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.

The Earth Observation and Remote Sensing market is one of the most dynamic sectors of the commercial space industry. Once reserved for nation-state sponsored space programs, today scores of private companies are investing in commercial satellite constellations and changing the way Earth observation imagery and data are delivered. This short primer provides the reader with a comprehensive, yet readily digestible, overview of the space based geospatial intelligence industry. It includes a detailed look at the historical development, principle technologies, market forces and pioneering companies that are offering organizations without in orbit capabilities of their own, a private view from space.

American firms have begun to operate their own imaging satellite systems, aiming to become an important part of the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry. To succeed over the long run, these new U.S. commercial remote sensing satellite firms need a combination of reliable technologies, government policies that encourage U.S. industry competitiveness, a strong international presence, and sound business plans to ensure their competitiveness in both the domestic and international marketplaces. The greatest risks for the these firms come from the challenge of transforming themselves from imagery data providers to strong competitors as information age companies; the need to master the technical risks of building and operating sophisticated imaging satellite systems; and the requirement to operate effectively in a complex international business environment. In addition, the government_s policymaking process has yet to achieve the degree of predictability, timeliness, and transparency that the firms need if they are expected to operate effectively in a highly competitive and rapidly changing global marketplace. The authors conclude with six recommendations that the U.S. Department of Commerce should adopt to best fulfill its responsibilities for promoting the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry and for encouraging the competitiveness of new private imaging satellite firms.

The Earth Observation and Remote Sensing market is one of the most dynamic sectors of the commercial space industry. Once reserved for nation-state sponsored space programs, today scores of private companies are investing in commercial satellite constellations and changing the way Earth observation imagery and data are delivered. This short primer provides the reader with a comprehensive, yet readily digestible, overview of the space based geospatial intelligence industry. It includes a detailed look at the historical development, principle technologies, market forces and pioneering companies that are offering organizations without in orbit capabilities of their own, a private view from space.

Steering committee report of a workshop held in March 2001 at the National Academies in Washington, D.C. titled "Remote Sensing and Basic Research: the Changing Environment" describing relationships and interactions evolving between the scientific community and data providers in the public and private sectors for the production and delivery of remote sensing data for scientific research.

The purpose was to assess the market potential of remote sensing value-added products from the Earth Observing System (EOS) platform. Sensors on the EOS platform were evaluated to determine which qualities and capabilities could be useful to the commercial user. The approach was to investigate past and future satellite data distribution programs. A questionnaire was developed for use in a telephone survey. Based on the results of the survey of companies that add value to remotely sensed data, conversations with the principal investigators in charge of each EOS sensor, a study of past commercial satellite data ventures, and reading from the commercial remote sensing industry literature, three recommendations were developed: develop a strategic plan for commercialization of EOS data, define a procedure for commercial users within the EOS data stream, and develop an Earth Observations Commercial Applications Program-like demonstration program within NASA using EOS simulated data. Merry, Carolyn J. and Tomlin, Sandra M. Unspecified Center NAGW-973; RF PROJ. 765707/724377...