Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 269
al basis as possible, clearly calling for cooperation by other nations.
(b) Continued broad availability of primary digital data at a subsidized cost from a
NASA R&D system in which operational continuity is assured, and in which systems configuration
tradeoffs can be evaluated.
(c) Expanded public support for user application and image processing technology
development.
(d) A public commitment to the policy basis for future systems, should they prove
economically viable, on the basis of which international cooperation and private investment
will be forthcoming.
Thus we urge that policy reflect the fact that, while further development of ERS systems—especially
the ground segment—is desirable, the U.S. is not prepared to move now
to an “operational” system. In accordance with (e) 3 above, [16] the U.S. should seek to
establish de facto acceptance of Open Skies through the inevitable gradual development of
the technology and a private sector institutional base for delivering ERS services both here
and abroad.
The pacing elements in commercial exploitation of the ERS technology are image
processing, interpretation, and service marketing. Here the U.S. enjoys the most important
elements of technological exclusivity. Rapid progress in improving and disseminating
the basic image data distribution will maximize the opportunity to take advantage of this
uniqueness. Thus a unilateral offer of the primary data tapes to an appropriate international
body may well achieve the maximum political advantage of involvement of other
countries and the UN at an early stage at a minimum cost to the development of the system.
In addition, we should consider some form of expanded help to developing countries
in the image processing and interpretation area. In the U.S. we should develop these
activities in the private sector, initially encouraged by government contracts.
This policy framework could lead to acceptable negotiated agreements with other
nations. We should continue to assert the right to acquire and disseminate primary data.
But to encourage applications R and D, the [U.S. government] should be willing to permit
other countries to restrict joint research [17] with the U.S. to those applications that
they are willing to publish. Thus NASA and other agencies would continue the policy of
full disclosures of both primary and secondary data in which [the U.S. government] is
involved. We would respect the right of other countries to obtain the primary data tape or
read the satellite directly, if for our own purposes we energize it over their territories, and
make what use of the data they will.
Finally, in order to maximize private sector confidence in the continuity of this program
and to minimize political problems, the most rigid separation possible should be
maintained between the organizational and managerial environments for civil ERS systems
and national security systems. At the technology level only commonality in both
space and ground segments can be considered to the extent that security requirements
and economics permit.
Document II-25
Document title: Clinton P. Anderson, Chairman, Committee on Aeronautical and Space
Sciences, U.S. Senate, to Dr. James C. Fletcher, Administrator, NASA, October 14, 1972.
Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Office, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Because threatened budget cuts kept the future of NASA’s ERTS program in a state of doubt, the space
agency was under steady pressure to demonstrate the program’s utility. NASA had campaigned for the
program on the grounds that it would provide solid benefits to various user communities. However,