On April 18, President Trump signed the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. Section 302 authorizes the Commerce Department to enter into agreements for commercial weather data purchases and hosted payload arrangements. The legislation requires NOAA to prepare …

Weather Act Addresses Commercial Satellite Data and Hosted Payloads Read more »

On January 6, the NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS) published the finalized version of its Commercial Space Activities Assessment Process. Download the document (570 KB PDF) The document establishes a process by which NESDIS will assess and pursue commercial opportunities …

NESDIS Commercial Space Activities Assessment Process Read more »

On September 15, 2016, NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) awarded contracts to GeoOptics, Inc., and Spire Global, Inc., as part of the Commercial Weather Data Pilot. GeoOptics and Spire Global will each provide space-based GNSS radio …

NOAA Awards Commercial Weather Data Pilot Contracts Read more »

On July 28, 2016, NOAA released a Request for Quotation (RFQ) in support of the NESDIS Commercial Weather Data Pilot. This RFQ was previously released in draft form for comment, and seeks on-orbit radio occultation data from commercial sources for …

NOAA Issues RFQ for FY 2016 Commercial Weather Data Pilot Read more »

On July 7, NOAA/NESDIS hosted an industry day to discuss the Request for Quotation (RFQ) in support of the FY 2016 Commercial Weather Data Pilot. NESDIS officials fielded questions and comments on the draft solicitation prior to its finalization and …

Industry Day on NOAA Commercial Weather Data Pilot Read more »

On June 21, 2016, NESDIS released a draft Request for Quotation (RFQ) to support NOAA’s Commercial Weather Data Pilot. The draft RFQ is open for public comment through July 15, with initial comments/questions due July 1. The RFQ seeks on-orbit …

NOAA Releases Draft RFQ for Commercial Weather Data Pilot, Announces Community Engagement Event Read more »

Today, NOAA/NESDIS released a Request for Information (RFI) to support NOAA’s Commercial Weather Data Pilot. The RFI is the first step to bring radio occultation data from commercial companies to NOAA. The RFI seeks pre-launch data in order to facilitate …

NOAA Issues RFI for Commercial Weather Data Pilot Read more »

We posted a report on how NOAA plans to execute the Commercial Weather Data Pilot (CWDP) program. Based on the findings of recent market research and FAR processes (e.g., Requests For Information), NOAA has selected GNSS-RO as the most suitable …

NOAA Report to Congress on Commercial Weather Data Pilot Read more »

The NOAA Commercial Space Policy and the NESDIS Commercial Space Activities Assessment Process are two steps of NOAA’s multi-step approach to engaging the commercial sector to ensure best use of commercial sector capabilities. NOAA has developed these documents as timeless …

NESDIS Releases Draft Commercial Space Activities Assessment Process for Public Comment Read more »

The President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request for NOAA, released February 9, includes $2 million for the Office of Space Commerce, a $1.4 million increase compared to its current funding level. The funds will increase the capacity of the office …

NOAA Requests Funding Increases for Office of Space Commerce, Commercial Weather Data Pilot Read more »