H.R.2600 - Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act; ASCEND Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R. 2600, the ASCEND Act, directs NASA to establish a program for acquiring and disseminating commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery. The goal is to support NASA's scientific, operational, and educational requirements, as well as those of other federal agencies and researchers. The bill emphasizes cost-effectiveness and the use of U.S. vendors to the maximum extent practicable.
Expected Effects
This act will likely increase the availability of commercial satellite data for scientific research and government applications. It will also formalize and expand NASA's existing Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program. The act mandates annual reports to Congress on agreements, vendors, license terms, and uses of the acquired data.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced scientific research capabilities through access to diverse commercial data.
- Potential cost savings by leveraging commercial data instead of developing proprietary systems.
- Support for U.S. commercial remote sensing vendors.
- Improved Earth observation capabilities for various applications.
- Increased transparency through required reporting to Congress.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for vendor lock-in or dependence on specific commercial providers.
- Risk of data quality issues if commercial data is not properly validated.
- Possible limitations on data use due to commercial licensing terms.
- Increased administrative burden for NASA in managing the program and reporting requirements.
- Potential for unintended consequences related to data privacy or security, though not explicitly addressed in the bill.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble) by promoting scientific advancement and technological innovation. Congress's power to enact this legislation stems from Article I, Section 8, which grants it the power to provide for the general welfare and to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
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).