Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act; ASCEND Act
Summary
The Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act (ASCEND Act) directs NASA to establish a program for acquiring and disseminating commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. This aims to support NASA's scientific, operational, and educational requirements. The Act emphasizes cost-effectiveness, data transparency, and the use of U.S. vendors to the maximum extent practicable.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to increased utilization of commercial satellite data within NASA's Earth Science programs. It will also broaden access to this data for federally funded researchers and potentially other users. The required annual reports will provide transparency regarding the agreements and uses of the acquired data.
Potential Benefits
- Enhances scientific research and applications by providing access to diverse commercial Earth remote sensing data.
- Promotes transparency through data publication and reporting requirements.
- Supports U.S. vendors in the commercial satellite data industry.
- Potentially broadens the use of Earth remote sensing data beyond NASA-funded users.
- Aligns with NASA's existing Earth Science program goals and commercial data acquisition efforts.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs associated with procuring commercial data.
- Risk of dependence on commercial vendors for critical data needs.
- Possible challenges in ensuring data quality and consistency across different vendors.
- The act does not explicitly address data security concerns.
- The act doesn't address the potential impact on international data sharing agreements.
Constitutional Alignment
The ASCEND Act appears to align with the Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to provide for the general Welfare of the United States through activities such as scientific research and development. The Act's focus on data transparency and reporting also supports the principle of government accountability. The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
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).