NOAA Partners with Cowboy Space for Orbital AI
The two-year research agreement aims to process environmental satellite data directly in orbit.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Do you support government agencies partnering with private companies to modernize federal technology projects?
NOAA has signed a research agreement with Cowboy Space Corporation to test artificial intelligence for in-orbit data processing. The partnership will utilize historical data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite to demonstrate space-based analysis before transmission to Earth.
Why it matters
The collaboration seeks to reduce data transmission requirements and accelerate the speed at which critical environmental information reaches users. By processing raw data on the satellite itself, the agencies aim to optimize bandwidth and efficiency for future missions.
The system will process environmental data in space rather than sending raw files to Earth. It relies on an open-source artificial intelligence model applied to historical raw data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite.
The players
NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a federal agency focused on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere.
Cowboy Space Corporation
This organization specializes in developing and operating satellite technologies for in-orbit data processing and space-based monitoring.
The details
Cowboy Space Corporation will fund, build, and operate the upcoming Reason-2 satellite to house this AI-enabled processing system. NOAA will provide the necessary software models and historical data to facilitate the research over the two-year agreement period.
Timeline
March 2023: NOAA awarded 15 ProTech 2.0 satellite-domain contracts.
September 2026: NOAA selected 14 companies for 10-year contracts.
2027: The Reason-2 satellite is scheduled to launch.
The Tech Race
The Reason-2 partnership extends the collaborative framework established by the ProTech 2.0 program by integrating AI into existing satellite-domain procurement goals. This signals a transition from legacy data-transfer methods toward autonomous, onboard edge computing in the aerospace sector.
By accelerating the speed of environmental data processing, this technology could eventually lead to faster, more reliable updates on weather and climate conditions. This increased efficiency may improve the accuracy of atmospheric monitoring tools that millions of Americans rely on for daily safety.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights the growing shift toward edge computing in space as a way to manage massive volumes of environmental sensor data. Developing such capabilities is essential for modernizing the national monitoring infrastructure against increasing data demands.
What happens next
The Reason-2 satellite is scheduled for launch in 2027 to begin the practical demonstration of in-orbit data processing.
Further reading
Learn more about federal research efforts on the Artificial Intelligence section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Executive Gov.
Live Poll
Do you support government agencies partnering with private companies to modernize federal technology projects?
