Notes

ASTER data that have already been acquired

Potential new ASTER users should first examine the EOS archives at the EROS Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center to determine whether or not needed ASTER data have already been acquired. Any data that ASTER has already acquired are available to all by ordering those data from the Earth Observing System Data Gateway (EDG), using the EDG search and order tools. Previously acquired data are available to anyone at the marginal cost of filling the user’s request.

Requests for ASTER data acquisitions that are already in the system

The ASTER Science Team has allocated a large fraction of ASTER’s observing time to acquire data that will be of wide use to the Earth science community. Two types of large-scale ASTER observing tasks are planned:

The Global Map

• Over a timespan of between one and six years, the ASTER Science Team will attempt to acquire images of all land areas on the Earth.
• These Global Map images will be acquired under conditions of minimum cloud cover, minimum snow cover, and maximum solar elevation.
• More information on the ASTER Global Map is available at the ASTER Science Team’s web site.

Regional Monitoring (STAR Proposals)

• A variety of areas around the Earth have been identified for repeated ASTER observations throughout the EOS-AM1 mission.
• The ASTER Science Team is submitting a large number of Science Team Acquisition Requests (STARs) to observe these areas.
• Proposals to conduct this type of observing can be submitted to the ASTER Science Team as STAR Proposals.  If a proposal is accepted, the Science Team will submit the necessary STARs, in coordination with the proposing scientists.
• More information on ASTER Regional Monitoring is available at the ASTER Science Team’s web site.

Submitting the proposal

If you need ASTER user authorization, proceed to:

NASA’s entry form for ASTER user authorization proposals

CAVEAT

For a variety of reasons, even if a proposal is accepted and a newly-authorized user enters a data acquisition request, there is no guarantee that ASTER can acquire the requested data.

• ASTER observing resources are limited and different requests for new data will often compete for use of the instrument at the same time.
• Even if ASTER observes the right area at the right time of the year, the resulting data may not meet the user’s requirements (e.g. the field site might have been covered by clouds).