--- title: "Tasking and downlink: Space and | Nexus Observatory" description: "Tasking and downlink, inside Space and satellite systems: level-0 to Level-2 processing chains, analysis-ready data production…" url: https://observatory.global/space/tasking-and-downlink/ publisher: Nexus Observatory Inc. updated: 2026-10-29 --- [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/) / [Space and satellite systems](https://observatory.global/space/) / **Tasking and downlink** # Request, schedule, receive and process: one chain. Tasking and downlink, inside Space and satellite systems: level-0 to Level-2 processing chains, analysis-ready data production, catalogues and discovery, cloud-native geospatial formats and more. Every item is traced to its specification, from CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework to ISO 19115-1 (metadata), and runs on the open Observatory Protocol. [Plan with us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Architecture [The protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/specification/) **Technologies**: 9 **At the frontier**: 0 **Protocol functions**: 5 of 8 **Industries served**: 10 Reference design, drawn to scale · drag to turn · hover a part **01** What it is ## Data downlink, processing and distribution. Everything on the ground that talks to spacecraft: gateways and teleports, user terminals, modems and software-defined radio, shared antenna networks, CCSDS protocol stacks, mission control, data processing and the spectrum coordination behind each earth station. Every platform, sensor, processing level and ground-segment step that turns remote measurements of the Earth into calibrated, analysis-ready evidence for a site, a region or a network. Each technology below carries what it is, what we do with it, and the standard it is drawn against. Ground segment ### Level-0 to Level-2 processing chains Decommutation, calibration, geolocation and geophysical retrieval that turn raw downlink into usable products. We design, integrate and operate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data framework · ISO 19115-1 (metadata) Ground segment ### Analysis-ready data production Products corrected and packaged to a common specification so users can analyse them without reprocessing. We design and operate. CEOS Analysis Ready Data product family specifications Ground segment ### Catalogues and discovery Searchable catalogues of scenes and products with standard metadata. We design, integrate and operate. SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) specification · OGC API - Records Ground segment ### Cloud-native geospatial formats Tiled, chunked formats that let users read only the part of a large raster or array they need. We design and integrate. OGC Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF Standard · OGC Zarr Storage Specification Ground segment ### Calibration and validation Ground truth, vicarious calibration and uncertainty reporting behind every product value. We design and operate. CEOS Working Group on Calibration and Validation · QA4EO (CEOS quality assurance framework) Ground segment ### Low-latency tasking-to-delivery pipelines Automated chains from request to delivered product for time-critical uses such as fire and flood. We design, integrate and operate. OGC API - Processes · OGC Sensor Planning Service 2.0 Ground segment ### Data licensing and access control Licence terms, distribution conditions and entitlements attached to every product and enforced at access. We design and operate. ISO 19115-1 (constraints metadata) · Remote Sensing Space Systems Act (Canada) Ground segment ### Processing at the antenna edge Compute co-located with the ground station that screens and extracts results before backhaul. We design, integrate, deploy and operate. ETSI GS MEC 003 (MEC framework and reference architecture) Remote sensing and Earth observation ### Tasking, mission planning and revisit analysis Choosing what to acquire and when, modelling revisit, look angle and cloud risk against need. We design and operate. OGC API - Connected Systems Part 2 (commands and tasking) · OGC Sensor Planning Service 2.0 **02** Architecture ## Where it sits, and what it speaks. Tasking and downlink draws on 3 domains and 24 layers of the spectrum; the highlighted layers carry this area. It speaks 5 of the protocol's 8 core functions. Orbits and constellations 8 Spacecraft buses and platforms 9 Communications payloads, NTN and direct-to-device 9 Inter-satellite and space-to-ground links 7 Earth observation payload classes 10 Tracking, telemetry and command and space safety 9 Launch, licensing and regulation 8 Frontier and research 6 Gateways and teleports 8 User terminals 9 Baseband, modems and software-defined radio 8 Ground-station-as-a-service and antenna networks 7 CCSDS protocol stacks 9 Mission control and flight dynamics 7 Data downlink, processing and distribution 8 Earth station spectrum coordination and interference 7 01**Join** Identity, attestation quote, signed policy. 02**Admit** Admitted for a stated scope, nothing wider. 03**Describe** What, where, how and by whom, with calibration. 04**Time** One clock across the grid, with its error bound. 05**Observe** Every value with quality and provenance. 06**Qualify** Tested against the specification, state on record. 07**Federate** Signed exchange across grids and trust domains. 08**Orchestrate** Software and configuration by signed plan. **03** On the grid ## Every site joins one observing grid. The open networks on the grid today, over real relief and the geodesic cells we count them into, filtered to the space domain this area serves. A site built here enrols into the same grid. **04** In the field ## Where this runs, sector by sector. 6 deployment scenarios from the sector research that rely on tasking and downlink. [Government and public safety Deployable communications and sensing for incident commandA cell on wheels with satellite backhaul, mesh telemetry and environment nodes at the incident base.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) [Development and humanitarian School connectivity with a school observatorySatellite or fixed wireless, school Wi-Fi, an open connectivity probe and an optional station.](https://observatory.global/sectors/humanitarian/) [Development and humanitarian Displacement-site connectivity and sensingPoint-to-multipoint wireless, satellite backhaul, solar and water-point sensors with protection safeguards.](https://observatory.global/sectors/humanitarian/) [Scientific Ocean and coastal low-cost buoy arraysSatellite-backhauled wave buoys accepted in a national programme trial.](https://observatory.global/sectors/scientific/) [Transport Highway corridor mobile coverage for safetySmall cells and satellite backhaul along unserved roads.](https://observatory.global/sectors/transport/) [Government and public safety National GBON surface and upper-air networkWMO-grade stations reporting through WIS 2.0, funded through the systematic-observations financing pathway.](https://observatory.global/sectors/public-safety/) **05** Open and enterprise ## Open by default. Enterprise by contract. The open counterpart lives on the main site for anyone to read and run. The enterprise service is designed, deployed and operated with you, under contract. Open, on the main site - Orbit and pass methods - Payload class catalogue - Ground-station interfaces on the protocol Enterprise, on this site - Mission and payload integration - Tasking and downlink services - Non-terrestrial backhaul for remote sites **06** The rest of the line ## Space and satellite systems, area by area. [Space and satellite systems Constellations and orbitsLEO, MEO and GEO, sized to revisit and coverage.](https://observatory.global/space/constellations-and-orbits/) [Space and satellite systems Spacecraft and payloadsBuses and optical, radar and RF payload classes.](https://observatory.global/space/spacecraft-and-payloads/) [Space and satellite systems NTN and direct-to-device3GPP non-terrestrial networks, from orbit to handset.](https://observatory.global/space/ntn-and-direct-to-device/) [Space and satellite systems Space safetyTracking, telemetry and command, conjunction awareness.](https://observatory.global/space/space-safety/) [Space and satellite systems Licensing and spectrumFilings, coordination and earth-station rules, by country.](https://observatory.global/space/licensing-and-spectrum/) ## Bring us the site. Survey, design, deployment and operation for tasking and downlink. The form names who receives your details. [Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) [contact@observatory.global](mailto:contact@observatory.global?subject=Space%20and%20satellite%20systems%3A%20Tasking%20and%20downlink) [Nexus Observatory](https://observatory.global/)**Space and satellite systems** . From orbit to the ground, on one protocol.[Talk to us](https://observatory.global/contact/) Space and satellite systems - [Constellations and orbits](https://observatory.global/space/constellations-and-orbits/) - [Spacecraft and payloads](https://observatory.global/space/spacecraft-and-payloads/) - [NTN and direct-to-device](https://observatory.global/space/ntn-and-direct-to-device/) - [Tasking and downlink](https://observatory.global/space/tasking-and-downlink/) - [Space safety](https://observatory.global/space/space-safety/) - [Licensing and spectrum](https://observatory.global/space/licensing-and-spectrum/) Technologies - [Orbits and constellations](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/orbits-and-constellations/) - [Spacecraft buses and platforms](https://observatory.global/technologies/satellite/spacecraft-buses-and-platforms/) - [Gateways and teleports](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/gateways-and-teleports/) - [User terminals](https://observatory.global/technologies/ground/user-terminals/) - [Platforms and orbits](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/platforms-and-orbits/) - [Optical, spectral and thermal sensors](https://observatory.global/technologies/eo/optical-spectral-and-thermal-sensors/) Industries - [Public safety](https://observatory.global/industries/public-safety/) - [Humanitarian](https://observatory.global/industries/humanitarian/) - [Climate](https://observatory.global/industries/climate/) - [Nature](https://observatory.global/industries/nature/) - [Oceans](https://observatory.global/industries/oceans/) - [Agriculture](https://observatory.global/industries/agriculture/) - [Telecom](https://observatory.global/industries/telecom/) Service platforms - [Observatory Protocol](https://observatory.global/protocol/) - [Protocol & Grid](https://observatory.global/grid-services/) - [Software](https://observatory.global/software/) - [Hardware & power](https://observatory.global/hardware/) - [Sensors & instruments](https://observatory.global/sensors/) - [Connectivity](https://observatory.global/connectivity/) - [Edge compute & AI](https://observatory.global/edge-ai/) © 2026 Nexus Observatory Inc. 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