+ Home + NASA Home		NASA Headquarters is responsible for determining program direction and content through the strategic planning and budget formulation process. The program office is the interface to the Science Missions Directorate ensuring that program activities and investments support the broader agency when possible. Implementation of the major program elements takes place at the various research center. Ames Research Center is the lead for airborne science mission management. This includes field campaign management and logistics through the Earth Science Project Office, and sensor support and development of interface standards through the Airborne Science and Technology Laboratory (formerly the Airborne Sensor Facility). Ames manages the airborne science flight request process, future mission and platforms requirements definitions under the Airborne Science Office. Goddard’s Wallops Flight Facility is the lead for managing the catalog aircraft program and safety overview of contracted aircraft. Even though the aircraft may reside at other facilities, Wallops will serve as the main point of contact for funding and tasking of the different platforms. Wallops will continue the work in the field of small class Uninhabited Aerial Systems (UAS) research. Wallops is still operating the low altitude heavy lift P-3B aircraft, and is managing the cooperative agreement for the transition and operation of the DC–8 by the University of North Dakota. Dryden Flight Research Center is the lead for new technology and prototype aircraft. The focus at Dryden is on advanced mission platform technologies, and UAS development. The New Platform Technology program element is collecting requirements and building community support for UAS under the civil UAS assessment. The Earth Science Capabilities Demonstration Program is responsible for supporting science missions through the use of large class tactical UAS platforms. Dryden continues to support access to high altitude research through the use of conventional aircraft, including the ER-2 and G-III. Dryden is supporting the DC-8 transition with safety and operations oversight.
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