Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

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report or explicitly address the questions outlined in the CBD announcement of
September 10, 1982. Comments on these responses are included to express the additional
interest generated by the Commerce announcement.
A. Autometric, Inc.
Autometric favors the move to commercialize civil remote sensing systems but
believes a near-term move is premature, i.e., industry is being placed in a position of bidding
on an unknown entity. If industry miscalculates the market, the government may have
to “. . . bail them out.” Autometric does propose a quantitative evaluation of the relative
merits of the Landsat 4 Thematic Mapper, the French SPOT [Haute (High) Resolution
Visible on SPOT] HRV sensor, and the Large Format Camera that will be flown on the
Space Shuttle. The evaluation would be used to ascertain the commercial value of the
Thematic Mapper data. No commercialization proposition or comments are provided.
B. Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
CSC has been involved with the Landsat program since its inception. They do not
comment directly on private sector transfer, but state a keen interest in the future of land
sensing and request inclusion in further discussions which may be held with industry.
C. Robert Georgevic
This individual described himself as a University Professor from southern
California. He did not respond in detail, but advocates retaining civil remote sensing systems
in the U.S. government.
[24] IV. LIST OF RESPONSES
Section Response
OBSERVING THE EARTH FROM SPACE
1.A Report, “Commercialization of Civil Remote Sensing,” Communications
Satellite Corporation (COMSAT), October 22, 1982.
1.B Unsolicited Proposal, Environmental Satellite Data, Inc., September 17, 1982.
1.C White Paper, “Civil Operational Remote Sensing From Space,” Control Data
Corporation, October 1982.
2.A Document TMA 10-011-82, “Civil Operational Remote Sensing From Space,”
Terra-Mar, October 1982.
2.B Report, “Response to the Request for Information With Respect to Civil
Operational Remote Sensing From Space,” American Science and
Technology Corporation, October 22, 1982.
2.C Letter to Dr. John H. McElroy, Re: “Civil Remote Sensing Satellites; Request
for Information,” Space Services Incorporated of America, October 22, 1982.
3.A Document, “A Plan for Commercialization of the U.S. Civil Remote Sensing
System,” Remote Sensing Center - Hasbrouck, University of Massachusetts,
October 21, 1982.
3.B Report R-4412, “Private Sector Involvement in Civil Operational Remote
Sensing from Space,” RCA, October 22, 1982.