The ASCEND Act requires NASA to set up a program to buy and share commercial satellite data to help with research and education. This is important because it enhances our understanding of Earth and its environment.
Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial Small Sat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. (Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.) Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e. g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.
1. This bill requires NASA to create a program for acquiring commercial Earth data. 2. NASA will use this data to support scientific research and educational needs. 3. The bill aims to increase access to Earth remote sensing data from commercial sources. 4. NASA must report annually on the program's progress and data usage. 5. The program will prioritize purchasing data from United States vendors.