Scientific Research & Development
Advancing Science One Discovery at a Time
Government agencies and institutions trust KBR with their most valuable, cutting-edge research and to push the boundaries of what is possible. From payload development to environmental monitoring and biology experiments, KBR experts work on some of the world's most interesting and important scientific challenges of our day.
Areas of Expertise
Life Science
Earth Science
Life Science
KBR pushes the boundaries of what can be done and where — from the most remote places on Earth to the outer limits of space. With services ranging from biomedical as well as atmospheric and environmental monitoring of habitats to health science, human research and laboratory management, customers rely on KBR to pioneer advances in human performance, space medicine and earth science.
Every day, KBR is furthering an understanding of human physiology and extreme environments through exhaustive research, training, medical care, scientific testing and technology development. Why? Because the more we understand how the human body adapts to forces like microgravity and psychological stress, the better we can develop and refine measures to counteract those pressures on the body, which better prepare our clients for the future of flight, whether in air or space.
We perform data analysis for a broad range of life sciences, from human spaceflight and occupational medicine to the effects of extreme aviation and humane experiments on animals. Our work includes developing specialized hardware to assess fitness and conducting extensive performance and cognition testing in extreme environments, like underwater submersion and high acceleration. KBR’s scientists, medical professionals, technicians, mission payload developers and operations personnel also conduct scientific research and applied studies ranging from radiation biophysics and toxicology to immunology, neurosciences and nutrition – some work is even done on the International Space Station. As a part of KBR’s Zero Harm culture, we understand the risks associated with these research activities and have developed countermeasures to minimize dangers to all living beings at all costs.
Earth Science
For more than 30 years, KBR has enabled the tracking of environmental monitoring, seismic activity and biological, chemical and nuclear threats. The world’s top government agencies trust us to help watch and safeguard some of the world’s most unpredictable environments and natural phenomena. From developing the system that identifies hazardous weather systems and alerts those in danger to maintaining the Global Seismographic Network (GSN), KBR scientists and engineers are changing how we learn about our planet and protect those who inhabit it.
Throughout the past 30 years, KBR has worked with government agencies, including NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support their Earth and planetary science and data processing, analysis and visualization operations.
KBR’s full spectrum of services covers solar and space plasma physics, astrophysics and astronomy, planetary studies, oceanography, seismology, geodynamics and solid Earth geophysics. We also support the acquisition, archival, processing and distribution of remote-sensing data from satellites, which aids first responders, intelligence, agriculture, academia and research communities.
KBR is integral in the work for the USGS’s Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, which is responsible for the study of land change and production of land change products used by researchers, resource managers and policy makers around the world. KBR develops and operates the EROS Landsat satellite program ground system and maintains the largest civilian collection of images of the Earth’s land surface.
John Clemenson Landsat Deputy Program Manager
"The space and related remote sensing technology transition across multiple platforms over the years is remarkable. The earliest spaceborne satellite missions dropped film in canisters that were parachuted down for specialized aircraft to catch mid-air, then there were the digital downlink and on-prem processing years, and now everything is moving to the cloud. We have amassed an enormous amount of data at EROS — we're in excess of more than 10 PB of Landsat data—of the world's land masses. This is a very exciting journey and I'm honored to represent our EROS TSSC team in being a part of this work."
Why KBR
KBR's accomplished team of scientists, physicians, technicians and operations personnel collaborates globally to support our clients' diverse set of scientific pursuits. We cover a broad spectrum of biology, ranging from neuroscience and nutrition to toxicology, immunology and radiation biophysics. Our expertise extends to more than 15 NASA and military laboratories, where we manage specialized test facilities and conduct applied biomedical research in space. We also provide essential support to key governmental organizations like NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute, the Astrobiology Institute and the Aeronautics Research Institute. From a sustainability perspective, KBR's work with Landsat data informs critical decisions regarding wildlife habitat conservation, wildfire management and extreme weather events. Moreover, KBR's biomedical experience encompasses clinical testing and science experiments in some of the most complex and prestigious locations, from Antarctica to the International Space Station and Aquarius, the world's only underwater research station.
For more than 30 years, KBR has enabled the tracking of environmental monitoring, seismic activity and biological, chemical and nuclear threats.
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M9511-2025-KBR-10-2025