As part of the NASA Earth Science Strategic Integration Environment (NESSIE) team at Langley Research Center, Lindsey Jacobson is developing analytical tools designed to provide foresight into the agency's complex portfolio of satellite missions. Her work focuses on identifying potential gaps in data collection caused by mission delays or technical issues, allowing senior leadership to prepare mitigation strategies before problems arise.
Jacobson, a mechanical engineering doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University, joined the agency through the NASA Pathways program. Since 2022, she has divided her time between her academic research and her role at the Virginia-based center. Her approach to managing satellite infrastructure draws parallels to her graduate studies on evolving large-scale systems, such as power grids, which require incremental improvements rather than total replacement.
The NESSIE team’s objective is to ensure the continuous delivery of critical data regarding aerosols, sea levels, and climate patterns to the scientific community. Jacobson likens this proactive planning to preparing for natural disasters: by identifying risks and pre-positioning responses, the agency can avoid reactive decision-making when unexpected events occur on orbit.
Beyond technical challenges, Jacobson notes that the field of Earth science is undergoing a significant transformation due to the rise of commercial data providers and new international space agencies. To remain effective, she emphasizes that NASA must adapt its workflows, including the integration of artificial intelligence, to maintain its leadership in Earth observation.
Source: NASA
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.