CSDA Quality Assessment Report Evaluates Satellogic NewSat Data

A new quality assessment report from NASA’s Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) program approves the use of data from Satellogic’s NewSat constellation, which includes the Mark IV and Mark V sensor generations, for scientific use.

Issued on March 9, 2026, the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program Satellogic NewSat Radiometric & Geometric Quality Assessment Report documents the evaluation process of NASA subject matter experts (SMEs) enlisted to analyze the quality of the constellation’s radiometric and geometric data products.

The SMEs analyzed 60 top-of-atmosphere reflectance images collected between 2021 and 2025, focusing on the radiometric and geometric performance of several sites. The results show generally strong radiometric accuracy, with most spectral bands performing within 10% of the Aqua MODIS reference values ​​and signal-to-noise ratios meeting the “Good” rating criteria for more than half of the bands. The geometric performance exceeded their specified sensor spatial response specifications, with some changes noted between sensor generations. (The Mark IV received an “Excellent” grade for sensor spatial response while the Mark V received a “Basic” grade.)

Since the release of the report, Satellogic has changed aspects of their data processing, in part to address the report’s findings and recommendations. CSDA is engaged in a quality assessment of their modified products and will report the results in the near future.

NASA’s Earth Science Division (ESD) established the CSDA program to identify, evaluate, and acquire commercial remote sensing data that advance NASA’s Earth science research and applications. CSDA provides structured on-ramping opportunities for emerging commercial satellite data vendors, enabling NASA to continuously integrate new data sources as the private sector develops. By leveraging these partnerships, NASA’s ESD aims to accelerate scientific discovery and expand the applications of Earth observation data for NASA Earth science research and community and social welfare applications.

Since its initial pilot, the CSDA Program has held three on-ramp events, resulting in the addition of many vendors to the continuum. Since then, the program has streamlined the evaluation process by introducing high-quality, SME-led data assessments, speeding up reviews and strengthening NASA’s engagement with the rapidly growing commercial data ecosystem. CSDA’s evaluation criteria include:

• Data accessibility
• Completeness and accuracy of metadata
• User support services provided by commercial entities
• Usefulness of submitted data for science and application

This approach ensures that NASA gets timely access to high-quality, mission-relevant commercial data, and provides valuable feedback to private sector providers, fostering innovation, improved data products, and aligning industry capabilities with NASA’s evolving science needs.

To read the CSDA’s Satellogic NewSat Radiometric & Geometric Quality Assessment Reportvisit the CSDA website.

See what’s new CSDA Vendor Focus Webinar at Satellogic on the CSDA program’s YouTube channel.

For more information about the CSDA program process for identification of commercial satellite vendors for on-ramp and evaluationvisit the CSDA website.