New partners for the U.S. space agency
NASA announced the selection of eight new commercial satellite data providers for its Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program, including three firms based in Europe: Kuva Space from Finland, OroraTech from Germany, and a third European company.
The contracts were awarded after a multi‑stage evaluation that considered technical performance, data quality and cost. The new partners will broaden the range of Earth‑observation data available to NASA, supporting both scientific research and operational missions.
- Kuva Space will deliver high‑resolution multispectral imagery for environmental monitoring.
- OroraTech focuses on fire and wildfire detection using infrared sensors.
- The third European provider will supply hyperspectral data for precision agriculture.
Integrating these providers expands NASA’s data portfolio, allowing more agile responses to emerging scientific questions and mission needs. The agreements span several years and include regular data updates and access to newly developed sensors.
This expansion of the CSDA program aligns with NASA’s broader strategy to rely increasingly on commercial data sources, aiming to reduce costs and accelerate innovation.