Science Access to Commercial EO Data 1

This paper will outline the various mechanisms for having free or low cost access to COSMO-SkyMed data for science use.

COSMO-SkyMed (Constellation of small Satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) is an Earth observation satellite system owned by ASI and the Italian Ministry of Defense, intended for both military and civilian use. The constellation includes four identical medium-sized satellites equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors with global coverage of the planet. The four satellites are in sun-synchronous polar orbits with a 97.9° inclination at a nominal altitude of 619 km and an orbital period of 97.2 minutes. The local time ascending node at the equator is 06:00. Each satellite repeats the same ground track on the Earth every 16 days.  The satellites are phased in the same orbital plane, with COSMO-SkyMed's 1, 2 and 4 at 90° to each other and COSMO-SkyMed 3 is at 67.5° from COSMO-SkyMed 2.

The constellation, operated by ASI, has been completed in 2010 and became fully operational in 2011.

The data policy foresees the data access for 3 main user categories:

owners of the System: the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence;

institutional (national and international) users, including also scientific users;

generic (or commercial) users, including all other users;

The commercial exploitation rights are exclusively granted to the private company, e-geos.

The institutional, national and international users, including also scientific users can have access to COSMO-SKyMed data through ASI. COSMO-SkyMed data are provided to Institutional users at no cost for scientific research and application development through the mechanism of Announcement of Opportunity, open call or embracing  international initiatives like the Geohazard Supersite and Natural Laboratories (GSNL) or the Global Forest Observation Initiative (GFOI). Moreover ASI can provide data to Institutional Users at low cost for scientific research and application development through the signature of an Agreement.

The main program to access science data at no cost is the COSMO-SkyMed Open call for Science dedicated to the national and international scientific community. Whit this mechanism ASI intends to promote the use of COSMO-SKyMed data for basic and applied R&D on new algorithms, products and innovative applications, explore the use of the data for synergistic utilization of COSMO-SKyMed Constellation and others missions, like Sentinels, advance the develop of new algorithms and  methodologies. The open call for science is always open and scientists can submit proposals via a dedicated web site anytime taking into account that a maximum budget of 100 scenes (mostly form the archive) may be requested.

In addition free COSMO-Skymed datasets are available for scientists in the framework of the GSNL initiative and for the CEOS Pilot Projects on Disasters Risk Management. ASI joined the GSNL initiative in 2012 and since then COSMO-SKyMed data have been provided on all the GEO approved supersites all over the world (Hawaiian Volcanoes, Iceland Volcanoes, Marmara Region, Vesuvio and Campi Flegrei, Mt. Etna, Ecuadorian Volcanoes, New Zealand Volcanoes) and also on Event Supersites (Sinabung Volcano and Nepal Earthquake). Data quantity depends on each site and data are open to all scientists that intend to contribute to the supersite research activity approved by CEOS and GEO.

Recently ASI has decided to provide also free COSMO-SkyMed dataset in the frame of the  GFOI initiative for some of the Research and Development activities of the R&D Component.

Scientists that have observational requirements not compatible with the open call for science or others ASI programs mechanism can sign with ASI an agreement for the provision of COSMO-Skymed

This paper will present the various programmes for obtaining free or low cost access to data from Pleiades and SPOT 1-5  for science use.  Operations of the SPOT family of optical imaging satellites has spanned the last three decades with the first, SPOT 1,  launched in February 1986 and the last in the family developed by CNES, SPOT 5, completing its operational lifetime at the end of march 2015. This near thirty year operating lifetime has generated over 25 million images that are available free or at low cost for science use through several CNES programmes.   The constellation of two Pleiades satellites were launched respectively in December 2011 and 2012 and are currently providing access to single images or stereo and tri-stereo image pairs acquired in a single pass. 

This paper will provide a detailed description of the CNES programmes providing access for science use to SPOT and Pleiades imagery.  In addition, CNES contributes satellite imagery to several international programmes coordinated via the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, CEOS (Working Group on Disasters, Space Data Coordination Group for the Global Forest Observing Initiative – GFOI), the Group on Earth Observations (GEOGLAM, GEO supersites and Natural Laboratories – GSNL) and the World Meteorological Organisation (Polar Space Task Group - PSTG) focused on specific thematic areas.  Description of these various mechanisms to access commercial satellite imagery for science use will be described including proposal types, access conditions, licensing issues and typical volumes of data that can be provided.  The objective of this paper, together with similar papers that are proposed by the European Space Agency, ESA, the Italian Space Agency, ASI, the Canadian Space Agency, CSA, the German Space Agency, DLR, and the Japanese space Agency, JAXA is to provide a broad view during one single coordinated session of how to access various types of commercial satellite imagery for science applications.

This paper presents programmes and mechanisms that have been implemented to give access to TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X as well as RapidEye data for scientific users. The German earth observation satellites currently in orbit have been built on basis of a public-private-partnership. The private investment was made on the basis of business models and perspectives to sell data to operational users from public as well as private sector, while the public investment of Germany aims to support the exploitation of the great potential of the data for scientific research. On the one hand it allows for research to serve the development of new applications and data processing which may feed into mission and instrument planning directly or into future mission concepts. On the other hand the investment is done to support research to expand our knowledge of the Earths system and to develop new applications for future operational use of space-based data.

The twin satellites TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X were launched in 2007 and 2010 respectively, each providing high resolution X-Band SAR data in five different modes, ranging from staring spotlight data of 0.25m resolution to wide scan SAR products with a scene width of 270km and 40m resolution. In bi-static constellation the satellites provide a high quality global DEM data productsof 2m vertical and 12m horizontal resolution as well as additional experimental modes, that are acquired during special mission phases with varying across-track and along-track baselines. Both satellites are beyond their expected lifetime, but with the systems in excellent state further data exploitation until 2019 and even beyond is predicted.

The optical RapidEye mission consists of five identical satellites with five spectral bands ranging from blue to NIR wavelength with a ground sampling distance of 5m. The satellites were launched in 2008 with an expected lifetime of 7 years. Another up to 5 years of data acquisitions may be possible as the satellites are still functioning smoothly.

The basic data access mechanism for each mission is a general announcement of opportunity permanently open. Users need to register and provide a proposal with a description of the research envisioned including schedule and data requirements as well as information on the team composition. While access for TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X data is given to scientists worldwide, application for access to RapidEye data is limited to German-based researchers, the data however can be shared with international partners of projects that are covered by a corresponding proposal. Through the general announcement of opportunity for TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X data is provided for deployment costs; while in the frame of dedicated announcements of opportunity, e.g.for experimental modes of the missions, archived data older than 18 months or the Global DEM the data is provided free of charge.  

To support the various international GEO Research and Monitoring initiatives, suitable approaches for TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X data provision are agreed with other space agencies within dedicated working groups, e.g. the GFOI Spatial Data Coordination Group, the CEOS Working Group on Disasters or the  Polar Space Task Group. This includes coordinated background missions for selected sites, data provision via coordinated announcement or simplified data access via data portals that allow easy data exchange for selected supersites within the research community.

Data use is generally restricted to the specific project that has been described in the proposal, and publication of results is expected. Data may be shared with partners of a project, if they have been listed as co-investigators for the proposal, which may be adapted in the run of the project. Data volumes for scientific proposals are limited to a reasonable amount for the specific research method under investigation. In return the DLR expects feedback from the user community through presentation at the DLR  Science workshops and through publication of the results.  

Following the successful RADARSAT-1 mission, Canada's launched in December 2007 its second Earth observation satellite, RADARSAT-2.  Equipped with a powerful C-Band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument, this system offers technical advancements that enhances marine surveillance, ice monitoring, disaster management, environmental monitoring, resource management and mapping in Canada and around the world. RADARSAT-2 is equipped with a full range of advance capabilities such as: high-resolution modes (3-metre resolution) and fully polarimetric modes (Quad-Pol).

The RADARSAT-2 project represents a unique collaboration between government and industry.   The Canadian firm, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. owns, operates the satellite and commercialize the data. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) helps fund the construction and launch of the satellite and recovers this investment through the supply of RADARSAT-2 data to the Government of Canada during the lifetime of the mission.  The RADARSAT-2 mission was developed with the objectives to ensure continuity in the supply of RADARSAT SAR data beyond RADARSAT-1 mission, to develop new Earth Observation (EO) applications opportunities and to maintain Canada's position in SAR capabilities for EO, in partnership with the industry.  

The CSA implemented various mechanisms to provide free of charge access to the RADARSAT-2 data for scientific activity.  These include announcement of opportunity (mix of permanently open call and specific initiatives open for a limited period of time), data sharing agreement or granted access for specific project activities.   In each case, the commercial satellite owner has a right to review proposals in order to ensure that they are not of a commercial nature.

Image products are provided through an agreement that specifies the terms and conditions of the data utilization, the data quantity, the image type approved the geographic area of interest and lists of partners in case of data sharing.

This paper will present CSA various mechanisms and its associated conditions for gaining access to data from Canadian RADARSAT-2 satellites for science use.

Most EO data users rely on several EO missions, both to increase the data base for their research, the sustainability of their service and to widen the range of observation parameters. In addition to its own missions such as the Earth Explorers, ESA therefore offers access to the scientific and applications community to so-called ‘Third Party Missions’ (TPM). Third Party missions are complementing the observations of ESA missions, are used to prepare for future ESA missions including cross-calibration and create synergy to favor a wider use of EO data within ESA Member States.
As part of the EARTHNET Programme ESA regularly investigates the benefits  of individual Third Party Missions as part of the EO data portfolio offered to European Users through the Multi-Mission User Services. The EARTHNET service offers a single point of access for the European User community and establishes the international agreements with external Agencies/ Operators. Furthermore ESA aims to co-ordinate and standardize the generation of products from ESA and TPM missions for European use, under a free and open access scheme.