NOAA and Cowboy Space to trial in-orbit processing of weather satellite data

NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service has signed a two-year cooperative research and development agreement with Cowboy Space Corporation, a satellite company based in San Carlos, California. The aim is to test whether processing environmental satellite data in orbit can cut the time and resources needed to deliver it to forecasters.

Cowboy Space will fund, build, launch and operate the Reason-2 satellite, due to launch in 2027 and carrying the computing payload. NOAA will supply an existing open-source AI model and historical raw Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite data from its Joint Polar Satellite System satellites. Only high-quality, critical results would be sent to the ground.

The two parties will report on data quality and the viability of the approach for future NOAA operations. Data from the test will not be used in operational forecasting. Reason-1, launched on 1 October 2026, is a separate solar-power demonstration.

Why it matters: On-board processing could shorten the delay between observation and usable data and reduce downlink demands. If it proves viable, it may influence future Earth observation architectures, including for forecasters and users who depend on timely satellite products.