The Canopy Height And Glacier Elevation mission: a next generation topographic concept for ecosystem and cryospheric science (CHANGE)

Completed TRL 4 (started at 4, targeting 4)

Description

This project will conduct initial trades in support of a future mission to satisfy measurement requirements for ice topography (glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice) as well as measurement of vegetation canopy structure. The concept involves combining space borne lidar with dedicated imagery from the same space-based platform.

Benefits

This mission concept will ensure the ability to continue monitoring the changing topography of our polar regions as well as understand and characterize the every changing 3-d canopy and forest structure globally.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Lasers
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Julia W Breed — julia.w.breed@nasa.gov
Matt Mcgill — Matthew.J.McGill@nasa.gov
Thomas A Neumann — thomas.neumann@nasa.gov
Bruce D Cook — bruce.cook@nasa.gov
Douglas C Morton — douglas.morton@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.