Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act; ASCEND Act
Summary
The ASCEND Act directs NASA to establish a program for acquiring and disseminating commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. This program aims to satisfy NASA's scientific, operational, and educational requirements, as well as those of other federal agencies and scientific researchers. The Act emphasizes cost-effectiveness, data publication transparency, and procurement from U.S. vendors to the maximum extent practicable.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely increase the availability of commercial Earth observation data for scientific research and applications. It will also formalize and expand NASA's existing Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program. This could lead to advancements in understanding Earth's systems and the impact of human activities.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced scientific research capabilities through access to diverse commercial satellite data.
- Increased transparency and data sharing for scientific purposes.
- Potential cost savings through cost-effective commercial data acquisition.
- Support for U.S. commercial remote sensing vendors.
- Wider access to Earth remote sensing data for federally funded researchers.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased reliance on commercial vendors, which could create dependencies.
- Risk of data quality issues if commercial data is not properly validated.
- Possible limitations on data use for non-NASA funded users, depending on license terms.
- Reporting requirements could create an administrative burden for NASA.
- The focus on US vendors might limit access to potentially superior or more cost-effective data from international sources.
Constitutional Alignment
The ASCEND Act appears to align with the constitutional mandate to "promote the general Welfare" (Preamble). Congress's power to legislate in this area stems from its enumerated powers, particularly the power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) and to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18). The Act does not appear to infringe on any individual liberties or rights protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).