ICEYE US Inc., a prominent player in Earth's persistent monitoring using radar imaging satellites, has received its inaugural Task Order under the previously announced Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with NASA earlier this year. This Task Order grants NASA access to ICEYE's synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data, allowing scientific and academic communities to assess its suitability for advancing NASA's Earth Science research goals. The funding for this BPA comes from NASA's Earth Science Division within the Science Mission Directorate.

Since 2020, NASA's Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program has been actively identifying, evaluating, and procuring data from commercial sources aligned with NASA's Earth Science Division objectives.

Will McCarty, NASA CSDA Program Scientist, expressed NASA's enthusiasm, stating, "NASA is looking forward to evaluating ICEYE's data within the framework of our Earth Science Research, Analysis, and Applications endeavors. With the introduction of SAR data from commercial entities like ICEYE, we are intrigued by the potential of these small satellite constellations to complement NASA's existing datasets and capabilities. Our ultimate aim is to leverage this data to offer novel perspectives on the priorities of the Earth Science Division."

The collaboration between ICEYE US and NASA signifies a significant milestone for commercial SAR applications in the United States. This marks the first instance of NASA accessing data from a radar imaging constellation, which includes an archive comprising tens of thousands of ICEYE images. This access provides a unique advantage by supporting advanced time series analysis of Earth's surface—an aspect previously unavailable to the NASA community. ICEYE SAR data is being made available with broad licensing authority, enhancing its collaborative utility for research purposes. This addition of ICEYE SAR data complements other forms of satellite data from commercial remote sensing systems that have proven essential and synergistic with NASA's capabilities.

Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US, conveyed his gratitude for supporting NASA's Earth Science aspirations through this inaugural Task Order. He highlighted how ICEYE's radar satellite imagery offers an enduring source of data crucial for research across fields like geology, topography, and climate change. The CSDA program showcases NASA's ability to leverage private sector investments for public benefit, particularly in bolstering societal resilience by deepening our understanding of Earth's evolution.

Operating from its Missions Operations Center in Irvine, California, ICEYE US manages a constellation of SAR satellites, each weighing approximately 220 pounds. These satellites enable continuous monitoring of locations anywhere on Earth in near-real time.

The utilization of SAR offers a distinct advantage over traditional electro-optical (EO) imagery. While EO imaging necessitates an external light source to illuminate areas, much like a camera, SAR constructs images using electromagnetic waves. Consequently, SAR satellites can observe terrestrial and marine activities day or night, regardless of weather conditions, without being hindered by cloud cover, dust, or smoke.

Source:prnewswire.com