Satellite tasking is the process of commanding an Earth-observation satellite to collect a new image of a specific area of interest at a specific time, as opposed to buying an existing archive image.
Earth-observation imagery comes in two forms: archive (already-collected scenes you buy off the shelf) and tasking (a fresh collection you request for a future pass). Tasking matters when you need a current image, a specific look angle, or coverage of an area that hasn't been imaged recently.
A tasking request specifies the area of interest (AOI), the time window, and constraints such as maximum cloud cover, maximum off-nadir angle, and required resolution. The operator's planning system then checks whether any satellite can satisfy those constraints during the window.
Before placing a tasking order you need a feasibility answer: which satellites can reach the AOI in the window, at a usable look angle, and how often. This depends on each satellite's orbit, swath, agility, and the AOI's latitude — and across many satellites it becomes a multi-constellation planning problem.
PassPrediction computes this feasibility neutrally across operators: it predicts the passes, the achievable off-nadir angles, the revisit cadence, and the cloud outlook, so you can compare options before committing to any single provider.
Archive imagery is already collected and sold off the shelf; tasking requests a new collection of your area at a future satellite pass, letting you control timing, look angle, and freshness.
It depends on the operator and priority tier, from same-day urgent tasking to multi-day standard tasking. Feasibility depends on when the satellite next passes over your area at an acceptable angle.
Plan a real acquisition over your area on the interactive map, browse the satellite catalog, or read the tasking guides.