Prior to the launch of the PACE satellite in February 2024, there first had to be concepts, prototypes, and testing before the mission itself could come to life. The Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) provided funding for new technology such as "the Ocean Radiometer for Carbon Assessment (ORCA) instrument, which ultimately became PACE’s primary research tool: the Ocean Color instrument (OCI)" or funding for AirHARP, which led to the development of HARP2. A recent article titled "NASA’s ORCA, AirHARP Projects Paved Way for PACE to Reach Space" details innovations and the importance of ESTO to the development of future discoveries.