David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington, DC                April 25, 2000
(Phone:  202/358-1730)

RELEASE:  00-65

NASA DEVELOPING SPACE-BASED "SENSOR WEB" -- 
AN "INTERNET" FOR EARTH OBSERVING SATELLITES

     NASA is taking the first steps toward Internet-like 
connectivity among its future Earth sensing satellites with the 
funding of 30 research proposals from industry, academia, 
government and NASA centers in Advanced Information System 
Technology.  

     Known as "Sensor Web," this is the first in a series of 
information technology research initiatives that will help NASA's 
Office of Earth Sciences solve the massive challenge of 
collecting, processing, routing and storing Earth science 
measurement data.  Of the 117 proposals submitted, the 30 selected 
cover a variety of topics ranging from satellite on-board 
processing, data collection and analysis, information transmission 
and wireless networks, to satellite platform control.

     "With the increasing number of Earth observing satellites 
planned over the next decade, information technology will be the 
key to collecting and distributing Earth science data and 
information products to the global science community," said Dr. 
Ghassem Asrar, Associate Administrator for Earth Sciences at NASA 
Headquarters, Washington, DC. 

     "The concept of integrating a constellation of Earth 
observing satellites into a cohesive network of measurement 
instruments is what we call the 'Sensor Web.'  It is similar to 
the Internet in that scientists and other users will have access 
to any on-orbit sensors and be able to direct and control those 
sensors in the same manner as we access information on the 
Internet today," Asrar said.  "This activity exemplifies our 
commitment as an Agency to the development of cutting-edge 
technologies to benefit our science community and the nation as a 
whole."

     The Sensor Web concept also will take full advantage of the 
revolution occurring in information and telecommunications 
technologies for direct delivery of space-based Earth observations 
to the end-user at the cost of placing a long distance telephone 
call, according to Asrar.

     Research funded by this program will proceed over three 
years.  During that period, a second increment of research 
projects will be initiated, focusing on other aspects of 
information technology essential to the next generation of Earth 
science missions.  When fully implemented, an unprecedented amount 
of scientific data on the Earth's atmosphere, land and oceans will 
be available for study and public use.

     NASA's Office of Earth Sciences is dedicated to the long-term 
study of how human-induced and natural changes effect our global 
environment.
 
     The 30 research proposals selected by the Advanced 
Information System Technology program will have a total value of 
approximately $26 million over a three year period and will 
involve government, industry and university partners in 12 states 
and the District of Columbia.  A description of the selected 
proposals can be found on the Internet at URL: 

                  http://earth.nasa.gov/nra

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