New Space Force Study to Seek Commercial Services to Boost Weather Data for Military Use

Col. Robert Davis, the Space Systems Command’s program executive officer for space sensing, said the U.S. Space Force will conduct new market research in 2024 to seek ways for commercial weather services to provide more data for military requirements. 

According to Davis, the Space Sensing Office is planning a six-to-12-month study, which will include a “reverse industry day” wherein companies can propose their offerings instead of the military outlining its requirements and waiting for industry response. 

The Space Force’s effort follows the thinking that current weather data sources are inadequate for the military’s future needs, SpaceNews reported. 

A November report from the Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies on the aging Defense Meteorological Satellite Program has underscored the weather data concern, SpaceNews also noted.

Davis disclosed that weather data gathering faces low prioritization in the Space Force budget, with weather satellites not receiving the same funding levels as missile warning and tracking systems.

He said the new study on commercial solutions is in anticipation of tight Space Force budgets unlikely to fund a large constellation as DMSP replacement.