Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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One persuasive argument for creating an orbital Earth resources survey system was that this system
would provide significant benefits to third-world nations in areas such as accurate mapping and
resource location. NASA was suitably pleased, therefore, with favorable international responses to these
types of data from the first ERTS satellite.
[1] NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20546
MEMORANDUM TO A/Dr. Fletcher
AD/Dr. Low
AA/Dr. Newell
ADA/Mr. Shapley
E/Mr. Mathews
OBSERVING THE EARTH FROM SPACE
SUBJECT: Some Recent International Reactions to ERTS-1
DEC 22, 1972
We are listing below a few of the early foreign reactions to ERTS-1 on the basis that
they may be of some interest.
a. Thailand: “The best of the (ERTS) scenes received are excellent; they appear to
demonstrate clearly that our decision to participate in the ERTS programme from its
inception was wise, and that there is much to be learned and much work to be done in
order to exploit the new technology fully. . .” (from November 23, 1972 letter to NASA
from Dr. Pradisth Chesosakul, Secretary General, Thai National Research Council).
b. Mali: “The Malians expressed warm appreciation for the opportunity to participate
in the ERTS and Skylab programs. Minister of Industrial Development N’Daw was
particularly pleased with the information already being derived from ERTS imagery.
Schweitzer (US/AID) observed that the Malians take a very practical attitude toward ERTS
results, which they already are beginning to utilize to make maps of remote areas, for guiding
water exploration efforts and for deciding routing of new roads. They have quickly recognized
the experimental nature of the ERTS project and are proud to be participating
in this pioneering effort. . . . The ERTS project is a wonderful example of how the world’s
most advanced country can cooperate with the poorest to our mutual benefit. For two air
tickets (AID purchased airline tickets for the Malian Principal Investigator), the U.S.
Government has gained a million dollars worth of Malian political mileage. This is an
exciting project which should have increasingly important benefits for Mali and should
also be applicable to other [2] developing countries. It deserves every bit of support we
can give it, now and in the follow-up period.” (November 17, 1972 State Department
telegram from the U.S. Embassy, Bamako, Mali.)
c. Canada: “I have just seen the ERTS imagery for the first time and I wish to congratulate
NASA on this fine achievement. We consider it an important breakthrough in
providing data for the understanding of our environment. I would also like to express our
appreciation for having an opportunity to participate in this experiment.” (August 2
telegram to Dr. Fletcher from Mr. Jack Austin, Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines and
Resources, Government of Canada.)
d. Brazil: Dr. Fernando de Mendonca, the Director-General of the Brazilian Space
Agency, reported at the IAF on a wide range of valuable information provided by ERTS-1
in an experiment relating to mapping of the Amazon system. He has summarized the first
preliminary findings in a letter to NASA. The following excerpts are of relevance for illus-