Big Number
$76.8 million. That’s how much the Space Force Joint Commercial Operations Cell spent on data and services from the Global Data Marketplace from January 2023 through September 2025.
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Key Background
The Space Force purchases data, such as satellite imagery, used by the Department of Defense to monitor activities, including enemy locations, on Earth and in space. The commercial space sector has grown rapidly in recent years, introducing more data and services the DOD, other federal agencies and foreign governments can use to monitor enemies. Because the information is not classified, it can be shared easier with allies and partners, according to the GAO. The Senate Armed Services Committee previously expressed concern that the DOD has fallen behind in utilizing commercial space data and asked the GAO to investigate.
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