The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is looking for information on commercial space-based data relay (SBDR) capabilities to improve satellite data availability and resilience.

According to a recent request for information (RFI), NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) plans to transition away from government-owned and operated satellite services to commercial satellites. Therefore, NESDIS needs cost-effective commercial technologies like SBDR to improve space-ground communications and mission operations.

“NESDIS is formulating plans for transition to a common services-based enterprise ground architecture that is both supportive of NOAA’s next-generation satellite observing systems and responsive to new and evolving threats and opportunities,” reads the RFI.

NESDIS wants SBDR capabilities that are either deployable within five years into in-development satellite platforms or that can facilitate out-of-the-box communications to on-orbit satellites. Those capabilities must be able to relay critical telemetry and command data, as well as higher-rate science mission data, to and from NOAA satellites.

The responses to the RFI should address the following:

  • Capability to adapt and scale to NOAA’s satellite observation missions;
  • Multi-Missions/Spacecrafts support;
  • Support for global low latency;
  • Open and resilient architecture for multi-use interoperability and evolvable space infrastructure;
  • Standardization of interfaces between NOAA assets and commercial capabilities to minimize unique development;
  • Compatibility with emerging DoD standards;
  • Data Integrity/Encryption Capabilities;
  • Space communication network and/or ground communication network architectures that will be used for SBDR and their performance expectations;
  • New Satcom technologies with high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and other emerging technologies with anticipated high TRL level by 2027; and
  • Cost and Schedule supporting the implementation of Commercial Capabilities.

All responses to the RFI are due by Sept. 8, 2022.

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Lisbeth Perez
Lisbeth Perez
Lisbeth Perez is a MeriTalk Senior Technology Reporter covering the intersection of government and technology.
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