Operationalizing National Space Assets: A Framework for a Sovereign Satellite Data Hub and Marketplace

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@article{1722299,
      author = {Warekuromor Tubolayefa (PhD), Umar Tanimu Yakubu, Ashibuogwu Kevin},
      title = {Operationalizing National Space Assets: A Framework for a Sovereign Satellite Data Hub and Marketplace},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {10},
      number = {2},
      pages = {1359-1371},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722299.pdf},
      abstract = {Space agencies in emerging economies face a structural transition: shifting from historical data acquisition paradigms to the delivery of high-value, automated geospatial services while ensuring infrastructure sustainability. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for a sovereign Satellite Data Hub and Marketplace—a reference architecture designed to transition space assets from siloed storage environments into a centralised, API-driven ecosystem. Aligned with the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF) and National Geospatial Data Infrastructure (NGDI) specifications, the framework leverages an open-source, cloud-native technology stack compliant with Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and ISO/TC 211 standards, including SpatioTemporal Asset Catalogs (STAC v1.1.0), GeoNode, and Cloud Optimized GeoTIFFs (COGs). Furthermore, it introduces a tiered "Free Data, Fee for Processing" economic model engineered to monetise automated compute cycles and internal analytical expertise without compromising public-good access requirements. By consolidating technical architecture with sector-specific socio-economic impact modelling, this blueprint provides a scalable roadmap for emerging space nations to achieve international interoperability alongside domestic financial self-sufficiency.},
      keywords = {Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), Cloud-Native Geospatial, SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC), Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG), Geospatial Economics, Earth Observation, Satellite Technology, Public-Good Data, Financial Sustainability, Data Governance, UN-IGIF},
      month = {August},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722299}
  }