Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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Document II-26
Document title: Walter C. Shupe, Chief, GAO Liaison Activities, NASA, Memorandum to
Distribution, “GAO Report to Congress ‘Crop Forecasting by Satellite: Progress and
Problems,’ B-183184, April 7, 1978,” April 21, 1978.
Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Office, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
In its efforts to promote Landsat, NASA placed much emphasis on improved crop forecasting. Together
with the Department of Agriculture and the Weather Service, NASA embarked on a project to demonstrate
the system’s ability to accurately predict crop yield and quality. The project, titled LACIE (Large
Area Crop Inventory Experiment), experienced some success, but in general it failed to meet expectations.
[1] National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, D.C. 20546
LGG-19
MEMORANDUM
TO: Distribution
FROM: LGG- l9/Chief, GAO Liaison Activities
[rubber stamped: “APR 21 1978”]
SUBJECT: GAO Report to Congress “Crop Forecasting by Satellite: Progress and
Problems,” B-183184, April 7, 1978
This office made advance distribution of the enclosed report via route slip on April
11, 1978. Additional copies were obtained and are now being distributed to those who did
not receive one at that time. A copy of the Comptroller General’s transmittal letter, dated
April 7, 1978, is enclosed, together with a separate copy of the report Digest.
GAO reported that USDA, NASA, and NOAA are currently planning a joint research
program that will deemphasize wheat and expand LACIE techniques to other crops and
applications, such as early warning of crop damage and crop condition assessment. GAO
recommended that the Secretary of Agriculture provide cognizant congressional committees
with periodic assessments of the LACIE project, the experimentation with other crops,
and the experiments: with early warning of crop damage and crop condition assessment.
Inasmuch as the report recommendation is not addressed to the Administrator, it is
not necessary for NASA comments to be provided for the OMB, for GAO, or for
Congressional committees, unless requested at a later date.
[hand-signed: “Walter C. Shupe”]
Enclosures
Distribution attached
OBSERVING THE EARTH FROM SPACE