NOAA's New Technology Maturation Program

NOAA collaborates closely with NASA on the technology development and acquisition of new Earth observing satellite systems. NOAA’s satellite service is focused on providing operational services to various NOAA line offices. NASA’s heavy focus on science does not always align well with the needs of operational services. In response, NOAA is establishing a Technology Maturation Program (TMP) in order to further optimize new technology for operational Earth observing services. The TMP seeks out promising technology developments that can benefit from targeted support to enhance potential merit for operational deployment. TMP never commits to deploying a technology, but seeks partners within and outside of NOAA to further develop, test and evaluate promising options. The ultimate objective is a lower-cost and higher-performing satellite service that satisfied a larger range of NOAA observing needs.