NASA Updates Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program

NASA's Earth Science Division has been exploring the use of commercial satellite data through the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program. Established to advance Earth science research and application objectives, the program aims to identify and acquire cost-effective data from commercial providers. During a recent webinar, speakers shared an update on the program's activities and progress. They covered the range of data modalities available, introduced a new calibration and validation initiative, and provided updates on the data evaluation process. The program leadership also discussed end-user licensing agreements, data availability and access, and new data archive and tasking capabilities through the Satellite Data Explorer. CSDA vendors, including Airbus, BlackSky, and Planet, were also mentioned. The webinar aimed to engage users and provide new learning resources. The CSDA program continues to explore the use of commercial satellite data to supplement NASA's Earth observations.