InVEST - NASA Earth Science and Technology Office
In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies
Testing the Next Generation of Earth Science Technology
Program Manager – Sachidananda Babu
Through the In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST) program, NASA’s Earth Science Division validates new technologies, measurement concepts and techniques, prior to their inclusion in Earth science missions. The objective of InVEST is to test viability of these concepts in the space environment, especially those attributes that cannot be fully tested on the ground or in airborne systems, to reduce the risk to future Earth science missions.
The validation of new technologies and measurement concepts/techniques in space can significantly reduce the risk to future Earth science
InVEST-17 Projects
NACHOS: Nanosat Atmospheric Chemistry Hyperspectral Observation System
HyTI: Hyperspectral Thermal Imager
SNOOPI: Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation
CTIM: Compact Thermal Irradiance Monitor
InVEST-20 Projects
ACMES: Active Cooling for Multi-spectral Earth Sensors
ARGOS: Aerosol Radiometer for Global Observation
ARCSTONE: Calibration of Lunar Spectral Radiance from Space
MURI: Multiband Uncooled Radiometer Instrument
Getting To Space
There are a number of commercial launch providers entering this field to provide access to space. Several government efforts also provide opportunities for small satellite payloads, including:
NASA Launch Services’
CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) Program
, also known as Educational Launch of Nano-Satellites (ELaNa)
The Space Evaluation Research Board (SERB) within the DoD
Space Test Program (STP)
US Government Rideshare Working Group (USGRWG)
Solicitations
InVEST uses the NASA Research Announcement as its investment vehicle. Links to the full solicitations and awards are listed below.
VTA and InVEST Solicitations
Solicitation
Link To Solicitation
Link To Award
Science as a Service RFI
Solicitation
(link)
[not applicable]
InVEST ROSES 2023
Solicitation
(link)
Awarded Projects
InVEST ROSES 2020
Solicitation
(link)
Awarded Projects
InVEST ROSES 2017
Solicitation
(link)
Awarded Projects
InVEST ROSES 2015
Solicitation
(link)
Awarded Projects
InVEST ROSES 2012
Solicitation
(250 K PDF)
Awarded Projects
Space Validation RFI
Solicitation
(link)
[not applicable]
InVEST Project Highlights
Tiny Satellite Sees 'Rainbows' in Clouds
The Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter is the first CubeSat to fly a polarimeter. It's monitoring clouds and aerosols.
Little Satellite Tracks Global Storms
Radar in a CubeSat, or RainCube, uses experimental technology to see storms by detecting rain and snow with novel instruments.
New CubeSat poised to take Earth’s temperature
The Compact Infrared Radiometer in Space instrument on a CubeSat collects, processes and calibrates infrared images to reveal Earth’s temperature for the first time from a small satellite.