Abstract The Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem is the official data platform for the Copernicus Programme’s satellites. CDSE combines instant access to satellite imagery with Application Programming Interfaces and virtual machine processing. Instead of downloading satellite imagery for local computation, CDSE utilizes cloud-optimized files to provide data according to the filtering and processing request of the user, facilitating large-scale scientific analysis. Cloud computing on CDSE eliminates the need for users to rely on their own data infrastructure. The incorporated standards support both Open Science and commercialization of scientific tools and algorithms. CDSE serves all users from beginners to professionals, from the interactive visualization of imagery to custom ML algorithms. Acquiring the skills required to process Earth Observation data is facilitated by the open-source codebase and tutorials. Access to public cloud processing is expected to foster the uptake of Earth Observation across new domains. CDSE now provides the critical mass to serve as a tool for knowledge exchange and to influence commercial and public providers alike to support cloud processing.
Kovács et al. (2026) studied this question.