Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 283
tions and options for U.S. civil remote sensing activities.
2. There is an urgent need for a clarification of policies on the future evolution of U.S.
activities in civil remote sensing. Executive branch policy has supported technological
R&D and some experimental applications, but has up to now deferred as premature
commitments to operational uses and decisions on policies for operational systems.
Congressional committees have urged that at a minimum the Executive Branch prepare
clear policies to guide future civil uses of remote sensing from space.
3. The report addresses first the basic question of the U.S. policy attitude toward civil
remote sensing from space, and concludes that U.S. policies should be based on
acceptance of the proposition that the U.S. should and will continue to be actively
involved in civil remote sensing from space for the indefinite future. This conclusion
is based on the manifold U.S. interests served by civil remote sensing, which include
a wide variety of technical, public, economic, and international interests. The consultants
recognize that there have been exaggerated claims for benefits and the times by
which they can be achieved, but are nevertheless convinced that the many potential
values fully justify a continuing U.S. effort to achieve them.
4. One important consequence of this conclusion is that the U.S. should, regardless of
the program level approved, make a policy commitment to data continuity. This is
essential to reduce present uncertainties among prospective users and to help forestall
the growing threat of foreign competition.
5. Policies on U.S. civil remote sensing must recognize the dynamic nature of the technologies
involved and support strong continuing research and development efforts.
Operational systems, however, should take advantage of existing and low cost technologies
when they are adequate to meet the needs of the users.
6. A top priority should be given to the preparation and periodic updating of a comprehensive
plan, covering the expected technical, programmatic, and institutional
evolution of U.S. civil remote sensing for 10 to 15 years in the future.
7. An equally high priority should be given to the designation of a lead agency. This is
needed now to develop the initial version of the comprehensive plan to guide preparation
of the FY 1980 budget and the accompanying legislative proposals. For the long
term, it [iii] is essential to have a qualified single agency with authority and responsibility
for leadership and management of U.S. activities in the collection and dissemination
of civil remote sensing data and for serving as the interface with the private
sector and international interests in civil remote sensing. Federal mission agencies
would continue to be responsible for their user interests in remote sensing information.
8. After considering the criteria that should be applied, the consultants have concluded
that the lead agency responsibility should be assigned to NASA, provided NASA is
reconfigured to ensure that a user-oriented service outlook is given an equal footing
with NASA’s important present R&D missions. Lower ranked alternatives would be,
first, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the
Department of Commerce, and second, the Department of the Interior.
9. The report notes that U.S. civil remote sensing activities unavoidably have significant
international aspects, because of the global nature of remote sensing from space and
because of the strong existing foreign and international interests in the technology
and its uses. The consultants believe that there are many potential values to the U.S.
(e.g., in dealing with lesser developed countries problems) in actively seeking constructive
international involvement. The preferred institutional alternatives appear to
be a U.S. owned and operated system serving international users or the establishment
of an international consortium in which the U.S. and other nations would participate.
10. The consultants propose a two-tiered concept for the U.S. National System for civil
remote sensing. This would include (a) a core segment consisting of the assets and ser-