Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 309
Document II-34
Document title: Government Technical Review Panel, “Report of the Government
Technical Review Panel on Industry Responses on Commercialization of the Civil Remote
Sensing Systems,” November 10, 1982, pp. 1–25.
Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Office, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
While the Reagan administration was quite intent on transferring control of the nation’s civilian
Earth observation satellites to private industry, implementing this policy was a formidable task.
Members of Congress raised a number of objections, particularly to the suggestion of selling off weather
satellites, as well as the Landsat system. Private industry, the supposed beneficiary of this proposal,
was less than enthusiastic, as evidenced by this report of the Government Technical Review Panel
established to review various options for establishing a new remote-sensing policy. This report is based
on corporate responses to a Department of Commerce request for information concerning the transfer
of remote-sensing satellites to private industry. Respondents were placed into four categories based on
their degree of support for the concept of the privatization of remote sensing.
Report of the Government Technical Review Panel
on Industry Responses on Commercialization of
the Civil Remote Sensing Systems . . .
November 10, 1982 . . .
[1] I. OVERVIEW
The panel convened on 26 October and reviewed fourteen responses to the Request
for Information [RFI] that appeared in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) on
September 10, 1982. No attempt was made to solicit additional information or clarification
from respondents.
The responses varied in scope and sophistication from a handwritten postcard to a
fairly comprehensive, all inclusive submission. Criteria for evaluation could not, therefore,
be applied uniformly to all proposals. However, the following general criteria were used,
as applicable:
(1) Responsiveness to federal needs;
(2) Continuity of data services;
(3) Feasibility; and
(4) National security and foreign policy concerns.
Responses were grouped into four (4) natural categories reflective of their basic
thrust:
(1) Those favoring near-term commercialization of existing civil remote sensing capabilities,
entirely or in part.
(2) Those espousing independent entrepreneurial interests and advocating a climate
conducive to free market competition.
(3) Those favoring government retention of the existing system, at least for the immediate
future.
(4) Other.