The Research Platform is a ready-to-use science computing workspace in the cloud. You open it in your web browser at rp.sciencecloud.nasa.gov, and you can write and run code, use large amounts of data, and work with AI help — without buying, building, or maintaining any computers.
It is a service inside the Science Cloud. It is open to any SMD-funded project, and it has been operational since 15 August 2026.
User documentation
| Page | What it answers |
|---|---|
| What is the Research Platform? | What it is, and what problem it solves |
| Research Platform Current and Future Capabilities | Current capabilities, and the roadmap without dates |
| How To Get Access to the Research Platform | For a new project, for a new member, and for partners |
| Research Platform Billing and Costs | Funding, what is charged, and what is not |
| Quick Start Guide: The Research Platform | A walkthrough, in order, from login to shutting down |
| The tools inside JupyterLab — a reference | The same ground, one section per tool, with examples |
| Working with big data without running out of memory | Why kernels die, and the habits that stop it |
| Working together on the same notebook | Real-time collaboration: how it works and what it costs |
| Notebook Intelligence and your LLMs | The AI assistant, and how to connect a model |
| RPAdmin — the admin console | What a project admin does there |
| Create any lesson with Notebook Intelligence | Turn any topic or document into a short course of notebooks |
| Bring your own notebook image | Run notebooks on a software image your project built |
Still being written
- How the platform is built and deployed: The open source parts, and Terraform.
- Other things worth knowing: Support, limits, and good practice.
Need help?
Email support@sciencecloud.nasa.gov, or visit the Science Cloud Support Portal.