research performed 

by AAVP will prime the technology 

pipeline, enabling continued U.S. leadership, 

competitiveness, and high-quality jobs in the 

future. Technologies and design capabilities 

developed for these advanced vehicles will 

integrate multiple, simultaneous vehicle 

performance considerations including fuel 

usage, noise, emissions, and intrinsic safety. 

Efficiency and environmental factors will 

play a significant role as the aviation market 

expands across the globe in which the 

technologies developed by AAVP will help 

ensure continued U.S. leadership that also 

benefits the world. Across the program, NASA will continue to engage partners from industry, academia, 

and other government agencies to maintain a sufficiently broad perspective on technology solutions to 

these challenges; to pursue mutually beneficial collaborations; and to leverage opportunities for effective 

technology transition. 

AAVP directly supports three of the ARMD Strategic Thrusts:

 Thrust 2: Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft 

 Thrust 3: Ultra-efficient Commercial Vehicles 

 Thrust 4: Transition to Alternative Propulsion and Energy 

In addition, the Program is responsible for advancing key hypersonic technologies for the country and 

enabling ground test capabilities that support the research, technology demonstration, and validation 

requirements of NASA, other government agencies, and commercial partners.

The Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) Inlet Distortion Tolerant 

Fan (DTF) installed in NASA GRC's 8'x6' wind tunnel , a 

new capability to investigate fuel burn reduction potential by

embedding an aircraft’s engine at the rear of an aircraft 

compared to an under the wing conventional configuration.
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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Funding for hypersonic research will increase by $5 million, which will allow NASA to better engage the 

community for fundamental research and also mitigate some potential issues with key ground test 

infrastructure. Recently, NASA made key infrastructure investments that have brought additional 

capabilities that support research and also mitigate the risk of a significant mechanical issue, but 

additional facility issues remain that will now be addressed. The funding will allow additional 

experimentation and strengthening of key partnerships that will allow NASA to capitalize on recent 

successes and accelerate research in select areas that are important to the U.S. hypersonics community.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 NASA reached a major milestone for commercial supersonic aircraft by developing "Intermediate 

Tools for Sonic Boom Community Reponses" which represents a key step for enhancing 

computational tools to aid in understanding the impact of noise from sonic booms. These tools are 

needed to help ensure that the best noise data are obtained and also to project the effects to a 

wider variety of locations because it would not be possible to actually fly a low boom aircraft 

over every community. Ultimately, this research will assist in the ability to establish a new low 

boom regulation that opens the door to a commercial supersonic transport market. (Thrust 

2/Commercial Supersonic Technology Project [CST])

 In addition to developing computational tools, NASA made significant progress during FY 2017 

on the Low Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) project. In FY 2017, NASA successfully 

completed the preliminary design for the LBFD test aircraft. This effort addressed integration of 

all aspects of a design that enables the mission requirements of the LBFD to be met. Scaled 

models of the design were tested in the NASA Glenn Research Center wind tunnels in 2017 to 

validate the performance against the project requirements. (Thrust 2/CST)

 At NASA's Glenn Research Center 8' x 6' wind tunnel, NASA completed the installation of a 

Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI) System. The BLI system will enable radical reductions in fuel 

burn, and noise reductions for future generations of aircraft, primarily by reducing the amount of 

drag created by conventionally mounted engines. This new capability was proven to be successful 

during a collaborative effort between NASA and United Technologies Research Center with the 

completion of the first-ever transonic wind tunnel test of a new gas turbine engine fan design that 

could withstand the distorted air inflow due to BLI with minimal effect on fan performance and 

stability. These experiments assisted in the quantification of the BLI impact on fan performance 

and structural characteristics at cruise conditions. (Thrust 3/Advanced Air Transport Technology 

Project [AATT])

 NASA completed the assessment and initial development of computational tools that would 

accurately predict the strength and life of composite designs. In addition, NASA also advanced 

key technologies to rapidly test and inspect composite structures for possible damage. (Thrust 

3/Advanced Composites Project [ACP])

 NASA, in partnership with the US Army and Penn State University, has successfully designed, 

patented and fabricated two innovative two-speed transmission systems for vertical lift vehicles, 

the Dual-Star Idler and the Offset Compound Gear. This new technology enables a turbine engine 

to continue to operate efficiently even while its internal speed is slowed down. Also, NASA

developed and patented new hybrid metal/composite gears to reduce transmission system weight 

compared to current all-metal systems. The ability to slow a rotor provides a long sought-after 

capability for vertical lift vehicles that allows significant improvements in performance and 

reduction of noise. The reduction in weight resulting from the use of lightweight hybrid 
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component technologies could be applied beyond vertical lift to other aviation vehicles and the 

automotive industry. (Thrust 3/Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology Project [RVLT])

 NASA worked with airframe and engine manufacturers as well as universities to identify and 

analyze propulsion and power system options for next generation aircraft. These analyses verified 

the benefits of the new propulsion systems for a single aisle class of transport airplane and will be 

used to guide the technology development efforts on specific components. For example, 

turboelectric and hybrid electric designs are showing promising energy reductions of up to 15 

percent for the propulsion system alone, which can also be augmented by improvements in other 

technologies, such as materials and wing design. (Thrust 3/AATT)

 NASA, along with its partner, Boeing, made substantial progress in advancing technologies 

aimed at hybrid electric propulsion for large commercial aircraft by completing system-level 

assessments of several promising hybrid electric/turboelectric concepts. All concepts that were 

assessed showed significant reductions in fuel burn compared to conventional aircraft. In 

additions, NASA designed high-efficiency and high specific power megawatt-scale powertrain 

components such as the electric motors/generators and power converters. (Thrust 3/AATT)

 In addition to the design and advancement of components to enable all-electric or hybrid gaselectric propulsion systems, NASA investigated small-core combustion engine technologies. The 

collective effect of this research is the potential for low or nearly no carbon emission propulsion 

advancements. In the area of advanced combustors, NASA and United Technologies Research 

Center completed initial single-sector concepts for the 2035 timeframe focusing on lowering 

emissions, fuel flexibility, and advancing small core combustor architectures that reduces landing 

and take-off nitrogen oxides by 80 percent below the standards set by the International Civil 

Aviation Organization and its committee on Aviation Environmental Protection in 2010. (Thrust 

3/AATT)

 NASA improved utilization of critical aerosciences ground test infrastructure, made up of 12 

large wind tunnels and other facilities. The improvement was from implementing a new funding 

model that encourages use of these facilities for space vehicle and spacecraft validation testing, 

mission risk reduction testing, and foundational experimental research necessary to advance our 

computational tools and innovative concepts. (Cross Cutting/AETC)

 NASA completed a diverse set of hardware modifications in the Ames Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel 

creating an "Optical Test Section of Tomorrow". For this transonic/supersonic wind tunnel, the 

modifications will improve the data acquisition system for test model surface pressures and offbody aerodynamic measurements, and also increase productivity and data accuracy through 

advanced optical instrumentation and techniques. This new capability will allow researchers to 

accurately and efficiently identify and understand the complex flow phenomena of next 

generation aircraft and space vehicles in realistic flight conditions. (Cross Cutting/ Aerosciences 

Evaluation and Test Capabilities [AETC])

 In FY 2017, NASA started the Hypersonic Technology Project to develop synergistic technology 

and knowledge that benefit NASA’s long-term interests for commercial applications while 

leveraging Department of Defense interests. During the year, NASA completed an assessment of 

approaches to better estimate the uncertainty of models and designs of hypersonic systems. 

These approaches will be applied to computer models and validated with ground test and flight 

data. Ultimately, this will lead the way to new design tools that facilitate the development of a 

variety of hypersonic vehicles. Additionally, NASA conducted tests that improved the project’s 

understanding of how to develop a high-speed propulsion system that can take off like a 

traditional jet airplane and transition to a scram jet for increased speed. NASA is researching how 

to optimally make this transition and is developing tools and guidance that others can eventually 

use to design reusable hypersonic vehicles. (Hypersonic Technology Project [HYP])
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WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 NASA is continuing development of additional models for the prediction of the community 

response to noise created by the overflight of future supersonic commercial aircraft. Based on 

simulations conducted in NASA’s Interior Effects Laboratory, the first of these models will be 

capable of predicting the response of a person who hears supersonic overflight noise while 

indoors. The second of these models will be used to predict the indoor noise created by 

supersonic overflight in a wide variety of homes with different room arrangements and 

construction techniques. With the combination of these models, NASA will perform analytical 

studies of community responses to the overflight noise of future supersonic commercial aircraft, 

which will provide the underlying data needed for NASA to develop future community overflight 

experiments. (Thrust 2/CST)

 NASA is continuing to investigate the potential benefits of the integrated Boundary Layer 

Ingestion technology for engines that can be mounted and partially embedded, on top of an 

airframe in a way that is much more efficient than traditional under-the-wing engine 

configurations. Recent boundary layer ingestion test results show an overall vehicle efficiency 

benefit. (Thrust 3/AATT)

 In order to help improve the performance, efficiency, and noise reduction for new higher-speed 

vertical lift configurations, NASA is demonstrating Multi-Fidelity Design Optimization processes 

for low-noise and low-emissions Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) designs. The ability to 

use computational optimization processes will enable design engineers to efficiently assess and 

compare design and technology options to create advanced concepts for cleaner and quieter 

VTOL configurations. These advances will help pave the way for new vehicles that can be used 

for new missions such as economical inter-urban transport. (Thrust 3/RVLT)

 NASA will continue to partner with universities, industry, and other government agencies to 

investigate, develop, and test small-core, fuel-flexible combustor technologies that take full 

advantage of the attributes of alternative drop-in jet fuels. These advanced technologies have the 

potential to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and particulate matter pollutants to 80 percent below 

the international standard with minimal impacts on weight, noise and component life. (Thrust 

4/AATT)

 NASA, in partnership with United Technologies Research Center, Pratt and Whitney, and 

Woodward, will continue studying newly designed small-core combustors in order to obtain 

landing and take-off nitrogen oxide emissions data at relevant engine operating conditions. In 

addition, NASA will continue to focus on establishing a viable concept for a 5-10 megawatt 

hybrid gas-electric propulsion system for commercial transport aircraft focusing on demonstrating 

an overall system-level energy usage reduction. (Thrust 4/AATT)

 NASA is working on the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) in preparation of installing and 

demonstrating a megawatt-class powertrain in FY 2019. NASA developed the NEAT facility to 

enable ambient and cryogenic powertrain research and technology development for electric 

aircraft systems at power levels relevant to full-scale, single-aisle aircraft. (Thrust 4/AATT)

 NASA will complete the design and installation of a new acoustical treatment in the Glenn 

Research Center 9x15-Foot Low-Speed Wind Tunnel. This improvement will further reduce the 

facility background noise to levels that will enable testing of next-generation low-noise 

propulsion system concepts. (Cross Cutting/AETC)

 NASA will conduct ground test experiments to advance the feasibility of future systems that 

could use a turbine engine at slow speeds and then transition to a scramjet for high-speed 

operations. In addition, NASA will perform fundamental research in the areas of high-speed 

propulsion, re-usable vehicle technologies, and high-temperature materials. Systems analysis will 

also be performed greatly increasing the flexibility and utility of high-speed vehicles. (HYP)
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KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

 NASA will complete a "Sonic Boom Community Response Metric and Methodology" technical 

challenge by validating field study methodology, including indoor and outdoor noise metrics, 

exposure estimates, survey tools, and test protocols to support community studies for a low-boom 

flight demonstration. (Thrust 2/CST)

 NASA will explore a concept of tailoring aircraft structures so that weight is minimized in areas 

where it is not needed. NASA will focus on completing three key technical challenges in the area 

of accurate strength and life prediction, rapid inspection and characterization, and efficient 

manufacturing process development to help demonstrate the viability of this concept. An 

important milestone will also be accomplished by demonstrating computer-based tools, 

methodologies and system-level assessments which will reduce the time required to develop and 

certify composite structures. (Thrust 3/AATT)

 AAVP will complete a technical challenge in the area of Higher Aspect Ratio Wing to enable up 

to a doubling of the aspect ratio of a lightweight wing with safe structures and flight controls. 

Testing and analysis results will contribute to quantifying the system-level benefits of the 

Transonic Truss Braced Wing concept. (Thrust 3/AATT)

 NASA will lay the foundation for establishing a new multi-disciplinary design capability that will 

benefit a wide variety of vertical lift vehicle sizes. This new design approach will enable industry 

to develop conceptual designs of advanced vertical lift vehicles while taking into account 

multiple disciplines and aspects of the configuration design. Additionally, a focus in FY 2019 will 

be to complete a technical challenge for demonstrating design and flight operation methods for 

reducing VTOL aircraft noise impact, while accomplishing a milestone for achieving noise 

reductions of at least five decibels (dB) on approach for VTOL tests designed for low noise. 

(Thrust 3/RVLT)

 NASA will complete the Advanced Composites project which will deliver a variety of 

computational tools and guidance that will significantly reduce the time needed to develop new 

composite structures for aerospace applications. Currently, it is a time-consuming process to 

develop these new structures because of significant testing that is needed. The goal of the 

program is not to eliminate testing, but rather supplement such testing more effectively with 

computational models that will allow industry to test smarter and more efficiently, thus reducing 

the development time by up to 30 percent which will also reduce the cost significantly. (Thrust 

3/ACP)

 NASA will establish a viable concept for 5-10 MW hybrid gas-electric propulsion system 

required for commercial transport aircraft. A main focus area is the superconducting motor 

component, which represents a major advancement in a key technology needed to realize 

practical larger-scale hybrid electric propulsion systems for the future. Further, in partnership 

with industry, NASA will advance a MW-scale non-superconducting inverter to a higher 

technical maturity level. This advancement complements the superconducting motor and adds to 

the technology options available to hybrid electric propulsion system designers as they identify 

and develop larger ground and flight demonstration opportunities. (Thrust 4/AATT)

 NASA will complete a technical challenge in the area of Low Nitrogen Oxide Fuel-Flex 

Combustion for advanced small core engines focusing on reducing Nitrogen Oxide emissions 

from fuel-flexible combustors to 80 percent below the CAEP/6 standard with minimal impacts on 

weight, noise, and component life. NASA will identify, evaluate, and develop technologies and 

methods to enable small-core architectures to perform well at high-pressure conditions along with 

focusing on challenges associated with low emissions, scaling barriers, fuel-injection, thermal 

management, auto-ignition, and combustion dynamics. (Thrust 4/AATT)

 NASA will complete a series of new capabilities and test technologies for several wind tunnels. 

NASA's Propulsion Systems Laboratory will confirm its capability that can simulate the high ice 
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water content cloud conditions experienced in nature to the degree required to simulate aviation 

safety issue of engine icing. (Cross Cutting/AETC)

 NASA will conduct a key experiment to demonstrate an autonomous mode transition in a turbinebased combined cycle system. NASA has developed the underlying theory and technologies to 

enable this to occur, but demonstrating such a transition is a key enabler for a practical system. 

NASA will develop the underlying algorithms and techniques that will allow industry to 

implement this concept in a variety of systems and provide a flexible operational capability that 

does not exist today. Ultimately, such a system may allow more effective and flexible access to 

space. (HYP)

Program Elements

ADVANCED AIR TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY

NASA’s vision for advanced fixed wing subsonic commercial transport aircraft addresses the 

comprehensive challenges of revolutionary advances in energy efficiency and environmental 

compatibility of future generations of aircraft. These technological solutions are critical to reduce the 

impact of aviation on the environment even as this industry and the corresponding global transportation 

continue to grow. Research will explore and advance knowledge, technologies, and concepts to enable 

major steps in energy efficiency and environmental compatibility resulting in less fuel burned, less direct 

impact on the atmosphere, and less noise around airports. This project will identify and address potential 

new safety considerations associated with these advanced technologies and concepts. This research 

supports the sustained growth of commercial aviation. The knowledge gained from this research, in the 

form of experiments, data, system studies, and analyses, is critical for conceiving and designing more 

efficient, quieter aircraft. Advanced air transport research directly supports ARMD Strategic Thrusts 3 

and 4 and focuses on developing advanced technologies and tools for future generations of commercial 

transports – including the core propulsion research needed to develop new engines that will ultimately 

power the new vehicles. Although this project focuses on the far-term technology timeframe, it also 

contributes to both near- and mid-term by demonstrating interim technology advancements. 

REVOLUTIONARY VERTICAL LIFT TECHNOLOGY

The NASA Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) project develops and validates tools, 

technologies, and concepts to overcome key barriers to the expanded use of vertical lift vehicles in the 

Nation’s airspace. The unique ability of vertical lift vehicles to hover has significant applications in the

civil market for human and cargo transportation, delivery systems, inspection and surveillance missions, 

oil and gas exploration, disaster relief and many more critical operations. RVLT research advances 

technologies that will increase speed, range, payload, and safety as well as decrease noise, weight, and 

fuel and energy usage. To accomplish this research, NASA uses advanced computer-based multi-fidelity 

prediction methods, unique NASA facilities, and state-of-the art experimental techniques. RVLT 

considers current and future vertical lift vehicles of all classes and sizes, ranging from very small 

configurations to configurations that are viable commercial transports in the NAS. Advanced future 

vertical lift vehicles of all classes and sizes will require higher speed capability and improved operational 

efficiency. For example, the project is currently working with the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts 

Program to explore ideas that may combine autonomy and hybrid/ full electric propulsion systems with a 

vertical lift capability to enable a variety of new civil missions. The RVLT project primarily supports 

ARMD Strategic Thrust 3.
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COMMERCIAL SUPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY

Supersonic vehicle research includes tools, technologies, and knowledge that will help eliminate today’s 

technical barriers to practical, commercial supersonic flight. These barriers include sonic boom,

supersonic aircraft fuel efficiency, airport community noise, high altitude emissions, vehicle 

aeroservoelastic design, supersonic operations, and the ability to design future vehicles in an integrated, 

multidisciplinary manner. Research conducted will establish the necessary approaches and techniques for 

objectively measuring the levels of sonic boom acceptable to communities living in the vicinity of future 

commercial supersonic flight paths. These approaches, techniques, and resulting data will inform both 

national and international regulatory organizations that set the standards for commercial entities and 

vehicles to achieve. The research also lays the groundwork for overcoming other challenges facing 

commercial supersonic flight including energy efficiency, reduced pollutants emitted into the atmosphere, 

and acceptable engine noise levels in the airport area. The Commercial Supersonic Technology project

directly supports ARMD Strategic Thrust 2 and will conduct the research leveraging the purpose-built 

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator in conducting the community response mission.

ADVANCED COMPOSITES

NASA is addressing new test protocols and methods to reduce the development and certification timeline 

for composite materials and structures. Composite structures will see increased application due to the 

pressure to develop more efficient, sustainable vehicles due to weight and life cycle cost savings that

composite technologies can offer. Testing is the primary basis of the present approach for the 

development and certification of composites. It is both time-consuming and expensive but can provide 

rigorous validated results. NASA will focus on the development and use of high fidelity and rigorous 

computational methods, improved test protocols, and standardized inspection techniques to shorten the 

timeline to bring innovative composite materials and structures to market. NASA engages with key 

players from Government (Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense), industry, and 

academia to mature and verify the methodology, to ensure effective transition to industry, and to assure 

safety for certification authorities. The goal of the project is to reduce the estimated five- to nine-year 

timeline for composite structures development and certification by thirty percent. The Advanced 

Composites project directly supports ARMD Strategic Thrust 3 because of its ability to drive future 

competition for high-tech manufacturing and revolutionary technologies bringing composites to the 

market faster while addressing the need for ultra-efficient commercial transport advancements. In 

addition, the project is applicable to Thrust 2 because future supersonic aircraft will likely make 

significant use of composites.

AEROSCIENCES EVALUATION AND TEST CAPABILITIES

The ground test capabilities (facilities, systems, workforce, and tools) necessary to achieve the future air 

vehicles and operations described above require efficient and effective investment, use, and management. 

Efforts in this area preserve and enhance those specific ground test capabilities that are necessary to 

achieve the missions. Among these assets are subsonic, transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic wind 

tunnels and propulsion test facilities at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, the Glenn 

Research Center in Cleveland, OH, and the Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. These test 

facilities and capabilities also serve the needs of non-NASA users. NASA’s integrated approach to test 

capability planning, use, and management will consider the complementary computational tools, 

software, and related systems to effectively acquire and process research data. NASA also offers research 

customers high-quality data that accurately reflect the simulated test environment and the interactions of 

test articles in those test environments in conjunction with the ground experimentation capabilities. 
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Furthermore, NASA expertise helps ensure safe and successful use of the assets and high quality of the 

research outcomes. The project is cross-cutting and supports ARMD Strategic Thrusts 2, 3, and 4 as well 

as other Agency efforts and those of key industry partners. 

HYPERSONIC TECHNOLOGY PROJECT 

The development of new hypersonic capabilities is important for the country. In the near-term, application 

of hypersonic technologies is likely to be on enhanced defense systems, but this could eventually expand 

to include improved access-to-space capabilities that would directly benefit NASA. NASA maintains 

unique specialized facilities and experts who will focus on key fundamental research areas that explore 

key challenges in very high-speed flight. This project will coordinate closely with partners in the 

Department of Defense so that NASA can leverage their investment in flight activities to develop and 

validate advanced physics-based models and at the same time, the Department of Defense can benefit 

from NASA expertise, analyses, testing capabilities and computational models. Focus areas for the project 

include high-speed propulsion systems, re-usable vehicle technologies, high-temperature materials, and 

systems analysis.
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Program Schedule

Sep 2017 AATT – Complete Integrated BLI System technical challenge

Sep 2017

AETC – Complete the replacement of the facility control system and steady 

state data acquisition systems at both the GRC 8x6-Foot Supersonic Wind 

Tunnel and 9X15-Foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel to enable world-class steady 

state data capabilities including higher reliability, channel count, processing 

rates, analyses, improved plotting, a higher reliability, and more versatile 

control system.

Sep 2017

RVLT – Demonstrate a two-speed drive system for vertical lift applications 

that can operate with a 50 percent shaft speed change and efficiently transfer 

high torque with no weight penalty.

Sep 2017

RVLT – Complete functional checkout and assessment of the Tiltrotor Test 

Rig (TTR) to demonstrate a new test capability for high-speed vertical lift 

configurations.

Sep 2018

AETC – Complete Reduce Background Noise Levels for Engine System 

Noise Measurements (GRC 9- X 15- Foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel) 

capability challenge

Sep 2018 AATT – Complete Fan & High-Lift Noise technical challenge

Sep 2018 AATT – Completion of Low NOx Fuel-Flex Combustor technical challenge

Sep 2019

RVLT – Complete the technical challenge for demonstrating a MultiDisciplinary Analysis Optimization (MDOA) process for Vertical Lift 

Vehicles

Sep 2019 AATT – Complete Higher Aspect Ratio Wing (HARW) technical challenge

Sep 2019 AATT – Complete Hybrid Gas-Electric Propulsion Concept technical 

challenge

Sep 2019 AC – Complete Accurate Strength & Life Prediction technical challenge

Sep 2019 AC – Complete Rapid Inspection & Characterization technical challenge

Sep 2019 AC – Complete Efficient Manufacturing Process Development technical 

challenge

Sep 2019

AETC – Complete Optical Instrumentation for Advanced Flowfield

Measurements Needed for Next Generation Computational Simulation 

Development and Validation capability challenge

Sep 2019

AETC – Complete Force Balance Repeatability and Accuracy to 

Accommodate Needs of Advanced Aircraft Design Wind Tunnel Models 

capability challenge 

Sep 2019 AETC - Integrated, NIST-Traceable Calibration and Characterization of 

Wind Tunnel Facilities capability challenge

Sep 2019 CST- Complete the Sonic Boom Community Response Metric & 

Methodology technical challenge.
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Sep 2017 AATT – Complete Integrated BLI System technical challenge

Sep 2017

AETC – Complete the replacement of the facility control system and steady 

state data acquisition systems at both the GRC 8x6-Foot Supersonic Wind 

Tunnel and 9X15-Foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel to enable world-class steady 

state data capabilities including higher reliability, channel count, processing 

rates, analyses, improved plotting, a higher reliability, and more versatile 

control system.

Sep 2017

RVLT – Demonstrate a two-speed drive system for vertical lift applications 

that can operate with a 50 percent shaft speed change and efficiently transfer 

high torque with no weight penalty.

Sep 2017

RVLT – Complete functional checkout and assessment of the Tiltrotor Test 

Rig (TTR) to demonstrate a new test capability for high-speed vertical lift 

configurations.

Sep 2018

AETC – Complete Reduce Background Noise Levels for Engine System 

Noise Measurements (GRC 9- X 15- Foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel) 

capability challenge

Sep 2018 AATT – Complete Fan & High-Lift Noise technical challenge

Sep 2018 AATT – Completion of Low NOx Fuel-Flex Combustor technical challenge

Sep 2019

RVLT – Complete the technical challenge for demonstrating a MultiDisciplinary Analysis Optimization (MDOA) process for Vertical Lift 

Vehicles

Sep 2019 AATT – Complete Higher Aspect Ratio Wing (HARW) technical challenge

Sep 2019 AATT – Complete Hybrid Gas-Electric Propulsion Concept technical 

challenge

Sep 2019 AC – Complete Accurate Strength & Life Prediction technical challenge

Sep 2019 AC – Complete Rapid Inspection & Characterization technical challenge

Sep 2019 AC – Complete Efficient Manufacturing Process Development technical 

challenge

Sep 2019

AETC – Complete Optical Instrumentation for Advanced Flowfield

Measurements Needed for Next Generation Computational Simulation 

Development and Validation capability challenge

Sep 2019

AETC – Complete Force Balance Repeatability and Accuracy to 

Accommodate Needs of Advanced Aircraft Design Wind Tunnel Models 

capability challenge 

Sep 2019 RVLT- Complete the demonstration design of flight operation methods for 

reduced Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft noise impact.
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Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

Advanced Air Transport 

Technology (AATT)

Provider: ARC, Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC), GRC, LaRC 

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): U.S. Air Force, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Northrop 

Grumman, General Electric Aviation, Aurora, United Technologies 

Corporation, Rolls Royce/Liberty Works, Honeywell, FAA, Lockheed 

Martin, Exa Corp, U.S. Navy, DLR, U.S. small business and universities

RVLT

Provider: ARC, GRC, LaRC

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): FAA, UTRC, U.S. Army,

DLR, U.S. Navy, Sikorsky Aircraft, U.S. small businesses and universities

Commercial Supersonic 

Technology

Provider: ARC, GRC, LaRC, AFRC

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, LaRC, AFRC

Cost Share Partner(s): Boeing, General Electric Aviation, Gulfstream 

Aerospace, U.S. Air Force, FAA, JAXA, HoneywellRockwell, Collins, 

Lockheed Martin, U.S. Navy, U.S. small businesses and universities

Advanced Composites

Provider: ARC, GRC, LaRC

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): Boeing, General Electric Aviation, Lockheed Martin, , 

United Technologies Corporation, Collier, Aurora, Orbital ATK, NIA, FAA, 

WSU, USC, , Spirit Aerosystems

Aerosciences Evaluation and 

Test Capabilities

Provider: ARC, GRC, LaRC

Lead Center: N/A

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): DoD

Hypersonic Technology

Provider: GRC, LaRC

Lead Center: LaRC

Performing Center(s): AFRC, GRC, and LaRC

Cost Share Partners: DoD, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Aerojet Rocketdyne, 

Orbital ATK, Northrup Grumman, Rolls Royce Liberty Works, SPIRITECH, 

ACENT, and Williams International
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Acquisition Strategy

Research and technology spans from foundational research to integrated system capabilities. This broad 

spectrum necessitates the use of a wide array of acquisition tools relevant to the appropriate work 

awarded externally through full and open competition. Teaming among large companies, small 

businesses, and universities is highly encouraged for all procurement actions.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA’s Aeronautics programs award multiple smaller contracts which are generally less than $5 million. 

They are widely distributed across academia and industry.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance Expert Review Nov 2017

The 12-month review 

is a formal 

independent peer 

review. Experts from 

other Government 

agencies report on 

their assessment of 

technical and 

programmatic risk 

and/or program 

weaknesses.

The Panel provided 

favorable reviews to 

the projects. The 

Panel also gave 

constructive 

comments and 

recommendations. 

Nov 2018
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FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator 18.5 -- 88.3 80.0 45.8 30.0 30.0

Integrated Aviation Systems Program 106.4 -- 100.9 74.1 60.8 73.3 72.5

Total Budget 125.0 -- 189.2 154.1 106.6 103.3 102.5

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Flight research is critically important to create a 

bridge between fundamental research and 

technology transfer to the aviation community. 

Specifically, flight research advances technology 

readiness to the levels required for new 

technologies to be incorporated into future air 

vehicles and operational systems.

The goal of IASP is to demonstrate integrated 

concepts and technologies at a maturity level 

sufficient to enable their incorporation into 

operational systems at a level of risk that is 

acceptable to the aviation community. IASP 

focuses on the rigorous execution of highly 

complex flight tests and related experiments. These 

flight tests support all phases of ARMD research, not just the culmination of research activities. For 

technologies at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), IASP flight research accelerates the 

development and/or determines the feasibility of those technologies. For more mature technologies, flight 

research will reduce risks and accelerate transition of those technologies to industry.

IASP also addresses the national challenge of routine access of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into 

the National Airspace System (NAS) for civil use. Historically, UAS have supported military and security 

operations overseas, with training occurring primarily in the United States. However, significant interest 

is growing in civil uses, including commercial photography, aerial mapping, crop monitoring, advertising, 

communications, and broadcasting. The FAA is developing new policies, procedures, and approval 

processes to address demand for increasing civil UAS operations in the NAS. NASA will contribute 

flight-validated data and capabilities that reduce technical barriers related to the safety and operational 

challenges associated with enabling routine civil UAS access to the NAS.

IASP leads the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD) project that will demonstrate quiet supersonic 

flight and open a new market to U.S. industry. Due to the high profile nature of this activity, a separate 

section dedicated to the LBFD follows the IASP program description. Also, IASP leads the Flight 

Demonstration and Capability (FDC) project which provides flight testing of technologies that will enable 

new aircraft configurations that significantly reduce fuel consumption, noise, and emission.

The X-57 effort within the Flight Demonstrations and 

Capabilities Project exemplifies NASA collaboration

with industry to develop, integrate, and demonstrate 

new technologies that will be widely applicable to 

future aircraft.
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EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 NASA collaborated with Aurora Flight Sciences to validate operational benefits and identify 

integration challenges associated with a new fuel-efficient aircraft configuration that incorporates 

Boundary Layer Ingestion technology (BLI) for reduced airframe drag. (Thrust 3/Flight 

Demonstrations and Capabilities [FDC])

 NASA conducted flight tests of the aerodynamics of a wing with an adaptive compliant trailing 

edge (ACTE) and a new landing gear fairing concept designed to reduce noise. To date, the flight 

tests have verified improved wing aerodynamics with the ACTE flap installed, and significant 

acoustic benefits through the use of landing gear noise reduction fairings; in addition, flight tests 

have enabled acoustic tool validation that will be instrumental in developing landing gear noise 

reduction treatments for future aircraft. (Thrust 3/FDC)

 IASP conducted multiple studies associated with advanced concept subsonic aircraft 

configurations. These studies were used to identify needed technology risk reduction activities to 

enable the next generation of subsonic aircraft. (Thrust 3/FDC)

 NASA continued the development of the X-57 Maxwell aircraft, a general aviation-scale aircraft 

to test a highly integrated distributed electric propulsion technology. NASA conducted tests of the 

battery system and conducted a critical design review for a new wing configuration. This 

demonstration is an important first step toward assessing the benefits and challenges of operating 

more electrified aircraft. (Thrust 4/FDC)

 The UAS Integration in the NAS (UAS-NAS) project closed out its Phase 1 effort to inform the 

development of Phase 1 Detect and Avoid Minimum Operational Performance Standards 

(MOPS) for the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Special Committee 228. 

The project is working in conjunction with RTCA in developing standards necessary for UAS 

operations in the NAS. This MOPS will enable the FAA to develop Technical Standard Orders so 

that industry can build UAS flight hardware capable of safely integrating into the NAS. (Thrust 6/ 

UAS Integration in the NAS [UAS])

 The UAS-NAS project worked with the FAA to conduct a flight test of the Airborne Collision 

Avoidance System for Unmanned Aircraft (ACAS Xu). The ACAS is the replacement for the 

Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), and is designed specifically for UAS. The flight test 

provided benefits to the FAA and Industry to enable MOPS development as a necessary step to 

integrate UAS into the NAS. (Thrust 6/UAS)

.

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

 NASA is focusing on reducing community noise through the Landing Gear Noise Reduction 

(LGNR) effort that will demonstrate novel landing gear porous fairing and wheel cavity 

treatments. Flight testing is planned during spring 2018. In addition, the LGNR effort will extend 

the simulation-based airframe noise prediction methodology to the undercarriage and high-lift 

systems of large civil transports. The goal is to reduce the airframe component of community 

noise by 1.5 PLdB [Perceived Level (PL), decibels (dB)], or approximately 30 percent, with 

minimal impact on aircraft weight and performance, and to validate an advanced, physics-based 

methodology for the accurate prediction of airframe noise. (Thrust 3/FDC)
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 Early in FY 2018, Phase 1 of the X-56, a remotely piloted subscale multi-utility technology 

testbed, research flights starts with the goal to prove enabling technology for designing aircraft 

with highly flexible, lightweight wings. The use of less structurally-rigid wings could be critical 

to future long-range, fuel-efficient airliners. This work is a cooperative effort by NASA's 

Advanced Air Transport Technology and Flight Demonstration Capabilities projects. Planned 

flights will be completed in mid-FY 2018. (Thrust 3/FDC)

 In FY 2018, IASP begins subsonic technology risk reduction tasks that were identified in 

FY 2017 as being the strongest contributors to the success of future flight demonstrations. Each 

effort has been awarded as a 12-month task to perform design and analysis activities required for 

risk reduction. IASP will conduct an assessment near the end of the fiscal year to determine 

which tasks will continue beyond the design/analysis phase into FY 2019. (Thrust 3/FDC)

 The X-57 Maxwell is conducting Mod II configuration flights where the aircraft will use electric 

motors and electrical storage and power distribution systems for all-electric flight. Following 

Mod II flights, the X-57 aircraft will be modified to the Mod III configuration; this includes 

integrating the newly designed, high-aspect ratio wing on the aircraft, and integrating the electric 

cruise motors onto the wing tips. The Mod III high aspect ratio wing will be delivered in 

FY 2018. Cruise efficiency gains are anticipated for the X-57 during the Mod III flights planned 

for FY 2019. (Thrust 4/FDC)

 NASA will provide the UAS No Chase Certificate of Authorization (NCC) Tech Briefing late in 

the second quarter of FY 2018. The goal is to leverage technologies that were developed in 

compliance with Phase 1 Detect and Avoid (DAA) MOPS to obtain FAA approval to fly the 

DAA system in the NAS with as few restrictions as possible. (Thrust 6/UAS)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

 NASA will continue Landing Gear Noise Reduction work on a simulation-based airframe noise 

prediction methodology for the undercarriage and high-lift systems of large civil transports. 

Through simulations, this effort plans to demonstrate approximately a 30 percent reduction in the 

airframe component of community noise with minimal impact on aircraft weight and 

performance. Planned work on this advanced physics-based methodology for the accurate 

prediction of airframe noise will be completed in FY 2019. (Thrust 3/FDC)

 The X-57 Maxwell will conduct flights in the Mod III configuration which includes the 

integration of the new, high-aspect ratio wing. In addition, the Mod III configuration, while still 

utilizing all-electric systems, will feature mounting the electric motors for primary propulsion on 

the wing tips. As a result of these significant aircraft modifications, many of the integration 

challenges associated with installation of electrical and power distribution components will be 

addressed as the aircraft is prepared for flight. (Thrust 4/FDC)

 In FY 2019, the UAS-NAS project will complete flight testing of a low size, weight, and power 

airborne Detect and Avoid (DAA) surveillance capability. This flight demonstration is a key 

contributing event to Phase 2 DAA MOPS development in support of RTCA Special Committee 

228 standards development for UAS. (Thrust 6/UAS)

 The UAS-NAS project will complete a flight test of a new control and non-payload 

communications radio in expected relevant operational environments. The test will demonstrate 

command and control capability in flight and contribute to Phase 2 standards development in 

support of RTCA Special Committee 228. (Thrust 6/UAS)

.
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Program Elements

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) INTEGRATION IN THE NATIONAL 

AIRSPACE SYSTEM (NAS)

In this project, NASA focuses on technologies to enable routine civil operations for UAS. This research 

aligns primarily with ARMD’s Strategic Thrust 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation, as 

well as Strategic Thrust 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations. Since many of the current Federal 

aviation regulations support a pilot being in the aircraft, they are not directly applicable to UAS. 

The UAS-NAS project leverages NASA expertise and capabilities to reduce technical barriers related to 

the safety and operational challenges associated with enabling routine UAS access to the NAS. The 

project is being conducted in two phases; Phase 1 began in May 2011 and ended in FY 2016. The primary 

focus of the Phase 1 work was development of research findings, through a series of demonstrations and 

simulations, to enable development of Detect and Avoid and Command and Control (C2) MOPS by 

RTCA for large UAS. 

The Phase 2 effort is currently underway and will be completed in FY 2020. During Phase 2, the project 

focuses on the development of research findings, through a series of demonstrations and simulations, to 

enable Phase 2 DAA MOPS development to expand operations to other classes of UAS. In addition, C2 

MOPS development will consider the use of Satellite Communications (SatCom) in multiple bands as a 

C2 Data Link to support UAS. For both DAA and C2, the project will validate technologies necessary for 

integrating UAS into the NAS.

FLIGHT DEMONSTRATIONS AND CAPABILITIES (FDC)

NASA’s FDC project validates benefits associated with critical technologies through focused flight 

experiments. FDC demonstrates the feasibility and maturity of new technologies through flight tests, 

utilizing collaborative partnerships from across the aeronautical industry, and includes international 

partners as appropriate. These demonstrations typically address technologies that have proven their 

potential merit through ground based or subscale testing and require results from a realistic flight 

environment for validation of the expected benefits. 

Through the integrated use of appropriate flight test capabilities and assets, the FDC project works to 

validate benefits associated with critical selected technologies. The flight experiments are campaigns 

focused on aggressive, success-oriented schedules utilizing the most appropriate set of assets available to 

accomplish the experimental objectives. While many of the technologies are at relatively high TRLs, the 

FDC project supports all phases of technology maturation.

The FDC project utilizes specific flight research and test capabilities residing within NASA, including the 

Dryden Aeronautical Test Range and Simulation and Flight Loads Laboratories at the AFRC, necessary 

to address and achieve the ARMD Strategic Plan, and program/project activities. The project also utilizes

flight research and test capabilities across the U.S. aeronautical industry and international partners as 

appropriate.
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Date Significant Event

Mar 2018 UAS-NAS – Begin Flights for No-Chase Certificate of Waiver or 

Authorization (COA)

Sep 2019 UAS-NAS – Submit Consolidated Input for Detect and Avoid (DAA) MOPS 

Rev A to RTCA Special Committee for UAS

Aug 2020 UAS-NAS – Submit Consolidated Input for Command and Control (C2) 

Terrestrial Data Link MOPS to RTCA Special Committee for UAS

Sep 2020 UAS-NAS – Submit Consolidated Input for DAA MOPS Rev B to RTCA 

Special Committee for UAS 

Nov 2017 FDC – Complete Flight Readiness Review (FRR) for X-56

Mar 2018 FDC – Complete Phase 1 Flights for X-56

Jun 2018 FDC – Complete Mod II Flight Test for X-57

Mar 2019 FDC – Complete Mod III Flight Test for X-57

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

UAS Integration in the NAS

Provider: ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC 

Lead Center: AFRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

FDC

Provider: ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC 

Lead Center: AFRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): DoD, Air Force Research Laboratory, Lockheed 

Martin, Flexsys
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Acquisition Strategy

NASA’s IASP develops and further matures promising technologies to the integrated system level. This 

necessitates the use of a wide array of acquisition tools relevant to the appropriate work awarded 

externally through full and open competition. Teaming among large companies, small businesses, and 

universities is highly encouraged for all procurement actions.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA’s Aeronautics programs award multiple smaller contracts which are generally less than $5 million. 

However, contracts for the final design and construction of the LBFD will be substantially larger, 

depending on the scale and complexity of the plane. Smaller contracts are widely distributed across 

academia and industry. All design and build contracts will be widely competed through full and open 

competitions.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance Expert Review Oct 2017

The 12-month review 

is designed for the 

purpose of tracking 

and documenting the 

Project’s progress 

made towards the 

Strategic Thrusts and 

Outcomes during the 

fiscal year. 

The Review Panel 

acknowledged the 

Projects were on the 

right path and 

expressed 

appreciation for the 

good work done by 

all projects to remain 

relevant to its 

stakeholders. There 

were no findings.

Oct 2018
LOW BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR

Formulation Development Operations

AERO-46

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 18.5 -- 88.3 80.0 45.8 30.0 30.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

PROJECT PURPOSE

Over the past decade, fundamental research and 

experimentation has demonstrated the 

possibility of supersonic flight with greatly

reduced sonic boom noise. The LBFD will 

demonstrate these advancements in flight by 

utilizing a purpose-built experimental aircraft. It 

will provide validation of design tools and 

technologies applicable to low sonic boom 

aircraft and create a database of community 

response information supporting the 

development of a noise-based standard for 

supersonic overland flight. 

The LBFD project will be executed in three

phases. Phase 1 includes the LBFD aircraft 

development activities, starting from detailed design, continuing through fabrication, and concluding with 

functional checkouts and supersonic envelope expansion. In Phase 2, a NASA-led team will perform lowboom acoustic validation flights of the LBFD aircraft. These flights will characterize and evaluate the 

near-field, mid-field, far-field, and ground sonic boom signatures from the LBFD aircraft. Phase 2 will 

conclude with an initial community response overflight study to validate community test and survey 

designs and explore initial community acceptance of low-boom noise. For Phase 3, a NASA-led team will 

conduct low-boom community response overflight studies with multiple test campaigns using the LBFD 

aircraft over varied locations. The ultimate goal of Phase 3 will be to develop a low-boom community 

response database that will be provided to U.S. and international regulators in support of their 

development of a noise-based standard for supersonic overland flight.

The LBFD concept successfully completed preliminary 

design and is on its way to being the world’s first quiet 

supersonic aircraft.
LOW BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR

Formulation Development Operations

AERO-47

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

None.

PROJECT PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

The LBFD project will design, manufacture, and perform flight validation of a research aircraft that 

creates a shaped sonic boom signature with a calculated loudness level of 75 PLdB [Perceived Level 

(PL), decibels (dB)] or less during supersonic cruise (Mach ≥ 1.4) flight. This loudness level is a 

considerable improvement over the Concorde’s level of 105 PLdB. Although the aircraft will be smaller 

in size than future supersonic airliners, its sonic boom ground signature will be sufficiently wellunderstood to enable the design and construction of larger aircraft that will be able to comply with the 

noise-based standards that will be set by regulators. The LBFD aircraft will be capable of performing 

multiple supersonic overflights of a single community with passes that are nominally 50 miles in length, 

and up to 20 minutes apart on a single flight. The vehicle will be used to conduct low-boom community 

response studies with multiple overflight test campaigns in varied locations over the course of two years.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

NASA completed a successful Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the LBFD aircraft concept which 

was awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2016. The PDR was a key input to the solicitation for the final design 

and build of the LBFD aircraft. PDR completion is also required prior to conducting KDP-C that is 

planned for September 2018. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

NASA will award a contract for the LBFD flight demonstrator aircraft to perform detailed design, build, 

test, and flight validation. This demonstrator will be used to collect the flight and community response

data necessary to establish overland supersonic noise regulations. In addition, NASA will conduct the 

KDP-C for the LBFD aircraft. The successful completion of KDP-C will represent Authorization to 

Proceed to the execution phase of the project with validated plans for the cost and schedule of the LBFD 

project.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

NASA will conduct a Critical Design Review (CDR) as the culminating event before the initiation final 

design activities for the LBFD aircraft. Following a successful CDR, the aircraft contractor will conduct 

aircraft build activities that include component fabrication and assembly, integration of Government 

Furnished Equipment (GFE), and final systems checkout in anticipation of NASA conducting a Flight 

Readiness Review late in FY 2020.
LOW BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR

Formulation Development Operations

AERO-48

ESTIMATED PROJECT SCHEDULE

Milestone FY 2019 PB Request FY 2017 PB Request

Formulation Authorization Sep 2016 Sep 2016

KDP-B Aug 2016 Aug 2016

ASM Nov 2016 Dec 2016

PDR Jun 2017 Jun 2017

KDP-C Sep 2018 Aug 2017

Delta PDR Jun 2018 Jun 2018

CDR Jun 2019 May 2019

KDP-D Sep 2019 Aug 2019

FRR Sep 2020 July 2020

First Flight Jan 2021 Oct 2020
LOW BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR

Formulation Development Operations

AERO-49

Formulation Estimated Life Cycle Cost Range and Schedule 

Range Summary

The LBFD project will officially baseline a cost and schedule in preparation for KDP C in FY 2018. 

NASA expects the current life cycle cost to encompass Fiscal Years from 2018 through 2025. The life 

cycle cost will include aircraft design and build, flight testing for aircraft envelope expansion, initial 

acoustic validation, community response testing through FY 2025. Since the Formulation Authorization 

Document (FAD) was prepared, NASA has better defined expected life cycle costs to include costs for 

the community response testing preparations and two additional years of community response flight 

testing. The project life cycle cost will be established in FY 2018 following award of the aircraft contract, 

completion of a Joint Confidence Level (JCL) assessment, and establishment of project reserve levels.

Life cycle cost estimates are preliminary. A baseline cost commitment does not occur until the project 

receives approval for implementation (KDP-C), which follows a non-advocate review and/or preliminary 

design review. 

KDP-B Date Estimated Life Cycle 

Cost Range ($M) Key Milestone Key Milestone Estimated Date Range

Aug 30, 2016 $390 to $395 First Flight FY 2021

Project Management & Commitments

Element Description Provider Details

Change from 

Formulation 

Agreement

LBFD

Provider: ARC, AFRC, GRC, LaRC

Lead Center: None

Performing Center(s): ARC, AFRC, 

GRC, LaRC

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

N/A
LOW BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR

Formulation Development Operations

AERO-50

Project Risks

Risk Statement Mitigation

Sonic Boom Level is Not Acceptable for 

Community Overflight Research

Given that achieving a fully shaped sonic 

boom ground signature in the 70-75PLdb 

range requires a complex and integrated 

design solution that is sensitive to OML 

changes, there is a possibility that the 

mission requirements related to ground 

signature loudness may not be achievable -

resulting in an aircraft that may not be fully 

acceptable for community response studies.

NASA will ensure that all configuration assessments are 

accomplished with the latest and most mature aircraft 

configuration and periodically assess any updates to the aircraft 

configuration, such as the outer mold line, or performance 

characteristics.

Reduced Aircraft Performance Could Impact 

Mission Effectiveness

Given the aircraft and propulsion system 

selection and integration complexity, there is 

a possibility of reduced aircraft performance 

resulting in loss of mission effectiveness, and 

leading to longer duration time to meet flight 

parameter(s), increased costs, and limitations 

of flight test points to standard-day 

conditions.

NASA will ensure that contractor has sufficient margin for 

aircraft weight growth with propulsion configuration, assess 

contractor aircraft performance and thrust predictions, both 

computationally and experimentally, over the aircraft flight 

envelope and perform a trade study on engine performance 

during demanding conditions.

Acquisition Strategy

The acquisition strategy for LBFD is to acquire through an industry partner the detailed design/build/test 

of the experimental low boom demonstrator aircraft. NASA will provide in-house support that will 

include in-flight and ground systems, instrumentation and operations, simulation, wind-tunnel testing, and 

safety and mission assurance. NASA will also supply aircraft components and systems as Government 

Furnished Equipment (GFE) whenever feasible and considered to add value to the development of the 

LBFD aircraft.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

Element Vendor Location (of work performance)

LBFD Aircraft - Design, Build, and 

Initial Testing TBD TBD
LOW BOOM FLIGHT DEMONSTRATOR

Formulation Development Operations

AERO-51

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review Type Performer Date of 

Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance LBFD 

Independent 

Review Board 

(IRB)

Jun 2017 PDR Successfully 

Completed Jun 2018

Performance LBFD IRB Jun 2018 Delta PDR TBD Jun 2019

Performance LBFD IRB Jun 2019 CDR TBD Sep 2020

Performance LBFD IRB Sep 2020 FRR TBD N/A
TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM

AERO-52

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 115.8 -- 123.3 110.1 124.9 125.1 125.1

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Transformative Aero Concepts Program 

(TACP) cultivates multi-disciplinary, 

revolutionary concepts to enable aviation 

transformation. ARMD’s strategic analysis has 

identified challenges in the global demand for 

mobility, significant energy and sustainability, and 

ongoing affordability issues, for which technology 

can be a key part of the solutions. TACP fosters 

innovative solutions to these problems, 

capitalizing on advancements in aeronautics and 

non-aeronautics sectors to create new 

opportunities in aviation. The ultimate goal of the 

program is to reduce or eliminate technical 

barriers and infuse internally- and externallyoriginated concepts into all six ARMD strategic 

research thrusts, creating innovation for the 

aviation system.

Using sharply focused activities, the program provides flexibility for innovators to explore technology 

feasibility and provide the knowledge base for radical transformation. The program solicits and 

encourages revolutionary concepts, creates the environment for researchers to become immersed in trying 

out new ideas, performs ground and small-scale flight tests, allows failures and learns from them, and 

drives rapid ideation into new concepts. TACP also places attention on computational and experimental 

tools that are critical for supporting technology development and enabling aviation transformation. 

Therefore, the program’s investments are in never-done-before areas that can provide paradigm-shifting 

analysis and experimental capabilities. Further, the program addresses the technical barriers that need to 

be overcome in order to realize the potential for aviation transformation via applications of autonomy. 

TACP's new autonomous systems research activities address key technical barriers that will enable the 

use of autonomous systems in aviation. To increase the relevance of its work, TACP aggressively engages

the traditional aeronautics community, as well as, non-traditional partners through public-private 

partnerships.

Across all ARMD programs, NASA researchers are developing innovative capabilities to advance the 

strategic thrusts and enable their outcomes. TACP challenges and supports the realization of the thrust 

outcomes with early stage innovations and with revolutionary technologies and methods.

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

Shown above is a supersonic aircraft model with the 

Outer Mold Lines (OML) identified. NASA’s University 

Leadership Initiative is funding research to develop 

technologies to adapt the OML of supersonic aircraft 

geometry in real-time to mitigate sonic boom noise 

under changing flight conditions.
TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM

AERO-53

None.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017

 NASA completed fabrication of an eight percent scale model of a wing-body junction of an 

aircraft that will be used in a major FY 2018 wind tunnel experiment. The Juncture Flow 

Experiment will take critical measurements of the turbulent airflow near the wing-body junction 

region of an aircraft. Data provided by the highly instrumented model will be used to validate 

NASA's new computational tools that better predict turbulent airflows and enable the design of 

future aircraft. (Cross Cutting/Transformational Tools and Technologies [TTT])

 NASA demonstrated a high-temperature material system for turbine engine components that 

enable a six percent reduction in fuel burn while meeting 2700 F use temperature and durability 

metrics. Higher temperature materials reduce the amount of cooling needed in engine turbines, 

improve fuel efficiency, lower operating cost, and reduce emissions. As part of this effort, NASA 

has been collaborating with a U.S. engine company to advance these high-temperature ceramic 

matrix composites (CMC) materials. The company plans to incorporate CMCs into the hot 

section of a new engine that will power the next generation of commercial airplanes. (Cross 

Cutting/TTT)

 NASA completed feasibility assessments for four Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) 

activities. The feasibility studies culminated the initial exploration of innovative new aeronautics 

concepts. All activities demonstrated feasibility in several key dimensions, but also revealed 

challenges that will need to be addressed prior to implementation. Contributions include a new 

toolset for designers of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a concept that uses robotic 

construction of aircraft structures using strong, lightweight materials; another concept can 

significantly reduce ground testing time by allowing a new aircraft to "learn" its control system in 

flight similar to how a young bird learns to fly by jumping out of the nest. NASA is discussing a 

potential technology transition of this concept to a U.S. aerospace company. The final CAS 

activity demonstrated a concept that uses advanced sensors and models to create a "digital twin" 

that can predict the performance of a physical system over its lifecycle. (Cross 

Cutting/Convergent Aeronautics Solutions [CAS])

 NASA executed the first round of the competitive University Leadership Initiative awards under 

the University Innovation (UI) Project. Five University Awards have been granted:

- Hyper-Spectral Communication, Networking and Air Traffic Management as Foundation for 

 Safe and Efficient Future Flight; 

- Adaptive Aerostructures for Revolutionary Civil Supersonic Transportations; 

- Advanced Aerodynamic Design Center for Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles; 

- Electric Propulsion: Challenges and Opportunities; and 

- Information Fusion for Real-Time National Air Transportation System Prognostics Under 

 Uncertainty. 

 

 These awards are the result of university leaders independently identifying and analyzing the 

technical barriers inherent in achieving ARMD’s strategic outcomes, and proposing set of multidisciplinary solutions along with supporting activities to address those barriers. Total participants 

for all awards include twenty-one universities, seven companies, and one non-profit organization 

across twenty-one states. (Cross Cutting/University Innovation [UI])

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018
TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM

AERO-54

 NASA will complete the juncture flow validation experiment that examines the turbulent airflow 

around the wing-body junction of an aircraft. NASA will apply the results from this study and 

prior efforts to deliver critical turbulence models and numerical methods for separated flows that 

reduce the predictive error by 40 percent against standard test cases. Current fluid models have 

been unreliable in representing turbulent flow regions including separated flows. These 

limitations have prevented the broader use of numerical modeling for aircraft design, leading to 

higher costs and less than optimal designs. (Cross Cutting/TTT)

 NASA will continue working on additional computational tools that improve new air vehicle 

design such as Multidisciplinary Design, Analysis, and Optimization (MDAO) and Combustion 

Modeling. These tools will evaluate key enabling technologies for future subsonic aircraft 

configurations, advanced gas turbine engines, and/or hybrid electric propulsion systems that will 

achieve revolutionary levels of economic and environmental performance. (Cross Cutting/TTT)

 NASA’s CAS Project initiates three new activities that support the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) 

domain. The first activity, Autonomy Teaming and TRAjectories for Complex Trusted 

Operational Reliability, will develop and measure trust inherent in autonomous systems. The 

second activity, Fit-2-Fly, will focus on conducting automated monitoring and inspection of 

UAVs. Finally, the third activity, Quantum Technologies for UAS, will apply quantum 

computing technologies to support secure UAV communications. (Cross Cutting/CAS)

 NASA will execute the second round of the competitive University Leadership Initiative (ULI) 

solicitations under the UI Project. The first annual ULI Technical Exchange Event begins in 

2018. (Cross Cutting/UI)

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019

 NASA will continue to develop multidisciplinary design optimization capabilities that will enable 

assessment of On-Demand Mobility (ODM) vehicle designs with tightly integrated propulsionairframe systems that optimally account for competing requirements for performance, noise, and 

energy usage. (Cross Cutting/TTT)

 NASA will begin new CAS activities supporting multiple strategic thrusts. The following CAS 

activities will go to close-out/transition:

- Lithium-Oxygen battery for NASA (LION), 

- Spanwise Adaptive Wing (SAW), 

- Fostering Ultra-Efficient, Low-Emitting Aviation Power (FUELEAP), 

- Compact Additively Manufactured Innovative Electric Motor (CAMIEM), and 

- Conformal Lightweight Antenna Systems for Aeronautical Communication Technologies 

(CLAS-ACT) 

 NASA will solicit the third round of the competitive University Leadership Initiative proposals 

under the UI Project. These new proposals will address the technical barriers intrinsic in 

achieving ARMD’s strategic outcomes. (Cross Cutting/UI)
TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM

AERO-55

Program Elements

CONVERGENT AERONAUTICS SOLUTIONS (CAS)

The CAS project performs rapid feasibility assessments of early-stage innovations that challenge existing 

technical approaches, create alternate paths to solutions, or enable new strategic outcomes. The project’s 

focus is on merging traditional aeronautics disciplines with advancements driven by the non-aeronautics 

world to overcome barriers and enable new capabilities in commercial aviation. Internal research teams 

conduct initial feasibility studies, perform experiments, try out new ideas, identify failures, and try again. 

When a review determines whether the developed solutions have met their feasibility goals or identified 

potential for future aviation impact, ARMD considers the most promising capabilities for continued 

development by other programs or by direct transfer to the aviation community. In a dynamic 

environment of early stage innovation, NASA obtains significant value from the new knowledge gained

and widely disseminates it among the aeronautics community at large.

TRANSFORMATIONAL TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES (TTT)

The TTT project advances state-of-the-art computational and experimental tools and technologies that are 

vital to aviation applications in the six strategic thrusts. The project develops new computer-based tools, 

models, and associated scientific knowledge that will provide first-of-a-kind capabilities to analyze, 

understand, and predict performance for a wide variety of aviation concepts. Applying these revolutionary 

tools will enable and accelerate NASA’s research and the community’s design and introduction of 

advanced concepts. Examples include the development and validation of new computational tools used to 

predict complex turbulent airflow around vehicles and within propulsion systems, ultimately leading to an 

improved ability to predict future vehicle performance in flight. The project also explores technologies 

that are broadly critical to advancing ARMD strategic outcomes, such as: understanding new types of 

strong and lightweight materials; innovative aircraft control techniques; and experimental methods. Such 

technologies will support and enable concept development and benefit assessment across multiple ARMD 

programs and disciplines.

In FY 2018, a new Autonomous Systems Sub-Project will start under TTT. This Sub-project will initially 

explore enabling capabilities and architectures that facilitate the introduction of autonomous airborne and 

ground-based systems. 

UNIVERSITY INNOVATION (UI)

The UI project contains a portfolio of disruptive technologies and other entirely new concepts in order to 

meet the challenging goals established for each strategic thrust established by ARMD and support 

education of the next generation of engineers. The project utilizes NASA Research Announcement (NRA) 

solicitations where university-led teams are asked to assess the most critical technical challenges that 

must be solved to achieve the SIP strategic outcomes; and to propose independent, innovative research 

projects to solve those technical challenges. Universities develop their own success criteria, progress 

indicators, and technical approach. Solutions to these complex problems inherently involve high technical 

risk. Universities pursue multi-disciplinary approaches and incorporate partnerships with other 

universities, industry, and other U.S. entities. The competitively-selected research activities will open 

alternate avenues for accelerated progress by ARMD and the aerospace community toward the strategic 

outcomes, and will leverage new thinking and foster development of the next-generation aerospace 

workforce.
TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM

AERO-56

Program Schedule

Date Significant Event

 Oct 2017 TTT - New Autonomous Systems Sub-Project start

 Dec 2017 CAS – Learn2Fly, Digital Twin, and Mission Adapt Digital Comp AeroTech 

(MADCAT) will begin close out/transition

 Dec 2017 CAS – Autonomy Operating Systems for UAV begins Close Out/Transition

 Mar 2018 CAS – High Voltage Hybrid Electric Prop and Multifunction Structure 

Energy Storage begins close out/transition

 Mar 2018 TTT – Juncture Flow Experiment completes

 May 2018 TTT – Revolutionary Computational Aerosciences completes technical 

challenge to reduce error of turbulent flows

 Jun 2018 TTT – Physics-Based Turbulence Models and Simulations completes

 Sep 2018 UI – Round 2 University Solicitations will be awarded

 Jan 2019 CAS – Spanwise Adaptive Wing and Fostering Ultra-Efficient, Low-Emitting 

Aviation Power begins close out/transition

 Jun 2019

CAS – Lithium-Oxygen battery for NASA, Compact Additively 

Manufactured Innovative Electric Motor and Conformal Lightweight 

Antenna Systems for Aeronautical communication Technologies begins close 

out/transition

Program Management & Commitments

Program Element Provider

CAS

Provider: ARC, GRC, LaRC, AFRC

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, LaRC, AFRC 

Cost Share Partner(s): JOBY Aviation, PCKrause & Associates, National 

Institute of Aerospace, Boeing, AFRL, ESAero, Tecnam MTProp, Launch 

Point, Cape Air, Straight Up Imaging, DoT Volpe, Moog Inc., IDEO, Idea 

Couture, Tecolote Research Inc., AFRL, WP AFB, Universities

TTT

Provider: ARC, GRC, LaRC, AFRC

Lead Center: GRC

Performing Center(s): ARC, GRC, LaRC, AFRC

Cost Share Partner(s): Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Honda, UTRC, 

ESI, Blue Quartz Software, General Electric, FAA, AFRL, U.S. Air Force, 

U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 

(DARPA), Distributed Engine Controls Working Group Consortium, 

Honeywell, BAE Systems, UTC Aerospace Systems, Ohio Aerospace 

Institute, U.S. small businesses and universities
TRANSFORMATIVE AERO CONCEPTS PROGRAM

AERO-57

Program Element Provider

UI

Provider: N/A

Lead Center: HQ

Performing Center(s): N/A

Cost Share Partner(s): TBD

Acquisition Strategy

The research conducted through TACP activities will use a wide array of acquisition tools relevant to the 

research objectives including external solicitations through full and open competitions including 

challenges and prizes.

MAJOR CONTRACTS/AWARDS

NASA's Aeronautics programs award multiple smaller contracts, which are generally less than $5 million. 

They are widely distributed across academia and industry.

INDEPENDENT REVIEWS

Review 

Type Performer Date of Review Purpose Outcome Next Review

Performance ARMD Mission

Program Directors

No 

previous 

review

Review of initial 

CAS project 

activities to 

determine whether 

they have met their 

goals, established 

initial feasibility, and 

identified potential 

for future aviation 

impact.

Expected result is the 

identification of the

promising 

capabilities for 

further development 

by other ARMD 

programs or for 

direct transfer to the 

aviation community.

TBD

Performance Expert Review Nov 2017

The 12-month review 

is a formal 

independent peer 

review. Experts from 

other Government 

agencies report on 

their assessment of 

technical and 

programmatic risk 

and/or project 

weaknesses.

Received expert 

feedback on project 

improvement from 

the panel members.

Determined that the 

project(s) made 

satisfactory progress 

in meeting technical 

challenges and met 

all annual 

performance 

indicators.

Nov 2018
EDUCATION

EDUC-1

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 100.0 99.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Education..........................................................................EDUC-2
EDUCATION

EDUC-2

FY 2019 Budget

Actual CR Request Notional

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

Total Budget 100.0 99.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Change from FY 2018 -99.3

Percentage change from FY 2018 0.0%

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The FY 2019 Budget proposes the termination of 

NASA’s traditional education portfolio of domestic 

assistance awards (grants and cooperative 

agreements) that are fully funded in the year of the 

award or annually funded with a performance period 

of three to five years. 

NASA will continue to support other education 

activities, such as internships and fellowships, within 

the Mission Directorates. For example, the Science 

Mission Directorate will continue its Science 

Activation Program.

A new focused functional office at NASA 

headquarters will be accountable for strategic 

direction and coordination of the agency’s STEM 

engagement efforts. NASA will focus on creating 

unique opportunities for students to contribute to 

NASA’s work in exploration and discovery; build a diverse future STEM workforce by engaging students 

in authentic learning experiences with NASA’s people, content and facilities; and strengthen public 

understanding by enabling powerful connections to NASA’s mission and work. This functional office, 

along with the Office of Communications, will be jointly accountable for working collaboratively toward 

successful achievement of the common vision, mission and goals on behalf of the agency and will be 

funded out of Agency Management and Operations. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019

No funding is requested for Space Grant, EPSCoR and MUREP. NASA proposes to use unobligated 

balances previously appropriated under this heading to support the termination of these activities, 

including but not limited to, ongoing administration, oversight, monitoring, and funding of grants 

previously awarded by the Office of Education. Moving forward, it is expected that a new focused 

functional office funded by Agency Management and Operations will oversee agency-wide coordination 

Interns from JSC pose with astronaut Nick Hague 

before Extravehicular Activity (EVA) training in the 

Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
EDUCATION

EDUC-3

of STEM engagement efforts. Please refer to the Agency Management and Operations section of the 

budget justification for more details. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018

National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (Space Grant)

Based on the availability of funding, Space Grant consortia will receive a one-year funding extension to 

the existing three-year award for all 52 Space Grant consortia members. Space Grant awards consist of 

scholarships, fellowships, or internships in support of higher education, research infrastructure, 

precollege, and informal education. Space Grant consortia will also support flight project activities led by 

student teams. 

Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

 Make new research awards based on availability of funding. 

Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP)

Pending availability of funding:

 Provide final year of funding for the five-year MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity 

awards.

 Support final year of funding for the Educator Professional Development Collaborative five-year 

awards.

 Support NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars awards.

 Support fellowships, scholarships, and internships.

 Support MUREP Aerospace Academy awards.

STEM Education and Accountability Project (SEAP)

Based on the availability of funding:

 Provide final year of funding for the previously awarded internal STEM education awards, 

currently being executed at all NASA Centers.

 Support a limited number of competitively-selected informal education awards to NASA’s 

Visitor Centers and the Nation's museums, science centers and planetariums to enhance NASA 

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education activities, including 

exhibits, events, and materials.

PLANS FOR FY 2019

NASA will implement an orderly shutdown of the OE programs and projects. This effort will be 

guided by these overarching goals: Minimize negative impact to awardees And perform closeout in a 

cost-effective and efficient manner.
 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

SSMS-1 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Center Management and Operations 1986.5 -- 1949.6 1945.4 1939.8 1934.1 1928.5 

Agency Management and Operations 782.1 -- 800.1 799.4 798.8 798.2 797.6 

Total Budget 2768.6 2749.8 2749.7 2744.8 2738.6 2732.3 2726.1 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Safety, Security, and Mission Services .......................... SSMS-2

Center Management and Operations .......................................................... SSMS-7 

Agency Management and Operations ....................................................... SSMS-12 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT ................................................................................... SSMS-16 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS ..................................................................... SSMS-21 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) ............................................................................ SSMS-28 

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSET PROGRAM ................................................ SSMS-36 

HEADQUARTERS BUDGET BY OFFICE ............................................................ SSMS-40 

HEADQUARTERS WORKFORCE BY OFFICE ................................................... SSMS-42 
 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

SSMS-2 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Center Management and Operations 1986.5 -- 1949.6 1945.4 1939.8 1934.1 1928.5 

Agency Management and Operations 782.1 -- 800.1 799.4 798.8 798.2 797.6 

Total Budget 2768.6 2749.8 2749.7 2744.8 2738.6 2732.3 2726.1 

Change from FY 2018 -0.1 

Percentage change from FY 2018 0.0% 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Safety, Security, and Mission Services (SSMS) 

manages the administration of the Agency; 

operates and maintains NASA centers and 

facilities in ten states and the District of 

Columbia (Headquarters); and provides 

oversight that reduces risk to life and mission 

for all NASA programs. 

SSMS maintains both institutional and 

program capabilities across the Agency. 

Strategically, these capabilities meet workforce 

and infrastructure requirements necessary to 

enable NASA's mission. 

Institutional capabilities ensure that critical 

Agency operations are effective, efficient, and 

meet statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary 

responsibilities. Program capabilities ensure that competencies, technical skills and capabilities, and 

assets are readily available to meet programmatic requirements; mission and research endeavors are 

technically and scientifically sound; and Agency practices are consistently safe and reliable at NASA 

Centers. 

These capabilities enable missions to accomplish Agency strategic goals and objectives. In addition to 

related processes, both are testament to the complexity of the support needed to successfully and safely 

implement and complete requisite missions. Following are several examples: 

 Engineering, systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance capabilities support technical 

activities; 

 Information Technology (IT), infrastructure, and security capabilities support the productivity of 

NASA scientists and engineers; 

NASA workforce and facilities provide the tools 

and services needed to safely conduct its mission. 
 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

SSMS-3 

 Human capital management, finance, procurement, occupational health and safety, equal 

employment opportunity and diversity provide needed resources throughout the Agency, and 

small business programs contribute to the strategic and operational planning and management that 

ensure resources are available when needed; and 

 International and interagency relations, legislative and intergovernmental affairs, and strategic 

communications facilitate communications with a broad range of internal and external 

communities. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

NASA is increasing Agency IT Services to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and safeguard critical 

systems and data. NASA's FY 2019 request includes investments in critical IT infrastructure and 

enterprise solutions. Center Management and Operations (CMO) funding increases reliability-centered 

maintenance and condition-based monitoring activities at centers to provide more efficient and effective 

systems maintenance. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA is working to instill a culture of innovation in its workforce by recognizing and rewarding 

innovative performance; engaging and connecting the workforce to make it easy for employees to 

collaborate, network, and innovate; and, creating an environment in which leaders view developing 

innovative employees as a productive and vital use of their time. SSMS activities provide the facilities, 

tools, and services needed to conduct NASA’s missions safely and effectively. Most notably, in 2017, 

NASA: 

 Pursued over the course of several years a disciplined approach to improving the Agency’s 

Operating Model. In May 2017, NASA’s Executive Council took the next step in a series of 

initiatives to become more efficient and effective as an Agency. The Mission Support Future 

Architecture Program (MAP) developed an overall implementation plan and management 

structure and approach to execute a phased enterprise architecture for mission support services. 

Since May, the MAP team laid the framework for the program, defined the program’s objectives 

and kicked off the first phase of projects. 

 Successfully implemented effective energy conservation and cost saving projects by reducing 

energy and water use, and improving operations. Glenn Research Center (GRC) utilized an 

Energy Savings Performance Contract through the Department of Energy's Federal Energy 

Management Program that allows federal agencies to partner with utility companies. Energy 

cost savings funds the project; thereby, reducing the need for federal funding. The GRC Energy 

Conservation Measures project saved $928K in energy savings; and $325K in operations and 

maintenance costs. 

 Named the "Best Place to Work" for the sixth year in a row among large agencies in the Federal 

Government. Employee satisfaction and commitment scores continued to improve with NASA 

maintaining focus on connecting people to each other and the mission, building model 

supervisors, and recognizing and rewarding innovative performance. 

 Received a “Clean” financial audit opinion for the seventh consecutive year; and for the third 

consecutive year received the Associate of Government Accounts Certificate of Excellence in 

Accountability Reporting (CEAR). 
 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

SSMS-4 

 A first for NASA, the Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) program is accredited as 

a third party assessor for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). 

IV&V is certified to assist cloud service providers and government agencies in complying with 

FedRAMP requirements. NASA is one of only two federal agencies with this certification 

throughout the Federal Government. 

 In 2017, 123,000 technical standards products were downloaded from the NASA Standards 

website; and, made available to all NASA civil servant employees and NASA badged contractors. 

The website is updated regularly and enhances the promotion of best industry practices and 

provides electronic notification of changes for registered standards to help users verify and 

identify current documents. The website provides single-point, instantaneous access to the world's 

largest collection of continuously updated engineering and technical reference documents from 

over 400 standard developing bodies and publishers; plus, engineering tools. The NASA 

Standards web link is https://standards.nasa.gov/. 

 The Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCHMO), in collaboration with NASA's Commercial 

Crew Program (CCP), completed a critical task of updating NASA's Health Stabilization Plan 

(HSP) for Commercial Crew transport missions to the International Space Station (ISS). ISS 

crew health-related standards address all mission phases and target physiological and behavioral 

and performance systems at risk from exposure to the space environment. 

 NASA continued efforts to modernize cybersecurity services and governance; and, implemented 

enterprise security tools to reduce cybersecurity risks. The Office of Chief Information Officer 

(OCIO) deployed Phase I of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Continuous 

Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Program on NASA's corporate network. Phase 1 will be 

completed by deploying tools on mission networks in FY 2018. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

SSMS continues its’ crosscutting support of the Agency’s aeronautics and space activities, using 

innovative approaches in providing the required programmatic, business, and administrative capabilities. 

Key activities underway include: 

 Replacement of the end-of-life land mobile radio system at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center 

(MSFC). This system supports over 600 NASA MSFC radio users and approximately 1200 other 

federal government users that are Redstone Arsenal tenants (DoD, ATF, FBI, and Missile 

Defense Agency). 

 Extensive reinforcement of network and IT infrastructure cybersecurity with the deployment of 

tools designed to secure the external network perimeter and monitor the network for malicious 

attacks. The Agency is enhancing cybersecurity capabilities of its Security Operation Center 

(SOC); and, IT Security Program. This includes improvements to incident response, insider 

threat management, continuity of operations, enterprise cyber security architecture, cybersecurity 

risk management, and cybersecurity workforce development. 

 NASA's continued support for the Mission Support Future Architecture Program (MAP). In early 

FY 2018, NASA's Mission Support Council (MSC) voted to proceed with MAP implementation. 

Phase 1 projects are the Office of Human Capital Management (OHCM), the Office of Chief 

Financial Officer (OCFO), and the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA)). 

These Phase 1 projects will complete the first Key Decision Point (KDP) to the MSC in FY 2018. 
 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

SSMS-5 

 Strategic Capability Asset (SCA) - Arc Jets continue development of Thermal Protection Systems 

for the Orion Spacecraft at NASA's Ames Research Center (ARC). Orion’s thermal protection 

system is one of the most critical parts of the spacecraft and is responsible for protecting it and 

the future astronauts conducting space missions. Engineers developing Orion’s thermal protection 

system continue to improve the spacecraft’s heat shield design and manufacturing process; and 

are enhancing the overall system in advance of the spacecraft’s next mission. 

 The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) will engage in the technology 

demonstration of the Space Debris Sensor (SDS) that will take place on the International Space 

Station (ISS). The SDS is a large area impact sensor for measurements of Micrometeoroids and 

Orbital Debris (MMOD) in the sub-millimeter to millimeter size regime including particle size 

and material density. Increased understanding of the orbital debris environment will assist NASA 

in determining appropriate mission requirements to guard against orbital debris and meteoroid 

impacts that could lead to mission failure. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

In FY 2019, SSMS programs will continue to balance the risks across center and Agency services and 

activities to provide a safe, reliable infrastructure to conduct NASA’s aeronautics and space activities. 

SSMS programs will support: 

 CMO facility maintenance and operations, including utility and custodial support of more than 

5,000 buildings and other structures containing 47.3 million gross square feet of building area 

valued at $39 billion. Centers will continue to increase reliability-centered maintenance and 

condition-based monitoring activities to provide more efficient and effective systems 

maintenance. 

 OSMA development of assurance capabilities to mitigate risks associated with rapidly advancing 

industry capabilities in additive manufacturing; commercial-grade EEE parts; model-based 

systems engineering; and software design practices. These capabilities provide technical and cost 

saving opportunities for future NASA missions. 

 IV&V expert software analysis on NASA’s safety and mission critical software to help assure 

safety and mission success by identifying software problems as early as possible, minimize the 

cost of rework, and support key milestone decisions. 

 Collaborative efforts between OSMA, the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE), and OCHMO to 

strengthen the Agency’s Technical Authority capability. The offices will work together, 

conducting safety reviews and independent technical assessments of NASA’s missions (including 

ISS, Commercial Crew, Orion/SLS, Webb, robotic missions, and Space Technology 

investments). 

 OCHMO continued implementation of all Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) 

technical standards for research and technology (R&T) and human space flight (HSF) programs 

and projects; and those related to occupational and / or environmental health requirements that are 

not established by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety Health Administration 

(OSHA) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). OCHMO will continue to work as the 

health and medical technical authority on all human missions, including those to lunar and Mars 

surfaces. 
 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

SSMS-6 

 Agency Management (AM) Center integration of onsite Electronic Physical Access Systems 

(EPACS) equipment into the EPACS Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) agency suite; and 

completion of the EPACS re-architecture initiative. 

 AITS continued efforts to ensure that NASA networks are safeguarded from unauthorized and 

potentially malicious connections and access. The OCIO plans to deploy its Enterprise Internal 

Border Network Access Control (EIB-NAC) project. These EIB-NAC cybersecurity tools will 

enable the Agency to effectively manage user network access by placing users in network zones 

commensurate with cybersecurity policies. OCIO will also establish an agency-level SOC 

responsible for delivering and managing all enterprise cybersecurity services. The SOC will 

implement tools to monitor and inspect encrypted web traffic and safeguard NASA data from 

potential exfiltration by attackers. This initiative will consolidate redundant cybersecurity 

services across NASA Centers. 

 SCA's planned testing of the Space Power Facility (SPF) at NASA's GRC. SPF is home to the 

world’s largest and most powerful space environment simulation facilities. The Orion spacecraft 

will undergo thermal vacuum and acoustics and vibrations testing at the facility. 

Themes 

CENTER MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

CMO provides ongoing management, operations, and maintenance of NASA Centers and component 

facilities throughout the United States. Centers provide the resources needed (skilled staff, specialized 

infrastructure, etc.) for Centers to accomplish strategic goals and objectives. 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

Agency Management and Operations (AMO) provides management and oversight of NASA missions and 

facilitates the performance of Mission Support activities throughout the Agency. AMO activities ensure 

that core services are readily available across the Agency to perform mission related roles and 

responsibilities. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

CENTER MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-7 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Center Institutional Capabilities 1534.9 -- 1513.6 1509.4 1503.8 1498.1 1492.5 

Center Programmatic Capabilities 451.6 -- 436.0 436.0 436.0 436.0 436.0 

Total Budget 1986.5 -- 1949.6 1945.4 1939.8 1934.1 1928.5 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s CMO budget funds ongoing management, 

operations, and maintenance at Centers and component 

facilities in nine states. CMO includes two major 

activities: Center Institutional Capabilities and Center 

Programmatic Capabilities. 

Missions rely on these program and institutional 

capabilities to provide the skilled staff and specialized 

infrastructure required to accomplish their objectives. 

Center institutional capabilities provide the facilities, 

staff, and administrative support for effective and 

efficient NASA Center operations. These capabilities 

enable NASA Centers and missions to meet its statutory, 

regulatory, and fiduciary responsibilities. 

Program capabilities support scientific and engineering 

activities at the Centers to reduce program risks. These 

program capabilities ensure that technical skills and assets 

are ready and available to meet program and project 

milestones; that missions and research are technically and scientifically sound; and that Center practices 

are safe and reliable. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

Increases facility maintenance ($57.6M) activities at all Centers to provide more efficient and effective 

systems maintenance. Reduces risk and future operating costs by investing in facilities and proactive 

maintenance initiatives. Continues modest investments in conditioned-based maintenance (CBM) 

including installing sensors and equipment to reduce scheduled maintenance inspections and allow real 

time monitoring. Retro-commissions existing facilities to ensure they are operating optimally to improve 

efficiency and performance. 

Center facility maintenance includes roof 

repairs such as this new roofing system installed 

on Building 5 at NASA Glenn Research Center. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

CENTER MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-8 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA continued to improve operations, enabling the Agency to meet mission requirements while 

conduct day-to-day technical and business operations more effectively. For example: 

 NASA Centers conducted a series of inspections, reviews, studies, and analysis that served to 

further enhance and promote NASA's Safety Culture: Annual Facility Safety Inspections, Annual 

Laboratory Safety Inspections, Facilities Drawing Reviews, Integration and Test Safety 

Operations, Construction Safety Inspections, Preconstruction Meetings/Reviews, Facility 

Adjacency Studies, Cryogenic Safety Analyses, Emergency Response, and Safety Program 

Analyses. 

 In 2017, NASA Centers continued to expand on the use of CBM. CBM promotes maintaining an 

asset upon decreasing performance or when a failure is impending; instead of at an arbitrary time 

regardless of condition. Special attention was paid to remote sensing and monitoring of assets 

around the center to cut maintenance costs and extend overall operational lifetime of assets. 

Currently, LaRC co-leads the Agency Business Services Assessment (BSA) team for CBM; and, 

GRC installed CBM equipment within three of its buildings. 

 NASA Centers enthusiastically facilitated the support of public outreach and awareness of NASA 

activities: Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) supported the return of commercial resupply 

missions to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF); and, 

the media outreach for completion of the optical and science segment of the James Webb Space 

Telescope (JWST). 

 Layered high-pressure gas storage vessels are critical to meeting technical mission requirements, 

but many are more than 50 years old and require assessment to assure their continued safe 

operations. To reduce risk of jeopardizing these technical capabilities, Marshall Space Flight 

Center (MSFC) initiated repairs on layered vessel V0256 (a recommendation in the Layered 

Vessel Risk Mitigation Plan). Reactivation of this layered vessel reduces the Pressure System 

risk for personnel by 56% and for property by over 30%, from the FY 2014 Baseline Service 

Level (BSL). 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

In FY 2018, Centers are providing the essential day-to-day technical and business operations required to 

conduct NASA’s aeronautics and space mission activities. Activities encompass the services, tools, and 

equipment required to complete essential tasks, protect and maintain the security and integrity of 

information and assets, and ensure that personnel work under safe and healthy conditions. Efforts 

underway include: 

 Dedicate Human Capital resources for the implementation of Business Services Assessment 

(BSA) Decisions in the areas of Strategic Workforce Planning, Recruitment and Hiring, 

Classification and Staffing, Early Career Hires, Supervisors, Talent Development, Organizational 

Development, and Inter/Intra-Center Collaboration. Support BSA activities in order to realize 

potential benefits, including but not limited to, more efficient operations, cost savings, greater 

collaboration and integration, and divestment/reinvestment of resources. 

 Continue to develop condition-based maintenance related to the Businesses Services Assessment 

and Reliability Centered Maintenance Program. NASA is planning to implement additional 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

CENTER MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-9 

functionality in CBM environment to include metrics and scorecards (provides a framework for 

the development of dashboards, key performance indicators and scorecards) and operator rounds 

(enables field monitoring of equipment and processes). The Agency will continue the evaluation 

of additional CBM technologies such as Infrared Radiation (IR) Thermography and In-line Oil 

Analysis. 

 Initiate a project at Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) to address digitally archiving the 

nearly six million pages of historical research program and project documentation. This effort 

will result in a searchable database which will make the information available to more researchers 

as well as protecting this valuable historical research. 

 Make critical improvements to the Integration & Test Complex infrastructure at GSFC. Expand 

clean room space to handle growing detector work/house new technological advance equipment, 

flip-chip bonder. Upgrade the Near Field Range to test antennas from 500 GHz-750 GHz to 

support earth science and planetary science missions. Upgrade the Anechoic Chamber 

Capabilities. 

 Replace the end-of-life land mobile radio system at MSFC. This system supports over 600 NASA 

MSFC radio users and approximately 1200 other federal government users that are Redstone 

Arsenal tenants (DoD, ATF, FBI, and Missile Defense Agency). 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

Centers will provide the services, tools, and equipment to complete essential tasks, protect, and maintain 

the security and integrity of information and assets, and ensure that personnel work under safe and 

healthy conditions. In FY 2019, CMO will support: 

 Facility maintenance and operations, including utility and custodial support of more than 

5,000 buildings and other structures containing 47.3 million gross square feet of building area 

valued at $39 billion. Centers will continue to increase reliability-centered maintenance and 

condition-based monitoring activities to provide more efficient and effective systems 

maintenance. 

 IT services and capabilities for video, voice, and desktop support at Centers to include efforts to 

reduce duplication of software licenses; 

 Cybersecurity resources to more effectively and efficiently address vulnerabilities across the 

agency; 

 Institutional operational safety support to protect personnel and assets, aviation safety, emergency 

preparedness, nuclear safety, construction safety, and other safety services; 

 Physical security, fire protection and response, emergency management, export control, and other 

basic and specialized protective services; 

 Compliance with environmental regulations, executive orders, and related requirements to protect 

human health and the environment; 

 Human resource management; including: recruitment, hiring, workforce planning, training, and 

performance management. In FY 2019, NASA will continue rightsizing its workforce with a 

reduction of 110 FTE relative to the 2018 Request. NASA will continue to explore opportunities 

across the Agency to find efficiencies in workforce productivity. The Agency will apply the 

valued civil service workforce to priority mission work, adjusting the mix of skills where 

appropriate. Centers will explore cross-mission opportunities for employees whenever possible, 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

CENTER MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-10 

use the range of tools available to reshape the workforce, and continue to identify, recruit, and 

retain a multi-generational workforce of employees who possess skills critical to the Agency. 

 Occupational and environmental health and medical support, such as industrial hygiene, health 

physics, hearing conservation, and licensed and credentialed medical personnel and facilities to 

meet specialized mission requirements; 

 Personal property management, transportation management, mail management, and other 

logistical support; 

 Duplicating and printing support, video production, audio/visual services, and publications and 

graphics (includes specialized support for the production and archiving of scientific and technical 

information); 

 Senior leadership and management of the Centers, executive staff and administrative support, 

student programs, and developmental assignments; 

 Routine public affairs activities, dissemination of information about NASA programs and projects 

to the general public, and responses to public inquiries; 

 Administration and management of Center financial operations; 

 Acquisition and contract management capabilities and practices supporting 41,000 procurement 

actions each year; 

 Engineering assessment and safety oversight pertaining to the technical readiness and execution 

of NASA programs and projects; and 

 Analysis, design, research, test services, and fabrication capabilities to enable efficient 

implementation of the programs and projects. 

Program Elements 

CENTER INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Center Institutional Capabilities encompasses a diverse set of activities essential for safe and effective 

operations. These activities provide the ongoing operations of NASA Centers and major component 

facilities and ensure a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible workplace. Included are essential 

operations such as Center security, environmental management and safety services, and facility 

maintenance and operations. To support the Agency’s Center-based workforce, Center Institutional 

Capabilities provide utilities, IT, legal, occupational health, equal employment opportunity, and human 

resources services. This capability manages and sustains Center staff, facilities, and operations. 

CENTER PROGRAMMATIC CAPABILITIES

NASA’s Center Programmatic Capabilities supports the Agency’s scientific and engineering activities by 

providing engineering assessment and safety oversight pertaining to the technical readiness and execution 

of NASA programs and projects. It also sustains NASA’s analysis, design, research, test services, and 

fabrication capabilities to enable efficient implementation of the programs and projects conducted at the 

Centers. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

CENTER MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-11 

NASA’s Center Programmatic Capabilities supports the Agency’s scientific and engineering activities by 

providing engineering assessment and safety oversight pertaining to the technical readiness and execution 

of NASA programs and projects. It also sustains NASA’s analysis, design, research, test services, and 

fabrication capabilities to enable efficient implementation of the programs and projects conducted at the 

Centers. 

Center Programmatic Capabilities provide a key component of NASA’s overall system of checks and 

balances. The engineering, safety and mission assurance, and health and medical organizations at the 

Centers provide, support, and oversee the technical work and provide formally delegated Engineering 

($131 million) and Safety and Mission Assurance Technical Authorities ($48 million) at NASA Centers. 

These technical authorities provide independent oversight and review of programs and projects in support 

of safety and mission success. Cognizant technical authorities formally review and concur on technical 

and operational matters involving safety and mission success risk. These technical authorities concur 

based on the technical merits of each case and agreement that the risks are acceptable. This assures that 

NASA conducts its mission activities safely in accordance with accepted standards of professional 

practice and applicable NASA requirements. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-12 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Agency Management 359.2 -- 359.5 358.8 358.2 357.6 357.0 

Safety and Mission Success 176.3 -- 175.8 175.8 175.8 175.8 175.8 

Agency IT Services (AITS) 219.8 -- 238.1 238.1 238.1 238.1 238.1 

Strategic Capabilities Asset Program 26.8 -- 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 

Total Budget 782.1 -- 800.1 799.4 798.8 798.2 797.6 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The AMO budget provides 

management and oversight of Agency 

missions and performance of 

NASA-wide mission support activities. 

AMO activities at NASA Headquarters 

(HQ) ensure that core services are 

ready and available, Agency-wide, for 

performing mission roles and 

responsibilities and that Agency 

operations are effective and efficient 

and meet statutory, regulatory, and 

fiduciary requirements. 

NASA HQ develops policy and 

guidance for the Centers and provides 

strategic planning and leadership; and, 

establishes Agency-wide requirements 

and capabilities that improve 

collaboration, efficiency, and effectiveness. Agency management leverages resources and capabilities to 

meet mission needs, eliminate excess capacity, and scale assets accordingly. 

AMO provides for policy-setting, executive management, direction for all corporate functions, and 

supports the operational costs of the Headquarters installation. The AMO theme consists of four 

programs: Agency Management, Safety and Mission Success (SMS), Agency IT Services (AITS), and 

Strategic Capabilities Assets (SCA). 

 

Independent Assessment allows NASA to independently 

review and assess technical and mission risks. Shown here 

is the GOES-R weather satellite launch. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-13 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

NASA is increasing Agency IT Services to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and safeguard critical 

systems and data. NASA's FY 2019 request includes investments in critical IT infrastructure and 

enterprise solutions. Funding will support modernizing Agency systems, increased automation, and 

optimized delivery of enterprise-wide IT service solutions. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA maintained its position as the top large agency in the 2017 rankings as the Best Place to Work in 

the Federal Government, improving our employee satisfaction and commitment score by focusing on 

three key priority areas: connecting people to each other and the mission; building model supervisors; and 

recognizing and rewarding innovative performance. 

The Agency implemented a new governance model for IT applications designed to promote application 

portfolio management and achieve improvements across multiple portfolio health factors including 

cybersecurity, redundancy, interoperability, cost of ownership, and sustainability. NASA modernized 

cybersecurity services and governance and implemented enterprise security tools to reduce cybersecurity 

risks. The Agency implemented a “Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Mandatory” project to deploy 

security tools that enforce PIV smartcard authentication by employees accessing NASA computers. 

SMS conducted 11 formal, stringent Safety and Mission Success Reviews and seven Safety and Mission 

Success Assessments. These reviews are the culmination of the identification and mitigation of potential 

safety and mission assurance risks for launches and high criticality events. The NASA Safety Center 

conducted 18 audits, assessments, and reviews at eight separate NASA Centers and component facilities 

in FY 2017. 

NASA continued efforts during FY 2017 to gain efficiencies through Business Service Assessments 

(BSA). NASA implemented changes in order to gain efficiencies in the areas of IT, Procurement, and 

Human Capital. Activities also included developing integrated implementation strategies in order to 

execute Agency-approved process improvements in the areas of Budget, Facilities, and Education and 

Outreach. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

In FY 2018, the Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Program is currently providing software 

expertise to 19 projects, including 16 NASA missions, Commercial Crew Program, two multi-agency 

missions, and across eight NASA Centers. 

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) plans to conduct over 50 independent assessments of 

NASA’s highest risk challenges maintaining prioritization on the ISS, Commercial Crew, Orion/Space 

Launch System (SLS), James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), and Space Technology. 

NASA is reinforcing its network and IT infrastructure cybersecurity with the deployment of tools 

designed to secure the external network perimeter and monitor for malicious attacks. The Agency 

improvement of SOC capabilities and deployment of tools to monitor encrypted traffic for intrusion will 

help improve NASA's cybersecurity posture and compliance with statutory requirements and 

government-wide cybersecurity policies. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-14 

NASA's current learning management and training solution will be updated to a cloud-based solution as 

the current system is at end-of-life. NASA’s Communications Program will complete the Agency-wide 

transition to the improved mission-wide area backbone and decommission legacy services as a cost 

reduction measure. NASA will also replace aging mission voice systems and migrate from obsolete 

time-division multiple technology to internet-protocol. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

NASA will continue the implementation of BSA decisions, establishing a more effective, efficient and 

transformative Mission Support operating model to meet current and future Agency objectives. 

OCIO will establish an agency-level Security Services Office responsible for delivering and managing all 

enterprise cybersecurity services. The SOC will implement tools to monitor and inspect encrypted web 

traffic and safeguard NASA data from potential exfiltration by attackers. The OCIO plans to standup a 

formal cybersecurity risk management program that will integrate cybersecurity risk management 

processes across the agency. The Centers Enterprise Physical Access Management Systems will be 

consolidated into a single enterprise solution. 

IT investments will enable NASA to improve cybersecurity, reduce costs and increase efficiencies by 

modernizing Agency systems, increasing automation, delivering affordable enterprise-wide IT service 

solutions, strengthening technical capabilities, and achieving cost avoidances and savings through 

strategic investments. 

Collaborative efforts between the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA), Office of Chief 

Engineer (OCE), and OCHMO will continue to strengthen the Agency’s Technical Authority capability. 

The offices will continue to work together, conducting safety reviews and independent technical 

assessments of NASA’s missions, including ISS, Commercial Crew, Orion/SLS, Webb, robotic missions, 

and Space Technology investments. 

Program Elements 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT

Agency Management provides functional and administrative management oversight for the Agency and 

operational support for NASA Headquarters. Agency Management governance and oversight activities 

include finance, protective services, general counsel, public affairs, external relations, legislative affairs, 

training, human capital management, procurement, real property and infrastructure, budget management, 

systems support, internal controls, diversity, equal opportunity, independent program and cost evaluation, 

and small business programs. 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SMS programs protect the health and safety of the NASA workforce and improve the probability of safety 

and mission success for NASA’s programs, projects, and operations. SMS includes NASA Headquarters 

programs, providing technical excellence, mission assurance, and technical authority. This includes the 

work managed by OSMA, IV&V, OCE, and OCHMO. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS

SSMS-15 

AGENCY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES 

The AITS program provides critical technology capabilities and is dedicated to ensuring every mission 

can achieve success within NASA’s complex environment. The AITS mission improves management and 

security of IT systems while improving the efficiency, collaboration capabilities, and streamlined service 

delivery and visibility into IT for the entire Agency. 

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSETS PROGRAM

SCA ensures the essential Agency test facilities are in a state of readiness, maintains the skilled 

workforce, and performs essential preventative maintenance to keep these facilities available to meet 

program requirements. Core capabilities supported within SCA are thermal vacuum chambers, simulators, 

and the Arc Jet Facility. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT

SSMS-16 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 359.2 -- 359.5 358.8 358.2 357.6 357.0 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Agency Management provides functional and 

administrative management oversight for the 

Agency and operational support for NASA 

Headquarters. Agency Management supports the 

activities necessary to conduct business in the 

Federal sector and provides the capability to 

respond to legislation and other mandates. The 

Agency Management program supports over 

35 discrete operations and mission support 

activities. 

Agency Management provides policies, 

controls, and oversight across a range of 

functional and administrative management 

service areas. This includes governance and 

oversight activities such as finance, protective 

services, general counsel, public affairs, 

international and interagency relations, 

legislative affairs, training, human capital 

management, procurement, communications, 

real property and infrastructure, budget 

management, systems support, internal controls, 

diversity, equal opportunity and small business programs. The Agency Management program supports 

operational activities of Headquarters similar to a Center. These activities include building lease costs, 

facility operations costs (such as physical security, maintenance, logistics, IT hardware, and software 

costs), automated business systems implementation, and operations costs (such as internal control 

initiatives related to transparency and accountability in government). 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

NASA Headquarters, located in Washington, DC provides 

overall planning, policy direction, and corporate 

management for The Agency. NASA maintains its 

ranking as the top large agency as the Best Place to Work 

in the Federal Government in 2017. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT

SSMS-17 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA continued to lead the federal government as the top large agency in the 2017 rankings as the 

Best Place to Work in the Federal Government. Employee satisfaction and commitment scores continued 

to improve with NASA maintaining focus on connecting people to each other and the mission, building 

model supervisors, and recognizing and rewarding innovative performance. 

For the seventh consecutive year, the Agency received a “Clean” financial audit opinion and for the third 

year in a row NASA received the Associate of Government Accounts Certificate of Excellence in 

Accountability Reporting (CEAR). The Office of the Chief Financial Officer also provided leadership on 

the 2018 NASA Strategic Plan, the first strategic plan developed under Government Performance and 

Results Act Modernization Act (GPRAMA), including new requirements such as Strategic Reviews and 

Enterprise Risk Management and lead NASA implementation of the DATA act. They also led 

development and delivery of a high-quality Agency Reform Plan, incorporating ongoing Agency reform 

activities and building on the “Unbounded Ideas” developed with the Presidential Appointments Team 

(PAT), in coordination with numerous other offices across NASA Headquarters. 

The Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) established the NASA Industry Forum (NIF), an 

Agency-wide endeavor to share Center-level information that is of concern to both NASA, its industry 

partners and share best practices. During FY 2017, NASA continued its Regional Outreach initiative to 

partner with regional Chambers of Commerce and Procurement Training Assistance Centers (PTACs) to 

assist contractors that have never had any prior NASA contracts. 

During 2017, the NASA Protective Services Training Academy (NPSTA) achieved Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Accreditation for its Federal Arrest Authority training program. NASA's 

participation in the accreditation process ensures public confidence and the integrity, professionalism and 

accountability of NASA security forces. The National Security Systems (NSS) Team also met the 

Internal Operating Capability (IOC) and the Fully Operational Capability (FOC) requirements outlined 

under the umbrella of the Committee on National Security Systems Directive on Protecting National 

Security Systems from Insider Threat. 

NASA Headquarters heightened its Continuity of Operations (COOP) capabilities to provide for the 

continued management and operations of the Agency in the event that Agency management is not able to 

remain in or operate from the National Capital Region. Headquarters participated in the 2017 FEMA 

Eagle Horizon exercise by testing the Devolution Emergency Response Group’s ability to continue 

NASA’s essential functions during any type of threat or emergency in the event that the primary operating 

facility is incapacitated and personnel are unavailable or incapable of activating or deploying to the 

normal continuity facility. 

Agency Management examples of BSA successes: 

 Cost avoidance by the Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) realized as a result of a BSA 

decision to consolidate various SharePoint collaboration environments. The OICO has 

restructured and streamlined IT governance boards to effectively engage Agency stakeholders 

and is implementing a major network upgrade that will enable a single network across NASA. 

 The Office of Procurement is implementing a new single task ordering tool that will replace 

10 existing tools across the Agency. They have also implemented the use of alternate contracting 

approaches to assist Centers and expedite the process, while maintaining the process integrity. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT

SSMS-18 

They have developed a web-based contract repository for strategic sourcing and category 

management. 

 The Office of Human Capital Management (OHCM) is implementing a new hiring system to 

replace the current outdated system to modernize hiring and provide managers more flexibility in 

selections. OHCM has also adjusted performance plans for supervisors to limit technical duties 

and ensure that supervisory duties are at least 50 percent. 

 The Office of Strategic Infrastructure (OSI) - Facilities is developing an Agency Master plan to 

document the facilities required to accomplish NASA’s mission and goals for the next 20 years. 

 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

NASA Headquarters is enhancing its space management capabilities through the introduction of 

Building Information Modeling (BIM). The BIM toolset helps automate clash detection of elements such 

as electrical conduit or ductwork that run into a beam. By modeling all of these things first, clashes are 

discovered early, and costly on-site clashes can be reduced. The model also ensures a perfect fit of 

elements that are manufactured off-site. The BIM Model links to facility management Software 

(Space Planning and Maintenance & Energy Modeling) reducing overall building life cycle costs. 

NASA’s Office of Protective Services (OPS) continues to provide threat protection across the Agency. 

OPS will deploy the NASA Visitor Management System to replace standalone visitor systems which will 

enhance agency wide visitor security and tracking. NASA will also receive FBI Automated Fingerprint 

Identification System (AFIS) capability which will allow NASA to submit fingerprints directly to the FBI 

and the PerSec Case Initiative system will track security clearance for NASA employees and contractors. 

OPS will also complete the Personal Identity Verification Card Issuer Audit required by Homeland 

Security which allows NASA to continue to print credentials and the Identity Management Modernization 

project. 

NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) is improving the Agency performance in small 

business subcategories by identifying, increasing, and promoting small business prime contracting 

opportunities. NASA has set Center prime goals for FY 2018 based on current and anticipated 

requirements as well as on continuous improvement. 

The Mission Support Directorate will continue crosscutting support of the Agency’s activities, using 

innovative approaches to provide the required programmatic, business, and administrative capabilities. 

Key activities underway include: 

 Gaining additional efficiencies through our BSA activities. This includes performing 

comprehensive reviews, developing implementation plans and institutionalizing previously made 

business service decisions. Options and recommendations are in development based on the 

assessment of Technical Authority. NASA has initiated comprehensive reviews of the Protective 

Services and Logistics activities. 

 The Office of Communications will identify opportunities and leverage public engagement 

capabilities across organizations and Centers and ensure effective collaboration among Center 

communications and/or public engagement offices to establish strong partnerships. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT

SSMS-19 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

Beginning in FY 2019, Phase 1 MAP projects will begin actual transition to new operating architectures 

with budget and management responsibilities aligned. Phase 1 MAP projects include the Office of 

Human Capital Management, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Office of Legislative 

Affairs. Phase 2 Mission Support functions will also be identified and begin the process. 

In FY 2019, the Mission Support Directorate (MSD) will continue to balance the risks across Center and 

Agency services and activities to provide a safe, reliable infrastructure to conduct NASA’s aeronautics 

and space activities. MSD will: 

 Implement long-term changes identified through the BSAs to optimize services, and maintain a 

minimum set of capabilities to meet mission needs; 

 The Enterprise Protection Program (EPP) was developed to increase coordination on critical 

infrastructure protection. The EPP will establish a working group focused on coordination of 

work on the protection of this infrastructure in response to a NASA IG recommendation. 

 Implement improvements from the Education and Outreach BSA, including better coordination 

by the headquarters education office that reports to the Agency Administrator; and 

 Conclude BSA as an “initiative” after completing assessments on Protective Services and 

Logistics. Upon completion, NASA will have assessed the major mission support functional 

areas that comprise over 70% of CMO funding, including Information Technology, Procurement, 

Human Capital, Budget and PP&C, Facilities, Education and Outreach, Technical Authority, 

Protective Services, and Logistics. Mission Support Directorate has developed a “mini-BSA” 

process for smaller functional areas to leverage. Our future strategy continues to optimize mission 

support operations across NASA. 

Program Elements 

HEADQUARTERS OPERATIONS

Headquarters Operations manages and sustains the Headquarters employees and contractors, facilities, 

and operations required for program and institutional execution. Areas include: 

 Facility operations support, including physical security, custodial, and maintenance services; 

equipment; expendable supplies; mail services; motor pool operations; logistics services; and 

emergency preparedness; 

 Human resources staffing; employee payroll and benefits processing; retirement services; 

employee training; employee occupational health, fitness, and medical services; and grants 

awards processing; and 

 Headquarters operations, including support provided by Goddard Space Flight Center for 

accounting and procurement operations; configuration maintenance; automated business and 

administrative systems; contract close-out services; and payments to the NASA Shared Services 

Center for grants management. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT

SSMS-20 

MISSION SUPPORT

The Agency Management budget also provides for functional leadership of administrative and mission 

support activities at Headquarters and Centers performing this diverse set of activities on behalf of the 

Agency. 

Mission Support activities include: 

 Execution and management of the Agency’s financial and budget processes and systems. This 

includes overseeing strategic planning, budget and financial management and accountability 

practices while providing timely, accurate, and reliable information, and enhancing internal 

controls; 

 Leadership and management of NASA protective services operations. This includes policy 

formulation; oversight, coordination and management of protective services operations, including 

security, fire, emergency management, and emergency preparedness; support for Agency 

counterintelligence and counter-terrorism activities; implementation of the ICAM and other 

security systems, including communications; COOP; and national intelligence community 

services; 

 Technical expertise and oversight of Agency infrastructure and management systems for: aircraft, 

environmental, real property, logistics, and strategic capabilities programs; and 

 Leadership and management of the Agency’s human capital resources and Equal Employment 

Offices. These offices engage the Agency in proactive equal opportunity and diversity and 

inclusion initiatives, workforce development and alternate dispute resolution services and 

complaint investigations. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-21 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Safety and Mission Assurance 49.6 -- 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.5 

Chief Engineer 83.4 -- 83.0 83.0 83.0 83.0 83.0 

Chief Health and Medical Officer 4.2 -- 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 

Independent Verification and Validation 39.1 -- 38.9 38.9 38.9 38.9 38.9 

Total Budget 176.3 -- 175.8 175.8 175.8 175.8 175.8 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

SMS programs protect the health and safety of the 

NASA workforce and improve the likelihood that the 

Agency's programs, projects, and operations will be 

completed safely and successfully. SMS includes 

programs that provide technical excellence, mission 

assurance, and technical authority. It also includes 

work managed by the Office of Mission Assurance 

(OSMA), including the NASA Safety Center (NESC) 

and the Independent Verification and Validation 

(IV&V); the Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) 

including the NASA Engineering and Safety Center 

(NESC); and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer 

(OCHMO). 

The elements of SMS reflect the recommendations 

outlined in many studies and by advisory boards and 

panels. These programs directly support NASA’s 

core values and serve to improve the probability of 

safety and mission success of NASA’s programs, 

projects, and operations, while protecting the health 

and safety of NASA’s workforce. 

SMS develops policy and procedural requirements. 

This program results in recommendations to the 

Administrator, mission directorates, Center Directors, 

and program managers who ultimately are 

responsible for the safety and mission success of all 

NASA activities; and, the safety and health of the workforce. SMS resources provide the foundation for 

NASA’s system of checks and balances, enabling the effective application of the strategic management 

 

Carlie Zumwalt from Langley Research Center 

(LaRC) inspects a supersonic disk-gap-band (DGB) 

parachute model in the Transonic Dynamics Tunnel 

as part of the NASA Engineering and Safety 

Center’s (NESC) Subscale Low Density Supersonic 

Parachute Wind-Tunnel Test. NASA has used the 

DGB parachute design on all US missions to Mars, 

since the 1976 Viking Project, to decelerate robotic 

payloads in the planet’s thin atmosphere. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-22 

framework and the technical authorities defined in NASA’s Strategic Management and Governance 

Handbook. SMS funds provide training and maintain a competent technical workforce within the 

disciplines of system engineering, including system safety, reliability and quality, as well as space 

medicine. 

SMS resources are essential for evaluating the implications on safety and mission success, including the 

health and medical aspects of new requirements and departures from existing requirements. With this 

funding, discipline experts analyze the criticality of the associated risks and evaluate the risks 

acceptability through an established process of independent reviews and assessments. The information 

and advice from these experts provide critical data required by the technical authorities to develop 

authoritative decisions related to the application of requirements on programs and projects. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

In FY 2017, SMS conducted 12 formal, stringent Safety and Mission Success Reviews and 5 Safety and 

Mission Success Assessments. These reviews are the culmination of the identification and mitigation of 

all potential SMA problems for launches and high criticality events. Substantive participation in 

Directorate Program Management Council (DPMC), Flight Planning Boards, Key Decision Point (KDP) 

reviews, and selected lower level reviews and assessments collectively enable effective governance and 

successful mission implementation. 

OSMA updated eight Agency directives and four NASA standards. Significant changes encompassed 

critical updates on Human Rating, Risk Management, and Planetary Protection. 

The NASA Safety Center conducted 18 audits, assessments, and reviews at seven separate NASA Centers 

and component facilities in FY 2017. The audit and assessment program categorizes findings that provide 

NASA installations with opportunities to improve the safety and quality of their operations and activities. 

NASA programs and projects at these locations are reviewed to optimize and enhance their safety and 

quality assurance accomplishments. During the fiscal year, the NASA Safety Center also documented 

243 findings that included potential systemic issues, critical concerns, non-compliances, observations, 

commendations, and best practices. 

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) completed 19 independent assessments and satisfied 

16 requests for technical support touching all of NASA’s Mission Directorates. These assessments 

furthered NASA goals and contributed directly to the Agency mission through better informed 

decision-making and an overall reduction of risk. Results included a comprehensive assessment of the 

ESD integrated vehicle dynamic test plan to an analysis of Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) 

induced flight failures and their implications for MMOD risk. 

OCHMO updated several major Agency-level health and medical directives/standards; and, continued 

collaborative efforts with NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA), Health Physics 

Society, American Industrial Hygiene Association, and US Outdoor Laser Safety communities such as 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-23 

SAE G10T and ANSI Z136.1. The OCHMO conducted occupational health reviews at five NASA 

Centers last year to ensure that established requirements, sound principles, and recommended best 

practices are used to accomplish NASA’s occupational health objectives. 

As the Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) for the Agency, OCHMO has ensured that risks 

to humans are communicated to, and addressed by, appropriate decision makers before spaceflight. With 

the passage of HR 6076 (To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act aka “TREAT”), 

OCHMO has led the Agency effort to oversee a NASA study to determine the best method to implement 

astronaut healthcare. 

OCHMO performed Human System Integration (HSI) compliance assessment for both Commercial Crew 

Transportation Capability (CCtCap) providers. Further, OCHMO developed a process to enable 

Human-In-the-Loop testing at Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) provider facilities. 

The OCHMO also published one new Agency policy directive as it pertains to Human Genetics Testing 

and updated a number of Agency policy standards and directives that ensure the health and well-being of 

the NASA workforce. OCHMO and the Commercial Crew Program (CCP) completed the update of the 

Health Stabilization Plan for Commercial Crew transport missions to ISS. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

OSMA continues to assure the safety of all NASA activities through the development, implementation, 

and oversight of Agency-wide safety, reliability, maintainability, and quality assurance policies and 

procedures. Of particular note is the technology demonstration of the Space Debris Sensor (SDS) that will 

take place on the International Space Station (ISS). The SDS is a large area impact sensor for in situ 

measurements of Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris (MMOD) in the sub-millimeter to millimeter size 

regime including particle size and material density. These MMOD particles are too small to be detected 

by ground-based radars and optical telescopes, but still large enough to be a serious threat to human space 

activities and robotic missions in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) region. A successful SDS demonstration on 

the ISS will enable the OSMA to seek future mission opportunities to deploy the sensor to collect direct 

orbital debris measurement data at high LEO altitudes (600-1000 km), a region where NASA regularly 

operates more than 15 missions. Increased understanding of the orbital debris environment there will 

assist NASA in determining appropriate mission requirements to guard against orbital debris and 

meteoroid impacts that could lead to mission failure. 

IV&V is currently providing software expertise to 19 projects, including 16 NASA missions, 

Commercial Crew Program, two multi-agency missions, and across eight NASA Centers. 

OCE, including the NESC, continues to support the achievement of the Agency’s major priorities. 

Through the Agency technical reviews, OCE maintains Technical Authority caucuses to ensure full 

integrity and to ensure all dissenting and divergent opinions are fully heard and appropriately considered. 

The NESC plans to conduct over 50 independent assessments of NASA’s highest risk challenges 

maintaining prioritization on the ISS, Commercial Crew, Orion/SLS, Webb, and Space Technology. 

Several activities underway in FY 2017 will be continued into FY 2018 including independent EDL 

modeling and simulation for the CCP and integrated ascent trajectory and separation analyses for the ESD 

SLS and Orion programs. In addition, work will continue on development of shell buckling knockdown 

factors for composite shells. OCE continues to be an active participant in the Agency’s Technical 

Capability Leadership efforts and provides leadership for a number of discipline-related assessments. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-24 

OCHMO will continue to establish health, medical, human performance policies, requirements, and 

standards for all human space flight programs and projects; technical standards levied on or supported by 

research and technology programs and projects; and NASA-unique occupational and environmental 

health requirements that are not mandated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or 

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

OCHMO with continue toward ensuring that the Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) is 

robust and serve as an independent path for analysis; and assuring that health and medical standards are 

appropriately and efficiently administered by NASA programs. OCHMO will continue to lead the 

Multilateral Medical Policy Board in addressing and resolving several critical issues dealing with crew 

health and medical operations support to the International Space Station (ISS) operations. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

At the core of the Agency’s preventive approach to achieve safety, health, and mission success are: 

 Routine on-site inspections and regular self-audits to ensure compliance with mandatory 

regulations, Agency policies, industry standards, and best practices; 

 Robust knowledge management and communities of practice that capture and inculcate lessons 

learned into future missions; 

 Multi-faceted training and development programs to ensure the SMS workforce has the necessary 

skills and capabilities; 

 Comprehensive review processes to identify and mitigate risks and to analyze and understand 

failures when they occur. This strategy and practice will continue to provide a systematic 

approach to support mission success; and 

 Independent tests and analyses for resolving critical technical issues faced by NASA programs 

and projects. 

OSMA will develop assurance capabilities to mitigate risks associated with rapidly advancing industry 

capabilities in additive manufacturing; commercial-grade EEE parts; model-based systems engineering; 

and software design practices. These capabilities provide technical and cost saving opportunities for 

future NASA missions. In collaboration with industry and academia, OSMA intends to reinvigorate its 

program of benchmarking, developmental, and test activities, to identify and establish suitable assurance 

tools, methods, and standards that address the greatest SMA challenges. Increases in the out-year budgets 

will significantly enhance these efforts. 

In FY 2019, IV&V plans to continue to provide expert software analysis on NASA’s safety and mission 

critical software. This is designed to help assure safety and mission success by identifying software 

problems as early as possible, minimize the cost of rework, and support key milestone decisions. Further, 

the IV&V Program plans to continue to enhance its technical capabilities and focus on continuous 

improvement and best value. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-25 

OCE will continue to engage in collaborative efforts between OSMA, OCE, and OCHMO to strengthen 

the Agency’s Technical Authority capability. The offices will work together, conducting safety reviews 

and independent technical assessments of NASA’s missions (including ISS, Commercial Crew, 

Orion/SLS, Webb, robotic missions, and Space Technology investments). 

OCHMO will continue to implement the HMTA as it pertains to all technical standards for research and 

technology (R&T) and human space flight (HSF) programs and projects; and, those related to 

occupational and / or environmental health requirements that are not established by OSHA or EPA. 

OCHMO will continue to work as the health and medical technical authority on all human missions, 

including those to lunar and Mars surfaces, and to assure the safety and health of NASA's entire 

workforce – on earth and beyond. 

Program Elements 

SAFETY AND MISSION ASSURANCE

SMA establishes and maintains an acceptable level of technical excellence and competence in safety, 

reliability, maintainability, and quality engineering within the Agency. SMA assures that the risk 

presented by the lack of either safety requirements or compliance with safety requirements is analyzed, 

assessed, communicated, and used for proper decision-making and risk acceptance by the appropriate 

organizational leader. 

Fundamental to these responsibilities are the definition and execution of a robust and well-understood 

methodology and process for the application of the safety, reliability, and quality in defining the level of 

risk. SMA conducts a schedule of reviews and assessments that focus on the life cycle decision 

milestones for crucial NASA programs and projects as well as for safety, reliability, and quality 

processes. Embodied in this program is a structured development of methodology and investigation into 

system attributes that improve the probability of mission success. 

The NASA Safety Center is an important component of SMA and is responsible for consolidating 

Agency-wide SMA efforts in four key areas: SMA technical excellence, knowledge management, audits 

and assessments, and mishap investigation support. 

INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION

Software, as an asset, on NASA’s missions is extremely critical. IV&V is a proven means of making sure 

critical software works properly. IV&V can identify software problems as early as possible; and, help 

minimize the cost of software development and potential rework. 

The IV&V Program provides software expertise, services, and resources necessary to improve the 

likelihood for safety and mission success of programs, projects, and operations. The Program analyzes 

mission software independently, on NASA’s most critical software systems, to assure safety and mission 

success of these systems. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-26 

IV&V applies state of the art analytical methods and techniques. This is complemented with use of 

effective software engineering tools and best practices. Collectively, IV&V evaluates the correctness and 

quality of critical and complex software systems throughout the project’s system development life cycle. 

In support of independent evaluations of software related approaches and processes, IV&V provides 

resources and software expertise to other SMA elements. The Program also supports the sustainment of 

software technical excellence within the Safety Mission Assurance (SMA) community, sustainment of 

software domain knowledge within the SMA organization, and formulation of software development 

improvement recommendations to the Agency. 

IV&V performs independent testing of critical system software to increase the likelihood of discovering 

severely difficult problems in mission software early within the development lifecycle. Critical system 

software problems can surface because of multiple complex interactions, under specific environmental 

and operational conditions, and under unique software configurations. IV&V Program’s independent test 

capability enables: Advanced testing and simulations of NASA’s mission and safety critical software; 

Testing and evaluation of robotics and intelligent systems; Capability development within the systems 

engineering disciplines; and Training and education for workforce and students. 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER

OCE ensures that NASA's development efforts and mission operations are planned and conducted on a 

sound engineering basis with proper controls and management of technical risks. As the Engineering 

Technical Authority, the OCE implements checks and balances among key organizations to ensure that 

decisions have the benefit of different points of view and are not made in isolation. OCE establishes and 

maintains program/project management and engineering policy and technical standards, creating the 

foundation for excellence of the Agency’s program and project management and engineering workforce, 

system-engineering methodology, and the Agency’s system of engineering standards. The office manages 

the NESC, which is responsible for enabling rapid, cross-Agency response to mission critical engineering, 

and safety issues at NASA and for improving the state of practice in critical engineering disciplines. 

Established in FY 2003 in response to the recommendations of the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident 

Investigation Board, the NESC performs independent testing, analysis, and assessments of NASA’s 

high-risk projects to ensure safety and mission success. SMS funding provides for the core NESC 

organization of senior engineering experts from across the Agency, including the Technical Fellows and 

technical discipline teams. Technical Fellows, in turn, manage the capabilities of their respective technical 

disciplines. As an Agency-wide resource with a reporting path that is independent of the Mission 

Directorates and independently funded from OCE, the NESC helps ensure safety and objective technical 

results for NASA. The OCE is also responsible for the implementation of Discipline-level Capability 

Leadership through the NASA Technical Fellows. 

OCE sponsors the Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership to develop program and 

project management and systems engineering skills. This academy provides a formal professional 

development curriculum designed to address four career levels from recent college graduate to executive. 

The OCE professional development programs directly support project teams in the field through 

workshops, coaching, interactions with technical experts, training, forums, and publications. The office 

enables technical collaboration and information sharing through the NASA Engineering Network. The 

NASA Engineering Network is an Agency-wide capability providing single point access to technical 

standards, communities of practice, and lessons learned in a secure operating environment. The 
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SAFETY AND MISSION SUCCESS

SSMS-27 

engineering standards program maintains compliance with OMB Circular A-119, “Federal Participation 

in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment 

Activities,” and offers a centralized source of required engineering standards for NASA programs and 

projects at one-fourth the cost of a decentralized approach. 

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF HEALTH AND MEDICAL OFFICER

OCHMO promulgates Agency health and medical policy, standards, and requirements, to support the 

medical technical capabilities of the Agency. It assures the physical and mental health and well-being of 

the NASA workforce, and assures the safe and ethical conduct of NASA-sponsored human and animal 

research. The office monitors the implementation of health and medical related requirements and 

standards in all developmental human space flight programs through designated discipline experts at 

NASA Centers. 

The office provides oversight of medical and health related activities in operational human space flight 

through Center-based discipline experts and clinical boards. Annual certified continuing medical 

education activities and flight surgeon education support ongoing medical and health discipline 

professionalism and licensure. To maintain clinical currency, OCHMO sponsors university-based 

physician training programs. NASA’s biomedical research programs, in support of human space flight, 

are guided by NASA-developed health and medical standards. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-28 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

IT Management 15.9 -- 18.3 18.3 18.3 18.3 18.3 

Enterprise IT 203.9 -- 219.8 219.8 219.8 219.8 219.8 

Total Budget 219.8 -- 238.1 238.1 238.1 238.1 238.1 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s AITS program provides information 

technologies and services to support the delivery 

of NASA’s missions, safely and securely. AITS 

enables the management of information needed 

to fulfill NASA's mission. The program 

simultaneously works to secure a vast array of 

data and complex IT infrastructure, from 

computers aboard the International Space 

Station (ISS) to mobile devices used 

Agency-wide. AITS ensures access to scientific 

data and promotes participation in NASA’s 

activities. 

The Office of the Chief Information Officer 

(OCIO) provides leadership, planning, policy 

direction, and oversight for the management of 

AITS; and ensures that IT investments align to 

the NASA Strategic Plan and NASA IT Strategic Plan. The AITS strategy is documented in the NASA 

Information Technology (IT) Strategic Plan, through which NASA seeks to manage IT as a strategic 

resource to unleash the power of data throughout the Agency. The NASA IT Strategic Plan sets the goals 

and objectives for partnering with customers to deliver excellence, capitalize on data and innovation, 

safeguard National data and assets, maximize business value through optimization and unleash the power 

of NASA’s data. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

NASA is increasing Agency IT Services to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and safeguard systems 

and data. NASA's FY 2019 request includes investments in critical IT infrastructure and enterprise 

solutions. Funding will support modernizing Agency systems, increased automation, and optimized 

delivery of enterprise-wide IT service solutions. 

NASA Mission Control Center room at Johnson Space Center.

The mission networks are managed by Agency IT Services. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-29 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

IT GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT

The OCIO strengthened the management of NASA’s IT portfolio. Partnering with Mission and Centers, 

the OCIO executed a series of in-depth reviews. Results included a better understanding of NASA's 

IT footprint; improved security of IT assets; and an enhanced ability to meet external reporting 

requirements. The initiative enhanced NASA's ability to accurately identify and track IT within Missions. 

OCIO executed the second annual IT Capital Investment Review (ITCIR). The Agency reviewed 

IT portfolio data in the ITCIR from enterprise, mission, and Center perspectives by the NASA’s 

Information Technology Council (ITC). In compliance with FITARA requirements, the Agency's Chief 

Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) certified the IT Portfolio investment data 

prior to submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

The Agency implemented a new governance model for IT applications designed to promote application 

portfolio management and achieve improvements across multiple portfolio health factors (including 

cybersecurity, redundancy, interoperability, cost of ownership, and sustainability). 

SAFEGUARDING NASA'S DATA AND IT ASSETS

NASA modernized cybersecurity services and governance and implemented enterprise security tools to 

reduce cybersecurity risks. The OCIO deployed automated asset inventory tools provided through Phase I 

of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) 

Program. CDM Phase 1 tools were deployed on NASA's corporate network. Phase 1 will be completed by 

deploying tools on mission networks in FY 2018. 

To integrate and manage CDM-generated data, the Agency deployed its Risk Information Security 

Compliance System (RISCS). RISCS provides NASA with a centralized toolset to integrate the Agency’s 

cybersecurity data sources into a single reporting system. 

The Agency implemented a “Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Mandatory” project to deploy security 

tools that enforce PIV smartcard authentication by employees accessing NASA computers. An alternate 

PIV credential (the Agency Smart Badge) was made available to those ineligible for a PIV card. The new 

credential allows for authentication, encryption, digital signature and physical access. 

SERVICE DELIVERY

The Agency completed the IT BSA, which evaluated NASA's IT business and mission support services, 

assessed the health of IT services, and identified opportunities for optimization. The resulting decisions 

and implementation plan provided requirements for improving mission-enabling IT services within six 

NASA IT programs, including Information Management, Applications, End User Services, Computing 

Services, Communications, and IT Security. 

OCIO altered several existing initiatives during the formulation of the Information Management (IM) 

Program, which shifted focus from a compliance-based to an information-centric, data-driven process that 

enhanced insights and analytics capabilities. The Scientific and Technical Information (STI) document 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-30 

repository increased by over 5,000 new technical records, including formal and informal NASA research 

and development findings, approved conference papers, scientific and technical journal articles, and final 

contract reports. 

A machine learning algorithm was developed to classify official email records for NASA leadership and 

automatically categorized the records for archival purposes. A machine learning algorithm was also 

developed, tested, and trained to predict metadata tags for NASA-specific publications and documents. 

NASA designed an information architecture framework to model agency data by type, source, use, and 

location. 

The End User Services (EUS) Program completed refreshes for over 17,000 computers, 4,600 mobile 

devices, and 2,400 printers, delivering current technology. NASA implemented PIV authentication on 

Apple, Inc. and PC machines and improved patching and updates for users’ computers. 

The Agency completed a major cloud prototyping effort designed to demonstrate the viability of 

commercial cloud services to support Earth Science Programs. The successful prototype led to an 

additional effort with significantly increased scope and objectives. 

The Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) tool was implemented to provide visibility into the use of 

Software as a Service (SaaS). The CASB tool will provide the information needed to enable governance 

for the rapidly growing reliance on commercial SaaS. NASA authorized operation for three commercial 

SaaS products and closed three data centers in 2017, consolidating the data center environment from 26 to 

23. 

NASA implemented two-factor authentication for enterprise business applications. A Contract 

Management Transformation (CMT) project was completed that enabled retirement of a legacy enterprise 

contract writing application and decommission of several Center applications. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

IT GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT

In FY 2018, the OCIO continues to review strategic IT priorities and investments toward maturation, as 

well as establish a sustainable framework and structure for NASA IT portfolio analysis. This includes a 

full integration of the IT data collection and analysis process within the Agency’s budget formulation 

process; and, scheduling in collaboration with the OCFO and Mission Directorates. 

OCIO's Enterprise Architecture (EA) program continues to perform assessments of IT Program 

capabilities to identify gaps. EA establishes vision, goals and objectives for cross-cutting architectures 

which allows for greater integration between the IT portfolio and development of a single roadmap for 

NASA IT. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-31 

SAFEGUARDING NASA'S DATA AND IT ASSETS

The Agency is replacing ten standalone Center visitor management solutions with a single enterprise 

solution. This enterprise solution enables NASA to track visitors and the frequency of visits agency-wide; 

and, streamlines the process for visitor requests at Centers. NASA is also modernizing its Consolidated 

Active Directory. This modernization effort enhances cybersecurity and the Agency's ability to leverage 

new technologies; and, utilize the latest operating system updates. The Agency is also developing a web 

service that will enable application developers to seamlessly tie together data or functionality. This 

solution increases efficiencies by allowing information sharing across applications and NASA partners. 

Plans are underway to complete CDM Phase 1 by deploying automated cybersecurity tools on its mission 

networks to gain a complete view of what devices are on its networks. NASA is also working towards 

deploying CDM Phase 2 tools to better manage users and their accounts (including privileged users with 

enhanced network access) and limit user-based vulnerabilities. 

NASA is in the process of reinforcing its network and IT infrastructure cybersecurity with the deployment 

of tools designed to secure the external network perimeter and monitor for malicious attacks. The Agency 

is also enhancing cybersecurity capabilities of its SOC and IT Security Program (includes improvements 

to incident response, insider threat management, continuity of operations, enterprise cyber security 

architecture, cybersecurity risk management, and cybersecurity workforce development). 

SERVICE DELIVERY

The Information Management (IM) Program is increasing development and use of registries to identify 

code, data, application programming interfaces (APIs), and Open Research Access Projects. This activity 

will improve NASA’s management of information assets; and, address the requirements of the Open Gov 

and Data Act legislation. Building on the email classifier algorithm developed in 2017, NASA is 

designing automated email-sorting techniques using natural language processing and machine-learning 

approaches. In 2018, NASA is applying the machine learning algorithm to the Technical Reports and 

indexing and search and build capabilities. For data-centric information collection processes, NASA will 

design a repository for optimized database-derived, user-friendly templates for use by forms designers 

across the Agency. 

NASA will initiate Microsoft Office 365 implementation to leverage commercial cloud solutions for 

email, office productivity suites, collaboration, workforce mobility and cybersecurity. This 

implementation includes the EUS Program in order to improve NASA’s cybersecurity posture for end 

user devices and introduce desktop virtualization to the Agency. The NASA Enterprise Service Desk is 

focusing on improving customer service and satisfaction by implementing new technologies for 

customer-agent online chat; remote diagnostics and correction of end user issues; catalog enhancements 

to increase mobile access and analytics and data management platforms to identify service and 

performance improvement opportunities. 

NASA will use information provided by the CASB tool implemented in FY 2017 to improve governance 

over NASA’s SaaS products. NASA will continue to use the initial commercial Infrastructure as a Service 

(IaaS) provider and will on-board many new cloud services for use in alignment with the Federal Risk 

and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). In FY 2018, the Agency will complete the 

remaining steps to onboard a second IaaS provider and will begin planning activities for onboarding a 

third major IaaS provider. In FY 2018, NASA anticipates closing three data centers. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-32 

The Agency will complete containerization of enterprise business applications while simultaneously 

implementing collaboration and continuous delivery; streamlining application updates and maintenance 

and reducing operational costs. A certificate lifecycle management capability will also be added to 

NASA's mobile device management service to provide secure encrypted email and Wi-Fi to iOS and 

Android devices. 

In 2018, the Agency is engaging in several key initiatives. NASA is updating its current learning 

management and training solution to a cloud-based solution as the current system is at end-of-life. The 

service catalog for managed cloud services is currently undergoing testing and will be deployed during 

the fiscal year. The Agency will deploy a cloud-based electronic file and share capability designed to 

meet cybersecurity standards and policies. The Agency is prototyping server-less web site technology that 

will improve cybersecurity and reduce costs. The Agency will update the NASA Aircraft Management 

Information System (NAMIS) software. NAMIS is an integrated system that provides the basis for 

certification of airworthiness for NASA aircraft and holds aircraft configuration and compliance records, 

parts requirements, and maintenance records. 

NASA’s Communications Program will complete the Agency-wide transition to the improved 

mission-wide area backbone and decommission legacy services as a cost reduction measure. NASA will 

also replace aging mission voice systems and migrate from obsolete time-division multiple technology to 

internet-protocol, and implement an alternate operating facility to improve continuity of operations 

capabilities. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

IT GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT

In FY 2019, OCIO will utilize NASA’s IT governance to optimize spending, reduce duplication, and 

better secure data and IT assets. Through governance, OCIO plans to establish greater accountability, cost 

ownership, and economic rationale to manage daily IT decisions. To that effect, the Agency will collect 

IT estimates and spending for data analytics and budget management processes. The Enterprise 

Architecture program will proceed with the development of cross-cutting roadmaps with assistance from 

the NASA IT programs. The Program will continue to coordinate with NASA Center Enterprise 

Architects while conducting additional Center reviews. 

SAFEGUARDING NASA'S DATA AND IT ASSETS

NASA will develop solutions for storage and protection of code signing private keys. To further increase 

efficiencies, the Centers Enterprise Physical Access Management Systems will be consolidated into a 

single enterprise solution. The Agency plans to make significant progress towards removing the use of 

username and passwords to access NASA applications and systems; and, replacing with more efficient 

private keys. 

To ensure that NASA networks are safeguarded from unauthorized and potentially malicious connections 

and access, the OCIO plans to deploy its Enterprise Internal Border Network Access Control (EIB-NAC) 

project. The EIB-NAC cybersecurity tools will enable NASA to effectively manage user network access 

by placing users in network zones commensurate with cybersecurity policies. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-33 

The OCIO plans to standup a formal cybersecurity risk management program that will integrate 

cybersecurity risk management processes across the agency. This risk management program will also lead 

efforts to fully implement the NIST Cybersecurity Framework at NASA; and, conduct ongoing 

capabilities assessments to improve cybersecurity operations and inform risk-based decisions on strategic 

cybersecurity investments. IT Security will also begin to plan and develop a contract for all cyber security 

services with the implementation of the new Enterprise Security Services Office (ESSO). The Security 

Operations Center (SOC) will also be an element of this new enterprise cyber security contract. 

SERVICE DELIVERY

The Agency plans to complete a comprehensive review and assessment of all space-based and 

ground-based science mission data; and incorporate the data into its information architecture framework. 

This comprehensive view of NASA’s science data will enhance OCIO's ability to classify the data and 

catalog the range of metadata standards and taxonomies used within the science missions. NASA plans to 

increase the number of scientific and technical documents in the repositories and apply automation 

techniques for classifying documents. These automation techniques will be compatible with the format 

required by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for depositing in the NIH PubMed Central repository. 

The EUS Program will expand use of the Agency’s enterprise contract for end user services beyond 

eighty (80) percent utilization and develop a strategy for managing all end user client systems. EUS will 

redesign the service catalog, enhance remote user capabilities, and increase efficiency of the Enterprise 

Service Desk. 

The Agency expects an increase use of IaaS services as mission programs and projects realize the benefits 

of the IaaS cloud model. The Agency plans to make significant progress onboarding a third IaaS provider 

to provide NASA with a richer catalog of services and options to support NASA’s diverse missions, 

programs, and projects. OCIO also plans to complete additional migrations of premise-operated software 

to the cloud model and continues to perform data center optimization activities through consolidation, 

virtualization of underutilized systems and application rationalization efforts. OCIO will also eliminate 

inefficient equipment, migrate applications to the cloud, and implement infrastructure energy efficiencies. 

In FY 2019, the Agency will deploy several key initiatives. NASA will explore new technologies and 

partner with other Federal Agencies and lower costs while bringing new services and capabilities to the 

Mission Directorates and support organizations. IT portfolio rationalization will continue to target 

websites and applications for reduction and consolidation and complete the migration of NASA IT 

collaboration services to cloud-based solutions. NASA will deploy a new end-to-end talent acquisition 

capability that will provide hiring managers with workflow transparency and provide applicants with 

status information throughout the hiring process. The Agency will deploy an easily accessible contract 

data repository to facilitate more effective strategic sourcing and acquisition activities. NASA’s managed 

cloud services ordering and provisioning automation will be completed in FY 2019. The OCIO plans to 

deploy an integrated data management capability to analyze facilities management decisions. 

Implementation of NAMIS will enhance mobility and the overall user experience, including functionality 

for a deployed aircraft when internet connectivity is unavailable. 

NASA's Communications Program plans to fully transition Agency telecommunications services to the 

General Services Administration (GSA) Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contracts and terminate 

NASA’s GSA Network services. The EIS program will initiate replacement of obsolete mission voice 

systems and will complete the migration to VoIP for additional Centers. The program will unify IP-based 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-34 

voice, video, and web conferencing services. Transition them to cloud-based technologies, complete 

design, implementation and activation of the Agency communications Alternate Operating Facility (AOF) 

and then complete the design and acquisition strategy for NASA's next generation mission voice 

capability. 

IT INVESTMENTS

IT investments will enable NASA to improve cybersecurity, reduce costs and increase efficiencies by 

modernizing Agency systems, increasing automation, delivering affordable enterprise-wide IT service 

solutions, strengthening technical capabilities, and achieving cost avoidances and savings through 

strategic investments. 

Several projects are critical to maintaining cybersecurity and continuous operations. These include: 

mission network cyber security modernization, which will reduce carrier costs and improve the network 

for mission data and voice services; elimination of corporate network obsolescence, which will allow the 

OCIO to make network refresh decisions at the enterprise level while reducing redundancies and 

inefficiencies; and expanding enterprise collaboration tools, which will establish a standardized 

collaborative tool suite, introduce new technology to support end-user service, and save costs through 

strategic sourcing initiatives. 

Program Elements 

IT GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT

OCIO provides Agency-level capabilities, tracking and manages IT services across Centers and Missions. 

In compliance with OMB guidance, Executive Orders, laws, and regulations, the IT Management team 

collaborates with stakeholders across the Agency to formulate and manage budgetary data. IT 

Management utilizes budget data to inform leadership on NASA’s IT footprint, drive IT investment 

decisions, identify opportunities to reduce IT costs and better secure NASA’s IT assets. 

OCIO's Enterprise Architecture serves as the authoritative source for information technology planning 

and execution and reflects the collective visions, goals, objectives, capabilities and services for the 

Agency. As the Enterprise Architecture matures, the EA program continues to initiate innovative 

partnering relationships with NASA missions, mission support offices, and Centers. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

AGENCY IT SERVICES (AITS) 

SSMS-35 

SAFEGUARDING NASA'S DATA AND IT ASSETS

The Information Management Program is currently in the design and development phase. This phase 

focuses on gaining an Agency-level understanding and assessment of the flow of information. The 

program includes existing initiatives, such as Scientific and Technical Information (STI) and Research 

Access for federally-funded peer-reviewed publications; and, efforts to ensure information integrity as it 

relates to requirements under Records, Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 508, Privacy Act and Forms. 

Digital transformation strategies include research on push-technologies, creation of an agency information 

architecture and tiered metadata standards, as well as digital registries for data, code, data management 

plans, digital object identifiers, APIs and analytics algorithms. 

NASA's EUS Program provides high-quality, reliable and cost-effective service desk, end user 

computing, collaboration and content management systems and services in support of all NASA Federal 

and contract employees. Specific service types supported by the EUS Program are laptops, desktops, 

mobile devices, print, enterprise email, SharePoint, instant messaging, tier 0/1 service desk, tier two 

desk-side support, software patching and distribution, and other end user support capabilities. NASA's 

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) hosts end user device services and the NASA Shared Services 

Center (NSSC) hosts the NASA Enterprise Service Desk. 

NASA uses cloud computing across all Agency business areas and leverages all three cloud service 

models. NASA plans to complete all listed data center closures and continue working on improving data 

center efficiency metrics. 

The Applications Program (AP) has responsibility for applications and web sites. The AP monitors the 

NASA applications ecosystem and identifies opportunities to simplify, eliminate and optimize 

applications usage. Each area under the Applications Program supports the AP Program Executive in 

areas of IT authority, portfolio management, enterprise architecture, investment reviews, oversight of 

web, and project status, and risks. 

The Communications Program (CP) is NASA’s enterprise service provider for fully managed network 

and communications services. CP provides the following end-to-end enterprise services for mission, 

research, and corporate users: voice (mission-critical, voice over IP and telephones); conferencing (voice, 

video and web); video distribution; wide area, local area and data center networks; and Center and 

customer-unique services (cable plant, emergency warning systems, public address systems, radios, and 

cable television services). 

The Agency's FY 2019 budget for cybersecurity includes funding to develop, modernize and enhance 

agency cybersecurity capabilities. NASA has prioritized improvements in several areas: cybersecurity 

program management, enterprise cybersecurity service delivery, network defense, strong authentication, 

SOC enhancements and the phased implementation of CDM tools and technologies. Cybersecurity 

projects have been aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to better identify capability gaps and 

develop plans to address the gaps. Within these priorities, NASA is pursuing key projects that enable the 

OCIO to develop and efficiently deliver proactive cybersecurity capabilities consistent with Federal 

targets and standards. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSET PROGRAM

SSMS-36 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 26.8 -- 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 26.7 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

The Strategic Capabilities Asset Program 

(SCA) ensures that select critical test facilities 

are operationally ready to meet mission and 

program requirements by sustaining a skilled 

workforce and periodically performing 

essential preventative maintenance. The 

Program supports essential core capabilities 

such as: thermal vacuum chambers, 

simulators, and arc jets. 

SCA strategically and centrally manages 

Agency assets, reviews assets and capabilities 

annually among Centers to ensure the validity 

of facility requirements, identifies 

reinvestment and recapitalization 

requirements within and among asset classes, 

recommends disposition of capabilities no 

longer needed, and implements changes as 

required. 

SCA insures maximum benefit across the 

government by broadening alliances outside 

the Agency for capabilities (e.g., thermal vacuum chambers). Facilitating this endeavor is the Space 

Environment Test Alliance Group, a collaborative working group consisting of NASA, the Department of 

Defense (DoD), and other partner entities. The members gain awareness of capabilities across agencies, 

academia, and industry; share best practices; provide technical support; and refer test programs to 

facilities best suited to meet test requirements. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None 

 Preparations for testing of the Webb Optical Telescope 

Element/Integrated Science Instrument Module in Chamber 

A, located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSET PROGRAM

SSMS-37 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

In FY 2017, SCA reviewed and identified high-risk thermal vacuum capability areas at Goddard Space 

Flight Center (GSFC) to assess the condition and health of its assets. 

SCA managed capabilities supported NASA's mission by enabling the following: 

 SCA’s Space Power Facility (SPF) at the GRC completed the Orion Service Module Structural

Test Article testing series; SPF began the preparation for the Orion EM-1 Testing series;

 SCA’s thermal vacuum test facility Chamber A at JSC completed the, the thermal pathfinder

testing, and conducted vacuum and cold soak testing for the Optical Telescope

Element/Integrated Science Instrument Module (OTIS) hardware for Webb;

 SCA’s 25’ Space Simulator at JPL began to support Mars Helicopter development testing; and

 SCA's Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) at the ARC began the Motion Cue 4 testing for the

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

In FY 2018, SCA will assess the condition and health of the space environments testing capability at 

GRC; and will review and identify high-risk areas such as loss of controls due to equipment failure. 

SCA will remove the GSFC Six-Degrees of Freedom vibration shaker and the LaRC Visual Motion 

Simulator from service due to lack of future demand and requirements. 

SCA managed capabilities are supporting NASA's mission by enabling the following: 

 The Space Power Facility (SPF) at GRC will support the Orion EM-1 testing series and the

SpaceX Falcon 9 Fairing Acoustic testing.

 The thermal vacuum test facility Chamber A at JSC will continue to support Webb Telescope and

complete the testing of the Optical Telescope Element and the Integrated Science Instrument

Module. Chamber A will transition to stand-by mode after the completion of testing series for the

Webb Telescope.

 The Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) will continue to support the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) in testing to study differences in pilot performance in several aircraft tasks

under different simulator motion configurations.

 The Cockpit Motion Facility (CMF) and the Boeing Company will work together under a new

Space Act Agreement to improve flight training and aviation safety using NASA’s synthetic

vision technologies and Boeing’s 787 simulators.

 The Arc Jets at ARC will continue to support Thermal Protection System development for Orion.
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSET PROGRAM

SSMS-38 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

In FY 2019, SCA will assess the condition and health of the simulation testing capability at Ames 

Research Center (ARC) and Langley Research Center (LaRC) and will review and identify high-risk 

areas such as equipment failure due to age or maintenance. 

SCA will continue to sustain strategic technical capabilities required by NASA to achieve mission 

success. 

SCA will continue to support the development, testing, verification, and validation for NASA, DoD, 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 

and commercial companies in the following areas: 

 Simulators: air traffic management technology demonstration, Unmanned Aerial System

airworthiness standards and guidelines, motion cueing, loss of control and recovery, enhanced

stall modeling, and other ongoing development and testing;

 Thermal vacuum and acoustic chambers: Orion, Webb, Mars2020, Eurpoa, NiSAR, SWOT,

NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar, Commercial Crew and

Crew Cargo launch program testing, and other space environmental testing; and

 Arc Jets: thermal protection materials, system development, and qualification testing.

Planned testing in SCA managed assets include: 

 The Space Power Facility (SPF) at GRC continues to support Orion in thermal vacuum and

acoustics and vibrations testing.

 The NASA Arc Jet complex at ARC continues to support Orion heat shield development testing.

Program Elements 

SCA maintains a highly skilled workforce that performs maintenance required to utilize and preserve 

essential national assets uniquely capable of meeting program requirements. 

SIMULATORS

Simulators are of critical importance to the success of NASA’s Aeronautics Research in the areas of 

fundamental aeronautics and aviation safety. These capabilities provide scientists and engineers with tools 

to explore, define, and resolve issues in both vehicle design and missions operations. 

This capability includes an array of simulator assets used in the research and development (R&D) of 

flight and crewed operations phase: 

 The Vertical Motion Simulator and its associated laboratories and equipment located at ARC; and

 The Cockpit Motion Facility and its supporting suite of simulators (the Differential Maneuvering

Simulator and the Visual Motion Simulator) and central support facilities for aeronautics and

spaceflight vehicle research located at LaRC.
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

STRATEGIC CAPABILITIES ASSET PROGRAM

SSMS-39 

THERMAL VACUUM, VACUUM AND ACOUSTIC CHAMBERS

This capability includes assets located at the following Center: AFRC, ARC, GRC, GSFC, JPL, JSC, 

KSC, LaRC, MSFC, White Sands Test Facility, Plum Brook Station, and Wallops Flight Facility. These 

assets have a minimum size threshold and, in some cases, can accommodate a complete spacecraft. 

Acoustic Chambers can generate similar noise levels experienced during launch. Thermal Vacuum and 

Vacuum Chambers can simulate ultra-low pressures and low temperatures experienced in deep space. 

These chambers are used to perform significant risk mitigation for most NASA payloads launched into 

space, as well as many payloads in other government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and DoD. Testing performed in these chambers ensures that the 

equipment, sub-systems, and assembled spacecraft will meet strict requirements of harsh launch and 

space environments. Recent successful tests in the thermal vacuum and acoustic chambers include 

NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), European Space Agency's Ariane launch vehicles, 

and SpaceX launch vehicle payload fairing separations. 

ARC JET

The Arc Jet capability is located at ARC and includes assets that provide simulated high-temperature, 

high-velocity environments and support the design, development, test, and evaluation activities of thermal 

protection materials, vehicle structures, aerothermodynamics, and hypersonic aerodynamics. A gas 

(typically air) is heated using a continuous electrical arc and accelerated to supersonic/hypersonic speeds. 

This high-temperature gas passes over a test sample and produces an approximation of the surface 

temperature and pressure environments experienced by a vehicle on atmospheric entry. 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

HEADQUARTERS BUDGET BY OFFICE

SSMS-40 

AGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET BY HEADQUARTERS OFFICE

Actual CR Request Notional

($ in millions in full cost) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Aeronautics Research 6.8 6.6 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7

Human Exploration and 

Operations 29.5 29.1 29.1 29.1 29.1 29.1 29.1 

Science 30.9 30.6 29.6 29.6 29.6 29.6 29.6 

Space Technology 5.4 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2

Mission Directorates 72.6 71.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 70.7 

Office of the Administrator 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9

Office of Strategy and Plans 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1

Chief Engineer 4.3 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1

Chief Financial Office 34.5 34.5 33.9 33.7 33.1 32.5 31.9 

Chief Health and Medical 

Office 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8

Chief Information Office 9.3 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1 9.1

Chief Scientist 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

Chief Technologist 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

Communications 13.7 14.1 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 

Diversity and Equal 

Opportunity 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6

Education 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6

General Counsel 9.7 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.5

International and 

Interagency Relations 13.0 12.3 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 

Legislative and 

Intergovernmental Affairs 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3

Safety and Mission 

Assurance 7.6 7.3 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2

Small Business Programs 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9

Staff Offices 117.0 114.6 113.8 113.4 112.8 112.2 111.6 

NASA Management Office 

at JPL 9.1 8.6 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.7

Human Capital 

Management 8.4 8.9 8.9 8.6 8.6 8.6 8.6

Headquarters Operations 94.3 99.7 101.7 101.7 101.7 101.7 101.7 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

HEADQUARTERS BUDGET BY OFFICE

SSMS-41 

Actual CR Request Notional

($ in millions in full cost) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Strategic Infrastructure 16.2 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.6 

Procurement 11.9 11.0 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 

Mission Support 

Directorate Front Office 4.3 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1

NASA Shared Services 

Center 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9

Protective Services 20.6 19.6 18.9 18.9 18.9 18.9 18.9 

Mission Support 169.6 172.3 175.0 174.7 174.7 174.7 174.7 

Total, Agency 

Management 359.2 358.6 359.5 358.8 358.2 357.6 357.0 
Safety, Security, and Mission Services: Agency Management and Operations 

HEADQUARTERS WORKFORCE BY OFFICE

SSMS-42

HEADQUARTERS WORKFORCE BY OFFICE

Actual Estimated Request 

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 

FTE SES NC* WYE FTE SES NC* WYE FTE SES NC* WYE 

Aeronautics Research 33 8 0 10 33 8 0 11 33 8 0 11 

Human Exploration and Operations 139 18 0 56 141 18 0 57 138 18 0 58 

Science 152 21 0 64 155 22 0 64 152 22 0 64 

Space Technology 32 3 0 5 32 3 0 13 31 3 0 12 

Mission Directorates 356 50 0 135 361 51 0 145 354 51 0 145 

Office of the Administrator 23 6 2 2 23 6 4 2 23 6 4 2 

Office of Strategy and Plans 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 

Chief Engineer 19 4 0 0 19 4 0 0 19 4 0 0 

Chief Financial Office 108 10 0 42 109 10 0 42 106 10 0 42 

Chief Health and Medical Office 9 3 0 2 9 3 0 2 9 3 0 3 

Chief Information Office 44 5 0 49 44 5 0 77 44 5 0 77 

Chief Scientist 6 1 0 0 6 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 

Chief Technologist 4 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 

Communications 45 1 2 27 45 2 2 27 45 2 2 27 

Diversity and Equal Opportunity 12 1 0 1 12 2 0 1 12 2 0 1 

Education 13 2 0 6 13 2 0 0 12 2 0 0 

General Counsel 40 6 0 0 40 6 0 0 39 6 0 0 

International and Interagency 

Relations 48 7 0 7 48 7 0 7 47 7 0 7 

Legislative and Intergovernmental 

Affairs 22 1 2 0 22 1 2 0 21 1 2 0 

Safety and Mission Assurance 35 6 0 7 35 6 0 7 34 6 0 7 

Small Business Programs 5 1 0 4 5 1 0 4 5 1 0 4 

Staff Offices 437 55 7 149 437 58 9 171 429 58 9 172 

NASA Management Office at JPL 24 2 0 0 24 2 0 0 29 2 0 0 

Human Capital Management 34 5 0 15 34 5 0 15 34 5 0 15 

Headquarters Operations 97 4 0 340 98 4 0 340 95 4 0 333 

Strategic Infrastructure 53 5 0 2 53 5 0 2 52 5 0 2 

Procurement 33 4 0 0 34 4 0 0 34 4 0 0 

Mission Support Directorate Front 

Office 16 4 0 1 16 4 0 1 16 4 0 1 

Protective Services 48 3 0 6 48 3 0 6 47 3 0 6 

Mission Support 306 27 0 364 307 27 0 364 307 27 0 357 

Total Agency Management 1,099 132 7 648 1,105 136 9 680 1,090 136 9 674 

*NC is Non-Career
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-1 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Construction of Facilities 305.4 -- 305.3 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

Environmental Compliance and Restoration 70.2 -- 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 

Total Budget 375.6 358.3 388.2 293.8 293.8 293.8 293.8 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Construction and Environmental Compliance and 

Restoration ....................................................................... CECR-2

Construction of Facilities ............................................................................. CECR-8 

INSTITUTIONAL COF .......................................................................................... CECR-10 

EXPLORATION COF ........................................................................................... CECR-20 

SPACE OPERATIONS COF ................................................................................ CECR-24 

SCIENCE COF ..................................................................................................... CECR-29 

Environmental Compliance and Restoration............................................ CECR-32 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-2 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Construction of Facilities 305.4 -- 305.3 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

Environmental Compliance and Restoration 70.2 -- 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 

Total Budget 375.6 358.3 388.2 293.8 293.8 293.8 293.8 

Change from FY 2018 29.9 

Percentage change from FY 2018 8.3% 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA designs and implements its construction 

of facilities projects, facility demolition 

projects, and environmental compliance and 

restoration activities through its Construction 

and Environmental Compliance and 

Restoration (CECR) account. 

Construction of Facilities (CoF) makes capital 

repairs and improvements to NASA’s 

infrastructure and provides NASA programs 

and projects with the research, development, 

test and evaluation (RDT&E) facilities required 

to accomplish their missions. About 82 percent 

of NASA’s infrastructure and facilities are 

beyond their constructed design life, requiring 

strong risk management programs to mitigate 

risk to current and future missions. Apollo-era 

legacy infrastructure is especially inefficient 

and costly to maintain and operate. To address 

these challenges, NASA’s programs focuses on 

reducing and modernizing NASA’s 

infrastructure into fewer, more efficient sustainable facilities. 

Environmental Compliance and Restoration (ECR) projects clean up pollutants released into the 

environment at NASA installations, NASA-owned industrial plants supporting NASA activities, current 

or former sites where NASA operations have contributed to environmental problems, and other sites 

where the Agency is legally obligated to address hazardous pollutants. NASA prioritizes these cleanups 

to protect human health and the environment, and preserve natural resources for future missions. 

The Flight Projects Building at the Goddard Space Flight 

Center (GSFC) earned a Leadership in Energy and 

Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification in 2017. 

NASA’s inventory of high performance facilities now 

exceeds 3.3 million square feet. 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-3 

Together, these construction and remediation activities help ensure that NASA’s assets are ready, 

available, and appropriately sized to conduct NASA’s missions, and that NASA facilities are compliant 

with current environmental regulations. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA completed several significant infrastructure projects, including the Logistics and Maintenance 

Facility, No. 351, Phase 2 (GRC), which provides the shop and office space to relocate center logistic and 

maintenance functions. Also completed were the GSFC Fire Station, and the Human Health and 

Performance Facility (JSC), which reduced the agency’s footprint and significant maintenance cost by 

consolidating seven facilities into one facility. NASA completed construction on the ATCC HVAC 

Refurbishment Project (SSC). This project included replacing a chiller and an air handler, and upgrading 

the controls. 

NASA initiated projects to repair and revitalize its infrastructure. A key recapitalization project is the 

Biosciences Collaborative Facility (ARC) to consolidate existing laboratories into a smaller efficient and 

modern research facility. Other Discrete Projects include: Repair Emergency Power System for Mission 

Control Center, Emergency Power, B48 (JSC), Compressor Station Upgrades, Phase 2 (LaRC), Revitalize 

Building Electrical Systems (Building 4708) (MSFC), Steam Distribution Replacement, Phase 1 (MSFC), 

and the Rehabilitate Site-wide HPG HE, GN and Air Distribution, Phase 2 (SSC). 

To reduce the Agency’s footprint, NASA disposed of approximately 167,753 square feet of buildings for 

a net reduction of 123,490 SF. 

NASA continued the Energy Savings Investments portion of Institutional CoF by continuing expansion of 

the Central Campus solar photovoltaic system at KSC; implementing HVAC and lighting efficiency 

projects at GRC, GSFC, JSC, and KSC; and replacing window walls on mall area buildings at JSC. The 

program also initiated projects to install a solar photovoltaic system on the parking structure at JPL, and 

install a high-efficiency replacement boiler at MSFC. 

Programmatic CoF activities made significant progress on transitioning facilities to support the Space 

Launch System (SLS) and Orion Programs for Exploration Missions. At KSC, the Vehicle Assembly 

Building (VAB) and the Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) are in final stages of construction. In the VAB, 

Ground Systems Development and Operations (GSDO) installed 20 platform levels (A-K) in high bay 3 

including mechanical, electrical and plumbing support systems, egress ramp access, new elevator landing 

platforms and facility utility subsystems to support SLS launch vehicle and Orion spacecraft processing. 

At LC-39B, modifications to the environmental control systems to support SLS and Orion, as well as the 

re-bricking the flame trench is complete. Fabrication and assembly of all new steel flame deflector 

components are in final stages of completion. Other significant work at LC-39B included construction of 

the liquid hydrogen liquid-gas separator tank and reinforcement of the catacomb roof structure that was 

necessary to accommodate the combined weight of the launch vehicle and mobile launcher. 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-4 

NASA completed major construction at the Stennis Space Center on the B-2 Test Stand in preparation for 

the SLS Green Run Testing. The construction on the B-2 raised the height of the core superstructure up to 

the 345-foot level, preparing the stand for testing the SLS Core Stage. Work completed included 

installation of the cryogenic piping for the Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Hydrogen, and all of the Gaseous 

Helium, Nitrogen, and High-Pressure Air Piping. In addition, the tarmac in front of the test stand was 

improved and strengthen to allow the larger and heavier SLS Core Stage to roll off the barge prior to 

being lifted in to stand. 

For the Deep Space Network Aperture Enhancement Project, Phase II construction continued in 

Madrid, Spain. 

NASA procured a second modular supercomputing unit for the proof-of-concept prototype for the 

Modular Supercomputing Facility at ARC. The prototype demonstrates the feasibility of new 

energy-efficient and water-conserving modular computing technology, enabling the increase of NASA’s 

supercomputing capability with minimal impact on limited energy and water resources. 

Within the ECR program: 

 Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) continued demolition of buildings not associated with test 

stands and development of work plans for soil cleanup, continued soil, and groundwater cleanup 

treatability studies, groundwater field investigations, operations of groundwater treatment system 

and long-term monitoring of groundwater. Cultural resource actions were continued per the 

Programmatic Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office, Native Americans, and 

consulting parties; 

 MSFC completed soil cleanup at petroleum sites and developed designs for the Industrial Sewer 

operable unit remedial action and monitoring/ characterization of groundwater; 

 Glenn Research Center (GRC) continued decontamination and decommission of the cyclotron 

building under NRC license termination; 

 Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) began thermal treatment pilot scale remediation of 

groundwater at the former rinse water impoundments; 

 White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) continued to operate the plume front and mid-plume front 

treatment systems to capture and treat contaminated groundwater. They also continued source 

area investigations and closure activities of the sewage lagoon; 

 KSC installed several new groundwater treatment systems, completed extensive contaminated 

soil removal at various sites, continued sampling of over 400 monitoring wells, and continued 

operations of existing groundwater cleanup systems; 

 At the JPL, the program continued to operate and maintain systems to clean up contaminated 

groundwater emanating from the laboratory, and operations and system upgrades to the Lincoln 

Avenue and Monk Hill drinking water treatment systems. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

NASA planned Institutional CoF projects that will protect the Agency’s critical assets, improve mission 

assurance, reduce mission risk, and maintain mission essential capabilities. These include utility system 

repairs and replacement of obsolete buildings. Work continues on the following significant projects: 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-5 

 Construction of the Biosciences Collaborative Facility that will consolidate and modernize existing 

technical facilities at ARC. The new complex will support biological research and development 

initiatives unique to the Agency to support Fundamental Space Biology, Astrobiology/Exobiology, 

and Synthetic Biology; 

 Repair Emergency Power System for Mission Control Center- Emergency Power B48, NASA (JSC), 

Compressor Station Upgrades NASA (LaRC), Revitalize Building Electrical Systems (4708) 

(MSFC), and Steam Distribution Replacement NASA(MSFC); 

 NASA (KSC) Central Campus Phase 1 – construction is ongoing to complete the modernization and 

consolidation at Kennedy Space Center. These upgrades will incorporate sustainable and energy 

efficient design. 

In the Energy Savings Investments, NASA initiated a project to replace the window walls of the mall area 

buildings at NASA (JSC). This will reduce energy intensity by decreasing solar heat gain and outdoor air 

infiltration. 

Exploration construction activities continue to focus on meeting the first Exploration Mission (EM-1). 

NASA will initiate the first of two construction projects at KSC and GSDO to upgrade and modify 

infrastructure in support of SLS Block 1B EM-2 launch requirements. At LC-39B, a fabricated 1.25M 

gallon (est.) LH2 Dewar sphere, along with a vaporizer, flare stack and associated piping/valve system 

will be installed. Within the VAB, construction of a new Environmental Control System (ECS) along 

with design commencement of HB3 and HB4 platforms to support EM-2 EUS increased load demands. 

NASA will continue with their efforts at MAF, to work on modifications to Building 103 and Building 

110 to support SLS Core Stage manufacturing. Construction planned to be completed in FY 18 includes: 

Building 103 Final Integration (Fall Protection), Fan House and Substation Structural Repairs in Building 

103-Ph 1, rehabilitating the Chilled Water / Steam Distribution Piping, replacing and rehabilitating 

Substations 20A, 43, 63 and 64, replacing the Purlins in Building 103 Phase 2, and repairing the Fan 

House and Substation Structural Support Repairs Phase 1. Work will initiate on replacing Substation No. 

1, repairing Fan House and Substation Structural Support Repairs in Building 103 Phase 2, replacing the 

Purlins in Building 103 Phase 2 and repairing the roof of Building 102. 

The two structural test stands at MSFC will be completely activated and operational. Minor open work 

after acceptance will be completed, including the installation of egress lighting on the roof of TS4693 and 

additional engineering documentation from the Architecture & Engineering (A&E) firm. 

SCaN will continue the second phase of the DAEP, a multi-year funded discrete project to construct the 

two new 34-meter BWG DSS Antennas, DSS-56 and DSS-53, at the Madrid Deep Space 

Communications Complex. The DSN will also complete the BWG Antenna Chiller Replacement project. 

This project will provide reserve chiller systems and three water-cooling, purification, and storage 

systems for supporting the BWG transmitters throughout the Network. 

Facilities at MAF sustained significant damage from an EF-3 tornado on February 2, 2017. Damage 

included major impacts to multiple buildings within the facility and SLS Ground Support Equipment. 

NASA received $109 million in supplemental funding in FY 2017 to repair major and minor damages to 

fifteen (15) MAF facilities, demolish three (3) totally damage buildings and emergency response and 

cleanup. 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-6 

NASA received $75 million in supplemental funding in FY 2017 to repair the facilities damaged at KSC 

by Hurricane Matthew. Emergency repair and recovery to numerous facilities is underway, including 

repair of the Operations Support Building II, the Booster Fabrication Facility, JJ Railroad Bridge, and 

Electrical Shop. Design for the full repair to the Utility Annex Building has been completed, and 

construction began at the end of FY 2017. 

SSFL will continue demolition of structures in areas not associated with the Test Stands. Submit cleanup 

plans for soil and groundwater. Continue operations of groundwater treatment system and long-term 

monitoring of groundwater. Cultural resource actions will continue per the Programmatic Agreement with 

the State Historic Preservation Office, Native Americans, and consulting parties. 

GRC will continue decontamination and decommission of the cyclotron building under NRC license 

termination. 

KSC will continued investigation and cleanup of groundwater and soil contamination. Activities planned 

include the installation of new groundwater treatment systems, removal of contaminated soils, 

investigation of additional sites for potential contamination, continued sampling of over 400 monitoring 

wells, and continued operations of existing groundwater cleanup systems. 

ARC will begin landfill remediation and final closure per Federal Facilities Agreement. 

MSFC will begin cleanup of the Industrial Sewer operable unit and monitoring/ characterization of 

groundwater. 

WSTF will continue to operate the plume front and mid-plume front treatment systems to capture and 

treat contaminated groundwater and continue source area investigations and closure activities of the 

sewage lagoon. 

Continue operations of treatment systems and monitoring at AFRC, GSFC, LaRC, MAF, SSC, and WFF. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

NASA planned construction and environmental activities include: 

 Major repair and replacement projects that address deficiencies noted by the National Academies and 

support core NASA research efforts; 

 Commence construction of the following critical recapitalization projects: Instrument Development 

Facility (GSFC) and the Research Support Building (GRC); 

 Repairs and upgrades at the Centers to mitigate near-term risk to missions by revitalizing electrical, 

mechanical, life safety, sanitary sewer and water systems; 

 Investments to reduce energy cost and consumption to increase progress toward Federal energy 

requirements; 

 Demolition to eliminate obsolete facilities and reduce footprint; 

 New construction at in the VAB and at the LC-39B to support the new Exploration Upper Stage 

(EUS) required for EM-2, a manned flight beyond low earth orbit (KSC); 
 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND 

RESTORATION

CECR-7 

 Continued cleanup of ground water contamination and investigation of soil contamination at WSTF, 

to include completion of closure activities, implementation of source area facility investigations, 

long-term monitoring of groundwater, and continued operation of the plume front and mid-plume 

ground water treatment systems; 

 Continued investigation and cleanup of groundwater and soil contamination at KSC under State of 

Florida requirements. Key activities planned include the installation of new groundwater treatment 

systems, removal of contaminated soils, investigation of additional sites for potential contamination, 

continued sampling of over 400 monitoring wells, and continued operations of existing groundwater 

cleanup systems; 

 Operate and maintain systems to clean up contaminated groundwater emanating from JPL and 

continued operations of the Lincoln Avenue and Monk Hill drinking water treatment systems; and 

 Demolition, cleanup of contaminated soils, continued operations of groundwater treatment systems, 

and continued long term monitoring of groundwater at SSFL in accordance with the State of 

California. Cultural resource actions will continue per the Programmatic Agreement with the State 

Historic Preservation Office, Native Americans, and consulting parties. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 

CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES 

CECR-8 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Institutional CoF 253.2 -- 250.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

Exploration CoF 8.8 -- 25.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Space Operations CoF 36.7 -- 18.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Science CoF 2.7 -- 9.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Aeronautics CoF 4.0 -- 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Total Budget 305.4 -- 305.3 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s CoF program includes 

programmatic and non-programmatic 

construction projects that reduce facilityrelated risk to mission success and increase 

sustainability. 

The Institutional CoF program provides for 

the design and construction of facilities 

projects that enable NASA’s infrastructure 

to meet mission needs. Utility system 

repairs and replacements improve the 

reliability of NASA’s systems and reduce 

operational consumption of energy. 

Refurbishment or repair-by-replacement 

projects replace inefficient, deteriorated 

buildings with efficient high-performance 

facilities. Demolition projects eliminate 

facilities that are no longer needed. 

Together these activities reduce operating 

costs, reduce the Agency footprint, and 

develop an energy efficient infrastructure to 

enable NASA’s missions. 

Programmatic CoF provides specialized 

capabilities in testing and development that 

directly support NASA’s missions. These projects enable NASA to provide critical technical capabilities 

to manufacture, test, process, or operate hardware for NASA programs. 

The MSFC Steam Distribution System is the second of a two 

phase project to convert buildings to a more efficient natural 

gas fired boiler system that reduces operating and maintenance 

costs. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 

CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES 

CECR-9 

Discrete projects refer to those with initial cost estimates of $10 million or greater. Minor projects are 

those with initial cost estimates between $1 and $10 million; and are subject to change according to 

priorities. Centers accomplish routine day-to-day facility maintenance and repair activities with estimates 

of $1 million or less within program and Center Management and Operations budgets. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-10 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 253.2 -- 250.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 210.9 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s Institutional CoF program includes 

projects to reduce risk, increase efficiency, and 

reduce operational costs. 

CoF projects repair and/or improve NASA’s 

existing facilities and reduce facility-related 

risks to mission success, property, and 

personnel. NASA prioritizes these projects using 

a risk-informed process. Projects are to increase 

efficiency in support of NASA’s core 

capabilities within a smaller, more efficient 

footprint. These include replacement of old, 

obsolete, costly facilities with new, 

high-performance facilities that consolidate core 

functions, reduce operating costs and improve 

flexibility over the life of the facilities. These 

replacement facilities are flexible so they can 

address programmatic requirements, both known 

and still evolving over the next 40 years. 

NASA’s demolition program eliminates 

obsolete, unneeded infrastructure to improve efficiency and eliminate safety and environmental risks. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA constructs facilities using cost effective life-cycle analytic design methods to meet current Federal 

requirements. NASA executed numerous CoF projects, including construction of two new 

sustainable-rated facilities that provide 40,000 square feet of area to replace obsolete and inefficient 

facilities at JPL and WFF. 

Rendering of the Aerospace Communications Facility at 

GRC. This building provides state of the art space for 

development of communications and navigation 

infrastructure, and service for human Lunar and Mars 

missions. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-11 

During FY 2017, NASA: 

Disposed of approximately 167,753 square feet of buildings for a net reduction of 123,490 SF. 

Demolition of 33 facilities accounted for approximately 142,147 square feet of the total 167,753 SF 

of buildings disposed. Demolition of inactive and obsolete facilities allow the Agency to avoid 

operating cost of maintaining old, and abandoned facilities in a safe and secure condition. 

Furthermore, demolition is the most cost-effective way to reduce the Agency's deferred maintenance. 

Finally, Demolition promotes environmental responsibility and community planning through the 

recycling of old construction materials and creating green space for future development. There are 

many benefits from these efforts such as supporting the Agency's mission to reduce the footprint and 

staying consistent with the facility master planning process. 

 

NASA began construction of the following critical projects: 

 Revitalize Industrial/Potable Water Distribution System (AFRC) 

 Revitalize Mission Control Electrical Systems (AFRC) 

 Reduce Seismic Risk to Buildings N226 N240 N244 & N245 (ARC) 

 Replace Arc Jet Diffusers (ARC) 

 Replace UPWT Three Stage Compressor Rotor Blade (ARC) 

 GRC Repair Steam Distribution, Phase 3 (GRC) 

 Continue LN2 Storage and Distribution Upgrade (JPL) 

 Energy Management Control System, Phase 1 (JPL) 

 Repair Central Heating and Cooling Plant Compressed Air System (JSC) 

 Revitalize Water and Waste Water Systems, Phase 5 of 6 (KSC) 

 Repaired Chilled Water Systems, Various Locations (KSC) 

 Bldg. 831 Modification and Storage Consolidation, VAFB (KSC) 

 Parking Repair and Lighting, Bldg. 836/839/840, VAFB (KSC) 

 Upgrade VAB Utility Annex (KSC) 

 Replace Operations Support Buildings 1&2 Roofs (KSC) 

 Refurbish High Pressure Air (HPA) Dryer System (SSC) 

 Rehabilitate/Repair Site-wide Natural Gas System (SSC) 

 Site-side Hazard/Fire Detection System (SSC) 

NASA completed construction of the following essential projects: 

 Restore Electrical Reliability for Multiple Facilities (ARC) 

 Replace UPWT Auxiliary 1000 KVA Transformers (ARC) 

 Repair Aircraft Ramp (AFRC) 

 Logistics and Maintenance Facility, No. 351, Phase 2 (GRC). This project provides the shop and 

office space to relocate logistic and maintenance functions that resided in Building 21. 

 Repair Electrical Distribution, Phase 1 (GRC) 

 Replace Island Fire Station (WFF) 

 Data Center Restoration, B230 Data Center, Phase 2 (JPL) 

 Safety Repairs and Upgrade, Site Electrical Substation, Building 221 (JSC) 

 Replace Central Heating and Cooling Plant boiler, Building 24 (JSC) 

 Human Health and Performance Facility, Building 2 (JSC) 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-12 

 Upgraded Water Wells and Distribution Systems (WSTF) 

 Repair Water System Infrastructure, Large Altitude Simulation System (WSTF) 

 Revitalize Water and Waste Water Systems, Various Locations, Phase 4 (KSC) 

 Upgrade Systems, Industrial Area Chiller Plant (KSC) 

 Deconstruct Facilities and Structures, Various Facilities (KSC) 

 Modify VAB For SLS Platforms (KSC) 

 Modifications for Hazardous Processing, Industrial Area, for Orion (KSC) 

 Reinforce Catacomb Roof for SLS Block 1B Vehicle, LC 39B (KSC) 

 Upgrade KSC Barge Terminal for SLS (KSC) 

 Install Elevator, VAB Tower F (KSC) 

 Pad B HVAC and Controls Refurbishment (KSC) 

 Refurbish and Upgrade Pad B Water System Phase II (KSC) 

 Construct Replacement NASA Causeway Duct Bank (KSC) 

 Space Station Processing Facility Roof Replacement (KSC) 

 Revitalize Building Mechanical Systems (Building 4755) (MSFC) 

 Revitalize Chilled Water Station Electrical (Building 4473) (MSFC) 

 Revitalize Building Electrical Systems (Building 4711) (MSFC) 

 ATCC HVAC Refurbishment (SSC) 

 NASA Continued the Energy Savings Investments portion of Institutional CoF by continuing 

expansion of the Central Campus solar photovoltaic system at KSC; implementing HVAC and 

lighting efficiency projects at GRC, GSFC, JSC, and KSC; and replacing window walls on mall 

area buildings at JSC. The program also initiated projects to install a solar photovoltaic system on 

the parking structure at JPL, and install a high-efficiency replacement boiler at MSFC. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

Significant work in progress includes: 

 Award for construction for Repair Exterior of Engine Research Building West Wing, Building 23 

(GRC), 

 I&T Complex Electrical/Mechanical Repairs (GSFC) 

 Safety Upgrades to the Public Water System, WSTF Phase 1 of 2 (JSC) 

 Repair Sanitary Sewer System (JSC) 

 Revitalize Water & Waste Water Systems, Various Locations, Phase 6 of 6 (KSC) 

 Restore Coastal Shoreline, Phase 1 (KSC) 

 Implement Mechanical Upgrades, Various Buildings (Energy Savings Investment) (KSC) 

 Upgrade LH2 System, LC398 (KSC) 

 B1293 Electrical Upgrades (LaRC) 

 Electrical Distribution System Upgrades, West Taylor Street (LaRC) 

 Revitalize Pressure & Propellant Distribution Systems, Site Wide, Phase 1 of 3 (MSFC) 

 Electrical Repairs to SSC Canal and Navigation Lock Water Replenishment System (SSC) 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-13 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

NASA is planning to complete several significant infrastructure projects under construction, including: 

 Restore Power Supply Reliability of Arc Jet Facility (ARC) 

 Replace Arc Jet Diffusers (ARC) 

 Reduce Seismic Risk to Bldgs. N226, N240, N244 & N245 (ARC) 

 Repair Central Compressed Air Equipment, Phase 2 (GRC) 

 Repair Domestic Water Main, Phase 2 (GRC) 

 9x15 Low Speed Wind Tunnel Phase 1&2 (GRC) 

 Airfield Repairs (GSFC) 

 Upgrade South Island Electrical Infrastructure (GSFC) 

 Utility Reliability Upgrades Mission Operations Complex (GSFC) 

 Water Tower Repairs (LaRC) 

 Compressor Station Upgrades, Phase 1 (LaRC) 

 B1230 Renovations (LaRC) 

 Replace Primary Electrical System Infrastructure B24 (GSFC) 

 Construct Replacement Building 4221 (MSFC) 

 Rehab Site-wide HPG He, GN and Air Distribution, Phase1 (SSC) 

 Repair Bascule Bridge (SSC) 

 Central Campus Phase 1 (KSC) 

 Safety and Reliability Upgrades, KSC Institutional Power Systems, Phase 1 of 4 (KSC) 

 Refurbish Environmental Control System (ECS), LC 39B (KSC) 

 Construct Flame Deflector, LC 39B (KSC) 

 Revitalize Power Systems, VAB Tower F (KSC) 

 Launch Equipment Shop (K6-1247) Roof Replacement (KSC) 

 Bldg. 831 Modifications and Storage Consolidation, VAFB (KSC) 

 Parking Repair and Lighting, Bldg. 836/839/840, VAFB (KSC) 

Various modifications to VAB in support of SLS 

NASA is planning to initiate several projects in FY 2019 to repair and revitalize its infrastructure. 

Included is the construction of the Aerospace Communications Facility at GRC, which replaces 

inadequate, inefficient, and failing facilities while investing in the centers’ approved Master Plan, and 

providing consolidation, efficiency improvements, and long-term opportunity for other facility 

deconstruction. NASA plans to continue with repairs to restore the coastal shoreline with projects at 

KSC, and initiate shoreline protection project at WFF. Other significant projects include Repair Lewis 

Field Storm Sewer System, Phase 2 of 5 (GRC), and Revitalize Pressure & Propellant Distribution 

Systems (Site Wide, Phase 2 of 3) (MSFC). 

NASA also plans to continue Energy Savings Investments that reduce energy cost and consumption in 

support of NASA's mission. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-14 

Institutional Discrete Construction of Facility Projects 

Discrete Construction of Facilities projects have initial cost estimates of $10 million or greater. 

Glenn Research Center 

Aerospace Communications Facility 

FY 2019 Estimate: $35.6 million 

This project consists of constructing a 60,000 sq. ft. research facility consolidating multiple GRC Core 

Competency communications facilities into a single, state of the art building. The facility will house 

communications labs, antenna ranges, external antennas area; high bay area and hoteling/touchdown 

spaces. The project will demolish 4 existing facilities that experience envelope and system failures 

impacting productivity and mission readiness. Several of the buildings containing communications labs 

have experienced envelope failures of varying severity. Repairs are no longer effective at Building 7 

which houses several antenna ranges. Water intrusion has damaged the structure, leading to debris falling 

on highly sensitive equipment. Water equipment has led to unhealthy work areas, impacting employee 

productivity and mission readiness. 

This facility supports the SCaN Phase 3 Next Generation Architecture planetary network program for 

human exploration of Mars; Advanced Exploration Systems EVA Project supporting HEOMD’S 

Evolvable Mars Campaign (EMC); integration of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into the National 

Airspace (NAS) project. Timing of the construction is critically related to the SCaN Phase 3 program 

schedule to minimize any schedule delays or increased program costs. This facility also supports 

International Space Station (ISS), SLS and MPCV/Orion, and provides communication and navigation 

infrastructure and service for Lunar and Mars human missions. 

Glenn Research Center 

Repair Lewis Field Storm Sewer System, Phase 2 

FY 2019 Estimate: $12.0 million; Total Construction Project Cost: $17.0 million (FY 2014 $5.0 million) 

This project will consist of repairing and replacing the storm sewer piping associated with selected 

outfalls including Outfalls 004, 006, 025, 041. Repair branches and laterals associated with these outfalls 

and with nearby areas in which flooding is most prevalent. 

The Center-wide Storm System impacts several buildings containing research and test labs that have 

experienced water failures of varying severity. Repairs are no longer effective and water intrusion has 

caused evacuation of facilities, damaged structures and infrastructure, leading to debris falling on highly 

sensitive equipment. Storm water in facilities has led to unhealthy work areas, impacting employee 

productivity and mission readiness for personnel and offices supporting International Space Station (ISS), 

SLS and MPCV/Orion, Subsonic air transportation system and Aeronautics Evaluation and Test 

Capabilities. 

The original system is 70 years old is in poor condition and was not designed to adequately convey 

quantities of storm water imposed on the system. Rain and snow melt results in flooding several times per 

year in GRC Buildings. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-15 

Goddard Space Flight Center – Wallops Flight Facility 

Shoreline Protection 

FY 2019 Estimate: $24.6 million 

This project consists of restoring the Wallops Island shoreline by replacing the eroded sand in order to 

maintain the 100-year storm damage reduction protection for the constructed launch assets on the island. 

It is anticipated that this project will minimize damages to WFF infrastructure during major Atlantic 

storm events (such as Hurricanes/Northeasters) over the next three to seven years. A past shoreline 

restoration project in 2012, for which 3,200,000 cubic yards of sand were dredged and placed on Wallops 

Island's beach, demonstrated the ability to protect infrastructure on the island during Hurricane Sandy, for 

which damages were minimal. 

As documented by an official USACE Shoreline Monitoring Survey performed in Spring 2016, segments 

of the beach dune and beach berm have been reduced to near sea-level elevations, exposing the rock 

seawall to direct contact to the ocean. Wash-through on the seawall will start occurring and can 

eventually work its way through the structure, undermining the landward side of the wall. Through this 

action and the event of waves overtopping the wall during a storm, a significant amount of flood water 

can enter Wallops Island from the ocean side. Flooding has occurred at Wallops prior to the first beach 

replenishment due to this phenomenon. Additionally, some portions of the seawall further north are 

subject to stability issues when impacted by undermining. All of Wallops Island’s infrastructure is at risk 

once flooding occurs, particularly infrastructure at lower lying elevations. 

Missions that are supported by WFF launch capabilities include Commercial Orbital Transportation 

Services (COTS) and numerous sounding rocket campaigns that are ongoing, the earliest two launches 

currently scheduled for May 2017 and an average of six to twelve launches a year for the near future. 

Multiple DOD missions are also planned from NASA WFF launch sites as well as commercial, state, and 

federal Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) missions from the new 3000 ft. North Island Airstrip. 

Goddard Space Flight Center 

Instrument Development Facility 

FY 2019 Estimate: $2.0 million; Total Construction Project Cost: $43.3 million (FY 2018 $41.3 million) 

This project constructs a state of the art Instrument Development Facility (IDF) to enable the 

development of required instruments and new technology for space flight mass spectroscopic 

measurements, replacing facilities whose age and configuration are impeding research and development 

efforts. NASA will use instruments developed in the IDF for studies of the chemistry of atmospheres and 

surfaces of distant planets, moons, and small bodies. These instruments have played significant roles on 

multiple recent missions (e.g., Mars Science Laboratory, Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution 

Mission, and Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer). 

Over the past 10 years, numerous significant flight instrument projects have expanded to multiple 

complex concurrent projects, exacerbating the inadequacy of the existing facilities. More significantly, 

advancing technology is critical for research and development activities targeting astrobiology, Mars 

instrument development, and other planetary instrument development. 

Conditions in the existing facility are marginally adequate for limiting organic contamination as required 

for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) experiment under development for ExoMars, and 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-16 

likely inadequate for some technologies under development for potential future missions. These include 

potential Venus probe, Saturn probe, Ocean Worlds, and future Mars surface missions. 

Supports Planetary Research. 

Kennedy Space Center 

Restore KSC Coastal Shoreline, Phase 2 

FY 2019 Estimate: $15.0 million; Total Construction Project Cost: $31.0 million (FY 2018 $16.0 million) 

This project is the second of two phases to construct a new sand dune along approximately the 4.5+ miles 

of KSC shoreline required to be restored and plant it with native dune vegetation. 

Natural forces have severely eroded KSC’s shoreline and interim fixes have not stabilized the shoreline 

long term. Storm activity including Hurricane Matthew resulted in loss of beach sand and sand dunes 

increasing significantly the risk of inland flooding, infrastructure loss and salt water intrusion. Breach of 

the sand dunes would cause a significant disruption of critical center-wide services and operational 

support for over a month. 

The coastal dunes protect KSC’s facilities and infrastructure including Launch Complex 39A and B from 

the impact of storm surge and inundation. This project will replace, repair, stabilize, and strengthen the 

coastal dunes deemed critical for protecting NASA’s key launch complexes. This project will continue 

the test sand dunes (NASA's specialized dunes) constructed in 2014. The test sand dunes proved resilient 

and had no significant damage from Hurricane Matthew; whereas, the surrounding dunes were washed 

away. 

The continuation of the construction of the sand dunes is important as absent completion of the dunes, 

during major storm events the KSC shoreline will experience dune breaches, resulting in inland flooding. 

KSC Center Management Council, chaired by the Center Director, has identified the KSC Shoreline 

Infrastructure risk as one of the top three worst risks for KSC. KSC will support numerous ISS cargo 

re-supply missions via the Commercial contracts, Commercial Crew missions, and at least seven SLS 

missions (AA-2, EM-2 through EM-7) using the launch pads at KSC over the next 10 years. If a dune 

breach occurred inland flooding would stop the missions. Shoreline protection is critical to protecting 

NASA’s launch infrastructure. Breach of the sand dunes would cause a significant disruption of critical 

center-wide services and operational support for well over a month and operational cost impact of several 

million dollars during this period. 

Supports all Kennedy core capabilities including SLS, Orion, and Commercial Space Flight. 

Marshall Space Flight Center 

Revitalize Pressure & Propellant Distribution Systems (Site Wide, Phase 2 of 3) 

FY 2019 Estimate: $11.0 million; Total Construction Project Cost: $14.5 million (FY18 $3.5 million, 

Phase 3 To be Determined) 

This project will focus on the center-wide distribution system and components with work in mechanical, 

civil/structural, electrical and architectural disciplines as required. It will also install gas meters 

throughout the system to enable identification of leaks and high use areas. This project will be planned, 

designed, and constructed incorporating sustainable/resilient design principles to reduce life-cycle costs, 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-17 

implement pollution prevention, minimize impact on natural resources, and maximize occupant health, 

safety, and productivity to the maximum extent possible. 

The MSFC cross center distribution system provides high pressure air to the core research and test 

facilities supporting missions including International Space Station Payload operations Center and the 

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) onboard ISS, Advanced Exploration Systems, 

Space Launch Systems, Multipurpose Crew Vehicle, Solar Probe Plus, Technology Demonstration 

Missions, Space Technologies Demonstrations, and Exploration Robotic Programs. Test requirements 

throughout the Center require that the high-pressure system be pressurized and ready for use 24 hours a 

day. Without this system, critical program milestones will be missed and it will impact the missions it 

supports. Portions of the system are over 40 years old and are corroding in various locations where the 

protective coating has broken down. There have been multiple failures and the condition of the pipe at 

failure locations has shown extensive corrosion. Probability of occurrence is known to be greater than 

0.01 per operational opportunity. The system has experienced three pipe ruptures within a single calendar 

year, totaling over $100K in repair costs to the Center. Each failure of the gas distribution system resulted 

in major disruption of this critical operational support system for greater than 1 week. There is no backup 

distribution that can provide the pressures and quantities required. This project is the second phase of 

three to replace portions of MSFC's high pressure gas distribution system that has experienced piping 

failures due to corrosion. 

Minor Revitalization and Construction of Facilities 

FY 2019 Estimate: $57.2 million 

Minor revitalization and construction of facilities projects have initial cost estimates between $1 million 

and $10 million. These projects consist of revitalizing and constructing facilities at various NASA center 

installations and government-owned industrial plants. Revitalization and modernization projects provide 

for the repair, modernization, and/or upgrade of facilities and collateral equipment. Repair projects restore 

facilities and components to a condition equivalent to the originally intended and designed capability. 

Repair and modernization work includes the equivalent replacement of utility systems and collateral 

equipment necessitated by incipient or actual breakdown. Modernization and upgrade projects include 

restoration of current functional capability and enhancement of the condition of a facility so it can 

accomplish its designated purpose, increase its functional capability, or meet new building, fire, and 

accessibility codes. 

The minor revitalization and construction projects that comprise this request are of the highest priority, 

based on relative urgency, and expected return on investment. The focus is on projects that reduce 

building square footage or eliminate excess building systems, provide long-term savings, and reduce the 

Agency’s maintenance backlog. During the year, planned projects may change to accommodate changing 

priorities. 

The minor projects listed below provide critical upgrades and repairs to eight NASA centers. Not funding 

these projects would cause direct cost, schedule, and personnel impacts to major NASA programs such as 

Orion and SLS with direct impacts to NASA’s commercial partners. 

Armstrong Flight Research Center: 

 Repair Flight Loads Lab Mechanical Systems 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-18 

Glenn Research Center: 

 Repair Facility Horizontal Communications Infrastructure, PBS 

 GRC Repair Electrical Distribution Systems, Phase 3 

Goddard Space Flight Center: 

 Replace Secondary Low Voltage Electrical Systems 

Johnson Space Center: 

 Electrical Substation (B221) 

Langley Research Center: 

 Electrical Distribution System Upgrades, Langley Boulevard 

 Potable Water Supply Upgrades, Part 2 of 2 

Stennis Space Center: 

 Repair/Replace Electrical Switchgear and Mitigation of Electrical Risk Site-wide 

Energy Savings Investments 

FY 2019 Estimate: $7.6 million 

These important projects focus on improving systems efficiencies and reducing utility costs. The projects 

that comprise this request are of the highest priority based on expected return on investment or 

contribution to Federal energy mandates. The group of projects listed below collectively provides a 

10.7-year simple payback period – the time required to recover the initial investment through annual 

energy cost avoidances. 

Failure to implement these projects will affect NASA’s ability to meet Executive Order 13693, “Planning 

for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade,” and will require NASA to continue to pay an estimated 

annual $1.2 million in utilities expenditures avoided by implementing these projects. 

Johnson Space Center: 

 Install Solar Photovoltaic Systems with Energy Storage, WSTF & Whites Sands Complex 

Demolition of Facilities 

FY 2019 Estimate: $20.0 million 

NASA continues to meet its national fiduciary responsibilities, leveraging Agency retained assets to 

increase their functionality to support mission success while disposing of unneeded Federal real estateincreasing the use of under-utilized assets, minimizing operating costs, and improving energy efficiency. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

INSTITUTIONAL COF

CECR-19 

NASA will use the requested funding to eliminate inactive and obsolete facilities that are no longer 

required for NASA’s Mission. Abandoned facilities pose potential safety and environmental liabilities 

and are eyesores at the Centers. The Agency must maintain these facilities at minimal levels to prevent 

increasing safety and environmental hazards, and these recurring maintenance costs impose a drain on the 

maintenance dollars available at the Centers. Demolishing these abandoned facilities allows the Agency 

to avoid non-productive operating costs required to keep abandoned facilities safe and secure. Demolition 

is the most cost-effective way to reduce the Agency deferred maintenance. 

NASA identifies facilities for the demolition program through special studies to determine if the facility is 

required for current or future missions. Facilities that are no longer needed are included in a five-year 

demolition plan that sets project schedules based on last need, annual costs avoided, potential liability, 

and project execution factors. 

Facility Planning and Design 

FY 2019 Estimate: $30.8 million 

NASA will continue to provide funding for advanced planning and design activities, special engineering 

studies, facility engineering research, preliminary engineering efforts required to initiate design-build 

projects, preparation of final designs, construction plans, specifications, and associated cost estimates 

associated with non-programmatic construction projects. This includes master planning, value 

engineering studies, design and construction management studies, facility operation and maintenance 

studies, condition-based maintenance studies, facilities utilization analyses, engineering support for 

facilities management systems, and capital leveraging research activities. Funding also supports 

participation in facilities-related professional engineering associations and organizations. 

The facilities planning and design activity is crucial to implementing NASA's recapitalization strategy. 

These projects are necessary to make progress toward required sustainability, energy, and stewardship 

goals. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

EXPLORATION COF

CECR-20 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 8.8 -- 25.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Exploration CoF provides 

construction required to support 

SLS, Orion, and Exploration 

Ground Systems program 

activities. Funds required for the 

planning and design of out-year 

programmatic construction remain 

in the applicable program 

accounts. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR 

CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY

2017 

During FY 2017, NASA made 

tremendous progress transitioning 

facilities configured for the legacy 

Space Shuttle and Constellation programs to facilities configured to support the Space Launch System 

(SLS) and Orion programs for Exploration Missions. 

At Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the Launch Complex 39B 

(LC-39B) are in the final stages of construction. In the VAB, Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) 

installed 20 platform levels (A-K) in High Bay 3. The installation included the mechanical, electrical and 

plumbing support systems, as well as the egress ramp access, new elevator landing platforms and facility 

utility subsystems to support SLS launch vehicle and Orion spacecraft processing. At LC-39B, 

modifications to the environmental control systems to support SLS and Orion, as well as the re-bricking 

the flame trench were completed. Fabrication and assembly of the new, all steel flame deflector 

components are in final stages of completion. Other significant work at LC-39B included construction of 

the liquid hydrogen liquid-gas separator tank and reinforcement of the catacomb roof structure that was 

necessary to accommodate the combined weight of the launch vehicle and its mobile launcher. 

 

 

The B2 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center. This South East 

aspect shows the additional superstructure added to the stand to 

accommodate the height of the SLS Core Stage, as well as the 

completed tarmac in front of the stand. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

EXPLORATION COF

CECR-21 

In FY 2017, EGS was also engaged in future planning and design efforts of KSC facilities to 

accommodate the processing of the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) that will be used on the SLS 

Block-1B for EM-2. In High Bay 3 of VAB, concept studies and designs to accommodate the EUS began 

for the installation of a new environmental control system, installation of four new platforms and 

modifying eight of the existing platforms, as well as the addition of new fixed platforms in High Bay 4 

also required for EUS processing. At LC-39B, EGS is actively addressing designs to increase the Liquid 

Hydrogen (LH2) capacity and modify the Emergency Egress System (EES). Additionally, EGS began the 

design effort for infrastructure upgrades at the Component Converter Facility (CCF) to increase 

operational efficiency and to augment the delivery of Helium and Nitrogen to LC-39B. 

At Stennis Space Center (SSC), the SLS program completed major construction on the B-2 Test Stand in 

preparation for the SLS Green Run Testing. The new superstructure, necessary to accommodate the 

massive size of the SLS Core Stage, raised the height of the test stand to the 345 foot level. Other 

significant work on the B-2 in FY 2017 included installation of the cryogenic piping for the Liquid 

Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen, the Fire Safety System piping and all of the piping necessary for Gaseous 

Helium, Nitrogen, and High Pressure Air. Additionally, the tarmac in front of the test stand was improved 

and strengthen to allow for the larger and heavier SLS Core Stage to roll off the barge prior to being lifted 

in to stand. 

At the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF), the SLS program continued making modifications to tooling 

and manufacturing in support SLS Core Stage production. In FY 2017, the program completed the repair 

of Chiller No 3 to improve reliability of the environmental control system in Building 103, the primary 

manufacturing facility for the SLS Core Stage. Additionally, the SLS program began the systematic 

removal and replacement of damaged roof purlins in Building 103 to maintain the structural integrity of 

the building roofing system. Other significant work at MAF included completing 8 out of 15 fan house 

repairs and rehabilitating the chilled water and steam distribution piping system by installing a 24-inch 

diameter supply and return pipes between the chiller plant located in Building 207 and Building 103. 

At Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the SLS program completed construction and activation of two 

structural test stands to support Space Launch System (SLS) Core Stage Qualification Testing. Test Stand 

4693 will be used to test the Core Stage LH2 Tank and Test Stand 4697 will be used to test the Core 

Stage LOX Tank. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

At KSC, EGS will initiate the first two construction projects to upgrade and modify existing infrastructure 

to specifically support EM-2 launch requirements with SLS Block 1B launch vehicle. At LC-39B, a 

newly fabricated 1.25M gallon (est.) LH2 Dewar sphere, with associated vaporizer, flare stack and 

piping/valve system will be installed in the vicinity of the existing LH2 sphere. In the VAB, construction 

of a new Environmental Control System (ECS) will commence, as will the design for HB3 and HB4 

platform installation to support the increased load demands and processing of the EUS. 

At MAF, work will continue on modifications to Building 103 and Building 110 to support SLS Core 

Stage manufacturing. Construction planned to be completed in FY 2018 includes: Building 103 Final 

Integration (Fall Protection), phase 1 of the fan house and substation structural repairs in Building 103, 

rehabilitating the chilled water and steam distribution piping, replacing and rehabilitating Substations 

20A, 43, 63 and 64, phase 2 of replacing the roof purlins in Building 103. Additionally, SLS plans to 

begin work on replacing electrical substation No. 1, phase 2 repairs of fan houses and substation structural 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

EXPLORATION COF

CECR-22 

supports in Building 103, the second phase of roof purlin replacement Building 103 and repairing the roof 

of Building 102. 

At MSFC, the two structural test stands will be completely activated and operational. Minor open work 

after acceptance will be completed, including the installation of egress lighting on the roof of TS4693 and 

additional engineering documentation from the Architecture & Engineering (A&E) firm. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

At KSC, EGS will continue to focus on SLS Block 1 infrastructure requirements for EM-2 

At LC-39B, the program will begin construction of the emergency egress system (EES). The EES 

provides a safe haven for crew emergency egress and evacuation during prelaunch activities. Design of 

additional platforms in VAB high bay 3 and 4 will also continue. Additionally, EGS will begin one minor 

construction project in FY 2019 to upgrade the Rotational Processing Surge Facility (RPSF) fire 

projection system. 

At MAF, work is expected to initiate on minor construction projects to rehabilitate the East Master 

Substation, replace electrical Substation 21, phase 1 to rehabilitate the IWTF Tank and process system 

components and phase 1 to rehabilitate the facility's drainage system Ph 1. Work will continue on 

replacing electrical Substation No. 1, second phase of repairing fan houses and substation structural 

support, phase 2 of replacing the roof purlins in Building 103 and repairing the roof on Building 102.

Exploration Discrete Construction of Facilities Projects 

Kennedy Space Center 

Modifications for SLS Block 1B (EUS) 

FY 2019 Estimate: $13.3 million; Total Construction Project Cost: $206.0 million (FY 2020 

$80.3 million, FY 2021 $18.9 million, and FY 2022 $3.5 million) 

KSC project that modifies designated facility systems in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Launch 

Complex 39B (Pad-B), and Convertor Compressor Facility (CCF) to enable Space Launch System (SLS) 

Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) processing and launch operations. As SLS technical requirements mature, 

EGS may need to modify scope within work elements of this project. 

The upgrades reconfigure of KSC facilities from previous shuttle configurations to support new SLS 

vehicle processing con, while increasing the life safety of the facilities and operational efficiency. The 

VAB modifications reconfigure the high bay to process, integrate and assemble the SLS launch vehicle. 

The Pad-B modifications will support SLS, Orion and other Launch vehicles; as they update the 

deteriorated 40 year old structure and systems. The CCF modifications increase the peak nitrogen and 

helium flows required for EUS support, while replacing the Apollo facility systems with modern 

technology. 

These repairs and modifications must be completed in time to support future SLS launches because there 

are no other facilities that have the size or capabilities necessary to support SLS assembly operations. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

EXPLORATION COF

CECR-23 

Failure to implement this project will seriously impact NASA’s ability to transition and sustain the use of 

this launch complex to support SLS. 

Supports SLS, Orion, and other launch vehicles. 

Minor Revitalization and Construction of Facilities 

FY 2019 Estimate: $12.6 million 

These projects provide for the repair, modernization, or upgrade of facilities and collateral equipment 

required by Exploration activities. Repair projects restore facilities and components to a condition 

substantially equivalent to the originally intended and designed capability. Repair and modernization 

work includes the substantially equivalent replacement of utility systems and collateral equipment 

necessitated by incipient or actual breakdown. Modernization and upgrade projects include both 

restoration of current functional capability and enhancement of the condition of a facility, so that it can 

more effectively serve its designated purpose, increase its functional capability, or so that it can meet new 

building, fire, and accessibility codes. 

The minor project below provide critical investments to support refurbishment of infrastructure to support 

the ensure NFPA compliance at KSC. During the year, rearrangement of priorities may be necessary, 

which may cause a change in some of the items to be accomplished. 

Kennedy Space Center: 

 Rapid Processing and Surge Protection Facility (RPSF) Fire Protection System Upgrade 

Michoud Assembly Facility: 

 Rehab East Master Substation 

 Replace Substation 21 

 Rehab IWTF Tank and Process System Components Phase 1 

 Rehab Drainage System Phase 1 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SPACE OPERATIONS COF

CECR-24 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 36.7 -- 18.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Space Operations CoF provides construction to 

support Space Communication and Navigation 

(SCaN), the ISS program and Launch Services 

Program (LSP). Funds required for the planning 

and design of out-year programmatic construction 

remain in the applicable program accounts. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN 

FY 2019 

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

The completion of Deep Space Station (DSS)-36 

in Canberra, AU shifted the focus of the DSN 

Aperture Enhancement Project (DAEP) toward 

the construction of the next two 34-meter Beam 

Wave Guide antennas in Madrid. In early 

FY 2017 the excavation phase at Madrid was 

completed, allowing for the Pedestal construction phase to begin. In order to meet the operational need 

date for NASA mission support, both antenna pedestals are being constructed simultaneously. In 

Australia, the Deep Space network (DSN) completed the DAEP facilities support phase for both DSS-35 

and DSS-36 Beam Wave Guide antennas. 

At Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex (GDSCC), a minor construction project to install 

seismic upgrades to various buildings brought existing buildings and other support assets into compliance 

for safety and seismic requirements. Due to efficiencies in the project, additional GDSCC buildings are 

being evaluated for seismic upgrades. 

Throughout the Network, each complex also experienced improvements at their facilities with the 34m 

BWG Antenna HVAC chiller replacement project that boosted the reliability needed for cooling the 

View of the recently completed and operational 34-meter 

Beam Wage Guide antenna DSS- 36 in Canberra, 

Australia. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SPACE OPERATIONS COF

CECR-25 

transmitters at the antenna stations. This project is near completion with the final procurement of the 

water cooling, purification, and storage subsystems necessary for protecting and increasing the reliability 

of the new chiller systems. 

Additionally, the minor construction project to replace the Beam Wage Guide azimuth tracks in 34m 

Subnet is in progress with the fabrication track slated for DSS-13. These much-needed improvements will 

ensure the reliability of the antennas. 

The Launch Services Program (LSP) commenced three minor construction projects in FY 2017. Two of 

the minor construction projects were at the Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) to modify Building 831 

storage consolidation and repairing the pavement of NASA Facilities at VAFB. The third minor 

construction project for LSP was at KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force Facility to replace the Chillers 

and Boilers at Hangar AE and the PHSF. 

Rocket Propulsion Test Program (RPT) continued a minor construction project that relocates the Fluid 

Component Cleaning Facility from the Stennis Space Center (SSC) to the Michoud Assembly Facility. 

The scope of this minor construction includes procuring and installing a modular clean room in 

Building 103 at MAF. RPT also commenced a minor construction project in the In-Space Propulsion 

(ISP) Facility at Plum Brook Station to refurbish and re-constitute the process steam capability 

sufficiently to enable hot-fire testing of a 30,000lb class rocket engine for up to 300 seconds. 

At KSC, the 21st Century Launch Complex provided additional infrastructure upgrades, including the 

installation of a new HVAC system and roof replacement at the KSC Launch Equipment Shop (LES). 

LES provides the center with off-nominal manufacturing capability to ensure successful processing of 

flight hardware. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

Focus for FY 2018, is the continued support and progress for SCaN’s multi-year funded discrete project 

to construct the two new 34m Beam Wave Guide (BWG) Deep Space Station (DSS) antennas, DSS-56 

and DSS-53 at Madrid. Supporting subcontracts have been awarded and are moving forward. Steel 

fabrication at lower-tier contractors is escalating, with projections of starting the on-site assembly work in 

early FY 2018. Antenna RF panels, mirrors, and sub-reflectors are also in production. 

Several Minor projects will continue towards completion in 2018. For the DSN Beam Wave Guide 

Subnet, both, the BWG Antenna Chiller replacement project and the BWG Azimuth Track replacement 

project are planned to be completed. In Australia, the site wide uninterrupted power system (UPS) 

installation project is also planned to be completed. In Madrid, the Antenna Apron and Subsoil 

remediation project will continue as planned. 

LSP will continue to work on three minor construction projects that commenced in FY 2017, 

modification of Building 831 storage consolidation, repairing the pavement of NASA Facilities at VAFB 

and replacing the Chillers and Boilers at Hangar AE and the PHSF at KSC and Cape Canaveral Air Force 

Facility. In addition, LSP will commence a new minor construction project at VAFB to improve the 

energy efficiency in Buildings 836 and 840. 

RPT is scheduled to finish the installation of the modular clean room in Building 103 at MAF, completing 

the relocation of the Fluid Component Cleaning Facility at MAF. Additionally, RPT will continue the 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SPACE OPERATIONS COF

CECR-26 

minor construction project in the ISP Facility at Plum Brook Station to partially re-activate the process 

steam system sufficiently to enable hot-fire testing of a 30,000lb class rocket for up to 300 seconds. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

FY 2019 will be a busy year for the DSN for both discrete and minor construction projects. SCaN will 

continue its efforts for the construction of the two new 34-meter Beam Wave Guide (BWG) Deep Space 

Station (DSS) Antennas at the Madrid Complex. Phase III of the DAEP, will see the start of construction 

for another 34m Beam Wave Guide antenna at Goldstone, California, DSS-23. 

In FY 2019, four additional minor construction projects are planned throughout the DSN complexes. At 

the Canberra Complex, upgrades to various HVAC systems for occupied support operations buildings 

will begin. Additionally, pre-1970 substation equipment at DSS-43 will be replaced with modern and 

maintainable distribution equipment. Both efforts will help to bring the Canberra facility to modern 

operating standards for safety and reliability. In Madrid, the upgrade switchgear and protection 

integration project will provide an upgrade of the powerhouse switchgear and controls. Current system 

components contain friable asbestos and must be removed due to in-country safety regulations. Lastly, the 

DSN network will be replacing the antiquated cooling towers in support of the 70m antennas’ new 

transmitter design. The new transmitter design with greater performance requirements make this project a 

necessity. 

LSP will commence a minor construction project at VAFB to install a new HVAC in Building 840. The 

project consists of installing an integrated heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for the 

entire 25,000 ft2

 building. 

Space Operations Discrete Construction of Facility Projects 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

DAEP Phase II: Construction of 34 Meter Beam Wave Guide Antennas – Madrid 

Location: Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex, Spain. 

FY 2019 Construction Estimate: $1.5 million, Total Project FY 2015 to FY 2019 is $57.75 million. 

This project constructs two (2) new 34-meter beam wave guide (BWG) antennas at the Madrid Deep 

Space Communications Complex (MDSCC), provides for the construction of DSS-56 and DSS-53. 

The project is divided into five contracts: excavation, pedestal, antenna construction, servo system, and 

antenna related site facilities. The funding for fiscal year 2019 is $1.5 million of the total $57.75 million. 

The project includes the fabrication and installation of the antenna structures, panels, gearboxes, bearings, 

electric drives, encoders, beam wave guide mirrors, sub-reflectors and positioners, and related 

servomotors. The project also includes the construction of the pedestals, as well as all facilities in and 

around the antennas, including the paved access roads, trenches, drainage, flood control devices, water 

main and distribution system, antenna apron, perimeter security fence, HVAC systems, electrical power 

distribution, fire detection and suppression system, and surveillance system assembly. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SPACE OPERATIONS COF

CECR-27 

Basis of Need 

The construction of these antennas is planned as Phase II of the SCaN DSN Aperture Enhancement 

Project (DAEP) and was originally scheduled to begin after completion of the third optioned antenna at 

Canberra, however two existing antennas at Madrid are showing concrete degradation in their pedestals; 

DSS-63 70-meter and DSS-54 34-meter, it was decided to begin construction of the two 34-meter 

antennas at Madrid in FY15 as a contingency against future long-term maintenance downtimes of the 

existing 70-meter and 34-meter antennas. 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory 

AEP Phase III: Construction of 34 Meter Beam Wave Guide Antenna - Goldstone 

Location: Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, California 

FY 2019 Construction Estimate: $4.5 million, Total Project FY 2019 to FY 2022 is $32.0 million. 

This project constructs one (1) new 34-meter beam wave guide (BWG) antenna at the Goldstone Deep 

Space Communications Complex (GDSCC); provides for the construction of DSS-23. 

The project will be issued as a single Primary Subcontract to include excavation, pedestal, antenna 

construction, servo system, and antenna related site facilities. The funding for fiscal year 2019 is 

$4.5 million of the estimated total of $32.0 million. 

The project will be managed as was the DAEP Phase I in Canberra. 

Basis of Need 

The construction of this antenna is planned as Phase III of the SCaN DSN Aperture Enhancement Project 

(DAEP) and is scheduled to begin towards the completion of the Madrid antennas. 

SCaN has recently shown interested in developing a Hybrid Optical/RF antenna design for the DSN. 

Ideally, Goldstone, with its location and optimal weather conditions has been identified as the best site for 

this effort. Antenna DSS-23 will be an RF Antenna with the possibility for modification. 

Minor Revitalization and Construction of Facilities 

FY 2019 Estimate: $12.9 million 

These projects provide for the repair, modernization, or upgrade of facilities and collateral equipment 

required by Space Operations activities. Repair projects restore facilities and components to a condition 

substantially equivalent to the originally intended and designed capability. Repair and modernization 

work includes the substantially equivalent replacement of utility systems and collateral equipment 

necessitated by incipient or actual breakdown. Modernization and upgrade projects include both 

restoration of current functional capability and enhancement of the condition of a facility, so that it can 

more effectively serve its designated purpose, increase its functional capability, or so that it can meet new 

building, fire, and accessibility codes. 

The FY 2019 request includes one minor construction project for the Launch Services Program (LSP) for 

sustainability upgrades that will improve the energy efficiency of Buildings 836 and 840 at Vandenberg 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SPACE OPERATIONS COF

CECR-28 

Air Force Base (VAFB) launch complex. The SCaN program will have four minor construction projects 

to upgrades to various HVAC systems at Canberra to support operations buildings; replace the pre-1970 

substation equipment at DSS-43 with modern and maintainable distribution equipment; upgrade 

Switchgear & Protection Integration at Madrid; and replacing the cooling towers in support of the 70m 

antennas. 

Kennedy Space Center: 

 Install HVAC System B-840 at Vandenberg Air Force Base 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory: 

 Operations Building HVAC Upgrades, Canberra 

 Switchgear Upgrade and Protection Integration, Madrid 

 Replace 70m Antenna Cooling Towers 

 DSS-43, US-1, US-2 Servo Starter Replacement, Canberra 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SCIENCE COF

CECR-29 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 2.7 -- 9.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Science CoF typically provides 

construction required to support NASA’s 

programs in Earth Science, Planetary 

Science, Astrophysics, and Heliophysics. 

However, it also includes construction for 

NASA’s High End Computing Capability 

(HECC) Program, which the Science 

Mission Directorate, as the biggest user, 

manages for the Agency. 

Construction for HECC directly supports 

the Aeronautics, Human Exploration and 

Operations, Science, and Space 

Technology Missions. Funds required for 

the planning and design of out-year 

programmatic construction remain in the 

applicable program accounts. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR 

CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

In FY 2017, NASA procured a second modular supercomputing unit for the proof-of-concept prototype 

for the Modular Supercomputing Facility (MSF) at ARC. Rather than meeting computing requirements 

through the expansion of capability within conventional facilities, this pilot project constructed lower cost 

modular container-based capability adjacent to the Advanced Supercomputing Facility at ARC. The 

second module also tests the inter-connectivity with the first module such that the two modules may be 

integrated as a single supercomputer to solve larger scientific and technical problems together. The 

combined capability is measured at 4.78 petaflops of peak performance. The prototype demonstrated the 

feasibility of new energy efficient and water-conserving modular computing technology, enabling the 

Artist's rendering of the fully populated modular computing 

facility, which will house energy efficient supercomputing 

modules. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SCIENCE COF

CECR-30 

increase of NASA’s supercomputing capability with minimal impact on limited energy and water 

resources. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

In FY 2018, NASA will begin construction of the MSF at Ames Research Center, based on the successful 

proof-of-concept prototype completed in FY 2016-2017. The FY 2018 work will provide the 

infrastructure and utilities required to support the modular container-based capability. When complete, the 

project will ensure flexibility to adjust for fast-changing technology with minimal risk, and will provide 

the supercomputing capability necessary to meet NASA's mission requirements. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

In FY 2019, NASA will proceed with the Replace/Refurbish Laboratory Infrastructure (Bldg. N239) 

Project at the Ames Research Center, the Asteroid Sample and Advanced Curation Facility at Johnson 

Space Center, along with the parallel processing of two large balloon payloads at Wanaka, New Zealand. 

Minor Revitalization and Construction of Facilities 

FY 2019 Estimate: $9.6 million 

These projects provide for the repair, modernization, or upgrade of facilities and collateral equipment 

required by Science activities. Repair projects restore facilities and components to a condition 

substantially equivalent to the originally intended and designed capability. Repair and modernization 

work includes the substantially equivalent replacement of utility systems and collateral equipment 

necessitated by incipient or actual breakdown. Modernization and upgrade projects include both 

restoration of current functional capability and enhancement of the condition of a facility, so that it can 

more effectively serve its designated purpose, increase its functional capability, or so that it can meet new 

building, fire, and accessibility codes. 

The FY 2019 request includes a minor construction project in support of NASA's strategic long-range, 

mid-latitude superpressure balloon operations in Wanaka, New Zealand, providing for parallel processing 

of two large balloon payloads during the annual campaign, in response to high science community 

interest. The request also includes minor projects that will modernize outdated and non-compliant 

laboratories on the 3rd and 4th floors of Building N239 at ARC, as well as convert existing laboratory and 

office space at JSC for precision cleaning and curation. The JSC project is critical to the development, 

testing, and refinement of organic and microbiological contamination control procedures and precision 

cleaning techniques required for future astromaterial samples, most immediately, asteroid samples due to 

arrive at NASA’s facilities in 2021 and 2023, respectively . 

Ames Research Center: 

 Replace/Refurbish Laboratory Infrastructure, Building N239 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration: Construction of Facilities 

SCIENCE COF

CECR-31 

Johnson Space Center: 

 Asteroid Sample and Advanced Curation Facility 

Goddard Space Flight Center: 

 Balloon Payload Facility, Wanaka, New Zealand 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

CECR-32 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 70.2 -- 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 82.9 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

NASA’s ECR program cleans up 

hazardous materials and wastes 

released to the surface or 

groundwater at NASA installations, 

NASA-owned industrial plants 

supporting NASA activities, 

current or former sites where 

NASA operations have contributed 

to environmental problems, and 

other sites where the Agency is 

legally obligated to address 

hazardous pollutants. ECR program 

activities include projects, studies, 

assessments, investigations, 

sampling, plans, designs, 

construction, related engineering, 

program support, monitoring, and 

regulatory Agency oversight. 

Funding also covers land 

acquisitions required to ensure 

operation of remedial treatment 

processes and sites as part of 

remediation and cleanup measures. 

For additional information about 

NASA’s ECR program, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/emd/home/ecr.html. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

None. 

 

Remediation of contamination in the groundwater at 

MAF. Electrical current is applied through electrodes driven 

into the ground and the contaminated soils and groundwater 

are heated. The volatilized contaminants are removed through 

vacuum extraction. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

CECR-33 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

NASA’s ECR program includes cleanup activities at all NASA centers, with priority given to protecting 

human health and the environment in conformance with Environmental Protection Agency and state 

regulatory agreements and requirements. NASA accomplished the following notable restoration activities 

in FY 2017: 

 SSFL continued demolition of buildings not associated with test stands and development of work 

plans for soil cleanup, continued soil, and groundwater cleanup treatability studies, completed 

groundwater field investigations, operated groundwater treatment system and conducted longterm monitoring of groundwater. Cultural resource actions were continued per the Programmatic 

Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office, Native Americans, and consulting parties; 

 MSFC completed soil cleanup at petroleum sites and developed designs for the Industrial Sewer 

operable unit remedial action and monitoring/ characterization of groundwater; 

 GRC continued decontamination and decommission of the cyclotron building under NRC license 

termination; 

 MAF began the thermal treatment pilot scale remediation of groundwater at the former rinse 

water impoundments; 

 WSTF continued to operate the plume front and mid-plume front treatment systems to capture 

and treat contaminated groundwater. They also continued source area investigations and closure 

activities of the sewage lagoon; 

 KSC installed several new groundwater treatment systems, completed extensive contaminated 

soil removal at various sites, continued sampling of over 400 monitoring wells, and continued 

operations of existing groundwater cleanup systems; 

 JPL continued to operate and maintain systems to clean up contaminated groundwater emanating 

from the laboratory, and operations and system upgrades to the Lincoln Avenue and Monk Hill 

drinking water treatment systems. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

NASA is continuing its commitment to restoration by executing the following activities in FY 2018: 

 SSFL will continue to demolish structures in areas not associated with the Test Stands, submit 

cleanup plans for soil and groundwater, and continue operations of the groundwater treatment 

system and long-term monitoring of groundwater. Cultural resource actions will continue per the 

Programmatic Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office, Native Americans, and 

consulting parties; 

 GRC will continue decontamination and decommission of the cyclotron building under NRC 

license termination; 

 KSC will continued investigation and cleanup of groundwater and soil contamination. Activities 

planned include the installation of new groundwater treatment systems, removal of contaminated 

soils, investigation of additional sites for potential contamination, continued sampling of over 

400 monitoring wells, and continued operations of existing groundwater cleanup systems; 

 ARC will begin landfill remediation and final closure per Federal Facilities Agreement; 

 MSFC will begin cleanup of the Industrial Sewer operable unit and monitoring/ characterization 

of groundwater; 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

CECR-34 

 WSTF will continue to operate the plume front and mid-plume front treatment systems to capture 

and treat contaminated groundwater and continue source area investigations and closure activities 

of the sewage lagoon; and 

 Continue operations of treatment systems and monitoring at AFRC, GSFC, LaRC, MAF, SSC, 

and WFF. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

Key projects and achievements planned for the FY 2019 request include: 

 $10.9 million for the continued cleanup of ground water contamination and investigation of soil 

contamination at WSTF, to include completion of closure activities, implementation of source 

area facility investigations, long-term monitoring of groundwater, and continued operation of the 

plume front and mid-plume ground water treatment systems; 

 $9.2 million for the continued investigation and cleanup of groundwater and soil contamination at 

KSC under State of Florida requirements. Key activities planned include the installation of new 

groundwater treatment systems, removal of contaminated soils, investigation of additional sites 

for potential contamination, continued sampling of over 400 monitoring wells, and continued 

operations of existing groundwater cleanup systems; 

 $7.5 million to operate and maintain systems to clean up contaminated groundwater emanating 

from JPL and continued operations of the Lincoln Avenue and Monk Hill drinking water 

treatment systems; and 

 $39.2 million for demolition, cleanup of contaminated soils, continued operation of groundwater 

treatment systems, and continued long term monitoring of groundwater at SSFL in accordance 

with the State of California. Cultural resource actions will continue per the Programmatic 

Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office, Native Americans, and consulting parties. 

Program Elements 

RESTORATION

Restoration projects address cleanup liabilities at all NASA centers and component facilities. As of the 

start of FY 2018, known liabilities totaled $1.4 billion with many of the individual cleanup projects 

estimated to take more than 30 years to complete. NASA policy is to address these liabilities using a 

“worst first” approach to ensure protection of human health and the environment and to facilitate mission 

readiness. Plans for FY 2019 are based on a prioritized, risk-based approach for incrementally addressing 

NASA’s cleanup portfolio. Projects are ranked according to the relative urgency and the potential health 

and safety hazards related to each individual cleanup. As studies, assessments, investigations, plans, 

regulatory approvals, and designs progress, and as new discoveries or regulatory requirements change, 

NASA may adjust program priorities. 
Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

CECR-35 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP

Environmental Compliance and Functional Leadership projects invest in environmental methods and risk 

reduction practices that ensure NASA may continue to carry out its scientific and engineering missions. 

This includes methodologies for sustainably reducing energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions, and 

supporting operational activities by ensuring that advances in chemical risk management are incorporated 

early in mission design phases. 
 

INSPECTOR GENERAL

IG-1 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 37.9 37.6 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

Inspector General ................................................................... IG-2
 

INSPECTOR GENERAL

IG-2 

FY 2019 Budget 

Actual CR Request Notional 

Budget Authority (in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

Total Budget 37.9 37.6 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 39.3 

Change from FY 2018 1.7 

Percentage change from FY 2018 4.5% 

FY 2017 reflects funding amounts specified in Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, as 

executed under the Agency's current FY 2017 Operating Plan.

A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; therefore, the 

budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D of P.L. 115-

56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing resolution.

For FY 2019, the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) requests $39.3 million to support the work of 

auditors, investigators, analysts, specialists, lawyers, and support staff located at NASA Headquarters in 

Washington, DC, and 12 other locations throughout the United States. 

The OIG conducts audits, investigations, and reviews of NASA programs to prevent and detect fraud, 

waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to assist NASA management in promoting economy, efficiency, 

and effectiveness in its programs and operations. Our operational offices are the Office of Audits (OA) 

and the Office of Investigations (OI). 

OA conducts independent and objective audits of NASA programs, projects, operations, and contractor 

activities, and oversees the work of the independent public accounting firm that conducts the annual audit 

of NASA’s financial statements. In its work, OA targets high-risk areas and NASA’s top management 

challenges. OIG audits provide independent assessments and actionable recommendations that help 

NASA achieve its space exploration, scientific, and aeronautics research missions. 

OI pursues allegations of cybercrime, fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct related to NASA programs, 

projects, personnel, operations, and resources. OI refers its findings to the Department of Justice for 

criminal prosecution and civil litigation or to NASA management for administrative action. Through its 

investigations, OI develops recommendations to reduce the Agency’s vulnerability to criminal activity or 

administrative inefficiency. Given that NASA spends approximately 83 percent of its budget on contracts 

and grants, OI’s caseload includes investigations of suspected false claims submitted by NASA 

contractors, product substitution and counterfeit parts, and conflict of interest cases that involve NASA 

employees who place private gain before public service. 

EXPLANATION OF MAJOR CHANGES IN FY 2019 

No major changes. 

 
 

INSPECTOR GENERAL

IG-3 

ACHIEVEMENTS IN FY 2017 

In FY 2017, the OIG issued 15 audit products that contained 88 recommendations for improvement and 

identified approximately $97.9 million in potential savings for NASA. Audit products included reports 

examining NASA’s: 

 Plans for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit; 

 Efforts to “rightsize” workforce, facilities, and other supporting assets; 

 Management of its existing spacesuit fleet and development of next-generation spacesuits; 

 Earth Science Mission portfolio; 

 Industrial control system security within the Agency’s critical and supporting infrastructure; and 

 Management of the Mars 2020 Rover Program. 

In FY 2017, OI investigated a wide variety of criminal and administrative matters involving procurement 

fraud, theft, counterfeit parts, ethics violations, and computer intrusions leading to more than $18 million 

in criminal, civil, and administrative penalties and settlements. Approximately $2 million of these funds 

were returned directly to NASA. Overall, OI’s efforts in FY 2017 resulted in 30 indictments, 

15 convictions, 3 civil settlements, 39 administrative actions, and 24 suspensions or debarments. 

Examples of OI’s work over the past year include: 

 An investigation of fraud committed by Educational Advancement Alliance, Inc., (EAA) and its 

president ended in the convictions and sentencing of the president, former Pennsylvania 

Congressman Chaka Fattah, and several associates. The organization received a series of Federal 

grants including a $1.8 million grant from NASA to promote science, technology, engineering, 

and mathematics education. The investigation revealed that EAA improperly used $100,000 of 

NASA grant money to pay a campaign debt on Congressman Fattah’s behalf. In June 2016, a 

Federal jury convicted the Congressman and his associates of taking part in a racketeering 

conspiracy intended to further their political and financial interests by misappropriating Federal, 

charitable, and campaign funds. In December 2016, the Congressman was sentenced to 10 years 

of imprisonment, was ordered to pay $614,000 in restitution, of which $100,000 will be returned 

to NASA. The company president was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment. In May 2017, 

Fattah was debarred from doing work with the Federal Government for 16 years. The OIG 

assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service in the investigation. 

 

 As a result of an investigation conducted by the NASA OIG, the Defense Contract Management 

Agency, Defense Contract Audit Agency, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, a 

Nevada aerospace company agreed to pay $14.9 million to settle allegations it violated the 

Federal False Claims Act by knowingly misclassifying certain costs and causing various 

Government agencies to pay inflated contract overhead rates. 

 In January 2017, a Los Angeles, California, contractor was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment 

and a $7,500 fine stemming from charges of conspiracy and providing illegal gratuities. From 

2008 through 2012, the company co-owner, along with his business partner, conspired to provide 

gratuities to approximately 70 Government purchase cardholders in exchange for their continued 

business. The company owners paid approximately $42,590 in gratuities, which yielded an 

estimated $3 million in return business. The co-conspirator was sentenced to 3 years of probation. 
 

INSPECTOR GENERAL

IG-4 

 Investigative efforts by the OIG helped prove a $5.1 million claim against NASA by a Cleveland, 

Ohio, construction contractor was without merit. The investigation revealed the prime contractor 

greatly exceeded subcontracting limitations and failed to hire qualified safety professionals for a 

construction project at Glenn Research Center. This contributed to a serious injury that was at the 

center of the construction company’s claim. 

 As the result of an investigation conducted by the NASA OIG, the U.S. Air Force Office of 

Special Investigations, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the co-owner of a 

Beavercreek, Ohio, firm pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government 

after falsely claiming disabled veteran status. He was sentenced to 3 years of probation and 

ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. In June 2017, a co-owner of the firm was indicted on one count of 

conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government for the same offense. 

 Following a joint investigation by the NASA OIG and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a U.S. 

citizen was indicted in January 2017 for conspiracy to commit unauthorized computer access. The 

subject was part of a hacking group that claimed to have taken control of a NASA drone. An 

investigation revealed the group never controlled the drone and only had access to publicly 

available data they leveraged to perpetrate the hoax. 

 In April 2017, a former Stennis Space Center contractor employee was indicted on two counts of 

possession of child pornography. In May 2017, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment of 

two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. 

The subject pled guilty and was sentenced to 19 years 8 months and ordered to pay $119,500 in 

restitution. 

WORK IN PROGRESS IN FY 2018 

In the first six months of FY 2018, the OIG has issued audit reports examining NASA’s efforts to 

improve Agency information technology (IT) governance, management of spare parts for flight projects, 

and compliance and reporting requirements under the 2014 Digital Accountability and Transparency Act. 

During the remainder of the fiscal year, we will continue to conduct audits, reviews, and investigations of 

NASA programs and operations to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement and to 

assist NASA in promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Projects on which our auditors are 

currently working include NASA’s commercial cargo contracts; an assessment of the Agency’s IT 

security operations center; IT supply chain management; and oversight of the Surface Water and 

Topography (SWOT) satellite mission. 

Ongoing OI work includes proactive initiatives designed to identify acquisition and procurement fraud 

schemes. Additionally, representatives from both OI and OA are working together to use the OIG’s 

sophisticated data analytics capabilities to help identify indicators of potential fraudulent activity. 
 

INSPECTOR GENERAL

IG-5 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS PLANNED FOR FY 2019 

Going forward, the OIG will continue to focus its audit work on NASA’s top management and 

performance challenges. In a November 2017 report, we listed those challenges as: 

 Deep Space Exploration; 

 NASA’s Science Portfolio; 

 Information Technology Governance and Security; 

 Aging Infrastructure and Facilities; and 

 Contracting and Grants. 

The OIG’s FY 2019 request is $39.3 million, and includes the following: 

 $33.2M (85 percent) to fund personnel and related costs, including salaries, benefits, monetary 

awards, worker’s compensation, permanent change of station costs, and Government 

contributions for Social Security, Medicare, health and life insurance, retirement, and the Thrift 

Savings Plan. Salaries include the required additional 25 percent law enforcement availability pay 

for criminal investigators. 

 $2.5M (6 percent) to fund the statutorily required annual audit of the Agency’s financial 

statements. 

 $0.9M (2 percent) to fund travel, per diem, and related expenses. 

 $2.7M (7 percent) to fund equipment, training, government vehicles, special equipment for 

criminal investigators, transit subsidies, and information technology equipment unique to the 

OIG.1

In Public Law 115-31, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, the OIG received $500,000 of 2-year 

funding to allow us to execute our budget in alignment with NASA’s end-of-year close-out procedures. 

For FY 2019, we are requesting that all funding be deemed 2-year funding. This change is consistent with 

NASA’s appropriations – that is, the OIG is the only component of NASA lacking 2-year budget 

authority – and will allow the OIG to streamline its financial, procurement, and other year-end processes 

within NASA’s centralized systems to more efficiently carry out its oversight mission. 

                                                            

1 This number includes $500,000 for staff training and $100,000 to support the Council of Inspectors 

General on Economy and Efficiency (CIGIE). In accordance with Public Law 110-409, the Inspector 

General Reform Act of 2008, the Inspector General certifies that these amounts are sufficient to satisfy all 

training requirements and contributions to CIGIE.
SUPPORTING DATA

SD-1 

Supporting Data

Funds Distribution by Installation .................................................................... SD-2 

Civil Service Full-Time Equivalent Distribution ............................................... SD-5 

Working Capital Fund ........................................................................................ SD-7 

Budget by Object Class ................................................................................... SD-11 

Status of Unobligated Funds .......................................................................... SD-12 

Reimbursable Estimates ................................................................................. SD-13 

Enhanced Use Leasing .................................................................................... SD-14 

National Historic Preservation Act ................................................................. SD-16 

Budget for Microgravity Science .................................................................... SD-18 

Budget for Safety Oversight ........................................................................... SD-20 

Physicians’ Comparability Allowance ............................................................ SD-22 

Budget for Public Relations ............................................................................ SD-27 

Consulting Services ........................................................................................ SD-28 

E-Gov Initiatives and Benefits ........................................................................ SD-30 

Comparability Adjustment Tables .................................................................. SD-39 

Rebaselined Projects ....................................................................................... SD-45
Supporting Data 

FUNDS DISTRIBUTION BY INSTALLATION

SD-2 

FUNDS BY MISSION BY NASA CENTER

Budget Authority ($ in millions) FY 2019* 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 27.8 

Exploration Research and Technology 56.7 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 38.8 

Science 191.1 

Aeronautics 111.5 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 204.4 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 4.8 

Ames Research Center (ARC) Total 635.1 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 15.0 

Exploration Research and Technology 4.4 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 0.3 

Science 59.4 

Aeronautics 146.1 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 59.6 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 7.2 

Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) Total 292.1 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 115.4 

Exploration Research and Technology 80.7 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 64.5 

Science 32.4 

Aeronautics 144.9 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 210.7 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 62.8 

Glenn Research Center (GRC) Total 711.5 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 2.0 

Exploration Research and Technology 65.8 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 185.5 

Science 2,075.9 

Aeronautics 14.0 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 399.6 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 34.9 

Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Total 2,777.7 
Supporting Data 

FUNDS DISTRIBUTION BY INSTALLATION

SD-3 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) FY 2019* 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 0.5 

Exploration Research and Technology 44.8 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 186.0 

Science 1,413.7 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 14.8 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 24.4 

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Total 1,684.2 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 1,257.3 

Exploration Research and Technology 139.8 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 3,360.3 

Science 24.2 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 350.5 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 29.1 

Johnson Space Center (JSC) Total 5,161.1 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 441.8 

Exploration Research and Technology 14.8 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 278.5 

Science 265.8 

Aeronautics 0.0 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 357.2 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 44.1 

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Total 1,402.2 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 22.3 

Exploration Research and Technology 26.1 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 10.3 

Science 234.7 

Aeronautics 148.9 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 273.0 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 14.7 

Langley Research Center (LaRC) Total 730.1 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 1,901.1 

Exploration Research and Technology 32.9 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 202.8 

Science 195.5 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 413.1 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 65.0 

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Total 2,810.4 
Supporting Data 

FUNDS DISTRIBUTION BY INSTALLATION

SD-4 

Budget Authority ($ in millions) FY 2019* 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 738.7 

Exploration Research and Technology 534.8 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 262.4 

Science 1,402.2 

Aeronautics 68.4 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 415.4 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 94.0 

Office of Inspector General 39.3 

NASA Headquarters (HQ) and Inspector General (IG) Total 3,555.3 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 36.9 

Exploration Research and Technology 1.9 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 35.3 

Science 0.1 

Education 0.0 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 51.3 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration 7.1 

Stennis Space Center (SSC) Total 132.6 

 19,892.2 

* Totals may not add due to rounding. 

NOTE: Funds will not be fully distributed to Centers until after final acquisition decisions 

are made. Thus, Center FY 2019 allocations should not be considered final or directly 

comparable to prior year allocations. 
Supporting Data 

CIVIL SERVICE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DISTRIBUTION

SD-5 

NASA’s workforce continues to be one of its greatest assets for enabling missions in space and on Earth. 

The Agency remains committed to applying this asset to benefit society, address contemporary 

environmental and social issues, lead or participate in emerging technology opportunities, collaborate and 

strengthen the capabilities of commercial partners, and communicate the challenges and results of Agency 

programs and activities. The civil service staffing levels proposed in the FY 2019 Budget support 

NASA’s scientists, engineers, researchers, managers, technicians, and business operations workforce. It 

includes civil service personnel at NASA Centers, Headquarters, and NASA-operated facilities. However, 

the mix of skills and distribution of workforce across the Agency is necessarily changing. 

NASA continues to adjust its workforce distribution and mix of skills to address changing mission 

priorities, with an emphasis on industry and academic partnerships, transferring work in-house from onand near-site support contracts, and operating in a leaner fiscal environment. A civil service workforce is 

critical for conducting mission-essential work in research and technology. 

NASA will continue to explore opportunities across the Agency to insource work and find efficiencies in 

workforce productivity, especially in mission support functional areas. The Agency will apply the valued 

civil service workforce to priority mission work, adjusting the mix of skills where appropriate. Centers 

will explore cross-mission retraining opportunities for employees whenever possible, offer targeted 

buyouts in selected surplus skill areas, and continue to identify, recruit, and retain a multi-generational 

workforce of employees who possess skills critical to the Agency. 

CIVIL SERVICE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DISTRIBUTION BY CENTER

Actual Estimate Request

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023

ARC 1,155 1,176 1,166 1,166 1,166 1,166 1,166 

AFRC 537 535 531 531 531 531 531 

GRC 1,538 1,538 1,534 1,534 1,534 1,534 1,534 

GSFC 3,178 3,245 3,240 3,240 3,240 3,240 3,240 

JSC 2,989 2,960 2,945 2,945 2,945 2,945 2,945 

KSC 1,968 1,954 1,926 1,926 1,926 1,926 1,926 

LaRC 1,796 1,805 1,789 1,789 1,789 1,789 1,789 

MSFC 2,279 2,326 2,298 2,298 2,298 2,298 2,298 

SSC 302 302 295 295 295 295 295 

HQ 1,098 1,104 1,084 1,084 1,084 1,084 1,084 

NSSC 143 148 146 146 146 146 146 

NASA Total* 16,983 17,093 16,953 16,953 16,953 16,953 16,953 

OIG 192 213 213 213 213 213 213 

Notional

*Totals may not add due to rounding. All actuals and estimates include direct-funded and reimbursable FTE.

NOTE: Funds will not be fully distributed to Centers until after final acquisition decisions are made. Thus, 

Center FY 2019 allocations should not be considered final or directly comparable to prior year allocations.

NOTE: The table may differ from amounts presented in the FY 2019 Budget Appendix to reflect corrections 

made after the Appendix production.
Supporting Data 

CIVIL SERVICE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT DISTRIBUTION

SD-6 

FY 2019 FTE DISTRIBUTION BY ACCOUNT BY CENTER Science Aeronautics Exploration Research and Technology Deep Space Exploration Systems LEO and Spaceflight Operations Education Safety, Security, and Mission 

ServicesReimbursable / Working Capital Fund**OIGNASA-Funded TotalAgency TOTAL

ARC 137 248 121 69 28 - 542 22 - 1,144 1,166 

AFRC 99 177 17 8 1 - 213 15 - 516 531 

GRC 79 385 167 181 130 - 588 3 - 1,530 1,533 

GSFC 1,181 - 133 12 133 - 1,557 224 - 3,016 3,240 

JSC 31 - 158 670 1,230 - 857 - - 2,945 2,945 

KSC - - 64 542 470 - 849 1 - 1,925 1,926 

LaRC 206 520 132 103 5 - 808 15 - 1,774 1,789 

MSFC 130 - 127 817 216 - 1,010 - - 2,300 2,300 

SSC - - 7 56 40 - 166 27 - 268 295 

HQ 12 - 7 - - - 1,065 - - 1,084 1,084 

NSSC - - - - - - - 146 - - 146 

NASA Total* 1,876 1,330 932 2,456 2,252 - 7,655 453 - 16,500 16,953 

OIG 213 213 213 

*Totals may not add due to rounding

**Includes 146 FTE funded by Working Capital Fund; and 307 FTE funded by reimbursable customers

NOTE: Funds will not be fully distributed to Centers until after final acquisition decisions are made. Thus, Center FY 2019 allocations should not be 

considered final or directly comparable to prior year allocations.

NOTE: The table may differ from amounts presented in the FY 2019 Budget Appendix to reflect corrections made after the Appendix production.
Supporting Data 

WORKING CAPITAL FUND

SD-7 

NASA established the Working Capital Fund (WCF) to satisfy specific recurring needs for goods and 

services through use of a business-like buyer and seller approach under which NASA’s WCF entities 

provide goods or services pursuant to contracts and agreements with their customers. The overarching 

aim of WCF is to promote economy, efficiency, and accountability with fully reimbursed rates by 

focusing on streamlining operations, measuring performance, and improving customer satisfaction. 

NASA’s WCF is comprised of four entities: 

 NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC); 

 Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) Government-Wide Acquisition Contract; 

and 

 Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure Integration Program (I3P). 

 National Center for Critical Information Processing and Storage (NCCIPS) 

WORKING CAPITAL FUNDS BUDGET SUMMARY

Spending Authority from Offsetting 

Collections ($ millions) 

Actual Estimate Request 

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 

NSSC 73 72 84 

SEWP 15 25 30 

I3P 325 375 375 

NCCIPS 24 31 34 

Total Spending Authority 437 503 523 

Unobligated Brought Forward, Oct. 1 13 14 17 

Recoveries of Prior Yr. Unpaid 

Obligations 1 4 

Total Budgetary Resources 451 521 540 

NSSC 77 74 84 

SEWP 14 22 28 

I3P 325 377 375 

NCCIPS 21 31 34 

Total Obligations 437 504 521 

Unobligated Balance (end-of-year)* 14 17 19 

*Unobligated balance end-of-year is budgetary resources less obligations 

NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER (NSSC) 

NSSC opened in March 2006 to provide centralized administrative processing services and customer 

contact center operations for support of human resources, procurement, financial management, Agency 

IT, and Agency business support services. NASA established NSSC, a function under the NASA 

Headquarters Mission Support Directorate, as a public/private partnership. NSSC has awarded its major 

business management and IT services contract to CSRA (Computer Sciences Corporation merged with 

SRA International). Typical expenditures are related to civil service workforce, support contractor, other 

direct procurements, and Agency training purchases. 
Supporting Data 

WORKING CAPITAL FUND

SD-8 

NSSC is located on the grounds of SSC and operates in a manner that provides for transparency and 

accountability of costs and services. NASA has reduced its administrative costs through centralized 

processing at NSSC. The work performed by NSSC reduces duplicative efforts and increases cost 

efficiencies. 

NSSC’s revenue streams include funding from the NASA Centers, mission directorates, and various 

NASA mission support offices. During FY 2019, NSSC will continue to offer similar services as in FY 

2018 with no significant scope changes anticipated. 

SOLUTIONS FOR ENTERPRISE-WIDE PROCUREMENT (SEWP) 

SEWP refers to operations related to the Government-Wide Acquisition Contract that was established 

under the authority of section 5112 of the Information Technology Management Reform Act (40 U.S.C. 

1412(e)), enacted in 1996, under which NASA is designated by the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) as a Federal Government Executive Agent for SEWP contracts. 

SEWP was established as a WCF entity to allow all Federal agencies use of a best value tool to purchase 

IT product solutions and services. Under this approach, the buying power of Federal Agencies is 

combined to acquire best value for IT products and services more efficiently. Typical acquisitions include 

a wide range of advanced technologies such as UNIX-Linux and Windows-based desktops and servers, 

along with peripherals, network equipment, storage devices, security tools, software, and other IT 

products and product-based solutions. 

SEWP promotes aggressive pricing using online tools to obtain multiple, competitive quotes from 

vendors. On average for FY 2018, SEWP quotes have a 20-percent savings for any Federal customer 

using SEWP contracts. In addition, SEWP offers a low surcharge to recover NASA’s costs to operate the 

program with an average 0.39 percent fee as compared to the Government standard of 0.75 percent. 

SEWP revenue is generated solely from the surcharge fees on all transactions processed. For FY 2018, the 

Federal Government is projected to save about $13.4 million in service fees, based on the difference 

between General Services Administration (GSA) and SEWP surcharge fees. 

IT INFRASTRUCTURE INTEGRATION PROGRAM (I3P) 

WCF operations supporting I3P began in early FY 2012. WCF enables I3P to improve the efficiency and 

economy in which contract services and management are provided to support NASA’s IT strategic 

initiatives and to increase visibility into NASA’s IT budget and expenditures. Under I3P, NASA has 

consolidated 19 separately managed contracts into 5 centrally managed ones described as follows: 

 The Enterprise Applications Service Technologies contract supports Agency Applications Office 

(AAO) applications hosted by MSFC. The AAO operates and maintains a broad spectrum of 

NASA’s enterprise applications, with an emphasis on fully integrating business process expertise 

with application and technical knowledge. A small team of civil servants and support contractors 

sustain operations, implement new applications and capabilities, and provide business readiness 

support to the stakeholders and end-users. 

 The NASA Integrated Communications Services contract provides wide and local area network, 

telecommunications, video, and data services hosted at MSFC. 
Supporting Data 

WORKING CAPITAL FUND

SD-9 

 The Web Enterprise Service Technologies contract provides public Web site hosting, Web 

content management and integration, and search services. GSFC and ARC host these services. 

 The Agency Consolidated End-User Services contract provides program management, 

provisioning, and support of desktops, laptops, cell phones, personal digital assistants, office 

automation software, and video conferencing. NSSC hosts these services. 

 The Networx Telecommunications Circuits contract provides telecommunication services 

including, tele-conferencing services, core circuit services, mission network services, and 

regional circuit services hosted at MSFC. 

I3P’s consolidated contracting approach benefits NASA by providing cost saving opportunities, such as 

the reduction in administrative burden involved with the business management of contracts and a 

significant reduction in procurement request transaction volume. Other I3P benefits include the 

streamlining budgeting, funding, and costing of I3P services; achieving transparency through the 

provision of detailed customer monthly billings; and providing consolidated, consistent reporting of 

Agency-wide consumption of I3P-related goods and services. 

I3P is unique in that revenue streams and expenditures are limited to contract costs for its five service 

contracts. Revenue streams include funding from the NASA Centers, NASA Mission Directorates, and 

various NASA mission support offices. As reflected in the FY 2019 anticipated funding level, the I3P 

WCF will continue to offer similar services as in FY 2018. 

NATIONAL CENTER FOR CRITICAL INFO. PROCESSING AND STORAGE (NCCIPS) 

NCCIPS is a federal shared services data center (as defined by the Uptime Institute) designed for sensitive 

and secure processing and storage. NCCIPS is a 200,000 sq. ft. secure data center facility on a 64 acre 

campus within the Stennis Space Center. NCCIPS offers federal customers collocation services from a 

state-of-the-art data center. NCCIPS offers 24x7x365 availability at a Tier III level, with complete 

redundancy in the electrical distribution system from the national grid to the rack level. 

NCCIPS provides the following infrastructure/services: 

 Four Layer Security – Buffer Zone/perimeter fencing, armed security at all gates, roving guards, 

and NCCIPS Guards (Internal NCCIPS Security Systems) 

 Two separate National Power Grid feeds to SSC and three separate power feeds available to 

NCCIPS 

 Power infrastructure is fully redundant from National Power Grid down to the racks on the floor 

 Expert IT staff with a proven track record of uninterrupted service 

 24x7 facility operations staff monitoring 

 Tier III redundant (N + 1) power from two national grids with diesel generator backup 

 Robust network infrastructure with multiple, discreet communication paths 

 FE-25 clean agent fire suppression 

The NASA WCF provides NASA with a mechanism to collect amounts sufficient to finance continuing 

operations, acquire capital assets, and adjust for prior year results of operations, in addition to normal 

operating expense recovery at NCCIPS. NCCIPS WCF benefits NASA and its customers by: 

 Enabling funds to be collected over time and (once earned) used for new equipment and 

technology; 
Supporting Data 

WORKING CAPITAL FUND

SD-10 

 Allowing the NSSC to incorporate a level equipment replacement, maintenance and technology 

refresh cost into client rates; 

 Helping to normalize rates charged to NCCIPS clients from year to year, as the need for facility 

repairs, infrastructure upgrades, and routine equipment maintenance increases, thus enabling 

NCCIPS clients to maintain their appropriation funding without incurring potentially large 

unplanned expenses; 

 Facilitating NCCIPS business opportunities for new clients; and 

 Reducing the probability of hardware failure within the NCCIPS operational environment. 

NCCIPS’ revenue streams include funding from the NASA SSC and NSSC Centers and External Federal 

Agencies such as Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Navy Department of Defense 

Supercomputing Resource Center (NDSRC), Government Services Administration (GSA), Department of 

Transportation Maritime(DOT-MARAD), Department of Transportation OCIO (DOT-OCIO) and 

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During FY 2019, NCCIPS will continue to offer 

similar services as in FY 2018 with no significant scope changes anticipated. 
Supporting Data 

BUDGET BY OBJECT CLASS

SD-11 

*Totals may not add due to rounding 

NOTE: The table only reflects the FY 2019 request and does not include remaining funding from previous direct or 

supplemental appropriations. 

($ millions)

Code

Deep Space Exploration SystemsExploration Research and TechnologyLEO and Spaceflight OperationsScienceAeronauticsEducationSafety, Security, and Mission ServicesConstruction & Environmental Compliance & RestorationOffice of Inspector GeneralNASA Total

11.1 327 94 296 249 109 - 869 - 24 1,968 

11.3 2 1 3 3 2 - 17 - - 28 

11.5 2 - 2 1 - - 29 - - 34 

11.9 331 95 301 253 111 - 915 - 24 2,030 

12.1 107 31 96 79 34 - 278 - 9 634 

13 - - - - - - 1 - - 1 

 126 438 397 332 145 - 1,194 - 33 2,665 

21 15 10 12 24 5 - 22 - 1 89 

22 1 2 1,362 5 - - 2 - - 1,372 

23.1 - - - - - - 7 - - 7 

23.2 - - 3 8 - - 22 - - 33 

23.3 15 - 4 4 6 - 59 1 - 89 

24 - - - 1 - - 3 - - 4 

25.1 473 31 77 80 20 - 263 26 - 970 

25.2 49 44 116 93 39 - 245 14 3 603 

25.3 43 10 23 246 5 - 48 16 1 392 

25.4 110 5 34 9 21 - 217 74 - 470 

25.5 3,063 650 2,319 4,196 279 - 175 7 - 10,689

25.6 - - - - - - 8 - - 8 

25.7 159 30 212 105 31 - 405 17 1 960 

26 28 9 17 27 20 - 16 - - 117 

31 47 16 15 33 29 - 32 1 - 173 

32 55 - 4 1 2 - 16 232 - 310 

41 63 70 30 731 32 - 16 - - 942 

Other Object Classes 4,121 877 4,228 5,563 489 - 1,556 388 6 17,228

NASA Total, Direct 4,559 1,003 4,625 5,895 634 - 2,750 388 39 19,892

Grants, subsidies, & contributions

Land & structures

Equipment

Supplies & materials

Operation & maintenance of equipment

Medical care

Research & development contracts

Operation & maintenance. of facilities

Other purchases of goods & services from 

Government accounts

Other services

Advisory & assistance services

Printing & reproduction

Communications, utilities & misc.

Rental payments to others

Rental payments to GSA

Transportation of things

Travel & transport. of persons

Total Personnel Compensation & Benefits

Benefits to former personnel

Civilian personnel benefits

FY 2019 Estimated Direct Discretionary Obligations 

Subtotal Personnel Compensation

Other personnel compensation

Other than full-time permanent

Object Class

Full-time permanent
Supporting Data 

STATUS OF UNOBLIGATED FUNDS

SD-12 

The table below displays actual and estimated unobligated balances of direct and reimbursable budget 

authority in each NASA account at the end of each fiscal year. The data is non-comparable, or based 

solely on an appropriation account’s activity or projected activity with no adjustment to the FY 2017 or 

FY 2018 amounts to make them comparable to the budget structure underlying the FY 2019 request. 

UNOBLIGATED FUNDS SUMMARY BY APPROPRIATIONS ACCOUNT

Budget Authority ($ millions) Unobligated Balances 

Sept. 30, 2017 

Estimated 

Unobligated Balances 

Sept. 30, 2018 

Estimated 

Unobligated Balances 

Sept. 30, 2019 

Deep Space Exploration Systems 81 187 293 

Exploration Research and Technology 42 42 42 

LEO and Spaceflight Operations 91 449 557 

Science 298 361 421 

Aeronautics 12 12 12 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services 451 499 547 

Construction and Environmental Compliance and 

Restoration 147 209 271 

Office of Inspector General 39 40 41 

Total NASA 

1,161 

 

1,799 

 

2,184 

*Totals may not add due to rounding 

NOTE: Table does not include estimated unobligated balances for supplemental appropriations.
Supporting Data 

REIMBURSABLE ESTIMATES

SD-13 

Reimbursable agreements are agreements where the NASA costs associated with the undertaking are 

borne by the non-NASA partner. NASA undertakes reimbursable agreements when it has equipment, 

facilities, and services that it can make available to others in a manner that does not interfere with 

NASA mission requirements. As most reimbursable requests to NASA do not occur until the year of 

execution, the FY 2018 to FY 2019 estimates are based on an annual survey of Centers’ anticipated 

reimbursable agreements. NASA separately budgets for and executes the four categories of 

reimbursable agreements listed below. Within the non-EUL amounts, reimbursable agreements are 

used for a range of activities; for example, use of NASA operated wind tunnel test facilities or rocket 

test stand facilities by other government agencies and private sector users. NASA also serves as the 

acquisition agent for NOAA’s GOES series of satellites, under a reimbursable agreement between the 

two agencies. Reimbursable agreements are managed by each individual program offices: 

Aeronautics, Exploration, Space Operations, Science, Space Technology, and Education at the NASA 

centers under Safety, Security, Mission Services (SSMS) fund appropriation for reimbursable 

agreement authorities: Space Act, Economy Act, Commercial Space Launch Act, and Commercial 

Space Competitiveness Act. Supporting data for Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) and National Historic 

Preservation Act (NHPA) is provided in the respective sections below. 

REIMBURSABLE ESTIMATES BY APPROPRIATIONS ACCOUNT

($ millions) Actual Request Estimate 

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services (non-EUL) 

 

2,485.1 

 

2,777.6 

 

2,009.5 

Aeronautics 

 

105.3 

 

121.5 

 

98.9 

Safety, Security, Mission Services 

 

52.5 

 

10.3 8.5 

Exploration 

 

151.7 

 

181.0 

 

160.1 

Space Operations 

 

252.1 

 

400.3 

 

320.0 

Science 

 

1,922.6 

 

1,513.3 

 

1,190.7 

Space Technology 0.9 

 

551.2 

 

231.3 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services (EUL) 

 

16.7 

 

17.8 

 

19.1 

Safety, Security, and Mission Services (NHPA) 

 

13.9 

 

20.2 

 

22.8 

Office of Inspector General 

 

1.0 

 

1.5 

 

1.5 

Total 

2,516.7 

 

2,817.1 

 

2,052.9 
Supporting Data 

ENHANCED USE LEASING

SD-14 

In 2003, Congress authorized NASA to demonstrate leasing authority and collections at two Centers. In 

2007 and 2008, Congress amended that authority such that NASA may enter into leasing arrangements at 

all Centers. The EUL authority originally included a sunset provision (enacted as part of the FY 2009 

Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161)) under which NASA’s authority would expire on 

December 26, 2017. The NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017 amended Section 20145(g) of title 

51, United States Code, by striking “10 years after December 26, 2007” and inserting “December 31, 

2018”, thereby extending the authority through 2018. The EUL authority provides NASA the ability to 

maintain critical facilities and address deferred maintenance challenges as well as support Centers’ 

revitalization plans. Additionally, NASA’s EUL Authority supports important relationships with 

industry, academia, and non-profit organizations. 

After deducting the costs of administering the leases, Centers are then permitted to retain 65 percent of 

net receipt revenue, and the balance is made available Agency-wide for NASA. These funds are in 

addition to annual appropriations. To ensure annual oversight and review, the 2010 Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, P.L. 111-117 contains a provision that requires NASA to submit an estimate of gross 

receipts and collections and proposed use of all funds collected in the annual budget justification 

submission to Congress. The table below depicts the estimated FY 2019 EUL expenses and revenues. The 

amounts identified under Capital Asset Account Expenditures may be adjusted between projects listed 

based on actual contract award. There are no civil servants funded from EUL income. 

SUMMARY OF FY 2019 EUL ACTIVITY

FY2019 EUL Expenses and Revenues ($ Thousands) ARC GSFC JPL(NMO) KSC MSFC SSC Agency Total

Base Rent 8,551.8 65.6 99.3 515.0 302.5 84.1 0.0 9,618.3

Institutional Support Income 1,026.1 8.5 15.5 8.3 1,058.4

Additional Reimbursable Demand Services Requested by Lessees 

(including overhead) 7,868.4 47.5 15.0 500.0 8,430.9

Total Lease Income (EULX52019L) 17,446.3 74.1 99.3 578.0 302.5 107.4 500.0 19,107.6

Institutional Support Costs -1,026.1 -8.5 -15.5 -0.3 0.0 -1,050.4

Lease Management and Administration -851.5 -10.5 -1.4 0.0 -863.4

Tenant Building Maintenance and Repair -1,064.9 -153.0 -8.0 0.0 -1,225.9

Cost to Fulfill Reimbursable Demand Services (including overhead) -7,868.4 0.0 0.0 -47.5 0.0 -15.0 -500.0 -8,430.9

Total Cost Associated with Leases -10,810.9 -8.5 0.0 -63.0 -163.5 -24.7 -500.0 -11,570.6

Net Revenue from Lease Activity 6,635.4 65.6 99.3 515.0 139.0 82.7 0.0 7,537.0

Beginning Balance, Capital Asset Account (2018 Ending Balance) 0.0 0.0 64.5 129.4 1.7 0.0 3,269.1 3,464.7

Net Revenue from Lease Activity Retained at Center (EULX52019E) 4,313.0 42.6 64.5 334.8 90.4 53.8 2,637.9 7,537.0

Total Available, Capital Assest Account 4,313.0 42.6 129.0 464.2 92.1 53.8 5,907.0 11,001.7

Planned Maintenance, Various Buildings -2,107.1 -42.6 -40.0 -2,189.7

Replace Roofs on Varous Buildings -2,205.9 -50.0 -2,255.9

Misc. Renewable Solar Energy Expansion -464.2

Replace Bldg 1 main steam condensate piping 0.0

Upgrade Lighting Systems (Green Project) 0.0

Energy and Sustainability Upgrades, Various Buildings -53.8 -53.8

Energy and Sustainability Upgrades, Various Buildings (Various 

Centers) -4,506.7 -4,506.7

Capital Asset Account Expenditures -4,313.0 -42.6 0.0 -464.2 -90.0 -53.8 -4,506.7 -9,470.3

 

Capital Asset Account Ending Balance 0.0 0.0 129.0 0.0 2.1 0.0 1,400.3 1,531.4

In Kind Activity 175.0 0.0 0.0 779.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 954.2
Supporting Data 

ENHANCED USE LEASING

SD-15 

DEFINITIONS

Base Rent 

Revenue collected from the tenant for rent of land or buildings. 

Institutional Support Costs 

Cost for institutional shared services, such as fire, security, first responder, communications, common 

grounds, road, and infrastructure maintenance, and routine administrative support and management 

oversight (e.g., environmental). 

Total Rental Income 

Total gross proceeds from EUL activities for expenses due to renting NASA property. 

In-Kind 

Consideration accepted in lieu of rent payment (only applies to selected leases signed prior to 

January 1, 2009). 

Reimbursable Demand Services 

Services such as janitorial, communications, and maintenance that solely benefit the tenant and are 

provided for their convenience. There is no net income received by NASA, as these payments may only 

cover the costs of NASA and its vendors providing these services.
Supporting Data 

NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT

SD-16 

In FY 2014, NASA established a new fund based upon the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 

1966. The Act provides the authority to administer, operate, manage, lease and maintain property, and 

demolish or remove buildings or space in buildings owned by NASA. It also allows any funds received 

from leasing the properties, buildings, or space in buildings to be deposited to the credit of a special 

receipt account and expended for purposes of operating, maintaining, and managing the properties and 

demolishing or removing the buildings. Agreements or contracts with public or private agencies, 

corporations, or persons, upon such terms and conditions, are allowed. There are no civil servants funded 

from the NHPA Fund. The NHPA activities will be maintained under NHPA authority under Section 111. 

These funds are in addition to annual appropriations. 

The table below depicts the estimated amounts of anticipated NHPA expenses and revenues for FY 2019. 

NASA currently expects total rental income of $19.2 million. Of the total rental income of $19.2 million, 

$9.5 million represents net revenue from lease activities. The net revenue amount of $9.5 million will be 

used for historic building maintenance and repairs for historic properties at ARC, as well as for other 

properties throughout the Agency. 

FY2019 NHPA Expenses and Revenues ($ thousands) ARC

Base Rent 15,500.0 

Institutional Support Income 3,676.3 

Cost to Fuflill Reimbursable Demand Services 3,611.1 

Total Rental Income 22,787.4 

Institutional Support Costs (9,396.4) 

Lease Management and Administration (283.2) 

Reimbursable Demand Services Requested by Leasees (3,611.1) 

Total Cost Associated with Leases (13,290.7)

Net Revenue from Lease Activity 9,496.7

Unobligated Proceeds Prior Years (as of 9/30/2018)

Maintenance for Buildings 2, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 

N200, N227, N234, N238 & N243 (995.6) 

Historic Preservation of Building 25, Phase 2 of 2 (2,092.8) 

Seismic Retrofit for Building 2 (3,250.0) 

Restore Reliability of UPWT Auxiliaries Cooling Water 

Piping, N227D (2,366.9) 

Capital Asset Account Expenditures (8,705.3)

Capital Asset Account Ending Balance 791.4 

In Kind Activity -
Supporting Data 

NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT

SD-17 

DEFINITIONS

Base Rent 

Revenue collected from the tenant for rent of land or buildings. 

Institutional Support Costs 

Cost for institutional shared services such as fire, security, first responder, communications, common 

grounds, road, and infrastructure maintenance, and routine administrative support and management 

oversight (e.g., environmental). 

Total Rental Income 

Total gross proceeds from NHPA activities for expenses due to renting NASA property. 

In-Kind 

Consideration accepted in lieu of rent payment. 

Reimbursable Demand Services 

Services such as janitorial, communications, and maintenance that solely benefit the tenant and are 

provided for their convenience. There is no net income received by NASA, as these payments may only 

cover the costs of NASA and its vendors providing these services.
Supporting Data 

BUDGET FOR MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE 

SD-18 

BUDGET FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) RESEARCH 

The Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate supports research which takes advantage of 

the unique environment of reduced gravity on the International Space Station (ISS). ISS Research is 

conducted in two broad categories: 

The amounts included for FY 2017 reflect actuals, FY 2018 through FY 2023 are reflective of the NASA outyear 

planning.

Exploration ISS Research 

Exploration ISS Research supports the Agency’s need for improved knowledge about working 

and living in space to enable future long-duration human exploration missions. The Human 

Research Program provides research results that reduce risks to crew health and performance 

from prolonged exposure to reduced gravity, space radiation, and isolation during exploration 

missions. Research on ISS is mitigating risks to humans in space and on Earth by conducting 

research in human health countermeasures, space human factors and habitability, behavioral 

health and performance, and exploration medicine, tools, and technologies. ISS Research 

investigates the underlying gravity-dependent phenomena in areas vital to the design of future 

space vehicles and systems: fire prevention, detection, and suppression; boiling and multiphase 

flow; capillary phenomena; and the response to the space environment of microbes, plants, and 

higher lifeforms. These applied research investigations will provide the necessary data for the 

future design of the following technology areas: life support systems, propellant storage, power 

generation, thermal control, and advanced environmental monitoring and control. Multi-User 

System Support (MUSS) is responsible for the integration of all ISS payloads including NASA, 

international partners, and non-NASA users and supports both Exploration and non-Exploration 

ISS Research. This includes coordinating payload completion schedules, ISS mission schedules, 

and the space available on the launch vehicles. The applicable MUSS funding is included in the 

table above. 

Non-Exploration ISS Research 

NASA allocates at least 15 percent of the funds budgeted for ISS research to ground-based, freeflyer, and ISS life and physical science research that is not directly related to supporting the 

human space exploration program, in accordance with Section 204 of the NASA Authorization 

Act of 2005. The purpose is to ensure the effective use of the ISS in its capacity to support spacebased basic and applied scientific research with broad national benefits, supporting research that 

Exploration ISS Research $174 $204 $245 $240 $252 $260 $251 

Non- Exploration ISS Research $204 $143 $148 $141 $145 $131 $125 

Total

% of Non-Exploration to Total 54% 41% 38% 37% 37% 33% 33%

$ in millions

FY 2017 

Actual FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2022 FY 2023

$378 $347 $394 $381 $397 $391 $376 

FY 2021
Supporting Data 

BUDGET FOR MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE 

SD-19 

can be advanced significantly through the use of the microgravity environment. This budget 

supports basic ISS research in fields including, physiological research, fluid physics, combustion 

science, atomic physics, cell science, materials science, and plant research. This research helps to 

sustain U.S. scientific expertise and capability in microgravity research and to identify new areas 

for participation by commercial entities or other government agencies. The Non-Exploration ISS 

Research line in the previous table also includes the Center for the Advancement of Science in 

Space (CASIS), the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and the applicable MUSS funding. 

CASIS is the organization selected by NASA to manage non-NASA use of the ISS National 

Laboratory. AMS is a particle physics and astrophysics experiment on ISS which is searching for 

dark matter, anti-matter, and strange matter. 
Supporting Data 

BUDGET FOR SAFETY OVERSIGHT

SD-20 

The following table provides the safety and mission assurance budget request. This includes the agencywide safety oversight functions as well as the project specific safety, reliability, maintainability and 

quality assurance elements embedded within individual projects. NASA does not have a single safety 

oversight budget line item, but instead amounts are embedded in program, project, and mission support 

budgets. 

BUDGET SUMMARY FOR SAFETY OVERSIGHT

 Actual Estimate Request Notional

Budget Authority ($ millions) FY 

2017 

FY 

2018 

FY 

2019 

FY 

2020 

FY 

2021 

FY 

2022 

FY 

2023 

Safety and Mission Assurance 

(AMO) 49.6 49.3 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.5 49.5 

Institutional Operational Safety 

(CMO) 35.6 40.0 39.7 39.7 39.7 39.7 39.7 

SMA Technical Authority (CMO) 49.8 51.3 47.9 47.9 47.9 47.9 47.9 

Agency-wide Safety Oversight 135.0 140.5 137.1 137.1 137.1 137.1 137.1 

Program Specific* 300.0 300.0 300.0 300.0 300.0 300.0 300.0 

NASA Total, Safety 435.0 440.5 437.1 437.1 437.1 437.1 437.1 

 * Estimated values 

Agency-Wide Safety Oversight - Agency level programs and activities that support the overarching 

NASA Safety and Mission Success program. 

Safety and Mission Assurance - The Safety and Mission Assurance program administers and refines the 

pertinent policies, procedural requirements, and technical safety standards. The program participate in 

forums that provide advice to the Administrator, Mission Directorates, Program Managers and Center 

Directors who are ultimately accountable for the safety and mission success of all NASA programs, 

projects, and operations. Specific program responsibility include, among other activities, managing 

NASA’s Orbital Debris program, NASA’s Electronic Parts program, and the NASA Safety Center. 

Institutional Operational Safety - NASA’s institutional operational safety program is driven by OSHA 

29 CFR 1960, OSHA Standards, NPR 8715.1A, NASA Occupational Safety and Health Programs, NPR 

8715.3D, and NASA’s General Safety Program Requirements. The program includes construction safety, 

mishap prevention program including reporting and investigations, safety training, safety awareness, the 

voluntary protection program, safety metrics and trend analysis, contractor insight/oversight, support to 

safety boards and committees, support to emergency preparedness and fire safety program, aviation 

safety, explosives and propellants safety, nuclear safety requirements, radiation safety protection, 

confined space entry, fall protection, lifting devices, pressure vessel safety, hazard reporting and 

abatement systems, cryogenic safety, electrical safety requirements (lock out/tag out), facility systems 

safety, risk management, institutional safety policy development, visitor and public safety, and 

institutional safety engineering. The institutional operational safety program requires significant federal 

state and local coordination. 

S&MA Technical Authority and S&MA Support - The S&MA technical authority program includes 

travel and labor only for all S&MA supervisors, branch chiefs or above and designated deputies. In 

addition, where the principal job function of a non-supervisory S&MA person consists of rendering 
Supporting Data 

BUDGET FOR SAFETY OVERSIGHT

SD-21 

authoritative decisions on S&MA requirements matters relating to the design or operation of a program or 

project, that person’s salary is included. These positions often are the lead S&MA manager positions for 

large programs where the decision making process is nearly a full time demand. This category does not 

include salary for those whose work only occasionally falls as an authority task. This includes travel 

funds in direct support of these individuals. 

S&MA is mission support, including administrative support, which cannot be directly charged to a 

program. This budget includes policy development across the programs, range safety, payload safety 

(ground processing), independent assessments, metrology and calibration (for center), reliability and 

maintainability policy, center wide S&MA program integration and analysis, business and administrative 

support to S&MA Directorates, and quality assurance for facilities and ground support hardware. 

Program Specific - Project specific S&MA costs are included in individual project budgets. These costs 

include the technical and management efforts of directing and controlling the safety and mission 

assurance elements of the project. This incorporates the design, development, review, and verification of 

practices and procedures and mission success criteria intended to assure that the delivered spacecraft, 

ground systems, mission operations, and payload(s) meet performance requirements and function for their 

intended lifetimes.
Supporting Data 

PHYSICIANS’ COMPARABILITY ALLOWANCE 

SD-22 

Physicians’ Comparability Allowance (PCA) Worksheet

1) Department and component: 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration

 

2) Explain the recruitment and retention problem(s) justifying the need for the PCA pay 

authority. 

(Please include any staffing data to support your explanation, such as number and duration of unfilled positions and 

number of accessions and separations per fiscal year.)

NASA currently has 21 physicians, all located at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. There are a number of 

recruitment and retention challenges at JSC. 

 The Houston area has world-renowned medical facilities. Physician salaries in the Houston area and 

across the country continue to rise and compensation at JSC must remain competitive in order to attract 

and retain high quality physicians. Further, since the majority of the physicians are at the GS-15 step 10 

level, their compensation is frozen by federal pay statute and has not changed even while private sector pay 

has continued to increase. 

 JSC’s clinical resources focus on multiple programs: International Space Station crew (operating 24/7), 

Commercial Crew Program, Orion Program, support of the active astronaut corps, and the operation of the 

Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health program (which includes all retired astronauts). Physicians at 

JSC are also using their expertise to inform human system risks and support Human Research Program 

efforts. 

 Physicians who are board-certified in Aerospace Medicine and who have operational experience are a rare 

and valuable commodity. There is a shortage of aerospace medicine specialists nationwide; the same 

physicians are being actively recruited by commercial space companies, other government and military 

organizations. 

 Many of the JSC physicians with aerospace medicine training and experience are also board-certified in 

other clinical specialties including internal medicine, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. The double 

board-certified physicians are especially rare and their dual areas of expertise are extraordinarily valuable 

to NASA. The training period after medical school, including on-the-job training at NASA after hire, is 

nearly a full decade. Retaining such physicians after they are hired and have completed NASA Flight 

Surgeon training requirements is critical to the success of the human space flight program. PCA plays a 

key part in retaining them. 

 

PCA is an important tool in recruiting new physicians as the GS salary offered is consistently lower than salaries in 

the private sector. In the past year, three surgeons have resigned from JSC to accept positions outside the Federal 

Government. As a result, JSC is planning to hire 3 to 4 physicians in the next two years in order to meet the 

Agency’s needs. Currently, more than a third of JSC’s physicians are retirement eligible and in the next five years 

50% will become eligible. JSC is facing a challenge in retaining physicians and having the capability to fill 

positions that become vacant due to resignations and/or retirements. Being able to offer PCA has become 

increasingly critical to NASA in competing with the private sector for the most qualified physicians. 

 
Supporting Data 

PHYSICIANS’ COMPARABILITY ALLOWANCE 

SD-23 

3-4) Please complete the table below with details of the PCA agreement for the following years: 

 

 

PY 2017 

(Actual) 

CY 2018 

(Estimates) 

BY* 2019 

(Estimates) 

3a) Number of Physicians Receiving PCAs 23 24 24 

3b) Number of Physicians with One-Year PCA Agreements 23 24 24 

3c) Number of Physicians with Multi-Year PCA Agreements 

4a) Average Annual PCA Physician Pay (without PCA payment) $163,474 $165,811 $165,811** 

4b) Average Annual PCA Payment $21,226 $20,648 $20,648 

*BY data will be approved during the BY Budget cycle. Please ensure each column is completed. 

**Estimated salary increase in FY 2019 is 0%. 

5) Explain the degree to which recruitment and retention problems were alleviated in your agency 

through the use of PCAs in the prior fiscal year. 

(Please include any staffing data to support your explanation, such as number and duration of unfilled positions and 

number of accessions and separations per fiscal year.) 

PCA remains a very effective tool for NASA in both recruiting and retaining physicians. It has been used 

successfully at JSC to recruit and retain highly qualified physicians over the last several years. PCA is used 

successfully to bridge the widening gap between the compensation that such uniquely qualified physicians can earn 

in the private sector versus Federal Government service. 

JSC had no vacancies in FY16 and was able to avoid physician resignations in part due to the use of PCA to 

compensate for the difference between federal and non-federal pay. According to the 2017 Medscape Physician 

Compensation Report, the average physician compensation in the South Central geographical area was $300,000. 

Emergency physicians, which make up a large portion of JSC’s double board certified physicians, earned on 

average $339,000. In FY17, JSC has had three resignations and is attempting to fill those vacancies with new hires. 

PCA is a way to lessen the gap with private sector compensation and allow NASA to continue attracting and 

retaining qualified physicians. 

6) Provide any additional information that may be useful in planning PCA staffing levels and 

amounts in your agency. 

With decreasing procurement funds in FY17, which is expected to continue, retaining essential civil service 

physicians will become increasingly critical to maintaining core competencies and fulfilling mission objectives. For 

example, the International Space Station (ISS) program has proposed significant cuts to procurement budgets that 

could shrink the number of contractor flight surgeons available for ISS support. Fluctuations in program funding 

make it difficult to maintain the critical skills necessary to support current and future programs if there are not 

enough civil service physicians. Increased competition with new commercial space providers for skilled, 

experienced physicians is also making it more difficult to retain top talent. 

The multi-year Federal pay freeze caused the gap between Federal and private physician salaries to widen and 

become more evident. The 2013 and 2018 Federal government furlough calls into question the stability of Federal 

service. Significantly higher physician pay scales under Title 38 in the Veterans Administration and Department of 

Defense provide a potential incentive for NASA physicians to continue their government service and receive higher 

pay by transferring to those agencies. All of these factors affect NASA’s ability to attract and retain qualified 

physicians. PCA is a means to lessen the impact of these factors and provide NASA the ability to continue 

attracting and retaining qualified physicians.
Supporting Data 

PHYSICIANS’ COMPARABILITY ALLOWANCE 

SD-24 

Physicians’ Comparability Allowance (PCA) Plan

Department and component: 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to describe the agency’s plan for implementing the Physicians’ 

Comparability Allowance (PCA) program. Per 5 CFR 959.107, OMB must approve this plan prior to the 

agency entering into any PCA service agreement. Changes to this plan must be reviewed and approved 

by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with 5 CFR 959.107. 

Reporting: In addition to the plan, each year, components utilizing PCA will include their PCA worksheet 

in the OMB Justification (OMBJ), typically in September. OMB and OPM will use this data for Budget 

development and congressional reporting. 

Plan for Implementing the PCA program: 

1a) Identify the categories of physician positions the agency has established are covered by PCA 

under § 595.103. Please include the basis for each category. If applicable, list and explain the 

necessity of any additional physician categories designated by your agency (for categories other 

than I through IV-B). List Any Additional Physician Categories Designated by Your Agency: 

Pursuant to 5 CFR 595.107, any additional category of physician receiving a PCA, not covered by 

categories I through IV-B, should be listed and accompanied by an explanation as to why these 

categories are necessary. 

Category of Physician 

Position 

Covered by Agency 

(mark “x” if covered)

Basis for Category 

Number of 

Physicians 

Receiving PCAs by 

Category (non-add)

Category I Clinical Position X Difficulty recruiting and retaining 

Category II Research Position X Difficulty recruiting and retaining 

Category III Occupational 

Health 

X Difficulty recruiting and retaining 

Category IV-A Disability 

Evaluation X 

Difficulty recruiting and retaining 

Category IV-B Health and 

Medical Admin. 

X Difficulty recruiting and retaining 

Additional category 

(if applicable)

N/A 

Additional category 

(if applicable)

2) Explain the recruitment and retention problem(s) for each category of physician in your agency 

(this should demonstrate that a current need continues to persist). § 595 of 5CFR Ch. 1 requires 

that an agency may determine that a significant recruitment and retention problem exists only if 

all of the following conditions apply: 

- Evidence indicates that the agency is unable to recruit and retain physicians for the category; 

- The qualification requirements being sought do not exceed the qualifications necessary for 

successful performance of the work; 
Supporting Data 

PHYSICIANS’ COMPARABILITY ALLOWANCE 

SD-25 

- The agency has made efforts to recruit and retain candidates in the category; and 

- There are not a sufficient number of qualified candidates available if no comparability allowance 

is paid. 

Category of Physician 

Position 

Recruitment and retention problem 

Number of 

Physicians Receiving 

PCAs by Category 

(non-add) 

Category I Clinical Position NASA physicians who receive PCA are all located at Johnson 

Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. Physician salaries in the 

Houston area and across the country continue to rise and the 

General Schedule (GS) salaries that JSC may offer are 

consistently lower than private sector salaries. According to the 

2017 Medscape Physician Compensation Report, the average 

physician compensation in the South Central geographical area 

was $300,000. In 2018, the maximum GS salary payable in 

Houston is $164,200. Significantly higher physician pay scales 

under Title 38 in the Veterans Administration and Department of 

Defense provide a potential incentive for NASA physicians to 

continue their government service and receive higher pay by 

transferring to those agencies. Further, NASA is now competing 

with commercial space companies that are attempting to expand 

their human spaceflight capabilities and need physicians 

experienced in human spaceflight. 

JSC’s physicians are supporting more critical program activities 

simultaneously than at any time in the past. This includes support 

the International Space Station crew (operating 24/7), 

Commercial Crew, Orion, and Gateway activities, the active 

astronaut corps, and the operation of the Lifetime Surveillance of 

Astronaut Health program, which includes all retired 

astronauts. The recent passage of the TREAT Act means that 

they will also be providing life-long care for former astronauts. 

Physicians who are board-certified in Aerospace Medicine and 

who have operational experience are a rare and valuable 

commodity. There is a shortage of aerospace medicine specialists 

nationwide and other government and military organizations are 

actively recruiting qualified physicians. Many of the JSC 

physicians with aerospace medicine training and experience are 

also board-certified in other clinical specialties including internal 

medicine, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. The double 

board-certified physicians are an especially rare commodity and 

their dual areas of expertise are extraordinarily valuable to 

NASA. The training period after medical school, including onthe-job training at NASA after hire, is nearly a full 

decade. Retaining such physicians after they are hired and have 

completed NASA Flight Surgeon training requirements is critical 

to the success of the human space flight program. 

All of these factors affect NASA’s ability to attract and retain 

qualified physicians. Without offering PCA, NASA would not be 

able to recruit and retain qualified physicians.
Supporting Data 

PHYSICIANS’ COMPARABILITY ALLOWANCE 

SD-26 

Category II Research 

Position 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Category III Occupational 

Health 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Category IV-A Disability 

Evaluation 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Category IV-B Health and 

Medical Admin. 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Additional category 

(if applicable)

N/A 

Additional category 

(if applicable)

 

3) . Explain how the agency determines the amounts to be used for each category of physicians. 

Category of Physician 

Position 

Basis of comparability allowance amount 

Number of 

Physicians 

Receiving PCAs by 

Category (non-add) 

Category I Clinical Position The amounts are determined by taking into account current 

difficulties in recruiting qualified physicians and anticipated 

retention problems. The amounts paid are the minimum 

needed to deal with the recruitment and retention problems 

and are reviewed each year. 

Category II Research 

Position 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Category III Occupational 

Health 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Category IV-A Disability 

Evaluation 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Category IV-B Health and 

Medical Admin. 

Currently no physician positions in this category 

Additional category 

(if applicable)

N/A 

Additional category 

(if applicable)

 

4) Does the agency affirm that the PCA plan is consistent with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5948 and 

the requirements of § 595 of 5CFR Ch. 1? 

Yes 
Supporting Data 

BUDGET FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS

SD-27 

The NASA budget for Public Affairs is funded within Safety, Security, and Mission Services under 

Center Management and Operations and Agency Management and Operations. All the Installations listed 

below, except for Headquarters, are in the Center Management and Operations account and the 

Headquarters budget is in the Agency Management and Operations account. 

These budgets include dissemination of information to the news media and the general public concerning 

NASA programs. Content includes support for public affairs/public relations, center newsletters, internal 

communications, guest operations (including bus transportation), public inquiries, NASA TV, the 

http://www.nasa.gov portal, and other multimedia support. 

NASA PAO BUDGET SUMMARY, BY CENTER

 Actual Estimate Request Notional 

Budget Authority ($ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 

ARC 4.0 3.8 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 

AFRC 1.5 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 

GRC 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 

GSFC 5.6 6.4 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 

HQ 13.7 14.1 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 14.0 

JSC 9.8 9.5 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.7 9.7 

KSC 8.3 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.1 

LaRC 3.0 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 

MSFC 5.8 5.8 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 

SSC 1.8 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 

NASA Total 56.3 56.4 56.4 56.4 56.4 56.4 56.4 

Public Affairs per baseline service level definition as part of the Safety, Security, and Mission Services Budget 
Supporting Data 

CONSULTING SERVICES

SD-28 

NASA uses paid experts and consultants to provide advice and expertise beyond that which is available 

from its in-house civil service workforce. Management controls ensure that there is ample justification for 

consulting services before these services are obtained. Much of the Agency’s expert and consultant 

support is for the NASA Advisory Council and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel. NASA uses experts 

and consultants to provide expertise on the selection of experiments for future space missions. The use of 

these experts and consultants provides the Agency with an independent view that assures the selection of 

experiments likely to have the greatest scientific merit. Other individuals provide independent views of 

technical and functional problems in order to provide senior management with the widest possible range 

of information to support making major decisions. Historically, each Mission Directorate engages a few 

consultants supporting primarily programmatic and Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel issues. 

NASA CONSULTING SERVICES BUDGET SUMMARY

 Actual Estimate Request 

FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 

Number of Paid Experts and Consultants 28.0 28.0 28.0 

Annual FTE Usage 5.7 5.7 5.7 

Salaries $0.7M $0.7M $0.7M 

Total Salary and Benefits Costs $0.8M $0.8M $0.8M 

Travel Costs $0.2M $0.2M $0.2M 

Total Costs $1.0M $1.0M $1.0M 

FY 2017 are actual obligations. FY 2018 and FY 2019 are estimated Budget Authority 

A broader definition of consulting services could include the total object class “Advisory and Assistance 

Services” as shown in the Supporting Data Budget by Object Class section of this volume. “Advisory and 

Assistance Services” include 1) Management and Professional Support Services, 2) Studies, Analysis, and 

Evaluations, and 3) Engineering and Technical Services. 

 Actual Estimate Request 

(Cost in $ millions) FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 

Quality Control, Testing & Inspection Services 33.9 33.9 33.9 

Management and Professional Support Services 776.3 776.3 776.3 

Studies, Analysis, & Evaluations 91.8 91.8 91.8 

Engineering and Technical Services 6.9 6.9 6.9 

IT Services 61.1 61.1 61.1 

Total Costs, Advisory & Assistance Ser. 970.0 970.0 970.0 

NOTE: The table may differ from amounts presented in the FY 2019 Budget Appendix to reflect corrections made 

after the Appendix production. 
Supporting Data 

CONSULTING SERVICES

SD-29 

DEFINITIONS

Consultant - A person who can provide valuable and pertinent advice generally drawn from a high 

degree of broad administrative, professional, or technical knowledge or experience. When an agency 

requires public advisory participation, a consultant also may be a person who is affected by a particular 

program and can provide useful views from personal experience. 

Expert - A person who is specially qualified by education and experience to perform difficult and 

challenging tasks in a particular field beyond the usual range of achievement of competent persons in that 

field. An expert is regarded by other persons in the field as an authority or practitioner of unusual 

competence and skill in a professional, scientific, technical, or other activity. 

These definitions are located under 5 CFR 304.102. The appointments are made under 5 U.S.C. 3109, and the use of 

this authority is reported to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) annually. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-30 

E-GOVERNMENT FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE FEES BY INITIATIVE

NASA is providing funding contributions in FY 2019 for each of the following E-Government initiatives: 

Initiative 2019 Contributions (Includes In-Kind) 2019 Service Fees*

E-Rulemaking 0 10,000 

Grants.gov 146,187 0 

E-Training 0 1,583,625 

Recruitment One-Stop 0 129,375 

Enterprise HR Integration 0 357,500 

E-Payroll 0 3,950,075 

E-Travel 0 89,520 

Integrated Award Environment (IAE) 0 874,354 

Financial Management LoB 124,236 0 

Human Resources Management LoB 68,478 500,000 

Geospatial LoB 225,000 0 

Budget Formulation and Execution LoB** 107000 0 

Federal PKI Bridge 121,283 

NASA Total 670,901 7,615,732 

*Service fees are estimates as provided by the E-Government initiative managing partners 

**Final FY 2019 commitments have yet to be finalized by Managing Partners (OMB MAX) 

After submission of the budget, NASA will post FY 2019 Exhibit 300 IT business cases on the IT 

Dashboard, located at https://www.itdashboard.gov. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-31 

The E-Government initiatives serve citizens, businesses, and federal employees by delivering high quality 

services more efficiently at a lower price. Instead of expensive “stove-piped” operations, agencies work 

together to develop common solutions that achieve mission requirements at reduced cost, thereby making 

resources available for higher priority needs. Benefits realized through the use of these initiatives for 

NASA in FY 2019 are described in the following. 

eRulemaking (Managing Partner EPA) FY 2019 Benefits 

NASA’s benefits from the eRulemaking initiative are largely focused on providing the public benefits by 

providing one-stop access to the Agency’s information on rulemakings and non-rulemaking activities via 

the Regulations.gov Web site. 

NASA uses the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) to post its rulemakings in order for the 

public to gain access to review and comment on these rulemakings. NASA relies on Regulations.gov to 

retrieve public comments on its rulemakings. NASA’s use of the FDMS and Regulations.gov 

substantially improves the transparency of its rulemaking actions as this use increases public participation 

in the regulatory process. Direct budget cost savings and cost avoidance result from NASA’s transition to 

FDMS and Regulations.gov, enabling the Agency to discontinue efforts to develop, deploy, and operate 

specific individual online docket and public comment systems. Over a five-year period, NASA is 

estimated to save over $700,000 over alternative options that would provide similar services. 

Grants.gov (Managing Partner HHS) FY 2019 Benefits 

The Grants.gov initiative benefits NASA and its grant programs by providing a single location with 

broader exposure to publish grant (funding) opportunities and application packages, making the process 

easier for applicants to apply to multiple agencies. All 26 major Federal grant making agencies posted 

100 percent of their synopses for discretionary funding opportunity announcements on Grants.gov. 

In addition, Grants.gov provides a single site for the grantee community to apply for grants using a 

standard set of forms, processes, and systems giving greater access and ability to apply for Federal 

funding. Through the use of Grants.gov, NASA is able to reduce operating costs associated with online 

posting and application of grants. Additionally, the Agency is able to improve operational effectiveness 

through the use of Grants.gov by increasing data accuracy and reducing processing cycle times. 

e-Training (Managing Partner OPM) FY 2019 Benefits 

The e-Training initiative provides access to premier electronic training systems and tools that support the 

training and development of the Federal workforce. The initiative supports agency missions through 

efficient one-stop access to e-Training products and services. The availability of an electronic training 

environment enhances the ability of the Federal government and NASA to attract, retain, manage, and 

develop highly skilled professionals needed for a flexible and high-performing government workforce. 

The e-Training initiative benefits NASA by reducing redundancies and achieving economies of scale in 

the purchase and development of e-learning content and in the purchase of learning technology 

infrastructure. The System for Administration, Training, and Educational Resources at NASA (SATERN) 

is a web-based talent management tool that serves as NASA’s training system of record. This centralized 

approach allows NASA to reduce and leverage training costs by eliminating unique systems, 

standardizing training processes, and valid data. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-32 

Through SATERN, employees can view required training, launch online content, view training history, 

and self-register for approved courses and conferences. In addition, the system allows NASA officials to 

identify groups and individuals who have not met basic training requirements and ensure accountability 

for mission critical and federally mandated training and development. SATERN also offers employees 

access to career planning tools, individual development plans, and competency management assistance. 

Currently, SATERN offers learners access to more than 2,500 online courses and 18,000 online books 

and training videos. SATERN is available at all times and can be accessed from work or at home. 

Recruitment One-Stop (Managing Partner OPM) FY 2019 Benefits 

USAJOBS simplifies the Federal Job Search Process for Job Seekers and Agencies. The USAJOBS.gov 

Web site provides a place where citizens can search for employment opportunities throughout the 

Federal Government. USAJOBS is a fully operational, state of the art recruitment system that simplifies 

the Federal job search process for job seekers and agencies. Through USAJOBS.gov users have access to: 

 A centralized repository for all competitive service 

 Job vacancies; 

 A resume repository used by agencies to identify critical skills; 

 A standardized online recruitment tool and services; 

 A standard application Process; and 

 Intuitive job searches including e-mail notifications for jobs of interest. 

Integration with Recruitment One-Stop allows NASA to better attract individuals who can accomplish the 

Agency’s mission. The USAJOBS interface allows job seekers to view and apply for all NASA 

employment opportunities, as well as those from other federal agencies. 

NASA adopted the USAJOBS resume as the basic application document for all NASA positions, except 

for astronaut positions (in 2005). To date NASA has not identified any specific savings, either in terms of 

budgeted savings or cost avoidance. Although the Agency believes that implementation of Recruitment 

One-Stop has resulted in significant intangible benefits in terms of providing better vacancy information 

to applicants, it has not resulted in any specific cost savings to NASA. However, the numerous intangible 

benefits Recruitment One-Stop provides to NASA and other agencies include: 

 Decreasing hiring time for managers; 

 Providing an integrated solution to agency applicant assessment systems; 

 Providing a cost effective marketing and recruitment tool; 

 Realizing cost savings over commercial job posting boards; 

 Reducing the delay associated with filling critical agency vacancies; and 

 Enhancing competition with the private sector for the best and brightest talent for Federal service. 

Enterprise HR Integration (Managing Partner OPM) FY 2019 Benefits 

The Enterprise HR Integration (EHRI) Program supports the strategic management of human capital by 

providing agency customers with access to timely and accurate federal workforce data. In support of this 

objective, EHRI has the following goals: 1) Streamline and automate the exchange of federal employee 

human resources (HR) information Government wide; 2) Provide comprehensive knowledge management 

and workforce analysis, forecasting, and reporting across the Executive Branch; 3) Maximize cost savings 

captured through automation; and 4) Enhance retirement processing throughout the Executive Branch. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-33 

A key initiative of EHRI is the electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF), a web-based application 

capable of storing, processing, and displaying the OPFs of all current, separated, and retired Federal 

Employees. When fully implemented, the eOPF will cover the entire Executive Branch as well as other 

Federal and Local Governments with a total user population of more than 1.9 million. The system will 

replace the existing manual process by automating the Federal Government’s HR processes and thereby 

creating a streamlined Federal HR system for all Federal Employees. The initiative is achieving cost 

savings that are recognized on a per-folder basis. The total cost avoidance per folder is estimated at 

$55.56. 

Specific EHRI/eOPF benefits to NASA include improved convenience in searching, better security and 

safety to electronic files, more economical, streamlined business processes, and the ability to have a 

central repository of OPF records for the Agency. During FY 2010, NASA also deployed the eOPF 

capability of electronic transfer of eOPFs between agencies. Specific NASA employee benefits include 

secure online access to OPFs, automatic notification when documents are added, exchange of retirement 

and HR data across agencies and systems, and the elimination of duplicate and repetitive personnel data 

in personnel folders. NASA completed its implementation to eOPF in March 2008, and transitioned 

personnel actions processing to the NASA Shared Service Center. 

E-Payroll FY 2019 Benefits 

The E-Payroll Initiative standardizes and consolidates government-wide federal civilian payroll services 

and processes by simplifying and standardizing human resources (HR)/payroll policies and procedures 

and better integrating payroll, HR, and finance functions. Prior to beginning the initiative, 26 federal 

agencies provided payroll services. Four providers were selected to furnish payroll services for the 

Executive branch. Since 2004, the Department of Interior (DOI) has served as NASA's payroll provider, 

using their system, the Federal Personnel and Payroll System (FPPS), to process NASA's HR and Payroll 

transactions and supply all key delivery aspects of its payroll operation functions. The E-Payroll initiative 

benefits NASA by permitting the Agency to focus on its mission related activities, rather than on 

administrative payroll functions. Payroll processing costs are reduced through economies of scale and 

avoiding the cost of duplicative capital system modernization activities. The initiative also promotes 

standardization of business processes and practices and unified service delivery. 

E-Travel (Managing Partner GSA) FY 2019 Benefits 

NASA completed migration of its travel services to ETS2 - Concur Government Edition (CGE) (formerly 

HP Enterprise Services (FedTraveler)). Completing this migration after implementation the summer of 

2014 has allowed NASA to provide more efficient and effective travel management services. ETS2 is a 

streamlined, adaptable world-class travel management service that continually applies commercial best 

practices to realize travel efficiencies and deliver a transparent, accountable, and sustainable service that 

yields exceptional customer satisfaction. 

ETS2 builds on the success of the first generation ETS, and will continue to take advantage of advances 

to help the government further consolidate online travel booking services and expense management 

platforms, driving additional cost savings and efficiencies while delivering a transparent service for 

improved accountability and reduced waste. ETS2 serves as the gateway to optimize the government’s 

scale and full market leverage to lower travel costs. ETS has served as the backbone of GSA’s managed 

travel programs, providing access to air, car and lodging, as well as the foundation for implementing a 

shared service for civilian agency travel management. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-34 

ETS2’s new benefits and features include: 

 Improved usability and optimized online travel planning; 

 Increased navigation and ease-of-use, enabling informed cost and sustainability decisions at point-of-sale; 

and 

 Strengthened operational environment, improving management by adopting commercial best practices in 

software development, data transparency and improved security controls. 

ETS2 will enable the government to further consolidate travel services, platforms, and channels, improve 

the leverage of government travel spending, increase transparency for improved accountability, and 

reduce waste. This directly aligns and supports the recent Office of Management and Budget Memo 

M-12-12 regarding Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency Operations with respect to travel. 

Integrated Award Environment (Managing Partner GSA) FY 2019 Benefits 

The Integrated Award Environment (IAE) initiative is designed to streamline the process of reporting on 

subcontracting plans and provide agencies with access to analytical data on subcontracting performance. 

Use of the IAE common services allows agencies to focus on agency-specific needs such as strategy, 

operations, and management while leveraging shared services for common functions. Furthermore, use of 

a government-wide business focused service environment reduces funding and resources for technical 

services and support for acquisition systems originally housed by individual agencies. 

IAE facilitates and supports cost-effective acquisition of goods and services by agencies. The IAE 

initiative provides common acquisition functions and shared services that benefit all agencies, such as the 

maintenance of information about business-partner organizations (e.g., banking, certifications, business 

types, capabilities, performance). IAE provides benefits to the government and business-partner 

organizations by improving cross-agency coordination that helps to improve the government’s buying 

power, while providing business partners maximum visibility and transparency into the process. IAE 

provides various services, tools, and capabilities that can be leveraged by the acquisition community 

including buyers, sellers, and the public to conduct business across the federal government space. 

Government buyers can: 

 Search for commercial and government sources 

 Post synopses and solicitations 

 Securely post sensitive solicitation documents 

 Access reports on vendors’ performance 

 Retrieve vendor data validated by SBA and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 

 Identify excluded parties 

 Report contract awards 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-35 

Business suppliers can: 

 Search business opportunities by product, service, agency, or location 

 Receive e-mail notification of solicitations based on specific criteria 

 Register to do business with the federal government 

 Enter representations and certifications one time 

 Revalidate registration data annually 

 Report subcontracting accomplishments 

Citizens can: 

 Retrieve data on contract awards 

 Track federal spending 

 Search to find registered businesses 

 Monitor business opportunities 

Through adoption of the tools and services provided by IAE, NASA improves its ability to make 

informed and efficient purchasing decisions and allows it to replace manual processes. If NASA did not 

use IAE systems, the Agency would need to build and maintain separate systems to record vendor and 

contract information, and to post procurement opportunities. Agency purchasing officials would not have 

access to databases of important information from other agencies on vendor performance and could not 

use systems to replace paper-based and labor-intensive work efforts. 

Integrated Award and Environment – Loans & Grants FY 2019 Benefits 

All agencies participating in the posting and/or awarding of Contracts and Grants & Loans are required by 

the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006 and the Digital 

Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) reporting requirements to disclose award 

information on a publicly accessible Web site. FFATA requires OMB to lead the development of a single, 

searchable Web site through which the public can readily access information about grants and contracts 

provided by Federal government agencies1

. 

Based on the recommendations of the Transparency Act Taskforce, the Web site leverages functionality 

provided by the IAE initiative to provide Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers as the 

unique identifier. An existing IAE Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) transaction-based contract for the contract 

community was expanded to provide government-wide D&B services for the Grants & Loans 

community. These services include parent linkage, help desk support, world database lookup, business 

validation and linkage monitoring, matching services, as well as the use of DUNS numbers. The 

enterprise D&B contract provides substantial savings to the participating agencies over their previous 

agency transaction-based D&B contracts. 

 

1

 More information on the development of this Web site can be found at: 

https://www.usaspending.gov/Pages/Default.aspx

. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-36 

On December 14, 2007, OMB launched www.USASpending.gov to meet the Federal Funding 

Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) statutory requirements, ahead of schedule. Since that 

launch, OMB has and will continue to work with agencies to improve the quality, timeliness, and 

accuracy of their data submissions and has released a series of enhancements to the site. 

USASpending.gov complements other Web sites providing the public Federal program performance 

information (e.g., USA.gov, Results.gov and ExpectMore.gov). 

USASpending.gov provides: 

 The name of the entity receiving the award; 

 The amount of the award; 

 Information on the award including transaction type, funding agency, etc.; 

 The location of the entity receiving the award; and 

 A unique identifier of the entity receiving the award. 

Cross-government cooperation with OMB’s Integrated Acquisition Environment initiative allows 

agencies and contributing bureaus to meet the requirements of the FFATA by assigning a unique 

identifier, determining corporate hierarchy, and validating and cleaning up incorrect or incomplete data. 

The FY 2019 funding requirements as it relates to the IAE – Loans and Grants funding line supports the 

FFATA and DATA Act for the relationship with D&B and DUNS support services. In addition to 

provision of DUNS numbers, D&B is now providing business and linkage data seamlessly, and the 

business arrangement supports the quality of data by real-time updates. NASA and other agencies will 

leverage the linkages to corporate organizational rollups based on parental and subsidiary relationships. 

Federal PKI Bridge - FY 2019 Benefits 

The Federal Public Key Infrastructure (FPKI) is the primary, secure mechanism that allows for electronic 

business transactions across government and between government and industry. It is the backbone and 

trust anchor for HSPD-12 and PIV Cards and is critical to enabling cyber security via identity 

management. The FPKI enables secur 

e physical and logical access through the use of strong credentials such as the PIV card, and allows 

federal documents to be digitally signed, sent, encrypted, and archived in digital media without fear that 

they will be compromised, spoofed, or altered. A number of core government-wide documents mandate 

use of the FPKI. 

 The FPKI Policy Authority (managed by GSA) is the CIO Council PKI action agent responsible for the 

governance of the FPKI Ecosystem. 

LINES OF BUSINESS

Financial Management LoB (Managing Partners DOE and DOL) FY 2019 Benefits 

Treasury’s Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation (FIT) served as Managing Partner and the 

Program Management Office (PMO) for the FMLoB. In accordance with OMB’s guidance on shared 

services (the Federal IT Shared Services Strategy), the Treasury’s FIT will lead efforts to transform 

Federal financial management, reduce costs, increase transparency, and improve delivery of agencies’ 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-37 

missions by operating at scale, relying on common standards, shared services, and using state-of-the-art 

technology. Under the guidance of the CFOC and COFAR, partner agencies will work with the FMLOB’s 

support to standardize core financial business processes (including financial assistance) and data elements 

across the Federal Government to provide: (1) reliable and accessible financial data to the public; (2) 

adequate training and development resources to agency workforces; and (3) strong oversight of Federal 

programs using tools such as the Single Audit. The FMLoB will also play a role in implementing OMB’s 

Memorandum M-13-08, Improving Financial Systems Through Shared Services. NASA benefits from the 

FM LOB because it provides a forum in which federal agencies can share information and weigh pros and 

cons of various initiatives (for example, shared services). 

Human Resources Management LoB (Managing Partner OPM) FY 2019 Benefits 

The HR LoB vision is to create government-wide, modern, cost-effective, standardized, and interoperable 

HR solutions to provide common core functionality to support the strategic management of Human 

Resources through the establishment of Shared Service Centers (SSCs). Driven from a business 

perspective, the solutions will address distinct business improvements enhancing the government’s 

performance of HR and payroll services in support of agency missions delivering services to citizens. The 

HR LoB concept of operations calls for agencies to receive core services from an HR LoB provider. 

These core services are defined as personnel action processing, compensation management (payroll) and 

benefits management. Leveraging shared services solutions will allow the HR LoB to significantly 

improve HR and payroll service delivery, save taxpayer dollars, and reduce administrative burdens. 

NASA works in partnership with one of the approved service providers, the Department of Interior's 

Business Center (IBC). Through this partnership, NASA shares and receives "best-in-class" HR solutions. 

The Business Center (IBC) delivers NASA-developed solutions to their customer agencies, enabling 

improved efficiencies and system integrations at a fraction of the cost and delivery time than similar 

solutions could have been produced by the Interior Business Center. NASA achieves the benefits of "bestin-class" HR solutions through implementation and integration of Interior Business Center (IBC) and 

NASA-developed HR solutions. NASA’s participation in HR LoB provides the Agency opportunities to 

implement modern HR solutions and benefit from best practices government-wide strategic HR 

management. NASA participates in the ongoing development of a 10 year Federal Human Resources 

Strategic Plan with the HRLOB managing partner (OPM) and member agencies. 

Geospatial LoB (Managing Partner DOL) FY 2019 Benefits 

The Geospatial LoB will better serve the agencies’ missions and the Nation’s interests developing a more 

strategic, coordinated, and leveraged approach to producing, maintaining, and using geospatial data and 

services across the Federal government. Specific goals of the Geospatial LoB include establishing a 

collaborative governance mechanism, coordinating a government-wide planning and investment strategy, 

and optimizing and standardizing geospatial data and services. 
Supporting Data 

E-GOV INITIATIVES AND BENEFITS

SD-38 

Contributing agencies and bureaus will receive value from the development of the LoB primarily through 

improved business performance and cost savings. Enhanced governance processes, improved business 

planning and investment strategies, and optimization and standardization of geospatial business data and 

services will produce the following results: 

 Collaborative management of geospatial investments will be made more adaptable, proactive and 

inclusive; 

 Enterprise business needs and agency core mission requirements will be identified, planned, 

budgeted, and exploited in a geospatial context; 

 Long-term costs of geo-information delivery and access will be reduced while minimizing 

duplicative development efforts; 

 Effective, yet less costly commercial off the shelf systems and contractual business support 

operations will replace legacy geospatial applications; and 

 Business processes will be optimized and knowledge management capabilities will exist for 

locating geospatial data and obtaining services. 

As a science agency, the work of NASA’s science and mission professionals is inherently different from 

duties and functions performed by operational agencies. These differences lead NASA to organize and 

manage data to best facilitate science activities rather than a central focus of data dissemination. Scientific 

inquiry often leads scientist to use different schemas for analyzing data and information produced from 

remote sensing data (e.g. a common grid or projection). NASA will continue to apply the elements of 

Federal Geographic Data Committee standards where these are appropriate. In FY 2008, NASA signed an 

MOU with the Department of Labor to continue its active participation in the Geospatial LOB. 

Budget Formulation & Execution LOB (Managing Partner Education) FY 2019 Benefits 

The Budget Formulation and Execution LoB (BFELoB) provides significant benefits to NASA and other 

partner agencies by encouraging best practices crossing all aspects of Federal budgeting – from budget 

formulation and execution to performance to human capital needs. To benefit all agencies, BFELoB 

continues to support the idea of shared service budget systems. As NASA currently has its own budgeting 

tools, the Agency has not chosen to move to a new budget system; however, a shared service budget 

system is an option moving forward. 

BFELoB’s “MAX Federal Community,” a secure government-only collaborative Web site, provides 

significant benefits for collaboration across and within agencies, as well as knowledge management. The 

Community site is commonly used for sharing information, collaboratively drafting documents (including 

the direct-editing of documents posted on the site). 
Supporting Data 

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT TABLES

SD-39 

$19,653.3 $19,653.3

$4,324.0 $4,184.0

$3,929.0 $3,929.0

$1,330.0 $1,330.0

$2,127.1 $2,127.1

$471.9 $471.9

$97.8

$0.0

$97.8

$97.8

HQ Integration Support $2.8

AES Habitation Capabilities $95.0

$395.0 $157.2

$140.0

$255.0 $157.2

$255.0 $157.2

HQ Integration Support $2.8

AES Habitation Capabilities $95.0

$686.5 $826.5

$686.5 $826.5

$140.0

$199.0 $199.0

$31.9

$455.6

$89.7

$135.0

$262.8

$4,942.5 $4,942.5

$5,762.2 $5,762.2

$1,907.7 $1,907.7

$462.0 $462.0

$929.7 $929.7

$61.7 $61.7

$54.7

$198.7

$86.5 $86.5

$33.7 $33.7

$101.4 $101.4

$646.4 $393.1

Landsat 9 $198.7 $198.7

Sentinel-6 $54.7 $54.7

LEO and Spaceflight Operations

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Sentinel-6

Landsat 9

Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-II)

GRACE FO

NASA-ISRO SAR

Earth Science Research

Earth Systematic Missions

Surface Water and Ocean Topography

Science

Earth Science

SBIR and STTR

Agency Technology and Innovation

Space Technology Research & Development

Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships

Technology Maturation

Technology Demonstration

Budget Authority ($ millions)

NASA TOTAL

Advanced Exploration Systems

Adv Cislunar and Surface Capabilities

Exploration Advanced Systems Program

Space Launch System

Exploration Ground Systems

Deep Space Exploration Systems

Exploration Systems Development

Orion Program

FY 2017 Budget Structure Crosswalk to FY 2019 Budget Structure

Advanced Exploration Systems

Exploration Research and Technology

Space Technology

Human Research Program

Exploration Advanced Systems

Exploration Research and Development

Advanced Exploration Systems

Human Research Program
Supporting Data 

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT TABLES

SD-40 

$208.8 $208.8

$204.9 $204.9

$62.9 $62.9

$39.4 $39.4

$1,827.5 $1,827.5

$290.1 $230.1

$178.1 $178.1

$4.1

Robotics Alliance $4.1

$60.0

Near Earth Object Observations $60.0

$47.9 $52.0

Robotics Alliance $4.1

$60.0

$60.0

Near Earth Object Observations $60.0

$19.0

$19.0

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) $19.0

$213.6 $194.6

$47.3

$54.5

$32.3 $32.3

$181.3 $60.5

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) $19.0

Lucy $54.5

Psyche $47.3

$134.0 $134.0

$39.5

Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource $39.5

$94.5 $134.0

Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource $39.5

$647.0 $647.0

$359.5 $359.5

$275.0

$359.5 $84.5

Jupiter Europa $275.0

$183.3 $183.3

Earth Science Technology 

Applied Sciences

Near Earth Object Observations

Directorate Management

Earth System Science Pathfinder

Earth Science Multi-Mission Operations

FY 2017 Budget Structure Crosswalk to FY 2019 Budget Structure

Budget Authority ($ millions)

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Lunar Discovery and Exploration

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Discovery 

Planetary Science

Planetary Science Research 

Planetary Science Research and Analysis

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Planetary Defense

Technology 

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Mars Exploration

Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

Psyche

Lucy

InSight

Other Missions and Data Analysis

New Frontiers

Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource

Jupiter Europa

Other Missions and Data Analysis
Supporting Data 

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT TABLES

SD-41 

$782.9 $1,352.3

$190.1 $190.1

$210.0 $779.4

$569.4

$97.3 $97.3

$85.2 $85.2

$27.5 $27.5

$106.2 $106.2

$152.6 $152.6

$124.1 $124.1

$569.4

$569.4

$569.4

James Webb Space Telescope $569.4

$674.7 $674.7

$180.8 $180.8

$368.4 $368.4

$38.8 $38.8

$86.7 $86.7

$39.4

Ionospheric Connection Explorer $39.4

$47.3 $86.7

Ionospheric Connection Explorer $39.4

$656.0 $656.0

$656.0 $656.0

$140.6 $140.6

$274.6 $274.6

$125.0 $125.0

$18.5

Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator $18.5

$106.4 $106.4

Low-Boom Flight Demonstrator $18.5 $18.5

$115.8 $115.8

$100.0 $100.0

Astrophysics

FY 2017 Budget Structure Crosswalk to FY 2019 Budget Structure

Budget Authority ($ millions)

Solar Terrestrial Probes

Heliophysics Explorer Program 

Advanced Air Vehicles Program

Integrated Aviation Systems Program

Other Missions and Data Analysis

ICON 

Living with a Star

Heliophysics

Heliophysics Research

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope

Physics of the Cosmos

Low Boom Flight Demonstrator

Integrated Aviation Systems Program

Aeronautics

Aeronautics

Airspace Operations and Safety Program

Exoplanet Exploration

Astrophysics Explorer 

Cosmic Origins

James Webb Space Telescope

Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Astrophysics Research 

Transformative Aero Concepts Program

Education
Supporting Data 

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT TABLES

SD-42 

NOTE: Chart represents changes in budget structure and does not reflect funding changes. 

$2,768.6 $2,768.6

$1,986.5 $1,986.5

$782.1 $782.1

$359.2 $359.2

$176.3 $176.3

$219.8 $219.8

$15.9 $15.9

$56.0

Science & Engineering Apps $6.0

Business Management Apps $50.0

$147.9 $203.9

Information Management $6.0

Agency Applications $50.0

$26.8 $26.8

$375.6 $375.6

$37.9 $37.9

$19,653.3 $19,653.3

Agency Management and Operations

FY 2017 Budget Structure Crosswalk to FY 2019 Budget Structure

Budget Authority ($ millions)

Agency Management

Safety and Mission Success

Safety, Security, and Mission Services

Center Management and Operations

Enterprise IT

Strategic Capabilities Asset Program

Construction & Envrmtl Compl Restoration

Agency IT Services (AITS)

IT Management

Applications

NASA TOTAL

Inspector General
Supporting Data 

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT TABLES

SD-43 

$19,092.2 $19,092.2

$3,934.1 $3,794.1

$3,584.1 $3,584.1

$130.9

$130.9

$130.9

HQ Integration Support $19.0

AES Habitation Capabilities $111.9

$350.0 $79.1

$140.0

$140.0

$210.0 $79.1

$210.0 $79.1

HQ Integration Support $19.0

AES Habitation Capabilities $111.9

$678.6 $818.6

$678.6 $818.6

$180.0 $180.0

$31.9

$466.7

$100.2

$148.0

$250.4

$140.0

$4,740.8 $4,740.8

$5,711.8 $5,711.8

$1,754.1 $1,754.1

$1,929.5 $1,929.5

$291.5 $241.5

$50.0

$50.0

Near Earth Object Observations $50.0

$20.0

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) $20.0

$306.1 $286.1

$70.3 $50.3

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) $20.0

FY 2018 Budget Structure Crosswalk to FY 2019 Budget Structure

Planetary Defense

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Human Research Program

Advanced Exploration Systems

Advanced Exploration Systems

LEO and Spaceflight Operations

Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships

Technology Maturation

Technology Demonstration

Exploration Research and Technology

Space Technology Research & Development

Space Technology

Agency Technology and Innovation

SBIR and STTR

Near Earth Object Observations

Discovery 

Lunar Discovery and Exploration

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Science

Earth Science

Planetary Science

Planetary Science Research 

Budget Authority ($ millions)

NASA TOTAL

Advanced Exploration Systems

Exploration Advanced Systems Program

Deep Space Exploration Systems

Exploration Systems Development

Exploration Research and Development

Human Research Program

Human Research Program

Exploration Advanced Systems
Supporting Data 

COMPARABILITY ADJUSTMENT TABLES

SD-44 

NOTE: Chart represents changes in budget structure and does not reflect funding changes. 

 

$82.1 $82.1

$584.7 $584.7

$457.9 $457.9

$207.2 $207.2

$816.7 $1,350.4

$204.4 $204.4

$191.6 $725.3

$533.7

$99.9 $99.9

$176.0 $176.0

$144.7 $144.7

$533.7 $0.0

$533.7

$533.7

$677.8 $677.8

$200.2 $200.2

$381.0 $381.0

$37.8 $37.8

$58.9 $58.9

$9.0

$50.0 $58.9

$624.0 $624.0

$37.3 $37.3

$2,830.2 $2,830.2

$1,992.5 $1,992.5

$837.7 $837.7

$361.2 $361.2

$171.4 $171.4

$278.1 $278.1

$26.0 $26.0

$59.0

$193.1 $252.1

$27.0 $27.0

$496.1 $496.1

$39.3 $39.3

$19,092.2 $19,092.2

FY 2018 Budget Structure Crosswalk to FY 2019 Budget Structure

Budget Authority ($ millions)

NASA TOTAL

Enterprise IT

Inspector General

Applications

Strategic Capabilities Asset Program

Construction & Envrmtl Compl Restoration

Agency IT Services (AITS)

IT Management

Agency Management and Operations

Agency Management

Safety and Mission Success

Center Management and Operations

Education

Solar Terrestrial Probes

Safety, Security, and Mission Services

James Webb Space Telescope

Heliophysics Explorer Program 

ICON 

Other Missions and Data Analysis

Aeronautics

Physics of the Cosmos

Cosmic Origins

Living with a Star

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope

Heliophysics

Heliophysics Research

Exoplanet Exploration

Astrophysics Explorer 

Astrophysics Research 

Mars Exploration

Outer Planets and Ocean Worlds

Technology 

Astrophysics

New Frontiers
Supporting Data 

REBASELINED PROJECTS

SD-45 

In accordance with NPR 7120.5, NASA rebaselined the estimated Life Cycle Costs for the following 

projects. The original baselines are shown for comparison. 

($ in millions)

Webb Date Prior FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 BTC Total

Original Life Cycle Cost 2009 4,448                    92             93             94             94             76             66       4,964

Rebaselined Life Cycle Cost 2012 5,990                  622           571           540           305           198           610       8,835

Actual n/a 5,991                  620           569

ICSSat‐2 Date Prior FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 BTC Total

Original Life Cycle Cost 2013 683                      119             27             14             11                ‐ 6                      860

Rebaselined Life Cycle Cost 2015 725                      141             93             67             14             14               9       1,064

Actual n/a 730                      117             87
Management and Performance

Cost and Schedule Performance Summary

CSP-1

2018 Major Program Annual Report Summary

The 2018 Major Program Annual Report (MPAR) is provided to meet the requirements of section 103 of 

the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-155; 42 U.S.C. 16613). The 2018 MPAR consists of this 

summary and FY 2019 Congressional Justification pages designated as “Projects in Development,” for 

the projects outlined below. These project pages constitute each project’s annual report, or if this is the 

first year for which it is in reporting, the baseline report. The MPAR summary also includes the 

confidence level of achieving the commitments as requested in the Conference Report accompanying the 

FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-117).

Changes in MPAR Composition since the FY 2018 NASA Budget Estimates

The Landsat-9 project with a baseline development cost of $634.2 million at a joint confidence level of 70 

percent is the only new project with estimated lifecycle costs greater than $250 million that received 

authority to proceed into the development phase since NASA submitted its 2017 MPAR in the FY 2018

NASA Congressional Justification. All of the 2017 MPAR projects in the FY 2018 NASA Congressional 

Justification are still in development and continue reporting.

Changes in Development Cost and Schedule Estimates from the 2017 MPAR

Five projects (Insight, LCRD, Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Sentinel-6, and SWOT) had no changes in their 

development cost or schedule estimates over the last year. Additionally, one project is reporting decreases 

in their development cost, TESS (down -13%), with no change in schedule. While the Mars 2020 and 

NISAR projects experienced development cost increases of 1% and 3% respectively there is no change to 

their schedules.

Neither ICESat-2, ICON, nor Webb had any changes in development cost however ICESat-2 had a 

schedule change of 1 month (change from baseline increased from 3 to 4 months), the schedule of Webb 

is from March-June 2019 and the schedule for ICON is to be determined. The GRACE-FO project 

experienced both a development cost decrease (down -6%) and schedule change of 2 months. The SOC 

project experienced both a development cost decrease (down 3% from last year, now at -18%) and a 

schedule change that is not yet finalized to September 2020.

There is no change in the development cost or schedule for the InSight project from what was reported in 

the 2017 MPAR in the FY 2018 NASA Congressional Justification. The 24% development cost increase 

and the 26 month schedule change were reported to the appropriate Congressional Committees on 

November 21, 2016.

The EGS project experienced both a development cost increase (up 18%) and schedule change of 13

months. NASA held an Agency Program Management Council (APMC) meeting approving a replan of 

the EGS project on December 26, 2017. The Agency is currently preparing the appropriate Congressional 

notifications.

The SLS project experienced both a development cost increase (up 1%) and schedule change of 13 

months. NASA held an Agency Program Management Council (APMC) meeting approving a replan of 

the SLS project on December 26, 2017. 

MPAR Summary Table

Figure 1 provides cost, schedule, and confidence level information for NASA projects currently in 

development with lifecycle cost estimates of $250 million or more. NASA records the estimated 

development cost and a key schedule milestone and then measures changes from them. NASA tracks one 

of several key milestones, listed below, for reporting purposes:
Management and Performance

Cost and Schedule Performance Summary

CSP-2

 Launch Readiness Date (LRD);

 Full Operational Capability (FOC);

 Initial Operating Capability (IOC); or

 Launch Readiness for EM-1 or EM-2

As a note for clarification, LRD schedule milestones, as reported here, are not typically the launch dates 

on the NASA launch manifest, but are the desired launch dates as determined by the payload mission and 

approved by the NASA Flight Planning Board (FPB). A launch manifest is a dynamic schedule that is 

affected by real world operational activities conducted by NASA and multiple other entities. It reflects the 

results of a complex process that requires the coordination and cooperation by multiple users for the use 

of launch range and launch contractor assets. The launch dates shown on the NASA FPB launch manifest 

are a mixture of confirmed range dates for missions launching within approximately six months and 

contractual/planning dates for the missions beyond six months from launch. The NASA FPB launch 

manifest date is typically earlier than the reported schedule dates reported here, thereby allowing for the 

operationally driven fluctuations to the launch schedule that may be outside of the Project’s control. The 

NASA FPB launch manifest is updated on a periodic basis throughout the year.

Additional explanations for the data in the summary table are provided here:

 Webb: Cost Estimate includes Construction of Facilities funds. 

 SOC: The cost of the two instruments is below the $250M LCC threshold for JCL. 

Independent cost and schedule estimates completed by Aerospace and GSFC RAO with each 

instrument had confidence levels for cost and schedule that were 70 percent when NASA 

approved the start of development (at KCP-C).

 EGS-GSDO: The 80% JCL is inferred from analysis based on FY14 President's Budget 

Request (PBR) including FY14 Appropriation changes. JCL analysis was completed prior to 

the release of the FY15 PBR. The ABC is informed by the 80% JCL and adjusted to reflect the 

FY15 PBR budget reduction.

 The Space Launch System (SLS) and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) – Ground Systems 

Development Office (GSDO) programs continue to evaluate the impact the following events 

will have on the EM-1 launch readiness date: 1) the integrated manufacturing, test, and 

processing schedules based on projection of the ESA service module delivery; 2) the impact of 

tornado damage recovery at Michoud Assembly Facility and 3) first time production issues for 

the SLS stages element. NASA will be providing updates to the launch readiness date in the 

near future.

Additional information on the projects shown in the table below can be found in their individual program 

and project pages in the main body of the Congressional Justification.
Management and Performance

Cost and Schedule Performance Summary

CSP-3

Figure 1: MPAR Summary and Confidence Levels

Baseline FY 2018 Baseline FY 2018

EGS* 2015 80 1,843.5 2,178.7 18% LR for EM-1 Nov 2018 Dec 2019 13

GRACE-FO 2015 70 264.0 247.6 -6% LRD Feb 2018 Apr 2018 2

ICESat-2 2015 70 763.7 765.1 0% LRD Jun 2018 Oct 2018 4

ICON 2015 70 196.0 196.0 0% LRD Oct 2017 FY 2018 TBD

InSight 2014 70 541.8 673.5 24% LRD Mar 2016 May 2018 26

Landsat-9 2018 70 634.2 634.2 0% LRD Nov 2021 Nov 2021 0

LCRD 2017 70 91.8 91.8 0% LRD Nov 2019 Nov 2019 0

Mars 2020 2017 70 1,676.9 1,687.6 1% LRD Jul 2020 Jul 2020 0

NISAR 2017 70 661.0 683.0 3% LRD Sep 2022 Sep 2022 0

Orion** 2016 70 6,768.4 6,572.3 -3% LR for EM-2 Apr 2023 Apr 2023 0

PSP 2015 70 1,055.7 1,050.3 -1% LRD Aug 2018 Aug 2018 0

Sentinel-6 2017 70 465.9 465.9 0% LRD Nov 2021 Nov 2021 0

SLS 2015 70 7,021.4 7,058.9 1% LR for EM-1 Nov 2018 Dec 2019 13

SOC 2014 N/A 376.9 310.0 -18% LRD Oct 2018 Feb 2020 TBD

SWOT 2017 80 571.5 571.5 0% LRD Apr 2022 Apr 2022 0

TESS 2015 70 323.2 281.4 -13% LRD Jun 2018 Jun 2018 0

Webb 2012 66 6,197.9 6,188.8 0% LRD Oct 2018 Mar-Jun 2019 TBD

Key Milestone Date Schedule 

Change 

(months)

* The 80% JCL is inferred from analysis based on FY14 President's Budget Request (PBR) including FY14 Appropriation changes. JCL analysis was completed prior to the release 

of the FY15 PBR. The ABC is informed by the 80% JCL and adjusted to reflect the FY15 PBR budget reduction.

** Approximately -2% of this amount reflects a transfer of funding to formulation costs and does not represent a reduction in the life cycle cost estimates.

 Launch Readiness (LR) Launch Readiness Date (LRD) Exploration Mission (EM)

Project

Base

Year

JCL

(%)

Development Cost 

Estimate ($M) Cost 

Change 

(%)

Key

Milestone

Event
 

FY 2019 PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE

PAL-1 

DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION SYSTEMS 

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of exploration research and 

development activities, including research, development, operations, support, and services; maintenance and repair, 

facility planning and design; space flight, spacecraft control, and communications activities; program management; 

personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of 

title 5, United States Code; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; and purchase, lease, 

charter, maintenance, and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $4,558,800,000, to remain available 

until September 30, 2020. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 

EXPLORATION RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of space technology research and 

development activities, including research, development, operations, support, and services; maintenance and repair, 

facility planning and design; space flight, spacecraft control, and communications activities; program management; 

personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of 

title 5, United States Code; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; and purchase, lease, 

charter, maintenance, and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $1,002,700,000, to remain available 

until September 30, 2020. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 

LEO AND SPACEFLIGHT OPERATIONS 

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of space operations research and 

development activities, including research, development, operations, support and services; space flight, spacecraft 

control and communications activities, including operations, production, and services; maintenance and repair, 

facility planning and design; program management; personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances 

therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code; travel expenses; purchase and hire 

of passenger motor vehicles; and purchase, lease, charter, maintenance and operation of mission and administrative 

aircraft, $4,624,600,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 
 

FY 2019 PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE

PAL-2 

SCIENCE

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of science research and 

development activities, including research, development, operations, support, and services; maintenance and repair, 

facility planning and design; space flight, spacecraft control, and communications activities; program management; 

personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of 

title 5, United States Code; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; and purchase, lease, 

charter, maintenance, and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $5,895,000,000, to remain available 

until September 30, 2020. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution.

AERONAUTICS

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of aeronautics research and 

development activities, including research, development, operations, support, and services; maintenance and repair, 

facility planning and design; space flight, spacecraft control, and communications activities; program management; 

personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of 

title 5, United States Code; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; and purchase, lease, 

charter, maintenance, and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $633,900,000, to remain available until 

September 30, 2020. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 

EDUCATION

Unobligated balances previously appropriated under this heading shall be available for purposes of the closure of 

the Office of Education, including but not limited to, ongoing administration, oversight, monitoring, and funding of 

grants previously awarded by the Office of Education. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND MISSION SERVICES

For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of science, aeronautics, space 

technology, exploration, space operations and education research and development activities, including research, 

development, operations, support, and services; maintenance and repair, facility planning and design; space flight, 

spacecraft control, and communications activities; program management; personnel and related costs, including 

uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by sections 5901 and 5902 of title 5, United States Code; travel 

expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $63,000 for official reception and 

representation expenses; and purchase, lease, charter, maintenance, and operation of mission and administrative 

aircraft, $2,749,700,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020. 
 

FY 2019 PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS LANGUAGE

PAL-3 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND RESTORATION

For necessary expenses for construction of facilities including repair, rehabilitation, revitalization, and 

modification of facilities, construction of new facilities and additions to existing facilities, facility planning and 

design, and restoration, and acquisition or condemnation of real property, as authorized by law, and environmental compliance and restoration, $388,200,000, to remain available until September 30, 2024: Provided, That 

proceeds from leases deposited into this account shall be available for a period of 5 years to the extent and in 

amounts as provided in annual appropriations Acts: Provided further, That such proceeds referred to in the 

preceding proviso shall be available for obligation for fiscal year 2019 in an amount not to exceed $9,470,300: 

Provided further, That each annual budget request shall include an annual estimate of gross receipts and collections 

and proposed use of all funds collected pursuant to section 20145 of title 51, United States Code. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 

INSPECTOR GENERAL

For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, 

$39,300,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020. 

Note.—A full-year 2018 appropriation for this account was not enacted at the time the budget was prepared; 

therefore, the budget assumes this account is operating under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (Division D 

of P.L. 115–56, as amended). The amounts included for 2018 reflect the annualized level provided by the continuing 

resolution. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Funds for any announced prize otherwise authorized shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until the 

prize is claimed or the offer is withdrawn. 

Not to exceed 5 percent of any appropriation made available for the current fiscal year for the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration in this Act, or provided for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under 

previous appropriations Acts that remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2019, may be 

transferred between such appropriations, but no such appropriation, except as otherwise specifically provided, shall 

be increased by more than 10 percent by any such transfers. Any such funds transferred to "Construction and 

Environmental Compliance and Restoration" for construction activities shall not increase that appropriation by 

more than 20 percent. Balances so transferred shall be merged with and available for the same purposes and the 

same time period as the appropriations to which transferred. Any transfer pursuant to this provision shall be treated 

as a reprogramming of funds under section 504 of this Act and shall not be available for obligation except in 

compliance with the procedures set forth in that section. 

The spending plan required by this Act shall be provided by NASA at the theme and program level. The spending 

plan, as well as any subsequent change of an amount established in that spending plan that meets the notification 

requirements of section 504 of this Act, shall be treated as a reprogramming under section 504 of this Act and shall 

not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that section. 
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-1

$K Dollars in thousands

$M Dollars in millions

21CSLC 21st Century Space Launch Complex

3U 3-unit

45SW US Air Force 45th Space Wing

AANAPISI Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions

AAV Advanced Air Vehicles

ABC Agency Baseline Commitment

ACC Advanced Composites Consortium

ACCESS Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science

ACCESS-II Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions II

ACE Advanced Composition Explorer (Heliophysics)

ACE Aerosol, Cloud, and Ecosystems (Earth Science)

ACME Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments

ACTE adaptive compliant trailing-edge technology

ADAP Astrophysics Data Analysis Program

ADCAR Astrophysics Data Curation and Archival Research

ADS-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast

AEDL Advanced Entry Descent and Landing

AES Advanced Exploration Systems

AFO Altimetry Follow-On

AFRC Armstrong Flight Research Center

AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory

AFTA Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets

AIM Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere

AirMOSS Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface

AIRS Atmospheric Infrared Sounder

AIST Advanced Information Systems Technology

AITS Agency Information Technology Services

AMMOS Advanced Multi-Mission Operations System

AMO Agency Management and Operations

AMR Advanced Microwave Radiometer

AO Announcements of Opportunity

AOSP Airspace Operations and Safety Program

APL Applied Physics Laboratory

APMC Agency Project Management Council

AR Advanced Radiometer

ARC Ames Research Center

ARCD Aerospace Research and Career Development

ARM Asteroid Redirect Mission
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-2

ARMD Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

ARSET Applied Remote SEnsing Training

ARTEMIS Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence and Electrodynamics of the Moon’s 

Interaction with the Sun

ASCENDS Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons

ASDM Astrophysics Decadal Strategic Mission

ASI Agenzia Spaziale Italiana

ASPERA Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms

ATCC A-Complex Test Control Center

ATD Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration-1

ATLAS Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System

ATM Air Traffic Management

ATTREX Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment

AU astronomical units

AURA Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy

BAA Broad Agency Announcement

BARREL Balloon Array for Radiation-belt Relativistic Electron Losses

BEAM Bigelow Expandable Activity Module

BEDI Big Earth Data Initiative

BFELoB Budget Formulation & Execution Lines of Business

BTC budget to complete

BWG Beam Wave Guide

CAL Cold Atom Laboratory

CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation

CAMMEE Committee on Aerospace Medicine and the Medicine of Extreme Environments

CAP Cross-Agency Priority

CARVE Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment

CAS Convergent Aeronautics Solutions

CASIS Center for the Advancement of Science in Space

CAST Commercial Aviation Safety Team

CATALYST Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown

CATS Cloud Aerosol Transport System

CBT Computer-Based Training

CCAFS Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

CCD charge-coupled device

CCDev2 Commercial Crew Development Round 2

CCM Camera Control Module

CCMC Community Coordinated Modeling Center

CCP Commercial Crew Program
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-3

CCtCap Commercial Crew transportation Capabilities

CDC Centers for Disease Control

CDI Climate Data Initiative

CDM Continuous Diagnostic Mitigation

CDR Critical Design Reviews

CDTI Center for the Development of Industrial Technology

CECR Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration

CERES Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy

CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics

CFOC Chief Financial Officer’s Council

CGE Concur Government Edition

CHAMPSTM CubeSat High-Impulse Adaptable Modular Propulsion SystemTM

CHS Crew Health and Safety

CIBER Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment Rocket

CINDI Coupled Ion Neutral Dynamic Investigation

CIRs co-rotating interaction regions

CL confidence level

CLARREO Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory

CMEs coronal mass ejections

CMO Center Management and Operations

CMS Carbon Monitoring System

CNES Centre National d’Etudes’ Spatiales

CoF Construction of Facilities

COFAR Council on Financial Assistance Reform

Comet C-S Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko

COR Cosmic Origins

CoSTEM committee on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

COTS commercial off-the-shelf

CPC Certification Products Contracts

CPOD CubeSat Proximity Operations Demonstration

CREAM Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass

CRP Commercialization Readiness Program

CRS Commercial Resupply Services

CRT Climate Resilience Toolkit

CRV current replacement value

CSA Canadian Space Agency

CSC Computer Sciences Corporation

CSL Belgian Centre Spatial de Liège

CSO Communications Services Office

CSTD Crosscutting Space Technology Development
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-4

CYGNSS Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System

D&B Dun and Bradstreet

DAAC Distributed Active Archive Center

DATA Digital Accountability and Transparency Act

DCT Development to Certification Timeline

DESDynI Deformation, Ecosystem Structure and Dynamics of Ice

DISCOVERAQDeriving Information on Surface Conditions from COlumn and VERtically Resolved 

Observations Relevant to Air Quality

DLP Data Loss Prevention

DLR German Aerospace Center

DLS deployable launch system

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid

DoD Department of Defense

DOE Department of Energy

DOI Department of Interior

DOJ Department of Justice

DOL Department of Labor

DORIS Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite

DPMC Directorate Program Management Council

DPR Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar

DRE discrete roughness elements

DRIVE Diversify, Realize, Integrate, Venture, Educate

DSAC Deep Space Atomic Clock

DSCC Deep Space Communications Complex

DSCOVR Deep Space Observatory

DSI Deutsches SOFIA Institut

DSN Deep Space Network

DSOC Deep Space Optical Communication

DSS Deep Space Station

DUNS Data Universal Numbering System

ECAST Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology

ECOSTRESS ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station

ECR Environmental Compliance and Restoration

eCryo Evolvable Cryogenics

EFT Exploration Flight Test

EGS Exploration Ground Systems

EHRI Enterprise HR Integration

EHRS Electronic Health Records System

EICC EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee

ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-5

EM Exploration Mission

EO-1 Earth Observing-1

EONS Education Opportunities in NASA STEM

eOPF electronic Official Personnel Folder

EOS Earth Observation Systems

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

EPIC Earth Poly-Chromatic Imaging Camera

EPSCoR Experimental Project To Stimulate Competitive Research

EQM Engineering Qualification Model

ERA Environmentally Responsible Aviation

ERBS Earth Radiation Budget Science

ERT Exploration Research and Technology

ESA European Space Agency

ESD Exploration Systems Development

ESDN Edison Demonstration of Smallsat Networks

ESM Earth Systematic Missions

ESSP Earth System Science Pathfinder

ESTEEM Earth Systems, Technology and Energy Education for MUREP

ESTO Earth Science Technology Office

ESTP Earth Science Technology Program

ETD Exploration Technology Development

ETS2 E-Gov Travel Service 2

EUL Enhanced Use Leasing

EUMETSAT European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

EUS Exploration Upper Stage

EVI Earth Venture Instruments

EVM Earth Venture small Missions

EX Explorers

FAA Federal Aviation Administration

FDC Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities

FDMS Federal Docket Management System

FFATA Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act

FFI Forsvarets Forskning Institute

FGS Fine Guidance Sensor

FIRST For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

FIT Financial Innovation and Transformation

FMLoB Financial Management Lines of Business

FO Follow-On

FOC Full operational capability

FPB Flight Planning Board
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-6

FPI Fast Plasma Investigation

FPPS Federal Personnel and Payroll System

FRR Flight Readiness Review

FY Fiscal Year

G-3 Gulfstream 3

GALEX Galaxy Evolution Explorer

GCIS Global Change Information System

GEDI Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Lidar

GEMS Gravity and Extreme Magnetism

GEO-CAPE GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events

GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences

GIS Geographic Information System

GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment

GMAO Global Modeling and Assimilation Office

GNC Guidance, Navigation, and Control

GOLD Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk

GPM Global Precipitation Measurement

GPS Global Positioning System

GPSP Global Positioning System-Payload

GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment

GRAIL Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory

GRC Glenn Research Center

GRC-PBS Glenn Research Center Plum Brook Station

GRIFEX GEO-CAPE Readout Integrated Circuit Experiment

GSA General Services Administration

GSDO Ground Systems Development and Operations Program Office

GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center

GSRT GSFC System Review Team

HAWC+ High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera

HBCU Historically Black Colleges and Universities

HECC High End Computing Capability

HEEET Heat shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology

HEO Human Exploration and Operations

HEOMD Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate

HF High Frequency

HHS Department of Health and Human Services

HIAD Hypersonic Inflatable Aeroshell Decelerator

HICO Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean

HIS Heavy Ion Sensor

HITL Human-In-The-Loop
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-7

HMI Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager

HMTA Health and Medical Technical Authority

HMV Heavy Maintenance Visit

HP3 Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package

HQ Headquarters

HR Human resources

HRP Human Research Program

HS-3 Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel

HSFO Human Space Flight Operations

HSI Hispanic-Serving Institutions

HVAC Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning

HyspIRI Hyperspectral and Infrared Imager

I&T Integration & Test

I3P Infrastructure Integration Program

IAA Interagency Agreement

IADS Integrated Arrival/Departure/Surface

IAE Integrated Acquisition Environment

IASP Integrated Aviation Systems Program

IBEX Interstellar Boundary Explorer

ICESat-2 Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2

ICON Ionospheric Connection Explorer

IDIQ indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity

IDS Intrusion Detection Systems

ILT Instructor-Led Training

IMC International Mission Contributions

InSight Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport

INTA National Institute of Aerospace Technology

InVEST In-space Validation of Earth Science Technology

IOC Initial operating capability

IPAO Independent Program Assessment Office

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IR Infrared

IRIS Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph

IRS Internal Revenue Service

ISARA Integrated Solar Array and Reflectarray Antenna

ISCM Information Security Continuous Monitoring

ISERV ISS SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System

ISIM Integrated Science Instrument Module

ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation

ISRS In-Space Robotic Servicing
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-8

ISRU in-situ resource utilization

ISS International Space Station

IT information technology

I-trek I turn research into empowerment and knowledge

ITSEC-EDW IT Security Enterprise Data Warehouse

IV&V Independent Verification and Validation

JAXA Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency

JCL Joint Confidence Level

JEL jacking, equalizing, and leveling

JEM-EF Japanese Experiment Module – Exposed Facility

JHU Johns Hopkins University

JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory

JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System

JSC Johnson Space Center

JUICE Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

JWST James Webb Space Telescope

KaBOOM Ka-Band Objects Observation and Monitoring

KaRIn Ka-band Radar Interferometer

KBOs Kuiper Belt objects

KDP Key Decision Point

KOA Keck Observatory Archive

KSC Kennedy Space Center

LADEE Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer

LaRC Langley Research Center

LBTI Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer

LC Launch Complex

LCC Life Cycle Cost

LCPSO Land Cover Project Science Office

LCRD Laser Communications Relay Demo

LDCM Landsat Data Continuity Mission

LDSD Low Density Supersonic Decelerator

LEARN Leading Edge Aeronautics Research for NASA

LED Light-Emitting Diode

LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LEO Low Earth Orbit

LH2 Liquid Hydrogen

LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging

LIS Lightning Imaging Sensor

LISA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

LLCD Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-9

LMSSC Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company

LoB Lines of Business

LOX liquid oxygen

LRA Laser Retro-reflector Assembly

LRD Launch Readiness Date

LRO Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

LRR Launch Readiness Review

LVC-DE Live Virtual Constructive-Distributed Environment

LWS Living With a Star

MAA MUREP Aerospace Academy

MAF Michoud Assembly Facility

MAIANSE MUREP for American Indian and Alaskan Native STEM Engagement

MARSIS Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding

MAVEN Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN

MCI Minority University Research and Education Program Community College 

Curriculum Improvement

MCR Mission Concept Review

MDR Mission Design Review

MEaSUREs Making Earth System data records for Use in Research Environments

MEDLI Mars Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation

MEI Minority University Research and Education Program Educator Institute

MER Mars Exploration Rover

MERLIN Mesoscale Eastern Range Lightning Information Network

MERRA Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications

MESSENGER MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging

MIDEX Medium-Class Explorers

MIRI Mid Infrared Instrument

MIRO MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity

MIs minority institutions

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MLCC multi-layer ceramic capacitor

MLTI mesosphere-lower thermosphere-ionosphere

MMOD MicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris

MMS Magnetospheric Multiscale

MO Missions of Opportunity

MO&I Mission Operations and Integration

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MOM Mars Orbiter Mission

MOMA-MS Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer Mass Spectrometer

MOO Multi-Mission Operations
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-10

MOXIE Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment

MPAR Major Program Annual Report

MPCV Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle

MPRAT Mission Profile Risk Assessment Test

MRO Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

MSE MUREP STEM Engagement

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center

MSI Minority-Serving Institutions

MSL Measurement Systems Laboratory

mths months

MUREP Minority University Research and Education Program

MUSES Multi-User System for Earth Sensing

MUSS Multi User Systems and Support

N/A not applicable

NAC National Agency Check

NAS National Airspace System

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NCCS NASA Center for Climate Simulations

NCRP National Council on Radiation Protection

NEACC NASA Enterprise Applications Competency Center

NEN Near Earth Network

NEO near-Earth objects

NEOO Near-Earth Object Observations

NESC NASA Engineering and Safety Center

NextGen Next Generation Air Transportation System

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act

NIAC NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts

NICER Neutron star Interior Composition ExploreR

NIFS NASA Internship, Fellowship, and Scholarship

NIH National Institutes of Health

NIRCam Near Infrared Camera

NIRISS Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph

NISAR NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar

NISN NASA Integrated Services Network

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

NLCs noctilucent clouds

NLS United Launch Services

NMO NASA Management Office

NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

NOx mono nitrogen oxide
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-11

NPP National Polar-orbiting Partnership

NRA NASA Research Announcement

NRC National Research Council

NREP NanoRacks Exposure Platform

NRPTA National Rocket Propulsion Test Alliance

NSBRI National Space Biomedical Research Institute

NSF National Science Foundation

NSSC NASA Shared Services Center

NSSDC National Space Science Data Center

NSTP PPD National Space Policy Launch Infrastructure and Modernization Plan

NuSTAR Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array

O&M operations and maintenance

OA Office of Audits

OCAMS OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite

OCHMO Office of Chief Health Medical Officer

OCO Orbiting Carbon Observatory

OCSD Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration

OCT Office of the Chief Technologist

OE Office of Education

OI Office of Investigations

OIG Office of Inspector General

OLA OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter

OLI Operational Land Imager

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OMDA Other Missions and Data Analysis

OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument

OMPS Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite

ONERA French Office National d’Etudes et Recherches Aérospatiales

OPM Office of Personnel Management

Orb-# Orbital Sciences Commercial Resupply Services #

ORR Operational Readiness Review

OSC Orbital Sciences Corporation

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSIRIS-REx Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith 

Explorer

OSMA Office of Safety and Mission Assurance

OSTM Ocean Surface Topography Mission

OSTST Ocean Surface Topography Science Team

OTE Optical Telescope Element

OTES OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-12

OVIRS OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer

OVWST Ocean Vector Winds Science Team

PACE Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem

PAMSS Planetary Atmosphere Minor Species Sensor

Pan-STARRS Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Reporting System

PB President’s Budget

PCA Physicians’ comparability allowance

PCOS Physics of the Cosmos

PDA progressive damage analysis

PDR preliminary design review

PDS Planetary Data System

PEP Particle Environment Package

PI Principal Investigator

PIR Program Implementation Review

PIV Personal Identity Verification

P.L. Public Law

POWER Protecting Our Workers and Ensuring Reemployment

PSL Propulsion Systems Laboratory

Pu plutonium

PV Planetary Ventures, LLC

QM-1 qualification motor 1

QuikSCAT Quick Scatterometer

R&D Research and Development

R&T Research and Technology

RAD Radiation Assessment Detector

RAIF Research Aircraft Integration Facility

RAO Right Anterior Oblique

RAP Robotics Alliance Project

RBA Reflector Boom Assembly

RBI Radiation Budget Instrument

REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation

RESOLVE Regolith and Environment Science and Oxygen and Lunar Volatiles Extraction

REXIS Regolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer

RF radio frequency

RFU Radio Frequency Unit

RHESSI Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager

RID Research Infrastructure Development

RIME Radar for Icy Moons Exploration

RISE Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment

ROD Record of Decision
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-13

ROSES Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences

RPO rendezvous and proximity operations

RPS Radioisotope Power Systems

RPT Rocket Propulsion Testing

RRM Robotic Refueling Mission

RRS Research Range Services

RS Reflected Solar

RTCA Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics

RTG Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator

RVLT Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology

SAC-D Satellite for Scientific Applications-D

SAFFIRE Spacecraft Fire Experiment

SAGE Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment

SAM Sample Analysis at Mars (Planetary Science)

SAM I Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (Earth Science)

SAO Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar

SARDA Spot and Runway Departure Advisor

SASO Safe Autonomous Systems Operations

SBA Small Business Administration

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

SCaN Space Communications and Navigation

SCAP Strategic Capabilities Asset Program

SDO Solar Dynamics Observatory

SDR System Design Review

SEA STEM Education and Accountability

SEAP STEM Education and Accountability Projects

SEIS Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure

SEP Solar Electric Propulsion

SERENA Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances

SET Space Environment Testbeds

SETAG Space Environmental Testing Assets Group

SEWP Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement

SEXTANT Station Explorer X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology

SFCO Space Flight Crew Operations

SFS Space and Flight Support

SGP Space Geodesy project

SGSS Space Network Ground Segment Sustainment

SIM Spectral Irradiance Monitor

SIPS Science Investigator-led Processing Systems
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-14

SIR System Integration Review

SL-8 SpaceLoft-8

SLI Sustainable Land Imaging

SLPSRA Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications

SLPSRAD Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division

SLS Space Launch System

SMA Safety and Mission Assurance

SMAP Soil Moisture Active/Passive

SMART NAS Shadow Mode Assessments Using Realistic Technologies for the National Airspace 

System

SMD Science Mission Directorate

SMEX Small Explorers

SMS Safety and Mission Success

SNC Sierra Nevada Corporation

SOC Solar Orbiter Collaboration

SOFIA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

SOHO Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

SoloHI Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager

SORCE Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment

SOST Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology

SOT Solar Optical Telescope

Space Grant National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program

SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Company

SPB Solar Pressure Balloon

SPDF Space Physics Data Facility

SPHERES Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, and Experimental Satellites

SPOC Science Processing and Operations Center

SPP Solar Probe Plus

SpX-# Space Exploration Technologies Company Commercial Resupply Services #

SR&T Strategic Research and Technology

SRB Strategic Review Board

SRC Sample Return Capsule

SRP supersonic retrorocket propulsion

SRR Systems Requirement Review

SSC Stennis Space Center

SSERVI Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute

SSFL Santa Susana Field Laboratory

SSL Space Systems Loral

SSMS Safety, Security, and Mission Services

ST Space Technology
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-15

STEM science, technology, education, and mathematics

STEREO Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory

STIP Strategic Technology Investment Plan

STMD Space Technology Mission Directorate

STP Solar Terrestrial Probes

STPH-5 LIS Space Test Program Houston-5 Lightning Imaging System

STScI Space Telescope Science Institute

STTR Small Business Technology Transfer

SWEAP Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons

SWOT Surface Water Ocean Topography

SwRI Southwest Research Institute

SXS Soft X-Ray Spectrometer

TAC Transformative Aeronautics Concepts

TAGSAM Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism

TASEAS Technologies for Assuring Safe Energy and Attitude State

TBD to be determined

TBW truss-braced wing

TCTE Total Solar Irradiance Calibration Transfer Experiment

TCU Tribal Colleges and Universities

TDM Technology Demonstration Missions

TDRS Tracking and Data Relay Satellite

TDT Transonic Dynamics Tunnel

TEMPO Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution

TESS Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite

TFM Traffic Flow Management

TGO Trace Gas Orbiter

THEMIS Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms

THOR Terrestrial HIAD Orbital Reentry

TIM Total Irradiance Monitor

TIMED Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics

TIR-FFD Thermal-Infrared Free-Flyer

TIRS Thermal Infrared Sensor

TMC Technical and Management and Cost

TPS Thermal Protection System

TR&T Targeted Research & Testing

TRACT Transport Rotorcraft Airframe Crash Testbed

TRL Technology Readiness Level

TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission

TSI total solar irradiance

TSIS Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-16

TSS Terminal Sequencing and Spacing

TTT Transformational Tools and Technologies

TWINS Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers

UAS Unmanned Aircraft Systems

UAV unmanned aerial vehicle

UAVSAR Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar

UHB ultra-high bypass

UHF ultra high frequency

UKSA United Kingdom Space Agency

ULA United Launch Alliance

ULS United Launch Services

UNEX University-Class Explorers

UPSS universal propellant servicing system

UPTWT Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel

USAF United States Air Force

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

U.S.C. United States Code

USGCRP US Global Change Research Program

USGS US Geological Survey

USRA Universities Space Research Association

UTM UAS Traffic Management

UVS Ultraviolet Spectrograph

VAB Vehicle Assembly Building

VAC Vertical Assembly Center

VAFB Vandenberg Air Force Base

VIIP visual impairment/intra-cranial pressure

VIIRS Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer

VIL Vehicle Integration and Launch

VSPT Variable-Speed Power Turbine

WANs Wide Area Networks

WASP Web Application Security Program

WBS work breakdown structure

WCF Working Capital Fund

Webb James Webb Space Telescope

WFA Work from Anywhere

WFF Wallops Flight Facility

WFIRST Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope

WISE Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer

WISPR Wide-field Imager for Solar PRobe

WSTF White Sands Test Facility
Reference

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

REF-17

XMM-Newton X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission

ZBOT Zero Boil-Off Tank