NASA’s Environment and Energy ‘Blue Marble’ Awards

It has been confirmed that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is operating a 'Blue Marble' award category that recognizes projects and individuals who have shown outstanding performance in the environment and energy fields.

The name Blue Marble comes from a photo of the entire Earth taken by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972. The image of the Earth looking like a blue bead later became a symbolic image of the environmental protection movement.

NASA's Efforts toward Sustainability

Beyond its role as a space exploration agency, NASA also plays an important role in global environmental research and climate change monitoring. Internally, the organization is pursuing sustainability goals such as improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and developing eco-friendly technologies, and the Blue Marble Award is being operated as part of these efforts.

The award is known as an internal program that recognizes innovative projects, research, and individual achievements that have contributed to environmental protection and energy conservation across NASA centers and facilities.

Connection between space technology and the Earth environment

NASA's Earth science research provides key data for understanding global environmental issues such as climate change, sea level rise, and air pollution. Recently, environmental monitoring capabilities have been continuously strengthened by observing the Earth's waterways and oceans from a new perspective through the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) mission.

Internal recognition programs, such as the Blue Marble Awards, help raise environmental awareness across the organization and encourage sustainable operating practices.