From Insights to Implementation: Developing Engagement Plans That Build Relationships and Utilize Feedback

NOAA's Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON) Program, a collaborative initiative with NASA, is set to redefine NOAA's reach on low-Earth observations through the development and deployment of small to medium-sized satellites equipped with advanced Earth-observing instruments. The NEON program will supplement and replace NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and enhance weather forecasting, disaster management, and climate monitoring. This program paves the way for the next generation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites with a strategic focus on the transition occurring before the final JPSS launch in 2032. In addition to its technical advancements, NEON is proactively engaging with communities to identify and understand where low-Earth orbit data provides the most value, how it might continue to do so in the future, and identify where existing challenges and pain points lie, ensuring that the future LEO information generated is directly beneficial and relevant to users.

This presentation will showcase NEON’s current initiatives and plans to meet user needs and foster strong connections with our users. We will highlight our strategies for building lasting relationships, leveraging user feedback, and how user engagement will feed into satellite mission development through targeted engagement. In particular, attendees will learn about NEON's approach to creating meaningful user interactions. We'll explain how we partner with NESDIS, NOAA, and external programs and organizations to gather insights on users and how this approach to user-driven research shapes our engagement strategies and outcomes.