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Sciences and Exploration Directorate
Operational

Surface Biology and Geology (SBG)

Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) is a Directed Observable mission from the 2017 Decadal Survey. A wide swath visible-to-shortwave infrared imaging spectrometer and a wide-swath thermal imager will provide mow-the-lawn global coverage of Earth’s terrestrial, coastal and open ocean surfaces as well as atmospheric conditions. SBG addresses decadal survey science and applications focal areas including snow, coastal ecosystems, vegetation health, volcanic activity, and mineralogy. Launch readiness date is approximately late 2020s.

Launch Date

November 2028

Class

Flight Project

Website

Key Staffs

Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) is a Directed Observable mission from the 2017 Decadal Survey. A wide swath visible-to-shortwave infrared imaging spectrometer and a wide-swath thermal imager will provide mow-the-lawn global coverage of Earth’s terrestrial, coastal and open ocean surfaces as well as atmospheric conditions. SBG addresses decadal survey science and applications focal areas including snow, coastal ecosystems, vegetation health, volcanic activity, and mineralogy. Launch readiness date is approximately late 2020s.

Related Publications

2026. "Topography and functional traits shape the distribution of key shrub plant functional types in low-Arctic tundra.", Frontiers in Plant Science, 16 1724838 [10.3389/fpls.2025.1724838] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Penguin diet from space: Links between sea ice, Antarctic food webs, and population change.", EcoEvoRxiv, [10.32942/x2ks97] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "The influence of forest structural and optical heterogeneity on top of canopy reflectance: A 3D radiative transfer modeling case study based on NEON airborne lidar and imaging spectroscopy.", SSRN, [10.2139/ssrn.5968195] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "Fine-scale vegetation composition and structure shape spatiotemporal variation in surface albedo across a low Arctic tundra landscape.", Environmental Research: Ecology, [10.1088/2752-664x/ae04ef] [Journal Article/Letter]

2025. "The Global Spectra-Trait Initiative: A database of paired leaf spectroscopy and functional traits associated with leaf photosynthetic capacity.", Earth System Science Data, [10.5194/essd-2025-213] [Journal Article/Letter]