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NASA Awards PlanetiQ Contract to Expand Access to Commercial Polarimetric GNSS Radio Occultation Satellite Data

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Through NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program, researchers will gain access to high-SNR GNSS polarimetric radio occultation (PRO) data for weather, precipitation, and Earth system science applications.

GOLDEN, Colo., June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PlanetiQ announced today that NASA has awarded the company an expanded contract through NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program, broadening access to commercial satellite data for the scientific community. This contract expands PlanetiQ’s CSDA portfolio to add high-SNR GNSS polarimetric radio-occultation data to PlanetiQ’s existing NASA CSDA offerings of ionospheric scintillation, ionospheric total electron content, and high-SNR GNSS radio-occultation data.

“By making polarized radio occultation data available through the CSDA program, NASA is enabling a broader research community to investigate new applications for these observations,” said Dr. E. Robert Kursinski, Chief Scientist of PlanetiQ.

The expanded data offering will provide government researchers with access to advanced GNSS observations that can help improve the understanding of precipitation processes, atmospheric structure, and Earth system dynamics.

Polarized radio occultation (PRO) measurements have demonstrated the ability to characterize precipitation, detect rain and snowfall structure, identify melting layers, and observe variations in storm intensity. PlanetiQ uses a unique receiver to collect data with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). High-SNR measurements are particularly important for precipitation applications because increased SNR improves sensitivity to lighter precipitation and certain cloud structures.

“By making polarized radio occultation data available through the CSDA program, NASA is enabling a broader research community to investigate new applications for these observations,” said Dr. E. Robert Kursinski, Chief Scientist of PlanetiQ. “As more researchers gain access to high-SNR PRO data, we expect both the scientific understanding and the potential operational uses of the technology for precipitation and severe weather monitoring to expand.”

According to NASA’s press release, “Leveraging commercial data demonstrates NASA’s commitment to strong public-private partnerships, allowing the agency to expand scientific insight while reducing costs and accelerating the delivery of data to researchers and decision-makers.”

PlanetiQ’s GNSS-PRO measurements are acquired using high-rate, high-SNR receivers that enhance the detection of precipitation signatures and cloud structures. In addition to supporting atmospheric science research, these measurements are critical for operational applications related to rainfall characterization, snowfall detection, storm monitoring, and weather forecasting.

Researchers interested in learning more about GNSS-PRO and precipitation sensing can watch PlanetiQ’s recent webinar: https://planetiq.com/gnss-ro-precipitation-webinar/

Frequently Asked Questions

What can GNSS-RO data be used for?

GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO) data is primarily used to improve weather forecasting and climate research. Meteorological agencies such as NOAA and ECMWF assimilate GNSS-RO atmospheric profiles into numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to increase forecast accuracy and provide global observations from the surface to the stratosphere.

Beyond weather and climate applications, PlanetiQ is enabling additional uses for GNSS signals and radio frequency (RF) data. These applications include GNSS signals intelligence (SIGINT), RF environment characterization and mapping, ionospheric monitoring, and situational awareness of GNSS interference events such as jamming and spoofing. These capabilities support government, defense, and commercial users that rely on accurate positioning, navigation, timing (PNT), and spectrum awareness.

In summary, GNSS-RO data supports weather forecasting, climate science, space weather monitoring, GNSS signals intelligence, RF mapping, and the detection and monitoring of GNSS jamming and spoofing activity.

What is GNSS polarized radio occultation (GNSS-PRO)?

Polarized radio occultation (GNSS-PRO) is an extension of traditional GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO) that requires the receiving satellite to have specialized antennas. A right-hand circularly polarized signal transmitted by a GNSS satellite is received by PlanetiQ satellites using both horizontally and vertically polarized antennas. Because raindrops and snowflakes tend to have a flattened shape as they fall, the horizontally polarized subsignal encounters more material and is delayed slightly relative to the vertically polarized subsignal. By measuring the phase difference between the two signals, key information about precipitation can be derived.

These measurements can provide information about rain and snowfall structure, melting layers, horizontal precipitation bands, and variations in storm intensity.

In summary, GNSS-PRO is acquired by satellites with dual-polarization receivers and extends traditional GNSS-RO applications by using polarization measurements to characterize precipitation structure, snowfall, melting layers, and storm intensity.

How can I get GNSS-RO and GNSS-PRO data?

NASA allows NASA researchers, other U.S. government agencies, and international collaborators to apply for access to GNSS-RO and GNSS-PRO data through the Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program. Organizations and researchers that do not qualify for access through the CSDA program can contact PlanetiQ directly at info@planetiq.com to learn more about obtaining data directly from the company.

In summary, qualified researchers can access GNSS-RO and GNSS-PRO data through NASA’s CSDA program, while commercial and other users can obtain the data directly from PlanetiQ.

About PlanetiQ

PlanetiQ provides the highest-quality GNSS/GPS radio occultation (RO) data available from a commercial constellation of satellites, offering unmatched temporal and spatial resolution. The data drive accurate, high-impact weather and climate forecast models, helping improve Numerical Weather Prediction and AI forecasts, safeguard lives and property from severe weather. In 2025, PlanetiQ was awarded NOAA’s largest-ever contract for satellite weather data, valued at $24.3 million. PlanetiQ is a space-tech company that serves the most mission-critical government, defense, and industry leaders, including international weather agencies, enabling more resilient operations across sectors. Founded in 2015 and privately owned, PlanetiQ designs, builds, and operates a commercial constellation of GNSS-RO satellites, setting the standard for precision and reliability in atmospheric monitoring. For more information, contact info@planetiq.com.

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PestPac by WorkWave® Extends Field Capabilities with Door-to-Door Sales Integration

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Identify, quote, sign, and schedule services in as little as 3.5 minutes with a single native workflow

HOLMDEL, N.J., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — WorkWave®, a leading provider of software and solutions that help mobile service companies thrive, today announced the launch of PestPac’s fully integrated Door-to-Door (D2D) sales engine, designed to improve the field sales experience by moving beyond manual data entry and fragmented workflows. The solution helps business owners support sales activity, better manage their field sales teams, and provide a more modern sales experience, while offering homeowners a professional customer experience.

In high-intensity sales environments, seconds can be the difference between a closed deal and a missed opportunity. Many pest control companies experience a “toggle tax” from switching between disconnected sales apps, paper contracts, and back-office systems. PestPac’s native D2D workflow is designed to reduce this friction, enabling representatives to identify, quote, sign, and schedule services in as little as 3.5 minutes. By staying focused on the customer rather than the technology, reps can better maintain the momentum needed to close deals efficiently.

As external pressures like rising labor and material costs threaten the bottom line, software efficiency has become the primary lever for protecting profit margins. The PestPac D2D workflow is designed to deliver immediate ROI by focusing on:

Sales Enablement and Experience: Support sales activity and enable sales reps with the best-in-class technology and insights they need to make every knock count, and succeed in the field. The native workflow improves the time-to-quote experience, allowing representatives to quickly identify, quote, sign, and schedule services, all from one single screen.System Consolidation: Support tech consolidation and reduced overhead. Because Sales Center is integrated directly into PestPac, rather than using a third-party app, it supports real-time data syncs that help reduce manual entry errors, save time, and lower overhead software costs.Actionable Intelligence: Evaluate ROI and make proactive business decisions with access to dashboards. These insights help turn field data into strategic moves that can support margins and long-term business value.

“Our mission is to provide our customers with sophisticated tools to compete effectively in their local markets,” said Kevin Kemmerer, CEO of WorkWave. “With our integrated D2D engine, we are providing actionable intelligence designed to help turn field data into decisive moves that support margins and long-term business value.”

Whether a company runs high-volume summer programs or a specialized outside sales track, PestPac helps representatives arrive at the door prepared, turning every doorstep into a potential business opportunity.

For more information on PestPac and Door-to-Door, click here.

About WorkWave:

WorkWave is on a mission to deliver innovative software and fintech solutions to the dedicated service professionals who ensure the world remains safe, clean, and beautiful. Powering millions of services every year, leading companies in lawn care, pest control, commercial cleaning, and security guarding rely on WorkWave’s comprehensive SaaS solutions, including its core offerings PestPac®, RealGreen® & TEAM Software®, to manage and grow their businesses. Backed by decades of experience, passionate teams, and an unwavering commitment to its customers, WorkWave’s vision is to empower the world’s mobile service workers to build a brighter future.

For more information, visit workwave.com.

Media Contact:
Brittany Boyle
bboyle@workwave.com

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Convoy of Hope Responds to Deadly Venezuelan Earthquakes

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global disaster relief organization, Convoy of Hope, is already on the ground responding to last night’s catastrophic earthquakes which shook Venezuela and left more than 180 individuals dead and more than 1,500 injured. Officials expect these numbers to rise.

Convoy of Hope’s teams are currently providing life-sustaining immediate relief, including food, water, and hot meals from mobile kitchens.

“Images of the devastation in Venezuela are heartbreaking,” said Ethan Forhetz, Convoy of Hope’s national spokesperson. “The loss of life is staggering. Convoy of Hope is currently working to deliver much needed essential relief supplies to survivors. As we distribute those life sustaining items, we give hope to people who are walking through unthinkable tragedy.”

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared a national state of emergency as her country’s infrastructure is compromised and the capital city of Caracas in crisis, the need for immediate humanitarian aid is critical. Seismologists classified the disaster as a “seismic doublet,” an extremely rare phenomenon where two major earthquakes occur almost simultaneously, resulting in increased damage to housing and structures. These catastrophic tremors with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, rank among the strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela in more than a century.

Survivors are still being pulled from the debris, families with missing loved ones are clinging to hope as rescue teams work around the clock, and Convoy of Hope is committed to help for the long haul.

Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based organization that serves vulnerable communities. By partnering with local churches, businesses, civic organizations, and government agencies, Convoy has strategically offered help and hope in more than 130 countries around the world. Since its founding in 1994, Convoy of Hope has served 350 million people and counting.

Media Contact:
Fabiana Boyce, Public Engagement Specialist
(417) 831-7955
fboyce@convoyofhope.org

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University of Maryland Expands Landmark Research Program to Address Society’s Most Pressing Challenges

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The Grand Challenges Grants Program channels the university’s research power across 40+ disciplines to advance solutions for the public good

COLLEGE PARK, Md., June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Maryland today announced the launch of 11 high-impact research projects funded by nearly $15 million over three years through its Grand Challenges Grants Program, the university’s signature initiative to mobilize research across disciplines in service of society’s most pressing needs.

The newly funded projects draw on the expertise of more than 40 disciplines from across campus, reflecting the university’s commitment to tackling complex challenges — from expanding access to mental health services and heading off future pandemics to reducing educational disparities.

It’s the next step in an ongoing commitment to channel the university’s research power into advancing solutions for the public good. In 2023, the first round of Grand Challenges Grants committed $30 million to 50 projects spanning every college and school — the largest investment of its kind in UMD’s history, resulting in an additional $55 million in external funding.

“The inaugural program demonstrated extraordinary impact due to the breadth of expertise and collaborative spirit across our research enterprise,” Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice and Vice President for Research Patrick O’Shea said in an email to the campus community. “Through Grand Challenges 1.0, faculty developed innovative approaches to issues from climate resilience to food insecurity to educational equity and more, strengthening partnerships across disciplines, engaging students in new opportunities, and positioning the university for greater external funding, scholarly impact and public engagement.”

The projects funded this year by Grand Challenges Grants 2.0 were selected from nearly 80 proposals from every college and school involving 400 researchers. The projects will also receive a 50% matching in-kind and/or cash investment from their college or unit.

“These projects exemplify the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to generate new ideas, accelerate discovery and address the grand challenges facing communities in Maryland, across the nation and around the world,” Rice and O’Shea said. “We are inspired by the vision and innovation reflected in these projects, and grateful to everyone who submitted proposals.”

Institutional Awards

IN-PLACE: Interdisciplinary Network for Place-Based Learning, Action and Community-Engaged EnvironMental Health connects time spent in nature with evidence-based mental health care through community partnerships, research and campus programming to simultaneously address the interconnected challenges of mental health, environmental health and health disparities.

Women’s Health Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative advances translational research, workforce development and evidence-based policy to close critical knowledge gaps in women’s health across the lifespan, leveraging AI and community-engaged approaches to drive real-world improvements for a historically underrepresented population in medical research.

Impact Awards

Predictive Biology Hub for Human and Environmental Health develops new predictive tools to mitigate pandemics, improve human health outcomes, and sustain vital ecosystems in the face of emerging global threats across biological scales, from pathogens and ecosystems to brain networks and bioinspired design.

Sustainable and Ethical AI Infrastructure integrates engineering, economics and policy analysis to help Maryland and the nation balance the surging power and water demands of AI data centers with sustainability, affordability and national security goals, while identifying near- and long-term technological solutions for sustainable infrastructure.

Team Awards

Maryland Initiative Against Superbugs focuses on the discovery and engineering of bacteriophage: viruses that infect and kill bacteria. It will combine AI, computational modeling and experimental validation to identify and optimize bacteriophage, or phage, therapies capable of precisely targeting and killing drug-resistant superbugs.

Gut-Healing Smart Pill develops a smart, swallowable capsule that precisely targets and activates the gut’s natural repair mechanisms to heal damaged intestinal tissue, aiming to reduce surgical interventions, improve patient outcomes and lower the enormous costs of inflammatory bowel disease care.

Belonging for Immigrants and Refugees with Disabilities partners with grassroots organizations to provide culturally tailored support services, workforce training and policy advocacy for immigrants and refugees with disabilities to reduce systemic barriers and improve access to education, healthcare and community resources.

AI for Precision Cancer Treatment integrates quantum computing and machine learning to design single-atom catalysts. The emerging approach for improving early cancer detection and treatment efficacy offers a faster, more cost-effective path to safer therapies that minimize damage to healthy tissue.

The Air We Share: A Public Health Revolution for the 21st Century aims to radically improve indoor air safety by advancing the science of airborne infection transmission, demonstrating interventions in homes and healthcare settings, and building the research infrastructure and next-generation leadership needed to make safe indoor air a universal public health standard.

Land-Sea Exchange Network for Salinity: An Early Warning System for Detecting and Managing Salinity Risks tracks salt levels from land to coastal waters and will develop an early warning system to help policymakers and communities identify, manage and reduce the environmental and economic impacts of saltwater intrusion and road salt pollution.

Sustainable Precision Aquaculture Network for Shellfish aims to transform oyster farming into a precision, data-driven industry that addresses global food security, restores water quality and revitalizes coastal economies. It will leverage robotics, AI, big data and Internet of Things technologies to modernize shellfish aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit umd.edu.

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