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The Space Force spent nearly $124 million on commercial space data and services between 2023 and 2025\u2014and a little known interagency working group could help facilitate even more data buys going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A new Government Accountability Office<\/a> report tracked Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office, and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency purchases of space data and services from private sector firms between January 2023 and September 2025. This includes things like imagery and electro-optical observations as well as analytic reports and services that allow the agencies to identify potential positioning, navigation, and timing interference.\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n The Space Force uses a contractor-run platform called the Global Data Marketplace to buy much of its commercial data. GAO found that the Joint Commercial Operations cell\u2014 a U.S. Space Command-managed organization\u2014was the largest purchaser during the time frame it tracked, accounting for about 62 percent of its spending, or $76 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n System Delta 810, which delivers space-based sensing and targeting capabilities, bought about $35 million through the marketplace during that time frame, and other Pentagon organizations purchased around $4.6 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n Because NRO and NGA budgets are classified, GAO couldn\u2019t provide detailed spending information. However, it found that the NRO spent an average of between $300 million and $500 million annually during those years, and the NGA an average of between $25 million and $125 million\u2014specifically for commercial analytic products like aeronautical, maritime, and topographical imagery.\u00a0<\/p>\n Congress directed the report in the Fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act amid concerns that the Defense Department wasn\u2019t investing enough in commercial data and services. While all three organizations have emphasized a need to better leverage commercial capabilities, lawmakers have pushed for more investment. In fact, the House Armed Services Committee\u2019s version of the fiscal \u201827 defense policy bill included several provisions<\/a> calling on the Space Force to integrate more commercial data and transition more demonstrations into operational programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n The White House has also emphasized the need to buy more commercial products instead of bespoke military solutions, issuing a December 2025 executive order<\/a> that identified commercial integration as key to building a resilient space architecture.\u00a0\t\t<\/p>\n