Each year, federal officials ask the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for nearly twice as many satellite images, maps, charts and other data products than the 16,000-person combat support and intelligence agency can provide. Today, most of NGA's imagery comes from commercial satellite imagery pioneer DigitalGlobe and an undisclosed number of spy satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. But as a wave of commercial satellite startups prepare to launch scores of image-gathering satellites, the NGA is looking at how the entire federal government - not just the intelligence community and the military - can take full advantage of a gathering tide of new offerings.
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