Did you know that the ground beneath our feet is constantly shifting, sometimes in ways we can't even see? Landslides, particularly the slow-moving, deep-seated kind, are a fascinating yet dangerous natural phenomenon. But here's where it gets controversial: understanding their triggers—like seasonal rainfall, river erosion, or even melting ice—could revolutionize how we predict and mitigate these events. And this is the part most people miss: NASA is leading the charge with its Landslide Change Characterization Experiment (LACCE), part of the Earth Venture Suborbital-4 program. This initiative is calling on scientists and researchers to join the LACCE Science Team, tasked with collecting airborne and ground-based data, processing and analyzing it, and developing models to unravel the mysteries of these landslides. But is focusing on slow-moving landslides the best use of resources when more immediate threats exist? We’ll let you decide.
The ROSES-2025 Amendment 34 has officially released the final details for this project, which were previously marked as 'to be determined.' If you're passionate about Earth sciences, mark your calendars: Mandatory Notices of Intent are due by February 27, 2026, and full Proposals must be submitted by April 14, 2026. Starting around January 12, 2025, you can find all the details on the NASA research opportunity homepage at https://solicitation.nasaprs.com/ROSES2025.
For those with burning questions about the LACCE Science Team, reach out to Thorsten Markus at thorsten.markus@nasa.gov. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or a curious beginner, this is your chance to dive into cutting-edge science that could reshape our understanding of the planet's dynamics. So, what do you think—is this the right direction for landslide research, or should we focus elsewhere? Let us know in the comments!
