NASA will receive a new data source for Earth science research through SAR radar imagery from Iceeye US, a global leader in the field of continuous Earth observation using radar imaging satellites.

ICEYE US announced on the 18th that it has secured its first task order under the Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with NASA announced earlier this year.

This mission is intended to collect IceEye’s Synthetic-Aperture Radar (SAR) data to support scientific and academic evaluations in order to determine its suitability for advancing NASA’s Earth science research goals.

This BPA is funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Earth Science Division.

NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program has been identifying, evaluating, and collecting data from commercial satellite sources that align with NASA’s Earth Science Division objectives since 2020.

Will McCarty, a NASA CSDA program scientist, stated, “NASA is pleased to evaluate IceEye data as part of its portfolio of Earth science research, analysis, and applications,” adding that “commercial sources like IceEye “With the advent of SAR satellites, NASA is focusing on ways to complement existing NASA data sets and capabilities through these small satellite constellations. Ultimately, the goal is to utilize this data to provide a new perspective for determining scientific research priorities in the Earth sciences,” the statement said.

The agreement between Iceeye US and NASA will be recorded as a significant milestone in the field of commercial SAR in the United States. This marks an instance where NASA has been granted access to radar imaging satellite constellation data, including tens of thousands of Iceeye image records. This access will provide significant benefits to measurement fields, such as advanced time-series analysis of the Earth's surface, which have previously been unavailable to the NASA community. Furthermore, extensive licensing rights for Iceeye's SAR data are provided to maximize collaborative utility for research. Iceeye's SAR data also includes satellite data from other types of commercial remote sensing systems, which have proven to be critical capabilities that complement NASA's expertise.

Eric Jensen, CEO of Iceeye US, said, “Iceeye is honored to have the opportunity to provide radar satellite imagery that supports NASA’s Earth science goals through this inaugural mission. The Iceeye sensor provides a continuous source of information, particularly for critical research areas such as geology, topography, and climate change. The CSDA program is a prime example of NASA utilizing private sector investment for the public good, focusing on enhancing societal resilience through a deep understanding of Earth’s evolution.”

Iceeye US operates satellites from the Missions Operations Center located in Irvine, California. This company owns and operates a constellation of SAR satellites, each weighing about 100 kg, and continuously observes all regions of the Earth in near real-time.

SAR offers distinct advantages over conventional electro-optical (EO) imaging. While EO imaging requires a light source to capture an area, much like a camera, SAR constructs images using electromagnetic waves. Consequently, SAR satellites can clearly detect events occurring on land or at sea under any weather conditions, whether day or night, or even when covered in clouds, dust, or smoke.