Say “NASA” and most people immediately think “space exploration.” But space also offers a unique vantage point for observations of Earth, and NASA devotes significant resources to scientific projects aimed at understanding our own planet and our impact on it. This is the first of three articles about NASA’s Earth-centric efforts and the role of information technology in them. Analysis of raw data has been important for years, but the most powerful computing technologies are now being used at NASA for modeling natural systems, such as the three-dimensional structure of lightning bolts.
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NASA: Looking Back at Earth
Posted by: David Halperin December 6, 2003 02:00 AMSay “NASA” and most people immediately think “space exploration.” But space also offers a unique vantage point for observations of Earth, and NASA devotes significant resources to scientific projects aimed at understanding our own planet and our impact on it. This is the first of three articles about NASA’s Earth-centric efforts and the role of information technology in them. Analysis of raw data has been important for years, but the most powerful computing technologies are now being used at NASA for modeling natural systems, such as the three-dimensional structure of lightning bolts.