When confronted with a challenge, it’s often helpful to achieve some distance from the problem. By taking a few steps back, we’re suddenly able to take in a broader and more holistic view of the matter than we can with our noses pressed right up against it. It’s perhaps in this spirit that NASA, more commonly thought of as explorers of outer space, is teaming up with other public agencies and members of the private sector as well to address critical challenges that we face right here on Earth. …