Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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• The sub-issues that will need serious review and consideration include:
What type of Federal commitment, if any, would be appropriate for purchase of either
weather and/or land satellite data? To what extent should the Federal Government
continue related technology development (e.g., R&D on advanced sensors)?
What type of relationship should exist between the Government and any potential private
sector owner/operator?
What Federal assets and data rights should the Government consider transferring to
the private sector?
Assumptions
• In light of the need for fiscal restraint, an increase in the Federal commitment to land
remote sensing from space should be considered only to the extent that user agencies
are willing to make tradeoffs against previously approved activities for 1983 and
beyond in order to facilitate an expanded Federal commitment.
• Since there are other options for reducing the Federal expenditures for needed
weather satellite data (e.g., combining civil/military polar-orbiting satellites, reducing
the number of civil weather satellites in orbit, and placing weather sensors on commercial
communications satellites), it should be assumed that the 1983–86 budget
projections for civil weather satellites may be revised downward.
The agencies affected include:
OBSERVING THE EARTH FROM SPACE
Agency Area Affected
Department of Commerce NOAA operation of weather and land satellite
systems.
Department of Agriculture Agriculture forecasting based on weather and
land satellite data.
Department of Defense Data from civil weather satellites (in addition
to data from military weather satellites).
Department of Interior Geological, mineral and land management
activities use land satellite data.
Department of State International agreements on satellite remote
sensing.
Central Intelligence Agency National security.
National Aeronautics and R&D using satellite data and new sensor
Space Administration development for weather and land satellites.