B1.1 (2) Transforming the Speed of Science with a new model for Earth Observation Cooperation: International and Commercial Fleets with More Rapid Mission Development
Symposium: B1. IAF EARTH OBSERVATION SYMPOSIUM
Session: 1. International Ventures in Earth Observations
Day: Monday 5 October 2026
Time: 16:30 GMT+3
Room: Hall 4
As commercial capabilities in satellite bus development and launch capabilities to low Earth orbit have expanded, the approach to Earth observation cooperation can evolve into a more cost effective and rapid partnering approach. By coordinating launches of disaggregated missions to fly in formation, each partner can shorten time to development and simplify mission integration. Three examples of this approach will be discussed in the context of mission changes announced by NASA in late March 2026, with the latest updates on how international and commercial missions gain synergistic advantages through the approach.
Missions addressing atmosphere, clouds, convection and precipitation are being re-visioned as a new fleet, titled FALCON (Fleet for the Atmosphere Linking Commercial Observations with NASA). This revisioning is flexible to accommodate the JAXA Precipitation Measurement Mission, HawkSAT from the Canadian Space Agency, Radar and Lidar mission contributions from NASA, and a fully commercial radiometry mission, with a recently released RFI. Additional international agency contributions are welcome and under discussion. The missions that join the fleet will benefit from also being part of FALCON integrated science teams that work across the mission data to optimize the combination of observations for rapid advances in scientific and applications.
In the area of Gravimetry, the NASA- DLR mission Grace-Continuity is progressing through final integration and test, while the next mission, NGGM plans information sharing between ESA and NASA.
Observations in advanced hyperspectral and thermal imaging are planned in new missions by NASA, titled EAGLE. Explorer for Artemis Geology Lunar and Earth (EAGLE) provides the fleet concept for advancing surface biology and geology measurements, but also has opportunities for multi-mission observations in Sustainable Land Imaging including Landsat and Sentinel-2 products, and plans for future incorporation of commercial satellite data into harmonized products.
This keynote paper, including international EO leaders as co-authors, will provide an overview of this rapidly changing approach and the latest status of international and commercial cooperation in ensuring rapid implementation of observations that will be new to science.