About the Alaska Satellite Facility
The Alaska Satellite Facility (ASF), located at the Geophysical Institute (GI) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), supports Earth science research by providing reliable access to high-quality data and tools. ASF empowers scientists, researchers, and field teams around the world to explore and better understand dynamic Earth systems through the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data.
As the NASA SAR Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC), ASF plays a key role in managing and distributing SAR data. ASF operates two ground stations in Fairbanks, one as part of the NASA Near Space Network (NSN) and the other within the Viasat Real-Time Earth (RTE) global satellite communications network; both of which are essential for acquiring satellite data used in near-real-time applications and long-term scientific research.
Our Mission
Making Remote-Sensing Data Accessible
Through data acquisition, processing, archiving, and global distribution, ASF delivers the resources researchers need to drive innovation and advance scientific discovery across disciplines.
Our Impact
ASF serves a diverse global community of scientists and data users by supporting critical climate and environmental research, including studies of glacier dynamics, sea ice monitoring, and ecosystem change. The facility plays a key role in enabling rapid disaster response by providing timely radar data during events such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions.
By offering open-access SAR data and user-friendly tools, ASF helps accelerate scientific discovery and foster collaboration across disciplines. ASF helps push the boundaries of what’s possible in Earth observation by working closely with the research community to explore new ideas and applications, and by providing comprehensive training, detailed documentation, and dedicated user support to ensure they can fully harness the power of SAR data in their work.
Our Commitment
ASF’s commitment to advancing Earth science is grounded in accessibility, data integrity, and service to the research community.
ASF’s array of services as part of the Geophysical Institute and the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
ASF History
ASF was established in 1991 on the UAF campus. However, its roots trace back to earlier satellite and Earth science initiatives in the 1980s. The motivation for its creation stemmed from the need for a high-latitude ground station capable of receiving data from polar-orbiting satellites. Given Alaska’s geographic position, Fairbanks offered a unique strategic advantage – allowing communication with satellites during nearly every orbit. Created as part of a collaboration between the University of Alaska, NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), ASF was initially known as the Alaska SAR Facility, which reflected its early focus on SAR data – a remote sensing technique particularly useful in Alaska’s often cloud-covered and often dark environments. Today ASF operates as part of the Geophysical Institute at UAF and remains a key component of NASA’s Space Communications network and its Earth Science infrastructure. Its mission focuses on making SAR data accessible to support scientific research, resource management, and disaster response.
Timeline
2025
SAR processing milestone
NASA/ISRO NISAR launch planned
2024
ASF joins the Viasat Real-Time Earth (RTE) satellite communications ground station network
2023
SAR processing milestone
ASF DAAC distributes OPERA data
The ASF DAAC begins distribution of global SAR data products from the JPL OPERA Project
2022
SAR processing milestone
JPL and ASF create a glacier velocity record (ITS_LIVE)
70 million satellite images of decades-long global data were processed for this dataset
2022
SAR processing milestone
HyP3 On Demand cloud processing is incorporated into Vertex Data Search
Click here to learn more about custom processing with HyP3
2021
30th Anniversary
2021
Newest NASA addition
AS4 construction completed
Construction of the newest NASA antenna at ASF is completed. AS4 will support the upcoming NISAR satellite mission.
2021
ASF and partners form the GeoData Cooperative
ASF together with the Department of Defense, and others partner form the GeoData Cooperative
2020
Antenna Upgrade
NASA AS1 antenna (1996) gets an upgrade to provide state-of-the-art performance
2017
Antenna upgrade
AS2 antenna replaced
The first ASF antenna (1991), located on top of the CT Elvey Building, is upgraded in support of the NASA Near Space Network.
2016
25th Anniversary
ASF Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary
2016
Data archive expands
ASF Supports NASA SMAP Mission
ASF Ground Station supports NASA SMAP mission to study Earth's soil moisture ASF DAAC starts distributing SMAP data.
2016
Data archive expands
NASA selects ASF DAAC for NISAR data distribution
NASA selects ASF DAAC to be the distributor of SAR data from the future NASA-ISRO (India) NISAR satellite mission
2016
Data archive expands
ESA's Sentinel-1B launched
Sentinel-1B is launched to join Sentinel-1A in providing global SAR coverage. Data from both satellites are distributed from ASF.
2016
Data archive expands
Unrestricted ALOS PALSAR Data available
Japanese government makes ALOS PALSAR data unrestricted, giving international users new access to the 2006-2011 dataset archived by ASF DAAC.
2016
Data archive expands
NISAR Data
NASA announces that ASF DAAC will distribute data from NISAR, a joint U.S.-lndia satellite mission to be launched in 2023.
2015
ASF Distributing S1 Data
Sentinel 1 Data Agreement, ALOS PALSAR RTC Released, NASA Award
ASF DAAC starts distributing the entire archive of Sentinel 1A data through a historic agreement between NASA and the European Space Agency.
2015
A year of accomplishments and recognition
ALOS PALSAR RTC Dataset Released
ASF completes radiometric terrain correction of ALOS PALSAR dataset.
2015
ASF Recognized for performance
ASF receives NASA Award
The prestigious NASA award recognizes the ASF Ground Station team for making the new antenna fully operational ahead of schedule.
2014
ASF is growing
ASF Enterprise Services.
ASF Enterprise offers ground station services from university-owned antenna assets.
2014
ASF is growing
A Third Antenna at ASF
Ribbon-cutting ceremony for NASA's third antenna at ASF.
2014
ASF is growing
Data Storage Milestone
ASF DAAC data archive exceeds 1.5 petabytes, roughly equivalent to 500 Million Songs stored as MP3s.
2013
New imagery based on historic 1978 Seasat Mission
ASF DAAC Releases Never Seen Before Imagery
ASF DAAC releases newly processed imagery, much of which had never been seen before from the historic 1978 Seasat mission.
2012
ASF UAVSAR Data Availability Plays Important Role
ASF Data Plays Important Role In Detection of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
UAVSAR data accessed through ASF DAAC played an important role in detecting the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
2011
20th Anniversary
ASF Celebrates 20th Anniversary
2011
Vertex Search
New Web Data Portal Vertex is Launched.
New web data portal Vertex enables search and discovery of downloadable data and imagery.
2010
ALOS PALSAR assists with detecting fault lines
ALOS PALSAR Plays Important Role in Detecting Haitian Fault Zones
ALOSPALSAR data, which can be accessed through ASF DAAC, plays a vital role in detecting the fault zones that were in play, causing the devastating Haitian earthquake.
NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) begins data acquisition for Japan's ALOS mission, the start of a historic international collaboration.
2008
AIRSAR Data Added
AIRSAR Data Added
NASA Airborne SAR (AIRSAR) data collection was added to the ASF DAAC for archive and distribution.
2006
A busy year!
ALOS Data Node
America's ALOS Data Node (AADN) was created in partnership with NOAA.
2006
A busy year!
JAXA Satellite Launch
JAXA ALOS satellite successfully launched into space.
2006
Uplink completed
ASF's First Uplink
The first ASF uplink of a command file to an orbiting satellite was completed.
2003
Alaska SAR Facility renamed
Alaska SAR Facility renamed
The Alaska SAR Facility was renamed the Alaska Satellite Facility to be more descriptive and better reflect the extent of the facility and its services as a whole.
1997
RADARSAT-1 Antarctic Mapping
RADARSAT-1 Antarctic Mapping
The RADARSAT-1 Antarctic Mapping Mission 1 was completed. A tiled mosaic was created by the Ohio State University.
1995
Expanded
RADARSAT-1 data at ASF
ASF downlinks, processes, and distributes data from RADARSAT-1.
The 11-meter-tall NASA antenna was installed to support the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS-1) of the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASCA)
1994
ASF DAAC created
ASF DAAC created
ASF Distributed Active Archive Center(DAAC) was created under contract with NASA
1991
ASF's first antenna
ASF's first antenna
ASF's first antenna becomes operational and receives its first downlink from ERS-1
ASF Leadership
Wade Albright
Director, Alaska Satellite Facility
Paul Austin
ASF Ground Station Manager
Ian Dixon
ASF Engineering Manager
Rex Ellis
ASF IT Operations Manager
Kirk Hogenson
ASF Product Development Manager
Franz Meyer
ASF Chief Scientist
Suzy Nicolai
ASF Executive Business Manager
Be a part of the ASF team!
Apply for University of Alaska career employment opportunities at ASF through the UA Careers website.
Computer Science and Engineering students will find a rich, inclusive, and supportive environment offering real-world experience in a NASA-affiliated organization. Interested? Contact us at [email protected].
UA is an AA/EO employer and educational institution and prohibits illegal discrimination against any individual.
Planning to visit ASF?
Campus Map
Driving Directions
Campus Map
Directions from Fairbanks International Airport to the Alaska Satellite Facility, West Ridge Research Building.
Download Campus Map.
Driving Directions
Directions from Fairbanks International Airport to the Alaska Satellite Facility, West Ridge Research Building:
- Take AIRPORT WAY NORTHEAST from the airport. If you depart from the rental car parking lot at the airport, the exit will funnel you onto AIRPORT WAY. If you depart from in front of the terminal, bear left at the first intersection, bear right at the second intersection, and you will end up on AIRPORT WAY.
- Merge onto the southbound entrance, via the ramp on the left, to the ROBERT MITCHELL EXPRESSWAY/AK-3 S/INTERSTATE A3, toward Denali National Park/Nenana.
- Take the GEIST RD/CHENA PUMP RD exit.
- Turn RIGHT onto GEIST RD, get into the LEFT land (you have time to do this).
- Turn LEFT onto THOMPSON DRIVE at the stop light. Continue straight until you reach the traffic circle.
- Take second RIGHT from the traffic circle up the obvious hill (Tanana Loop Road). Continue straight on Tanana Loop Road. At the very top of the hill, there is a ski hut (it‘ll be on your left).
- Turn LEFT onto the road after the ski hut. The Akasofu building will be on your right. This road takes you to the PARKING LOT behind the Akasofu building and the West Ridge Research Building (WRRB). This parking lot is a UAF Parking Decal Required lot, with a kiosk that dispenses parking permits for a fee. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN RESERVED SPOTS.
- Enter the WRRB entrance. Bear LEFT after entering the building, then go straight down the hallway. The Alaska Satellite Facility main administrative offices are in the WRRB, suite 105.