NASA Awards EarthDaily $3 Million Imaging Task Order

The agency will test commercial satellite data for potential use alongside the long-standing Landsat program.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Space

Isometric editorial illustration of a modern modular satellite orbiting above the Earth, representing commercial satellite data evaluation for NASA. — NASA has awarded a $3 million contract to EarthDaily to assess if commercial satellite data can supplement the U.S. Geological Survey’s Landsat program. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should government agencies incorporate private commercial data into public scientific and environmental monitoring programs?

NASA has awarded a $3 million task order to Maple Grove-based EarthDaily to evaluate how commercial satellite data can support government Earth observation programs. The initiative aims to determine if commercial capabilities can complement the quality and continuity of the Landsat record.

Why it matters

The collaboration seeks to explore whether emerging commercial satellite constellations can meet the rigorous scientific standards required to extend decades of government-led environmental monitoring. This shift could influence how agencies procure global land imaging data in the future.

The EarthDaily Constellation utilizes 22 spectral bands for collection, with a spatial resolution reaching 5 meters in visible and near-infrared light. Currently, eight of the ten planned satellites are in orbit, covering 100% of Earth's landmass every two days.

The players

NASA

The United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and space research.

EarthDaily

A satellite technology company headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota, that specializes in global Earth observation data.

USGS

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency that provides reliable information about the Earth and its natural systems.

The details

NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey will work together to audit the data against Landsat standards, focusing on stability, calibration, and processing workflows. Upon reaching full operations, the company expects its system to image 92% of the planet's landmass daily.

October 26, 2026: EarthDaily announced the award of the NASA task order.

The Big Picture

This move marks a significant step in the Sustainable Land Imaging commercial transition initiative by integrating private sector assets into public Earth observation protocols. It represents a shift toward leveraging commercial partnerships to augment data streams that have relied on the 50-year Landsat record.

By validating commercial satellite data, NASA aims to improve the frequency and quality of environmental monitoring, which could lead to better agricultural yields and resource management. If successful, this process could reduce reliance on aging government hardware while providing more precise data for public use.

The takeaway

This partnership highlights how government agencies are increasingly turning to commercial infrastructure to handle large-scale data collection. Readers can monitor how these standards develop as private firms attempt to match the historical precision of government satellite records.