This award is part of a Memorandum of Agreement between the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) and the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The funding in this award will allow NESDIS to expand a broad area announcement (BAA) for solar wind mission studies to NSF requirements for telecommunications support of South Pole Station. The NSF has a requirement for real-time data relay from South Pole Station that is not served by commercial communications satellites due to the limitations of geostationary orbits. The studies to be conducted will explore the feasibility of using solar wind technologies for station-keeping of a communications satellite to provide continuous communications coverage for South Pole Station.
Program recommends funding in the amount of $50,000.
