NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington awarded Earth and Space Research, Corvallis, Ore., a grant to support the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite program. The maximum grant value is $549,404.

The primary purpose of the satellite is to record ice sheet elevation changes, examine relationships between observed ice changes and polar climate and improve estimates of their contributions to global sea level rise. The satellite's atmospheric measurements are also providing fundamentally new information on the precise vertical structure of clouds and aerosols.

NASA solicited investigations that would use the unique capabilities of the mission to explore the vertical characteristics of the Earth's surface, atmosphere and associated processes. These characteristics include ice sheet, ice cap and glacier mass balance; sea ice thickness; vertical distribution of clouds and aerosols; detailed topography and vertical structure of vegetation.

The research also supports the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA's long- term plan to return astronauts to the moon and extend exploration to Mars and beyond.

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/home