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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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LEVERAGING COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR
EARTH AND OCEAN
REMOTE SENSING

Committee for the Assessment of Partnership Options for a Small Satellite
System for Collecting Scientific Quality Oceanic and Coastal Data

Intelligence Community Studies Board

Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences

A Consensus Study Report of

images

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, DC
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

This activity was supported by Contract No. N00014-17-DF-4001/N00014-21-F 7001 with the Office of Naval Research. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-28693-0
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-28693-X
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26380

Additional copies of this publication are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu.

Copyright 2022 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26380.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president.

The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.

The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.

Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
×

Image

Consensus Study Reports published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the evidence-based consensus on the study’s statement of task by an authoring committee of experts. Reports typically include findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information gathered by the committee and the committee’s deliberations. Each report has been subjected to a rigorous and independent peer-review process and it represents the position of the National Academies on the statement of task.

Proceedings published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine chronicle the presentations and discussions at a workshop, symposium, or other event convened by the National Academies. The statements and opinions contained in proceedings are those of the participants and are not endorsed by other participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies.

For information about other products and activities of the National Academies, please visit www.nationalacademies.org/about/whatwedo.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
×

COMMITTEE FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PARTNERSHIP OPTIONS FOR A SMALL SATELLITE SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OCEANIC AND COASTAL DATA

STEVEN BATTEL, NAE,1 Battel Engineering, Inc., Chair

ANNY CAZENAVE, NAS,2 Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales

JONATHAN M. DYER, Muon Space, Inc.

CHRISTINE FOX, Johns Hopkins University

DAVID KOPLOW, Georgetown University

CHARLES NORTON, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

PATRIC PATTERSON, Space Dynamics Laboratory

JOSEPH ROTHENBERG, Independent Consultant

CHRISTOPHER RUF, University of Michigan

STEVEN SCHOONER, George Washington University

CATHERINE VENTURINI, The Aerospace Corporation

DAVID VOSS, Space Force

BRUCE YOST, NASA Ames Research Center

Staff

JOSEPH CZIKA, Senior Program Officer

NATHANIEL DEBEVOISE, Research Associate

LIZA HAMILTON, Program Officer

MARGUERITE SCHNEIDER, Administrative Coordinator

ALAN H. SHAW, Director

___________________

1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.

2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
×

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY STUDIES BOARD

FREDERICK R. CHANG, NAE,1 Southern Methodist University, Co-Chair

ROBERT C. DYNES, NAS,2 University of California (President Emeritus), Co-Chair

JOEL BRENNER, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

ROBERT CARDILLO, The Cardillo Group, LLC

TOMÁS DÍAZ DE LA RUBIA, University of Oklahoma

ROBERT A. FEIN, Harvard Medical School

MIRIAM E. JOHN, Independent Consultant

ANITA K. JONES, NAE, University of Virginia (Professor Emerita)

STEVEN E. KOONIN, NAS, Center for Urban Science and Progress

ROBERT H. LATIFF (USAF, Ret.), R. Latiff Associates

MARK M. LOWENTHAL, Intelligence & Security Academy, LLC

MICHAEL A. MARLETTA, NAS/NAM,3 University of California, Berkeley

L. ROGER MASON, JR., Peraton

CARMEN L. MIDDLETON, The Walt Disney Company

WILLIAM C. OSTENDORFF, United States Naval Academy

DAVID A. RELMAN, NAM, Stanford University

ELIZABETH RINDSKOPF PARKER, State Bar of California (Retired)

SAMUEL S. VISNER, National Cybersecurity Federally Funded Research and Development Center (MITRE)

DAVID A. WHELAN, NAE, Cubic

Staff

DIONNA ALI, Associate Program Officer

JOSEPH CZIKA, Senior Program Officer

MELVIN EULAU, Senior Program Officer

MICHAEL ANTHONY FAINBERG, Senior Program Officer

CARYN A. LESLIE, Associate Director

LIZA HAMILTON, Program Officer

NIA JOHNSON, Program Officer

CHRIS JONES, Financial Manager

ALAN H. SHAW, Director

___________________

1 Member, National Academy of Engineering.

2 Member, National Academy of Sciences.

3 Member, National Academy of Medicine.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Acknowledgment of Reviewers

This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.

We thank the following individuals for their review of this report:

Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Richard Crout, Naval Research Laboratory, and Soroosh Sorooshian, NAE, University of California, Irvine. They were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies.

___________________

1 Member, National Academy of Sciences.

2 Member, National Academy of Engineering.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26380.
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 Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing
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Within the past decade an ever-growing number of New Space organizations have emerged that are unencumbered by legacy practices and constraints. By reimagining, creating, and continuously improving SmallSat space technology a new and growing space ecosystem is now in place that is capable of serving a broad stakeholder community of both traditional users and new or nontraditional users.

Current commercial practices are expanding with capabilities including technology and business-driven applications that open the door to a broad and vibrant ecosystem offering a wide range of solutions capable of supporting a growing range of stakeholders. In parallel to traditional approaches, space infrastructure related to manufacturing, such as customized spacecraft buses, instruments, and sensors—including high-resolution imaging and radar systems rivaling the performance of traditional systems—are emerging in both growing volume and with constantly improving capability. On the operational commercial ground stations are now routinely available, as are data management and analytics including cloud computing for data access and archiving. Thus, if properly encouraged and nourished, a broadly capable ecosystem can emerge including new business opportunities for data fusion, analysis, and databuys, as well as ground/space communications that can equally benefit both traditional and nontraditional user communities.

Leveraging Commercial Space for Earth and Ocean Remote Sensing assesses the feasibility and implications of creating and exploiting partnerships for developing, deploying, and operating a system of satellites and supporting infrastructure capable of sensing ocean, coastal, atmospheric, and hydrologic data of sufficient scientific quality to enable prediction models and to support near real time applications of national interest. This report identifies and describes promising options for such a system.

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