If you're looking to acquire a satellite image over an area of interest for a future date, you can take advantage of our tasking ordering feature on the Content Store application.
A tasking order, or "tasking", is a type of satellite image order where users can request our selected supplier to schedule attempts to capture images over a specific area. Once a tasking order is placed, the selected supplier will make attempts to acquire the requested number of captures.
On Content Store, we offer tasking sources at 50 cm/pixel, 30 cm/pixel, and 15 cm/pixel resolution.
Note: Submitting a tasking order does not guarantee that a capture will be acquired. Fulfillment depends on several factors, including weather, competition, scheduling, and satellite acquisition requirements.
To place a tasking order on Content Store, please follow the step-by-step instructions in the section below.
1. Select the Tasking Order Option
Once you're logged into Content Store, select the "Tasking" option from the menu on the left side of the application.
2. Adding your Area of Interest
Before selecting your tasking order parameters, you'll need to add an Area of Interest (AOI) to the map in Content Store.
For tasking, you have three options for adding an AOI:
Add a layer directly from your computer or ArcGIS organization.
Draw an AOI directly on the map using the "Draw" tool.
Create a default "Extent" polygon: When you zoom into an area on the map and select "Extent," a default polygon will appear, covering most of the area. The size of the "Extent" polygon increases as you zoom out from the map (see an example of an "Extent" polygon below).
After adding your AOI, click "Next" to begin configuring your tasking parameters.
3. Selecting your Tasking Parameters
The parameters required to place a tasking order include:
Select Date Range: Choose the start and end dates for your tasking order. To improve your chances of successful fulfillment, it is recommended that the duration of the order be no shorter than 10 days.
Resolution: The available resolution options are:
High Resolution (50-99 cm)
Very High Resolution (16-49 cm)
Very High Resolution HD (<15 cm)
Source: After selecting your resolution, you'll be presented with a source option. Prices will vary depending on the chosen source.
Note: If your AOI is less than 50 km², the default sources will be Planet and AirBus. If your AOI exceeds 50 km², the default source will be Maxar.
Band Options: Depending on the selected source, you can choose your preferred bands for delivery. The available bands for each source are listed below:
Planet: 4 bands
Maxar 50 cm: 4 bands, 8 bands
Airbus Pleiades-Neo: 6 bands
Maxar 30 cm: 4 bands, 8 bands
Airbus Pleiades-Neo HD15: 3 bands
Maxar 15 cm: 4 bands
Note: Pricing for 4-band and 8-band Maxar orders differs. The final cost of your tasking order will be recalculated if you change the band option for a Maxar source.
4. Advanced Settings
In the "Advanced Settings" tab, you can adjust the Off Nadir Angle and select the Frequency for how often you would like an image to be captured.
Off-Nadir Angle
If you require a capture with a specific off-nadir angle, you can adjust the maximum angle to be accepted. The default value is pre-set for each source.
The accepted minimum and maximum off-nadir angles for each source are listed below the "Max Angle" box.
Frequency
If you want to place a tasking order to acquire images over multiple intervals, you can adjust the "Frequency" advanced setting to specify how often you would like the supplier to capture an image.
For example, let’s say you have a 6-month monitoring project to assess the development of a mining site. You need an image captured each month throughout the project, totalling six images for comparison.
To set this up, first ensure your tasking dates cover the 6-month range (e.g., 04/01/2025 - 10/01/2025). Then, in the advanced settings, select the "Monthly" frequency option. This configures the order to request an image capture every month (every 30 days).
You will notice that when you select a frequency option, the cost of your order will adjust. The cost quoted will reflect the maximum charge for a successful capture during each interval. If 3 out of 6 intervals are fulfilled, you will only be charged for the three delivered images. No charge will be applied for unfulfilled tasking orders or intervals.
If you want to ensure you only receive a single capture, keep the default frequency option set to "One Time." Regardless of the date range, this option will guarantee that only one capture is delivered.
5. Confirming Cost of Order
Once you've selected your tasking parameters, the final cost of your order will be displayed at the bottom of the tasking column.
Note: If you've selected the option to receive multiple captures, the total price will update to reflect the maximum cost for fulfilling all intervals.
If the cost appears correct, you can add your order to your "Cart."
You can view the details of your order by navigating to your Cart.
The details will summarize the source, start and end dates, resolution, band options, off-nadir angle, and the credit cost per capture.