Background
Satellite missions led by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and commercial entities such as MethaneSAT, Greenhouse Gas Satellite (GHGSat), and Carbon Mapper will be an important data source for greenhouse gases in the coming years. However, it is not clear whether these datasets will meet the data quality, temporal frequency, and spatial characteristics requirements for regulatory applications.
Status: Available Now
The Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program evaluated GHGSat data and awarded a competitive task order for emissions data in March 2025 per recommendations from the Satellite Needs Working Group (SNWG). Under this order, NASA purchases GHGSat methane emission data at 48-hour latency per the U.S. government End User License Agreement (EULA). The contract is for two years, and agencies are able to access the data via the CSDA Satellite Data Explorer.
Characteristics
| Platforms | Geographic Domain |
|---|---|
| GHGSat | Global |
Societal Impact
GHGSat data provides agencies with high-resolution routine monitoring of methane emissions to improve models and long-term monitoring and to respond to anomalous emissions.
Resources
For more information about accessing and using commercial data, visit the following resources:
- CSDA Program
- CSDA Satellite Data Explorer
- Commercial Datasets available via NASA's CSDA program
- Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program Activities
Workshops and Open Meetings
| Title and Registration Link | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| NASA CSDA Program Vendor Focus - GHGSat | NASA's Earth Science Division established the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program to explore the potential for commercial satellite data to advance the agency's Earth science research and application objectives. The program aims to identify, assess, and acquire data from commercial providers, which may offer a cost-effective means of supplementing Earth observations collected by NASA, other U.S. Government agencies, and international collaborators. During this NASA CSDA program vendor webinar, speakers introduced the GHGSat satellite constellation and took a technical deep dive into the methane emission data products. GHGSat scientists showed participants how to access and work with these products, and discussed which research topics the data are best suited for as a point-source monitoring system. Additional discussions focused on the services available to data users and how to get assistance with GHGSat's datasets, services, and tools. | March 25, 2025 |