NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program has announced the selection of eight commercial satellite data providers through its On-Ramp 2 contract awards. This initiative aims to bolster the agency’s Earth science research and application objectives by incorporating a diverse array of data types.
The On-Ramp 2 contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, with a maximum cumulative value of $476 million and a performance period extending through November 2028. This contract includes an on-ramp provision, allowing NASA to periodically reopen the solicitation for new vendors and enabling existing partners to propose new data products that may not have been available during the initial proposal phase.
Newly Selected Data Providers
The eight newly added vendors are:
- HydroSat – Thermal Infrared, Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR)
- Ororatech – Thermal Infrared, Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR), and Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR)
- ImageSat – Optical Multispectral Instrument (MSI)
- Satlantis – Optical MSI and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
- Kuva Space – Hyperspectral, VNIR and Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR)
- Wyvern – Hyperspectral, VNIR
- Orbital Sidekick – Hyperspectral, VNIR and SWIR
- Muon Space – Global Navigation Satellite System – Radar (GNSS-R)
Enhancements from Current Providers
Additionally, several existing CSDA contract holders are introducing new products:
- Airbus – Optical MSI and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
- ICEYE – SAR
- GHGSat – GHG Emissions
- Planet Labs – Optical MSI and Hyperspectral
- PlanetiQ – Global Navigation Satellite System – Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO)
- Tomorrow.io – Microwave Sounder
Data Access and Evaluation
Following the contract awards, the data products from these selected vendors will be accessible to authorized CSDA data users via the Satellite Data Explorer (SDX). This web-based tool allows approved users to search, discover, access, task, and download data acquired from commercial partners.
According to CSDA Project Manager Dana Ostrenga, “NASA’s Earth science community relies on a diverse suite of observations from spaceborne, airborne, and in situ assets to better understand our changing planet.” The integration of these new commercial data sources will enhance NASA’s existing Earth observation capabilities, providing researchers with a more comprehensive understanding of the planet’s atmosphere, land, oceans, cryosphere, and solid Earth.
Vendor Selection Process
The selection process for these contracts began with a request for proposals posted on Sam.gov. A Solicitation Evaluation Board assessed the proposals to ensure they met CSDA’s technical requirements for continuous observations and alignment with NASA Earth Science Division goals. After evaluation, selected proposals were submitted to NASA leadership for approval before contracts were awarded.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
