The ASCEND Act would require NASA to create a formal program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and share commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. The goal is to augment NASA’s own Earth observations with cost-effective, appropriate data from commercial vendors to support NASA’s scientific, operational, and educational missions, and, when appropriate, to assist other federal agencies and researchers. The bill emphasizes data publication of scientific results and derived products, broad use licenses to maximize access (including for non-NASA users), a preference for United States vendors, and regular reporting to Congress on agreements, license terms, and how the data advances research and applications. It would formalize this effort in Title 51 of the U.S. Code as a new “Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program.”
Key Points
- 1Establishes a new program within NASA’s Earth Science Division to acquire and disseminate commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery that complements NASA’s existing observations.
- 2Data Publication and Transparency: allows publication of commercial data and derivatives for scientific purposes and does not bar such publication through the program’s terms and conditions.
- 3License Terms: NASA may set or modify end-use license terms to maximize wide use by people other than NASA-funded users, while still aligning with program goals.
- 4U.S. Vendor Preference: aims to procure data from United States vendors to the maximum extent practicable.
- 5Reporting Requirements: requires an initial report within 180 days of enactment and annual reports thereafter detailing agreements, license terms, how the data supports research and applications (including guidance from decadal surveys), and whether data may be used by federal employees, contractors, or non-Federal users.
- 6Administrative Placement: codifies the program as “60307. Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program” in the Code, within the Earth Science Division.
- 7Background Context: builds on NASA’s 2019 Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program, its evaluations, increased vendor participation, and broadened access for federally funded researchers.