Nasa Signs Earth and Space Science Studies Contract

Nasa has awarded a cooperative agreement to University Space Research Association in Columbia, Maryland, US, to facilitate experimental, analytical and theoretical research in support of its Earth and space science objectives.

Under the agreement, Nasa will provide funding of $20m a year and a total of $95.8m to Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR).

This agreement runs from 11 May 2011 to 10 May 2016, with an option to extend it for an additional five years if necessary.

The research will be conducted by scientists at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland, and other research institutions that have been assigned to GESTAR.

GESTAR studies and investigations will enhance cooperative relationships among Nasa, academia, not-for-profit scientific organisations and government experimental research programmes in concert with Goddard's Sciences and Exploration Directorate.