Sustainability

Sustainability is an important goal of Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) from an institutional perspective, as well as within specific Program Areas. WFF also supports sustainability goals on the center (Goddard Space Flight Center [GSFC]), agency, and national (Executive Order 14057, Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability) levels.

What is sustainability?

Sustainability means ensuring that the impacts of NASA operations are compatible with the environmental systems that support us. As a global leader in Earth Science, NASA's GSFC, including WFF, has a unique understanding and obligation to lead the way in identifying and implementing strategies to ensure continued human progress, productivity, and prosperity while sustaining natural species and systems.

What is the plan for sustainability?

The GSFC plan for sustainability includes five objectives:

Reduce Energy Consumption
Manage Water Impacts
Reduce Waste
Promote Transportation Alternatives
Support Local Ecosystems

Information on projects that support these objectives can be found in the GSFC Sustainability Report and Implementation Plan.

What is WFF doing to promote sustainability?

WFF supports the sustainability goals listed above, and others, through a number of its programs.

Energy and Sustainability Management
The WFF Facilities Management Branch (FMB) coordinates LEED certification for facilities, transitioning from petroleum to propane to geothermal systems, increasing renewable energy use, or promoting EnergyStar systems. For more information, contact David Katzenberg or Kelly Busquets.
Air and Water Quality
The WFF Environmental Office monitors pollutant emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, emissions controls on equipment, water conservation and quality, and ozone-depleting substance management. For more information, contact Michael Bonsteel (Air) or Julie Shane (Water).
Pollution Prevention and Green Purchasing
The WFF Environmental Office collaborates with the NASA Headquarters Technology Evaluation for Environmental Risk Mitigation and Recycling and Sustainable Acquisition programs to identify, test, and evaluate environmentally preferable materials and chemicals (e.g., launch system coatings), including biobased products. For more information, contact Doug Bruner.
Climate Change
The WFF Environmental Office, FMB and Airborne Science Program each use their unique skills and capabilities to support WFF climate change goals. These include greenhouse gas emissions tracking; reduction of pollutant emissions through administrative controls and increased use of lower emission systems; ground-truthing of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission; airborne science efforts such as the Carbon in Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment and Operation IceBridge missions.

Contact Us

To contact us with your ideas, comments, or questions, please email us at kelly.m.busquets@nasa.gov or call Kelly Busquets at x2041.