NASA has selected seven companies to provide commercial data in support of the space agency’s earth science research program, the agency announced last week.
The Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program (CSDA) – which was established by NASA’s Earth Science Division – aims to acquire Earth observation data and related services from commercial sources for NASA. The CSDA Program was initiated in 2017 with NASA’s Private-Sector Small Constellation Satellite Data Product Pilot Project.
The emphasis of work under this contract will be on data acquired by commercial satellite constellations, affording the means of complementing NASA’s Earth observations data with higher resolutions, increased temporal frequency or other novel capabilities.
According to the space agency, the multiple-award contract will be effective for a period of five years with an option to extend services an additional six months. The maximum potential value is cumulatively $476 million among all contractors selected.
NASA said the contract serves as a cost effective and flexible method for the agency to acquire data from commercial sources that support NASA’s Earth science research and application activities. It will complement the suite of Earth observations acquired by NASA and other U.S. government agencies, as well as international partners and agencies.
The following companies were selected by NASA:
- Airbus DS Geo, Inc.
- Capella Space Corp.
- GHGSat, Inc.
- Maxar Intelligence, Inc.
- Space Sciences and Engineering (dba PlanetiQ)
- Spire Global Subsidiary, Inc.
- Umbra Lab, Inc.
