This study compares reflectance measured in the visible, near infra-red, and short wave infrared wavelengths by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER), and ground-based Analytical Spectral Devices Spectro-radiometer (ASD) in a semi-arid area of the northern Chihuahuan desert in southern New Mexico, USA. This study provided a unique opportunity to compare remote sensing data collected for semi-arid rangelands from different platforms, at different scales, over different plant communities, and for different dates. ASD visible, near infrared, and shortwave infrared reflectance data (0.35 to 2.5 μm) for 12 May 2001, 6 October 2002, and 2 May 2003 were analysed and integrated to match the first 21 MASTER and first 9 ASTER bandwidths for three different vegetation communities (grass, shrub, and shrub-grass transition) and compared to MASTER and ASTER reflectance data collected for the same dates. A strong positive correlation between the measurements indicated that the three sensors were measuring similar reflectance values for the three dates and vegetation communities. Reflectance was highest from the shrub and shrub-grass transition communities and lowest from the grass community and was related to the amount of vegetation cover present. This has implications for the energy and water budgets in this region of the Chihuahuan desert where shrub communities with low ground cover are invading and replacing grass communities.