Our Solicitations
We are focused on creating cutting edge technologies that enable future Earth science research. Over the past 20 years, we’ve funded over 800 projects led by investigators from more than 100 institutions. Our projects aim to revolutionize how scientists study Earth and sometimes make it to the Moon and other planets.
Not sure which Technology Readiness Level (TRL) fits your project?
This NASA Procedural Requirements chart is here to help.
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ESTO’s primary activity is building new technologies. Through open solicitations, we fund projects that have potential for substantially advancing the needs of the Earth science community as laid out in the 2017 Earth Science Decadal Survey. Our principal investigators (PIs) design and develop new components, instruments and information systems for the next generation of science measurements.
Advanced Component Technologies (ACT)
Focus: Component Development
TRL Entry: 2-3
TRL Exit: 3-4
Average Funding (per year): $400k
Duration (years): 3
Next Open Solicitations: Q2 2022, Q2 2024
Instrument Incubator Program – Instrument Concept Demonstration (IIP-ICD)
- Focus: Instrument Concept Demonstration
- TRL Entry: 1-2
- TRL Exit: 2-3
- Average Funding (per year): $500k
- Duration (years): 1.5
- Next Open Solicitations: Q1 2021, Q2 2023, Q2 2025
Instrument Incubator Program – Instrument Development & Demonstration (IIP-IDD)
- Focus: Instrument Development & Demonstration
- TRL Entry: 2-3
- TRL Exit: 4-5
- Average Funding (per year): $1.5M
- Duration (years): 3
- Next Open Solicitations: Q1 2021, Q2 2023, Q2 2025
Advanced Information Systems Technology – Analytic Center Frameworks (AIST-ACF)
- Focus: Data Analysis and Modeling
- TRL Entry: 2-4
- TRL Exit: 5-6
- Average Funding (per year): $650k
- Duration (years): 2
- Next Open Solicitations: Q3 2021, Q2 2023, Q2 2025
Advanced Information Systems Technology –New Observing Systems (AIST-NOS)
- Focus: Space System Architecture and Management
- TRL Entry: 2-4
- TRL Exit: 5-6
- Average Funding (per year): $650k
- Duration (years): 2
- Next Open Solicitations: Q3 2021, Q2 2023, Q2 2025
In-Space Validation of Earth Science Technologies (InVEST)
Focus: Validation in Space
TRL Entry: 5-6
TRL Exit: 9
Average Funding (per year): $2M
Duration (years): 3
Next Open Solicitations: Q4 2023
Sustainable Land Imaging – Technology: Advanced Technology Demonstrations (SLI-T ATD)
- Focus: Advanced Prototypes/Instrument Development for near-term LandSat
- TRL Entry: 3-5
- TRL Exit: 6+
- Average Funding (per year): $1.4M
- Duration (years): 5
- Next Open Solicitations: Q2 2022, Q2 2025
Sustainable Land Imaging – Technology: Technology Investments (SLI-T TI)
- Focus: Component/Instrument Development for future LandSat
- TRL Entry: 2-3
- TRL Exit: 5
- Average Funding (per year): $300k
- Duration (years): 3
- Next Open Solicitations: Q2 2022, Q2 2025
Solicitation expected in 2021.