Space and Earth Observation
Satellites observe every other system and depend on a space environment that can itself fail. This programme relates the Earth observation, geospatial and space-sector standards, with STAC as its worked package, so that imagery and the maps derived from it carry their provenance. Each artefact of these areas carries a UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier).
- Space industry: couples with
space-weather-and-timing-risk-standards,digital-and-telecom-sector-standards,finance-and-insurance-sector-standards,defence-and-civil-protection. - UNOOSA and space: couples with
geospatial-and-earth-observation-standards,extraterrestrial-hazard-standards,undrr-and-sendai-monitor. - Geospatial and Earth observation: couples with
visualization-and-maps-standards,data-standards,real-time-and-streaming,hazards-and-disaster-risk. - Visualisation, figures and maps: couples with
geospatial-and-earth-observation-standards,accessibility-and-inclusion,verified-intelligence-and-transparency.
Summary
- Programme
nexustandards.com/space/ - StatusIn preparation.
- Areas4 · 2 catalogued
- Nexus StandardsNS-0, NS-3, NS-3b, NS-9, NS-11, NS-5, NS-1
- Open standards18
- Data sources14
- Couplings16 with 6 programmes
Area profiles are proposed.
- Areas
- 4
- 2 catalogued, 2 proposed
- Nexus Standards
- 7
- applied across the areas
- Open standards
- 18
- named and linked, never reproduced
- Data sources
- 14
- listed for reference
- UNI
- requested · allocation in progress
- Status
- Proposedin preparation
- Last reviewed
- area profile
Nexus Standards (2026). Space and Earth Observation: a programme of the Nexus Standards. Proposed. https://nexustandards.com/space/. Last reviewed 17 October 2026.
Files include the credits and the licence statement and are generated in the browser; no data is transmitted. Downloads require JavaScript.
How a shock travels through this system
A system model of this programme built from the registry: 17 hazards, 15 systems, 10 sectors, 13 controls, 14 feeds, 8 indicators. Select the components to include, choose an initiating hazard and run the scenario. Stress propagates through the hazard relations of the Nexus Hazard Standard (NHS-1), the exposure of each system, the recorded couplings and the sectors that carry the loss; adopted standards dampen transmission and live data sources support detection. All parameters are stated assumptions that the reader can adjust; results are illustrative scenario outputs for exercises and training, not forecasts or risk assessments. The Map view places the same run on an example geography, The Nordic and Baltic region, the region of the programme’s context map, with open data: country boundaries, a grid of hexagonal cells and NASA satellite layers for the initiating hazard. The geography serves exercises and training and is not an assessment of that place.
Hazards
- Geomagnetic storm
- Dam failure
- Space debris
- Geomagnetically induced current (set off downstream)
- Ionospheric disturbance (set off downstream)
- Satellite space-environment anomaly (set off downstream)
- River flood (set off downstream)
- Flash flood (set off downstream)
- Mass displacement (set off downstream)
- Thermospheric drag surge (set off downstream)
- Radiation-belt electron enhancement (set off downstream)
- Satellite-navigation disruption (set off downstream)
- Uncontrolled re-entry (set off downstream)
- Orbital collision cascade (set off downstream)
- Widespread power outage (set off downstream)
- Water supply shortfall (set off downstream)
- Satellite communications outage (set off downstream)
Systems and couplings
- Space industry
- UNOOSA and space
- Geospatial and Earth observation
- Visualisation, figures and maps
- Space weather, spectrum and timing risk standards Coupling
- Digital, telecom and platforms Coupling
- Finance, insurance and capital markets Coupling
- Defence and civil protection Coupling
- Extraterrestrial hazard standards Coupling
- UNDRR and the Sendai Framework Monitor Coupling
- Data and datasets Coupling
- Real-time and streaming data Coupling
- Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction Coupling
- Accessibility and inclusion Coupling
- Verified intelligence and transparency Coupling
Controls
NS-0Constitution and principlesNS-3Risk record UNIs (grammar, legacy crosswalk, allocation authority)NS-3bDataset and product metadata profile (STAC, DCAT, PROV-O)NS-9Contextual UNIs (deployments, instances, programme instances)NS-11Verification and monitoring (evidence, attestations, zero-trust conformance observation)NS-5Figure, map and visualisation standard (with the UI/UX kit)NS-1The UNI and the artefact catalogue (grammar v0.2: domain, sector, region and environment segments)NRS-H87Hazard family: Space-based service loss (NHS-1 infra.space-services)NRS-H106Hazard family: Space technology and orbital infrastructure (NHS-1 tech.space-systems)NRS-H23Hazard family: Impacts and orbital hazards (NHS-1 space.orbital)NRS-H65Hazard family: Planetary boundary transgressions (NHS-1 planet.boundary)NRS-H26Hazard family: Land and wetland degradation (NHS-1 eco.land)NRS-H112Hazard family: Governance and institutional failure (NHS-1 soc.governance)
Observation
- CelesTrak GP orbital element sets (listed for reference)
- Space Weather Prediction Center products (listed for reference)
- Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space (listed for reference)
- Copernicus Emergency Management Service rapid mapping (listed for reference)
- CelesTrak general perturbations element sets (listed for reference)
- UNOOSA Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space (listed for reference)
- NASA Common Metadata Repository (CMR) search API (listed for reference)
- Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem STAC catalogue (listed for reference)
- geoBoundaries gbOpen (listed for reference)
- Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) (listed for reference)
- Natural Earth vector and raster data (listed for reference)
- Natural Earth vector data (listed for reference)
- NASA GIBS WMTS imagery layers (listed for reference)
- Our World in Data grapher and catalogue (listed for reference)
- Statistical capacity indicator for Sustainable Development Goal monitoring
- Number of countries that have multi-hazard monitoring and forecasting systems
- Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate (Earth-observation derived)
- Forest area as a proportion of total land area
- Statistical capacity indicators (geospatial component of national statistical systems)
- Metadata uses knowledge representation expressed in standardised format
- Non-text contrast
- Use of colour
Example geography
- The Nordic and Baltic region: 190 hexagonal cells
- Rain rate, last half hour (IMERG), NASA GIBS
- Night lights tonight, outages (VIIRS Day/Night Band), NASA GIBS
- Surface water through cloud, 30 m (OPERA DSWx-S1 radar), NASA GIBS
- Surface soil moisture (SMAP), NASA GIBS
Couplings, indicators and sources
The couplings with other programmes, the indicators, the references and the data sources the programme draws on.
Couplings with other programmes
16 couplings link the areas of this programme with 6 other programmes, counted in both directions from the area profiles.
| Coupled programme | Couplings | Example mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction | 6 | Satellite imagery, communications and positioning underpin situational awareness.Defence and civil protection to Space industry |
| Data and Evidence | 4 | EO products are analytical product records described by the NS-3b STAC profile with PROV-O lineage to source scenes.Geospatial and Earth observation to Data and datasets |
| Communities, Learning and Contribution | 2 | Every figure requires a text alternative and a data table, and colour may not be the only channel, following the horizontal accessibility review.Visualisation, figures and maps to Accessibility and inclusion |
| Trust, Verification and Assurance | 2 | Published figures carry a C2PA manifest with the artefact’s UNI so a reused image can be traced to its record.Visualisation, figures and maps to Verified intelligence and transparency |
| Digital, Cyber and AI | 1 | Satellite communications and timing support networks and backhaul.Space industry to Digital, telecom and platforms |
| Finance, Insurance and the Economy | 1 | Space insurance and financial timing depend on satellite services.Space industry to Finance, insurance and capital markets |
Example geography
Open Earth observation layers for nordic baltic, an example geography for space and earth observation. The map provides context only and does not indicate where the standards apply. Layers, dates and credits are shown on the map.
The interactive map needs JavaScript; the layer list and sources are below.
Layers 2
Earth observation
About this layer
- Evidence
- Modelled (latest year GIBS publishes)
- Source
- MODIS Terra and Aqua land cover (MCD12Q1) (NASA LP DAAC)
- Provider
- NASA LP DAAC
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- yearly; Satellite classification; latest year GIBS publishes
- Newest at build
- 2024-01-01
- Resolution
- about 500 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite land cover classes for the year shown, including croplands; a classification with known errors, not a farm register.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed (clouds leave gaps)
- Source
- MODIS Terra EVI (NASA LANCE)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite index; clouds leave gaps
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-13
- Resolution
- about 250 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite vegetation index for the 8 days to the date shown, a habitat condition indicator; not a measure of species or biodiversity.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed (clouds and night leave gaps)
- Source
- VIIRS NOAA-20 NDSI (NASA LANCE)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite detection; clouds and night leave gaps
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-14
- Resolution
- about 500 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite detection; clouds and night leave gaps. Satellite or model raster as the provider publishes it. Clouds, swath gaps and retrieval error leave gaps and noise; values are indicators, not measurements at a place.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed
- Source
- GHRSST MUR (NASA JPL PO.DAAC)
- Provider
- NASA JPL PO.DAAC
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite analysis
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-12
- Resolution
- about 1 km grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite analysis. Satellite or model raster as the provider publishes it. Clouds, swath gaps and retrieval error leave gaps and noise; values are indicators, not measurements at a place.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
About this layer
- Evidence
- Observed
- Source
- VIIRS NOAA-20 corrected reflectance (NASA LANCE)
- Provider
- NASA LANCE
- Licence
- NASA open data
- Vintage
- daily; Satellite image
- Newest at build
- 2026-10-14
- Resolution
- about 250 m grid
- Uncertainty
- Satellite image. Satellite or model raster as the provider publishes it. Clouds, swath gaps and retrieval error leave gaps and noise; values are indicators, not measurements at a place.
- Reached through
- gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov, only after you allow the live map
Keyboard, with the map focused
Hold Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll to zoom.
Latest available
NASA GIBS / EOSDIS · ASTER GDEM (METI, NASA) · Blue Marble (NASA) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Natural Earth.
Loading the latest NASA imagery.
Drag to move. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll, pinch or the buttons to zoom; hover for the values under the pointer; reset returns to the region.
Earth observation, framed on the Nordic and Baltic region.Satellite and model products as NASA publishes them, each with its own date. They are indicators, not assessments of any place.
Data: NASA GIBS · ASTER GDEM · Blue Marble · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Natural Earth · NASA EONETSources and licences
- We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- MODIS land products (vegetation indices, gross primary production, land cover), NASA LP DAAC and LANCE; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- VIIRS near-real-time products (flood, land surface temperature, snow cover, corrected reflectance), NASA LANCE; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- GHRSST Level 4 MUR analyses, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; distributed by the NASA Physical Oceanography DAAC (PO.DAAC); imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- ASTER GDEM is a product of METI and NASA (ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003, NASA LP DAAC); imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). Cite as: NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Spacesystems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team (2019). ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003. doi:10.5067/ASTER/ASTGTM.003. NASA open data
- Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. Public domain
- © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via NASA GIBS (coastlines, boundaries, roads and place names). Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). ODbL
- Blue Marble, NASA Earth Observatory; imagery via NASA GIBS. Colours redrawn from the published colour map; values averaged into H3 cells where shown (modified). NASA open data
- Context on the globe and flat map: coastlines, boundaries, roads and place names from NASA GIBS reference layers (OpenStreetMap data, ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors); Blue Marble imagery as an optional base; 3D terrain and the elevation read-out from the ASTER GDEM elevation colour index (5 m to 200 m classes, exaggerated for legibility). Boundaries are drawn as published and imply no position on any territory.
- Globe: MapLibre GL JS 6.9.1, BSD-3-Clause, © MapLibre contributors.
- Live events: NASA Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker (EONET); events are indicative and keep their original source links.
- Live: NASA EONET Events are indicative, not authority warnings.
- NASA GIBS: We acknowledge the use of imagery provided by services from NASA’s Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS), part of NASA’s Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS).
- Past year, daily temperature and sunshine (NASA POWER): These data were obtained from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) POWER Project funded through the NASA Earth Science/Applied Science Program..
- Optional layers (9 sources in the layer list: live, forecast, observed and context) print their provider credit on the map and here when switched on; forecasts are model output and derived indices are estimates.
Layers and dates.
- Land cover type (IGBP), yearly: MODIS Terra and Aqua land cover (MCD12Q1), NASA LP DAAC · 2024
- Enhanced vegetation index, rolling 8 days: MODIS Terra EVI, NASA LANCE · 13 Oct 2026
- Snow cover: VIIRS NOAA-20 NDSI, NASA LANCE · 13 Oct 2026
- Sea ice concentration: GHRSST MUR, NASA JPL PO.DAAC · 12 Oct 2026
- True colour: VIIRS NOAA-20 corrected reflectance, NASA LANCE · 13 Oct 2026
The programme at work
Its development and participation, the areas it holds, the standards that apply and the channels to related areas.
STAC: implementation package
The register entry for STAC, with the issuing body’s process, the clause map, the crosswalk, adoption guidance, contribution channels, deployment notes and updates.
- BodySTAC community; OGC Community Standard 25-004
- Version1.1.0 (OGC Community Standard); core text CC BY 4.0
- Relationadopt
- Updatesfor reference
Open the package
Process diagram, clause map, crosswalk, adoption, channels, deployment notes and updates.
AvailableOpen the schema
STAC Item JSON Schema (v1.1.0), read at the issuing body’s endpoint and not copied.
Available · draft in the browserCompose a profile
The composer with this standard selected; YAML or JSON with citations.
PlannedRun the test suite
In the sandbox with worked examples; in the meantime, the issuing body’s own validator.
Transmission channels to related areas and programmes
The systemic couplings recorded for this context, grouped by transmission mechanism. The bar summarises each mechanism (select one to filter); each entry names the connected area or programme and describes the mechanism.
The interactive view requires JavaScript; the sections below present the same records.
Working groups, participation and learning
How to take part, the proposed working groups, the readiness pathways, learning at Risk Academy, the institutions of the network and common questions.
Participation and governance
- 01
Charter a working group
Select an area above, adopt its proposed charter and submit it as a public change record under NS-13; the editors decide with written reasons. Develop a standard.
- 02
Amend an area brief
Propose an amendment to an area profile, citing a peer-reviewed or official source.
- 03
Propose a data source
Propose a source with its provider, licence and delivery path for licence review.
- 04
National participation
Each participating country takes part through its National Nexus Consortium (NNC). The National Standards Council (NSC) decides adoption, adaptation or reference in its jurisdiction, and National Working Groups (NWGs) draft national inputs and run field exercises. Competent national authorities are engaged through official channels.
- 05
Contribute at the issuing body
Contributions to an external standard are made through the issuing body’s own channels; outcomes are reflected here as register changes. Movement and contribution.
Questions and answers
What is the status of Space and Earth Observation?
What is the basis of the area briefs?
How are data sources presented?
Contribute evidence from this page.
Reports is the Consortium’s quarterly publication. What you know about this subject can become evidence, a case or a correction in the next edition, credited to you and published under CC BY 4.0 where it is your own work.
- EmailGateway GW-STDSend it from this pageEvidence, a correction, a case, a method, a review, a translation or profile input. It arrives tagged with this page, so the editor who owns it receives it.
- ZenodoOpen depositDeposit it and submit to the communityPublish your own record on Zenodo with your ORCID iD, then submit it to the Reports community there. Curators review it; the DOI stays yours.
- ReportsNexus StandardsSee every way to contributeThe contribution types, how each is reviewed, what credit you receive, the licence and what is never accepted.
Never send personal data, sensitive infrastructure detail or anything you have no right to share. A contribution is reviewed before use; sending it confers no authorship or editorial rights, and sponsorship never buys a finding.
Every figure on this page is indexed: environment, hazards, climate, The Nordic and Baltic region.
The Index is the Consortium’s indexing system for risk data. Every indicator, hazard, series and country profile carries its Nexus Standards identifier, its source and its licence, so what this page shows can be traced, corrected and reused.
- 01 · Sources205 registered sourcesEvery value keeps its source and licence; withheld values are counted.Data and licences
- 02 · Nexus StandardsNIS-1 and NHS-1451 indicators, 905 hazards; every record carries a UNI.Nexus Standards
- 03 · The Index54 series, 195 country profilesComputed on the standards; no value is published until an edition is released.The Global Risks Index
- 04 · This pageSpace and Earth ObservationMaps, figures and feeds read the Index in the context of environment, hazards, climate and The Nordic and Baltic region.Public API
global, sector, strategic, technology, thematicSeries in this context environment, hazards, climate
- GSGlobal Earth observationWhat Earth observation can and cannot see of risk: coverage, revisit, latency and the observing systems The Global Risks Index (NXS-GRX) depends on.NXS-GRX-AR-000070Hazards · Climate · Environment
- GLBGlobal SystemsThe state of interdependent global risk: the twenty domain indices aggregated to the world, the five core systems (water, energy, food, health, biodiversity) and their couplings, the global tail register and the gap…NXS-GRX-AR-000002Hazards · Climate · Environment
- GSGlobal ClimateChronic and acute physical climate hazard, transition exposure, adaptation gaps and scenario pathways to 2030, 2050 and 2100.NXS-GRX-AR-000065Climate · Hazards · Environment
- GSGlobal WaterAccess, scarcity, quality, floods and droughts, groundwater depletion, transboundary dependency and the couplings of water to energy, food, health and nature.NXS-GRX-AR-000059Hazards · Climate · Environment
Country profiles The Nordic and Baltic region
Every country profile carries the source and licence of each value. Correct a value or reply.
Hazard domains NHS-1
- Solid EarthNXS-GRX-AR-000138
- Land and ecosystemsNXS-GRX-AR-000140
- Planetary boundaries and Earth-system tippingNXS-GRX-AR-000141
Geodata and API open
Open layers on an equal-area hexagon grid, shown as densities per km² or as symbols: People · GHSL 2025People · WorldPop 2025Built-up areaPortsAirportsRoadsRailwaysRivers and lake centrelines.
/api/v1/public/grix · https://nexustandards.com/uni/{uni}
Developers · Data · Made with Natural Earth, Public domain; GHSL and WorldPop, CC BY 4.0.
Snapshot of the Index registries pinned 2026-10-23 · 22c6eed. Research and risk-analytics information: not a rating, an official classification, a warning, a benchmark or advice.
Contribute to Space and Earth Observation
Institutions and experts are invited to charter a working group, amend an area brief or propose a data source. National participation is organised through each country’s National Nexus Consortium (NNC) and its National Working Groups (NWGs); competent national authorities are engaged through official channels.
Status and use. The Nexus Standards are proposed standards developed through an open process under NS-13 and published for voluntary use; they do not constitute certification, accreditation or regulatory approval, and adoption remains a decision of the Global Standards Council and, in each country, of its National Standards Council. A UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier) identifies an artefact; it does not certify it. Names of standards bodies and their standards belong to their stewards and are used only to identify the documents; no text of an external standard is reproduced here. Nexus Standards is not affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by any standards body named here.
Licences: CC BY 4.0 for standards text, registries, schemas and data; Apache-2.0 for reference code. External standards are cited by name, number and link under their own licences. Third-party data, libraries and fonts keep their own licences: see Third-party notices.