Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 243
approved by the Brazilian National Security Council.
Mr. Fischer reviewed the USGS briefing to Secretary Udall outlining the USGS views
on and needs for an “evolutionary” Earth Resources Observational Satellite (EROS).
The RCA proposal was briefly discussed. It was agreed that it is 1) a commercial proposal,
therefore some performance claims and cost data are suspect 2) possibly beyond
present state of the art.
Dr. Park stated need on part of agricultural/forestry scientists in Latin America and
other “developing” countries for more and improved data.
He also stated that USDA has a need for a “tropical” test site and other activities to get
remote sensor signatures and correlations and develop interpretative techniques. This is
necessary to fulfill USDA’s mission of keeping track of worldwide agricultural activities.
Mr. Fischer stated that USGS has same need as USDA for data, to fulfill its missions of
supporting AID in assistance programs in underdeveloped countries and also studying
geologic features and phenomena and mineral resources that are global in contact.
[3] Mr. Robinove stated that more data, of the type possibly obtainable from space, are
necessary for hydrologic studies. These too are global in space.
It was generally agreed that more and improved data are necessary to assist in Latin
American studies; commonly the platform is of no interest to the user scientists, only good
data. However, the platform does effect the characteristics of data and it seems likely that
data from space may provide at least some of the necessary resources, information in a
form superior to aircraft data; and that these data are needed now.
To provide the necessary “background” materials various documents already in being
or in preparation were discussed—chiefly the OSSA-SA-SAR prospectus and summer study
prospectus. Certain key items are needed—in my opinion, it may be better to prepare a
separate summary. These items are:
(1) Statement of usefulness of remote sensors for resources investigations (discuss
both airborne and spaceborne).
(2) What is underway in development and use studies of remote sensors for resources
investigation.
(3) What needs to be done, in addition to work already under way.
(4) Competence and abilities of Latin America scientists and organizations to undertake
this project. (Also, desires of various countries should be commented on—
for example, Argentina, in person of the Director of their Geological Survey, Dr.
Felix Bonorino Gonzales, is very interested in this program.)
(5) Cost of “natural resources” satellite program and how funded.
Mr. Jaffe made the following points:
(1) The user agencies should come up with their data requirement: resolution, areal
[sic] coverage, spectral range, etc. Especially needed are requirements that might
be met by a system such as that proposed by RCA.
(2) NASA will examine requirements and determine how, from a technical stand
point, they can best be met; especially, how they can be melded with on-going programs,
with minimum cost.
(3) That, although from a technical stand point, No. 2 could be done in a few weeks,
certain decisions are being made which would greatly affect any examination of
1)[;] therefore, it would be better to await the results of these decisions. These
decisions are expected in about a month.
[4] Mr. Fischer agreed to pull together USDA, USNOO, and USGS requirements into one
document, for review by the user agencies and submission to NASA for engineering examination.
Mr. Morrison stated that it is NASA policy for foreign countries to be “self supporting,”
although NASA assists in providing some equipment, training, and technical service.
If the foreign countries have to pay their share of the costs of space programs, they then