SkyWatch for Developers
The satellite & Earth observation data API for developers
One API — plus the identity, billing, and delivery services — to integrate, deliver, and monetize satellite imagery and Earth observation data in your application.
curl -X POST https://api.skywatch.com/v1/orders \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $SKYWATCH_ID" \
-d '{ "aoi": "-122.42,37.77,-122.39,37.80",
"resolution": "0.5m", "source": "archive" }'
# …retrieve delivered data with one GET
curl https://api.skywatch.com/v1/orders/ord_8fa2
→ 200 OK status: "delivered" · format: "COG + STAC"
You need reliable access to Earth observation data to build prototypes, train your models, and deliver valuable insights to your customers through your application. The SkyWatch platform provides a powerful API and the services you need to access the world's largest virtual constellation of Earth observation data.
- 7,500+Active organizations
- 12M+KM² of data delivered in the last 12 months
- 8M+API calls handled in the last 12 months
Why SkyWatch
Why should you get your geospatial data from SkyWatch?
One integration connects your application to the world's leading data providers, with the commerce and delivery plumbing already built — so you ship features, not infrastructure.
Access to 700+ sensors
Tap the world's leading satellite, aerial, and drone providers through a single virtual constellation — no per-provider integrations to maintain.
One POST and one GET
Send and receive data with a single pair of calls. Place an order with one POST, retrieve analysis-ready imagery with one GET.
Archive or tasking, programmatically
Search and order existing archive imagery, or place tasking orders for fresh captures — all through the same API.
Access SkyWatch platform services
Seven building blocks, one platform
Compose exactly what your product needs — from user identity to payouts — on a comprehensive suite of platform services backed by millions of interactions.
Identity
Create, validate, and manage users of the SkyWatch platform. Create users, validate them against global KYC lists, and assign roles and permissions.
Archive & Tasking
Request existing or new data captured by over 700 sensors. Search multiple providers' catalogues and interface with their ordering and planning systems to task sensors.
Order
Manage interactions between the other platform services to ensure users receive data. Schedule orders, maintain order status, and notify users along the way.
Fulfillment
Ingest and process data received from provider systems. Interface with delivery systems, assess image quality (e.g. cloud cover), and handle pre- and post-processing.
Payments
Integrated e-commerce, optimized for small-parcel, pay-as-you-use transactions. Card-level validation, anti-fraud assessment, and payment processing with applicable sales tax.
Policy
Maintain and enforce business rules at the user, organization, provider, and source levels — pricing rules, role and app permissions, and territory or AOI restrictions.
Location
Ingest and process search areas. The Locations service provides geocoding, processing, storage, and management of areas of interest.
Read the docs
Full API reference, SDKs, and quickstarts for every service. docs.skywatch.com
Products for Developers
Two ways to build with SkyWatch
Integrate programmatically with a single API, or get started in a visual interface — both connect you to the same virtual constellation.
API & turnkey services
The building blocks for your application
BUILD offers developers the building blocks for integrating Earth observation data into their applications, including a robust API and turnkey services for user authentication, compliance/KYC, licensing, and payments.
Learn more about BUILD →
Visual interface
Discover and purchase imagery
SkyWatch EXPLORE provides an easy-to-use visual interface for discovering and purchasing satellite imagery and other types of Earth observation data, including low-resolution and open-source data.
Start Exploring →Data partners
Access data from the world's leading providers
Every sensor your users can discover and order through SkyWatch comes from an ever-growing network of satellite, aerial, and drone operators — all reached through a single integration.
Developer FAQ
Questions developers ask
How do I access satellite imagery through the SkyWatch API?
SkyWatch gives you a single REST API to integrate Earth observation data into your application. You place an order with one POST request and retrieve analysis-ready imagery with one GET — without integrating each data provider separately.
What satellite and sensor data can I access?
One integration connects you to 700+ satellite, aerial, and drone sensors from the world's leading providers — including Airbus, Maxar, Planet, ICEYE, Capella Space, and Nearmap — through a single virtual constellation.
How is the SkyWatch API priced?
Pricing is pay-as-you-use: you pay only for the data you order, optimized for small-parcel transactions. There are no separate contracts to negotiate with each provider — billing, payments, and applicable sales tax are handled by the platform.
Can I search archive imagery and task new captures with the same API?
Yes. The Archive & Tasking services let you search multiple providers' catalogues for existing imagery or place tasking orders for fresh captures — both programmatically, through the same API.
What format is the data delivered in?
Orders are delivered as analysis-ready Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFFs (COG) with STAC metadata, so imagery drops straight into modern geospatial and machine-learning workflows.
What does the platform handle besides data access?
Beyond imagery, SkyWatch provides the platform services most applications need: user identity and KYC, ordering and fulfillment, payments, policy and permissions, and location and geocoding — so you ship features instead of building infrastructure. Full API reference and SDKs are at docs.skywatch.com.
What will you do with SkyWatch?
Tell us what you're building, or start discovering imagery today.