Step 1: Setting up NASA Credentials

The first task in the process to set up your ASC account is the creation of your NASA Identity. To begin this process, please send Natalie Sharpe an email requesting ASC access:

• CC your PI on the email
• Include your phone number, pronouns, employer, and office address (requested by NCCS for your account creation)
• Specify if you need access to a Windows system
  All ADAPT users are given access to computation resources through Linux virtual machines. If you would like access to a Windows system as well, please specify that in your email. Access to the Windows system is useful to use ESRI programs and services, and other programs only accessible through a Windows interface. For more information, see the guidance provided by NCCS here.

Once you send Natalie your information, she will initiate the NASA Identity Management and Account Exchange (IdMAX) and SATERN training requirements to obtain your NASA Credentials. Please see below for the workflow you will need to follow:

IdMAX

• Once your NASA Credentials have been initiated, you’ll receive an email from IdMAX prompting you to enter your own personal information.
• NASA Credential approval could take a few weeks.
• Please do not send any identity or immigration documents over email. These will be uploaded directly by you to the identity system here when directed to do so. For U.S. Citizens:
  • U.S. Drivers license
  • State issued identity document
  • Passports
  For Foreign Nationals and Lawful Permanent Residents:
  • Appropriate visas
  • Country issued identity document
  • Passports

Step 2: NGA-NASA Data Policy Agreement (If applicable)

The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) has contracted the use of DigitalGlobe data for US federal government purposes. NASA has created the NGA-NASA Data use agreement to ensure that those individuals accessing imagery through NASA understand the terms of the NextView license, which governs the use of these data. Please see below for information on how to sign the agreement with NASA to obtain use of this valuable image resource. You must be certain that you can meet the requirements of this agreement before you sign.

Forms and Materials Used in Step 2:
Please review the two documents listed on the left hand side of this site (NextView License Guide and NextView License Information Paper), read and sign the NGA form, and send the signed form back to Natalie Sharpe.

Filling out the NASA-NGA Data Policy Agreement:

• Review page 1, complete required date and name fields. Sign the form and include the full name of your NASA project.
• On page 2, fill in required information. Include your NASA Grant number and end date. This is especially important as it is needed if you plan to access imagery through the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (G-EGD system described in Step 3).
• Your description of how NGA imagery will be used for your research project should: include a brief description of your research and show how this imagery will be used only for your NASA-funded research.
• Select the geographic zones needed for your research. Most ABoVE users likely need a combination of North America Upper and U.S. Alaska.
• While there is an option on the form to download imagery, we ask that users specify the exact scenes which need to be downloaded. Most likely users will not have this level of detail until they have access to the imagery. Therefore, we ask that you not request to download the data during your account request but instead first view the imagery on the science cloud. Then, when your imagery needs are better known, request an amendment to your form for the ability to download imagery.
• Each person needing access to the DigitalGlobe imagery will need to sign the NGA form and send it back to Natalie individually.
• When returning your completed form to Natalie Sharpe, please indicate at the same time if you plan to request a G-EGD account (see further instructions in Step 3).

Please complete Step 2 and submit your form to Natalie Sharpe at the CCE Office prior to requesting a Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery account (Step 3).

Step 3: Setting up a Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (G-EGD) account

The G-EGD is offered through the US federal government contract with Maxar/ DigitalGlobe. This service provides access to current high resolution imagery through a web-based interface. It is a separate service than the ABoVE DigitalGlobe imagery available on the ABoVE Science Cloud.

Please complete Step 2 (Signing the NASA-NGA Data Policy Agreement) prior to completing Step 3 if you plan to have an ABoVE representative sign off on your G-EGD request. US federal government employees using their federal government email address are able to sign up for the service themselves, but signing the NASA-NGA Data Policy Agreement found in Step 2 is still recommended. All contractors need a US federal government employee to validate their request, see below for further instructions.

If you plan to use the G-EGD service, YOU MUST first email Natalie Sharpe with your intention to do so. We have to alert our sponsor that a new request will be arriving shortly.

Use this link for the G-EGD website to get started >>

• Click on “GET REGISTERED”.
  • For US Government civil servants using your .gov email address: You can set up your own account and do not need concurrence by any other US government civil servant.
  • For anyone who is not a US government civil servant, but who is working on NASA-funded research as part of the ABoVE science team, select “Contractors” : You will need to select “contractor” on the registration page and will need approval by a civil servant for access to the service.
  • POC Contact Information (Point of Contact):
  • If you are on a grant with a civil servant PI, or you have another US civil servant that can sponsor your G-EGD application, include their information where appropriate.
  • If you are not working with a civil servant PI who can sponsor your application, but you are a member of the ABoVE science team, you may include Chris Neigh (email: christopher.s.neigh@nasa.gov and phone: 301.614.6681) as the POC on your application.
  • ABoVE is not accepting applications for any foreign nationals to access G-EGD (please see information in "Who can access ASC resources?" above for more information).
  • Geographic Areas of Interest: Include the region for which you need access (eg. Alaska and Canada west of the Hudson Bay is what most ABoVE researchers will likely need). Only the region for which you need imagery will be activated in your G-EGD account, do not view imagery outside of the study region for your US Government sponsored research (for example, only view imagery for the ABoVE study domain or circumpolar north).
  • Detailed Justification for Access Requested: Provide a detailed description of how you will use the imagery for your NASA funded research. Most ABoVE applicants will want to start their justification with this line "I am requesting access to this imagery for my NASA-funded research as part of the NASA Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability (ABoVE) Campaign. My research investigates x, y and z and is directly funded through the NASA ABoVE Campaign".

Soon after your request is made to NGA for the DigitalGlobe imagery, it will be processed by NGA. Additionally, remember that each person needing access to the G-EGD will need to sign the NGA-NASA Data Access form first and send it to Natalie Sharpe separately.

If you have any questions about the use of the G-EGD, please contact Liz Hoy first, and she will help to direct your request to the appropriate group (either NGA support, G-EGD support, or ABoVE Science Cloud support).

Step 4: SATERN IT Training

• Once your identity has been enabled, you’ll automatically receive an email detailing how to create a Launchpad account and complete IT training.
• There will be multiple courses assigned in your SATERN learning plan. The only course you need to take to obtain NASA Credentials is titled, “Introduction to Information Technology (IT) Security and Privacy Awareness for New Employees”. You do not have to take any other courses.
• Please email Natalie Sharpe once you’ve completed the IT training so she can request your RSA token as the next step in your account creation process.