What are Private companies and organisations suggesting?
On May 18, Private sectors, with the help of a House hearing, promote a more notable NASA Earth Science Programs role. They emphasized the capabilities of the private sector that can complement NASA Spacecraft.
The topic caught a lot of Team NASA’s attention. What caught their attention was How commercial Earth imagining spacecraft might boost and improve NASA’s mission study about climate change. Therefore, which indeed is a priority for both the Biden administration and the agency.
The co-founder and chief strategy officer of Planet, Robbie Schingler, Says, “As NASA is creating its next flagship missions, that includes Landsat Next program. NASA should incorporate the planned, viable commercial capabilities into their procurement strategies. Though seeking commercial capabilities as a forethought, rather than an afterthought,”
For the future Earth science satellites to follow Landsat 9, NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey(USGS) are studying architectures for Landsat Next. However, the agency did mention that currently, they are open to new approaches, something different from those traditional layouts of single large spacecraft.
While The written testimony of Schingler reads “that the government has offered mixed messages in recent requests for information that favor a more traditional and expensive architecture toward large satellite designs.”
He further said that NASA should not wait anymore and start thinking about loading systems data gaps. Continuing with the statement, he clarified that it would include both their spacecraft and Europe’s Copernicus series of Earth observation missions. He added that the thing mentioned above could be possible through Commercial Spacecraft.
Project Landsat Next
“At this early stage of a procurement strategy, we do urge this committee. Along with, NASA and USGS, to open up the aperture and to consider more novel and innovative approaches toward the next-generation Landsat Next program.”
A research scientist, Riley Duren at the University of Arizona, a chief executive of Carbon Mapper Inc, said at the House hearing that happened on May 18. This ProjectProject will help NASA with data to distinguish “Superemitters” of the Carbon Dioxide and Methane.
The idea behind the whole ProjectProject is to make a high-fidelity constellation of satellites capable of providing Methane on a daily facility scale. At the same time, it’s getting watched over key regions worldwide. Though, to warn the regulators and operators regarding the leaks in the most affordable way.
He further noted that the carbon mapper would free its data and make some space using the maximum of the Project’sProject’s generous support, like NASA’s mission.
However, the Planet will still advertise other data applications collected by Project’sProject’s satellites. While interchanging the revenue with the Carbon Mapper. The most innovative and creative part of this project will help face challenges like the federal programs.
It also noticed that Robbie Schingler requested Congress to support the new ProjectProject, NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program.
What is the authorization status of the program?
The program is neither formally authorized nor in the NASA authorization bill. On May 12, it attached the Authorization bill to a National Science Foundation Bill. This week, the Bill, named the U.S. Innovative and competition Act, will be debated by the full senate.
The Space Subcommittee chairman, Rep. Don Beyer(D-Va), expressed his feeling by saying that he wishes to get a NASA Authorization bill.
The director of NASA’s Earth sciences division, Karen St. Germain, says that she would always welcome partnerships with advertising providers. Although, the agency is still trying to negotiate licensing terms and part of commercial smallsat data purchases. Moreover, that will help spread the information to other researchers and agency’s researchers.
She further added that she is more than excited about possibilities that will enable all the growth in commercial Earth observation.
We can wait and see what Private companies have in mind for the program. The commitments are solid and believable. The output of the program can only conclude if including private sectors with the NASA Earth Science program was a wise choice or not.
