National Aeronautics and Space Administration

INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (ISTD/Code 550)

Welcome to the Instrument Systems and Technology Division (ISTD) located within the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate (AETD) at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland. Please explore these pages to learn more about who we are, what we do, and why this is such an exciting and rewarding place to work!

Vision

To enable scientific discovery and exploration by consistently performing at a high level in designing and building complex scientific instruments within requirement, schedule and budget.

Mission

The Instrument Systems and Technology Division (ISTD) is involved in the full life cycle of flight instrument development providing engineering expertise in the areas of optics, cryogenics and fluids, detector systems, lasers and electro-optics, and microwave instruments. With approximately 200 engineers, physicists and technicians, the ISTD team collaborates with international science and exploration communities to develop innovative technologies, new measurement techniques, advanced instrument concepts, scientific instrument proposals, and revolutionary flight instruments.

We provide leadership and vision in developing and implementing technology programs, collaborating closely with the science community and other customers to identify new and emerging instrument technology requirements. Our technologies range from subsystems such as optical subsystems, detectors, cryogenic coolers and lasers to complete instruments such as hyper-spectral imagers, high spectral resolution spectrometers, atmospheric sounders, microwave radiometers and Light Imaging, Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems.

What makes the ISTD unique is the strong partnership with the research community. Together, we strive to answer compelling science questions in Astrophysics, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Earth Science. In addition, we partnership with the space exploration, communication and navigation community to develop, demonstrate, and infuse revolutionary technologies in these areas.

The ISTD welcomes collaborations with scientists and engineers from GSFC Directorates, NASA Centers, other government and international agencies, industry, and academia for research, new technology development, and all phases of the instrument development.

Our Work

Find out more about the current, future, and past missions that ISTD personnel support.

Organization

See how the ISTD is organized and the roles of the five branches that make up the Division.

Multimedia

Explore life and work in the ISTD and at GSFC through pictures and videos.

 

Division Management Team

Cynthia Simmons Chief	Pete Maymon Associate Chief	Cathy Long Associate Chief	Anthony Sanders Assistant Chief for Operations

Organization Chart

Contact Us
Main Office: 301-286-7531
Website: Forthcoming