Enabling Discovery and Access of Commercial Small Satellite Data

Abstract:

Initiated in 2017, NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program (CSDAP) identifies, evaluates, and acquires data from commercial satellite companies that support and complement NASA’s Earth science missions and research goals. In support of these activities, the CSDAP establishes scalable, efficient, continuous, and repeatable processes to manage all data purchased from commercial vendors. This includes providing data curation, archive, discovery, and distribution services of acquired commercial data products for the NASA research community. However, significant data stewardship challenges arise in acquiring and managing disparate data and sources. Furthermore, the program seeks to support the search, discovery, and distribution expectations of the existing community while developing innovative data management capabilities with user interfaces to actively identify and engage new science users and communities. This presentation will highlight the ongoing efforts of the CSDAP to support NASA’s current and future science goals, discuss the data stewardship efforts and challenges faced by the program, and underscore the technological solutions and tools used to overcome these issues.