Satellite data are an important component of the earth s atmospheric observing system

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded $115,489.63 through its Science (CFDA 43.001) federal grant program to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) to determine if commercial Earth observation satellite data could help satisfy NASA's future observational requirements. The project grant funding period spans from April 1, 2021 to October 31, 2022. As part of NASA's Commercial Earth Observation Data-Buy program, NCAR will analyze satellite data to evaluate its potential to advance NASA's strategic goal of expanding human knowledge through new scientific discoveries in Earth science using spaceflight programs. The award supports NCAR's assessment of whether commercially sourced data is a viable option for NASA's Earth atmospheric observing system.

NASA is executing a commercial earth observation data-buy program to determine if these data could help satisfy NASA s future observational requirements.