NASA's Earth-observing satellite missions track features such as aerosols, sea level, land cover and cloud cover over decades; sustaining this data record requires anticipating potential mission disruptions. Lindsey Jacobson, a Pathways intern in engineering, works with NASA’s Earth Science Strategic Integration Environment (NESSIE) team at Langley Research Center to develop tools that anticipate gaps and propose options for maintaining data continuity.

NASA’s satellite portfolio includes dozens of missions measuring specific planetary parameters, and end‑user communities rely on consistent data products. Uncertainty about mission lifetimes, on‑orbit events and schedule changes can create coverage gaps, prompting the need for proactive planning.

Jacobson’s responsibilities involve supporting the NESSIE team’s effort to provide senior leadership with options for mitigating data gaps. She has returned to Langley each summer since 2022 while completing a mechanical engineering dissertation at North Carolina State University. “The way we do Earth science is changing,” she said. “Commercial companies are contributing data alongside government agencies, new space agencies are entering the field, and innovative technologies are emerging. Keeping pace with these shifts is as important as any calculation.” Her focus is building analysis tools that give the team a “foresight ability,” allowing them to anticipate possible changes across the satellite portfolio and prepare response strategies. She likened the approach to hurricane preparedness, noting that pre‑positioned resources enable a swift response when warnings are issued. Jacobson’s work draws on her graduate research on complex, long‑lived infrastructure such as the electric grid, emphasizing the need to modify and improve existing systems rather than rebuild them. Engineers new to NASA may find the adaptability required in the agency’s evolving landscape more challenging than the technical tasks themselves. AI tools are increasingly used in her team’s workflow, reflecting Langley’s tradition of pioneering technology adoption.

Jacobson said the team proactively suggests strategies and alternatives for potential disruptions, ensuring that options are understood before any change occurs. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, which she read during the pandemic, influenced her view of space exploration as a unifying perspective.