Standardised optical data quality guidelines released by NASA, ESA and USGS

On 26 April 2026, NASA's Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program, in conjunction with the European Space Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey, released the Optical Guidelines document. This publication establishes a standardised, transparent and repeatable process for assessing the quality of optical data from commercial Earth Observation missions. The release marks a significant step in the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework, designed to support mission selection, data integration and the trusted use of commercial data for science and applications.

The guidelines were created for the benefit of the Earthnet Data Assessment Project and the Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program as part of a collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA. The document presents the methodology the agencies use to assess the quality of optical data from commercial satellite data providers. It includes a summary of the framework and its aims, a review of optical mission quality as evidenced by its documentation, and guidelines for verifying that a mission's data quality is consistent with stated sensor performance.

Appendices within the document contain information on common practices for radiometric and geometric calibration and validation. Dana Ostrenga, CSDA Project Manager, stated that the release of these joint guidelines documents the rigorous standards for commercial data and bolsters the confidence of the user community in the CSDA's commercial data acquisitions. By releasing the document to the public, the agencies are giving end-users the opportunity to review the approach for verifying whether the quality of commercial Earth Observation data is consistent with the stated performance of the mission.

These optical guidelines are part of a collaborative effort between NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey and the European Space Agency known as the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework. The framework provides standardised, transparent and repeatable data quality assessment processes and outputs to support mission selection, data integration and the trusted use of commercial Earth Observation data for science and applications. Furthermore, the agencies intend to update the guidelines in step with the evolution of the market and the advancement of Earth sciences and applications of Earth Observation data products.

The expanding range of applications for Earth Observation data products and the availability of low-cost launch services have resulted in a growing number of commercial Earth Observation satellite systems. This growth in the marketplace has prompted space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency to explore the acquisition of commercial Earth Observation data products and their potential to complement the capabilities and services currently available for scientific and operational purposes. To ensure that decisions regarding the acquisition of commercial data can be made with confidence, the agencies agreed there was a need for an objective framework to assess the quality of data from commercial sources.

The European Space Agency established the Earthnet Data Assessment Project to perform early assessments of Earth Observation mission data for integration within its Earthnet program. This initiative led to the Joint Earth Observation Mission Quality Assessment Framework, which was later customised for the different types of sensors used in atmospheric, synthetic aperture radar, thermal infrared and now optical Earth Observation missions. NASA's Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program also possesses a comprehensive evaluation process focusing on geometric and radiometric quality, validation against trusted reference datasets and data accessibility. Together, these efforts will help build trust in commercial partnerships, ensure scientific integrity and foster innovation within the Earth Observation community.