S 1437
ASCEND Act
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Bill overview
The Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act, or ASCEND Act, authorizes NASA to establish and expand a program to acquire and disseminate commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. This program aims to support NASA’s Earth science research, operational needs, and educational goals, while also allowing broader access to the data for other federal agencies and researchers. The act prioritizes procurement from U.S. vendors and promotes transparency in data publication.
Key provisions
- Authorizes NASA to establish a Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program.
- Requires NASA to prioritize procurement from U.S. vendors for commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery.
- Allows NASA to modify end-use agreements to facilitate broader data use by non-NASA entities.
- Prohibits restrictions on the publication of data or derived information from acquired imagery.
- Mandates NASA to report annually on vendors, data usage, and alignment with scientific priorities.
Who is affected
- NASA
- Federal Agencies
- Scientific Researchers
- Commercial Satellite Data Vendors
- U.S. Public (through broader data access)
Notable changes
- Expands upon the existing Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program.
- Provides statutory authority for NASA to acquire and disseminate commercial Earth remote sensing data.
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. 1437
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to establish a program to identify, evaluate, acquire, and disseminate commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery in order to satisfy the scientific, operational, and educational requirements of the Administration, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act ASCEND Act
or the
.
Congress makes the following findings:
Section 60501 of title 51, United States Code, states that the goal for the Earth Science program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this section as NASA
) shall be to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and applications activities to better understand the Earth, how it supports life, and how human activities affect its ability to do so in the future.
Section 50115 of title 51, United States Code, states that the Administrator of NASA shall, to the extent possible and while satisfying the scientific or educational requirements of NASA, and where appropriate, of other Federal agencies and scientific researchers, acquire, where cost effective, space-based and airborne commercial Earth remote sensing data, services, distribution, and applications from a commercial provider.
The Administrator of NASA established the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program in 2019 to identify, validate, and acquire from commercial sources data that support the Earth science research and application goals.
determined that the pilot program described in paragraph (3) has been a success, as described in the final evaluation entitled Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program Pilot Evaluation Report
issued in 2020;
established a formal process for evaluating and onboarding new commercial vendors in such pilot program;
increased the number of commercial vendors and commercial data products available through such pilot program; and
expanded procurement arrangements with commercial vendors to broaden user access to provide Earth remote sensing data and imagery to federally funded researchers.
Chapter 603 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
The Administrator shall establish within the Earth Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate a program to acquire and disseminate commercial Earth observation data and imagery in order to satisfy the scientific, operational, and educational requirements of the Administration, and where appropriate, of other Federal agencies and scientific researchers.
procure commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery from commercial vendors to advance scientific research and applications for the purpose set forth in subsection (a); and
establish or modify end-use license terms and conditions to allow for the widest possible use of procured commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery by individuals other than NASA-funded users, consistent with the goals of the program.
The commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery procured under this subsection shall be procured, to the maximum extent practicable, from United States vendors.
In the case of the initial report, a list of all vendors that are providing commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery to NASA as of the date of the report.
For each subsequent report, a list of all vendors that have provided commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery to NASA during the reporting period.
A description of the end-use license terms and conditions for each such vendor.
Information specifying whether the Administrator has entered into an agreement with a commercial vendor or a Federal agency that permits the use of data and imagery by Federal Government employees, contractors, or non-Federal users.
The table of contents for chapter 603 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: