Ethereal Space Secures $27.4M NOAA Environmental Monitoring Task Order
NOAA has awarded Ethereal Space Task Order 1 under the ProTech 2.0 SBEM program to deliver commercial space-based atmospheric and ionospheric data starting December 2026.
Operational Shift
Ethereal Space, Inc. has transitioned from technical demonstration to operational service delivery following an award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). According to SpaceNews, the company has secured Task Order 1 under the ProTech 2.0 Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) program.
Contract Parameters
The 24-month task order carries a total value of approximately $27.4 million. Data flow is scheduled to commence on December 1, 2026. This contract integrates Ethereal Space’s commercial observations into NOAA’s core operational missions, marking a significant scale-up for the Denver-based firm.
Technical Capabilities
Under the SBEM framework, Ethereal Space will utilize its satellite constellation to provide critical environmental intelligence. The mission profile includes:
GNSS Radio Occultation: Advanced atmospheric and ionospheric observations.
Thermospheric Neutral-Density: Measurements vital for understanding the space environment.
* Multispectral Imaging: Visible and infrared data for Earth observation.
CEO Shawn Cochran stated that the award represents a pivotal transition for the company as it begins delivering actionable intelligence at scale. The deployment of Ethereal’s small satellite constellation aims to provide high-cadence, affordable data for government and scientific sectors, ensuring NOAA maintains robust coverage of the atmosphere and space weather environment.