Geolocation for The Canopy Height And Glacier Elevation (CHanGE) mission: a pathway to commercial data fusion

Completed TRL 5 (started at 5, targeting 5)

Description

The CHanGE concept is directly focused on the Earth System Explorers (ESE) class of missions defined in the 2017 Earth Science Decadal Survey. This IRAD will support development of the CHanGE geolocation error budget that allows us to maximize data fusion potential with commercial imagery for both geolocation and radiometric refinement. In parallel, we will develop the top-level geolocation error budget for the mission lidar architecture. Together, these results will inform the comprehensive pointing and stability requirements for the CHanGE observatory.

Benefits

The overall geolocation requirements will materially drive the cost and complexity of the CHanGE spacecraft bus. The above studies will be able to define the Level-2 and Level-3 mission and spacecraft attitude and position requirements, which will allow the team to evaluate vendor proposals.
This IRAD will enhance the CHanGE concept by identifying the top-level mission geolocation requirements that will inform both the instrument design and the spacecraft capabilities.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2021-10-01
End date	2022-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Ian S Adams — ian.s.adams@nasa.gov
Julia W Breed — julia.w.breed@nasa.gov
Christopher S Rudasill-neigh — christopher.s.neigh@nasa.gov
Anthony J Martino — anthony.j.martino@nasa.gov
Thomas A Neumann — thomas.neumann@nasa.gov
Vibart S Scott — stan.scott@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.