CSDA Quality Assessment Report Evaluates Satellogic NewSat Data

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

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

PME analyzed 60 upper atmospheric reflectance images collected between 2021 and 2025, focusing on radiometric and geometric performance across multiple sites. Results showed generally strong radiometric accuracy, with the majority of spectral bands operating within 10% of the Aqua MODIS reference values ​​and signal-to-noise ratios meeting “Good” rating criteria for more than half of the bands. Geometric performance exceeded specified sensor spatial response specifications, with some variability noted between sensor generations. (The Mark IV received an “Excellent” rating for spatial sensor response while the Mark V received a “Basic” rating.)

Since the report’s publication, Satellogic has changed certain aspects of its data processing, in part to respond to the report’s findings and recommendations. CSDA is engaged in a quality assessment of its revised products and will report the results in the near future.

NASA’s Earth Sciences Division (ESD) created the CSDA program to identify, evaluate, and acquire commercial remote sensing data that enhance NASA’s Earth science research and applications. CSDA provides structured ramp-up opportunities for new commercial satellite data providers, enabling NASA to continually integrate innovative data sources as the private sector evolves. By leveraging these partnerships, NASA ESD aims to accelerate scientific discovery and expand applications of Earth observation data for NASA’s Earth science research and applications community and for societal benefit.

Since its initial pilot, the CSDA program has conducted three start-up activities, resulting in the addition of several providers to sustainment. Since then, the program has streamlined its evaluation process by introducing high-quality SME-led data evaluations, expediting reviews, and strengthening NASA’s engagement in the rapidly growing commercial data ecosystem. CSDA evaluation criteria include:

• Data Accessibility
• completeness and accuracy of metadata
• User support services provided by the business entity
• Usefulness of submitted data for science and applications

This approach ensures NASA has rapid access to high-quality commercial data relevant to its mission and provides valuable feedback to private sector vendors, thereby driving innovation, improving data products, and aligning industry capabilities with NASA’s evolving science needs.

To read the CSDA Satellogic NewSat Radiometric and Geometric Quality Assessment Reportvisit the CSDA website.

Watch the recent CSDA Vendor Focus webinar on Satellogic on the CSDA Program YouTube channel.

For more information about the CSDA program’s process for identifying commercial satellite providers for access and evaluation, visit the CSDA website.