The Future of Remote Sensing from Space: Civilian Satellite Systems and Applications
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The Future of Remote Sensing From Space: Civilian Satellite Systems and Applications July 1993 OTA-ISC-558 NTIS order #PB93-231322 GPO stock #052-003-01333-9 Recommended Citation: U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, The Future of Remote Sensing From Space: Civilian Satellite Systems and Applications, OTA-ISC-558 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, July 1993). Foreword ver the past decade, the United States and other countries have increasingly turned to satellite remote sensing to gather data about the state of Earth’s atmosphere, land, and oceans. Satellite systems provide the vantage point and coverage necessary to study our planet as an integrated, interactive physical and obiological system. In particular, the data they provide, combined with data from surface and aircraft-based instruments, should help scientists monitor, understand, and ultimately predict the long term effects of global change. This report, the first of three in a broad OTA assessment of Earth observation systems, examines issues related to the development and operation of publicly funded U.S. and foreign civilian remote sensing systems. It also explores the military and intelligence use of data gathered by civilian satellites. In addition, the report examines the outlook for privately funded and operated remote sensing systems. Despite the established utility of remote sensing technology in a wide variety of applications, the state of the U.S. economy and the burden of an increasing Federal deficit will force NASA, NOAA, and DoD to seek ways to reduce the costs of remote sensing systems. This report observes that maximizing the return on the U.S. investment in satellite remote sensing will require the Federal Government to develop a flexible, long-term interagency plan that would guarantee the routine collection of high-quality measurements of the atmosphere, oceans, and land over decades. Such a plan would assign the part each agency plays in gathering data on global change, including scientifically critical observations from aircraft- and ground-based platforms, as well as from space-based platforms. It would also develop appropriate mechanisms for archiving, integrating, and distributing data form many different sources for research and other purposes. Finally, it would assign to the private sector increasing responsibility for collecting and archiving remotely sensed data. In undertaking this effort, OTA sought the contributions of a wide spectrum of knowledgeable individuals and organizations. Some provided information; others reviewed drafts. OTA gratefully acknowledges their contributions of time and intellectual effort. OTA also appreciates the help and cooperation of officials with NASA, NOAA, DOE, and DoD. As with all OTA reports, the content of this report is the sole responsibility of the Office of Technology Assessment and does not necessarily represent the views of our advisors or reviewers. Roger C. Herdman, Director iii Advisory Panel Rodney Nichols David Goodenough Alan Miller Chair Chief Research Scientist Director Chief Executive Officer Pacific Forestry Center The Center for Global Change New York Academy of Sciences Canada University of Maryland James G. Anderson Donald Latham Raymond E. Miller Professor Corporate Director Professor Department of Chemistry and Earth Loral Corp. Department of Computer Science and Planetary Sciences University of Maryland Harvard University Cecil E. Leith Physicist Kenneth Pedersen D. James Baker1 Lawrence Livermore National Research Professor of International Director Laboratory Affairs Joint Oceanographic Institutions, Inc. School of Foreign Service John H. McElroy Georgetown University William Brown Dean of Engineering President The University of Texas at David T. Sandwell ERIM Corp. Arlington Geological Resources Division Scripps Institute of Oceanography Ronald Brunner Molly Macauley Professor Fellow Dorm Walklet Center for Public Policy Research Resources for the Future President University of Colorado TerraNOVA International Earl Merritt Joanne Gabrynowicz Vice President, Research Albert Wheelon Associate Professor Earthsat Corp. Consultant Department of Space Studies University of North Dakota Alexander F.H. Goetz Director Center for the Study of Earth from Space University of Colorado I Until May 1993, NOTE: OTA appreciates and is grateful for the valuable assistance and thoughtful critiques provided by the advisory panel members. The Panel does not, however, necessarily approve, disapprove, or endorse this report. OTA assumes full responsibility for the report and the accuracy of its contents. iv Preject Staff Peter Blair Ray A. Williamson CONTRACTORS Assistant Director, OTA Energy, Project Director Materials, and International Paul Bowersox Security Division Arthur Charo Leonard David Alan Shaw Brian McCue Ronald M. Konkel International Security and Commerce Program Manager Stephen Wooley ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Jacqueline R. Boykin Office Administrator Louise Staley Administrative Secretary Madeline Gross Contractor workshop Participants THE FUTURE OF REMOTE SENSING FROM SPACE WORKSHOP, APRIL 21,1992 Ray A. Williamson Diane Evans John C. Petheram Chair Manager for Earth Sciences Manager, Space Systems programs Office of Technology Programs GE Astro-Space Division Assessment Jet Propulsion Laboratory Stanley R. Schneider Bruce Barkstrom James Hansen Landsat Program Manager ERBE Experiment Scientist Director NASA Headquarters NASA—Langley Research NASA-Goddard Institute for Center Space Studies Carl Schueler Manager Francis P. Bretherton John S. Langford Advanced Development Programs Director President Hughes Santa Barbara Research Space Science and Engineering Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. Center Center University of Wisconsin Keith Lyon John Vitko, Jr. SeaStar Program Manager Manager Global Climate Change Donald Cobb Orbital Sciences Corp. Sandia National Laboratories Division Group Leader Space Science and Technology Earl Merritt Matthew R. Willard Los Alamos National Laboratory Vice President, Research Consultant Earthsat Corp. Lee Demitry Program Manager Ari Patrinos Advanced Research Project Director, Environmental Agency Sciences Division U.S. Department of Energy Jeffrey Dozier Professor Center for Remote Sensing and Advanced Optics University of California at Santa Barbara vi POTENTIAL MILITARY USES OF CIVILIAN SATELLITES WORKSHOP, JULY 8,1992 Ray A. Williamson William Kennedy John G. Thunen Chair Hughes STX Manager, Special Projects Office of Technology Hughes-Santa Barbara Research Assessment Michael Krepon Center President James R. Blackwell Henry L. Stirnson Center Peter Zimmerman Director Senior Fellow International Security Division Donald Latham Center for Strategic and Meridian Corp. Corporate Director International Studies Loral Corp. Kenneth Daugherty Chief Scientist Defense Mapping Agency John Hudson Systems Officer Defense Intelligence Agency vii Acknowledgments This report has benefited from the advice of many individuals. In addition to members of the Advisory Panel and the workshop, OTA especially would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance and support. The views expressed in this paper, however, are the sole responsibility of the Office of Technology Assessment. Stephen W. Altes John Dutton W. John Hussey Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. Pennsylvania State University National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Donald Artis H. Frank Eden U.S. Army Topographic Martin Marietta Astro Space Bhupendra Jasani Engineering Center King’s College Richard Eiserman Arthur Boot h U.S. General Accounting Office Ma]. Frank Kelly, USAF National Oceanic and Atmospheric Department of Defense Administration Charles Elachi Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mary Dee Kerwin Andrew Boye National Aeronautics and Space Sandia National Laboratories Bernard P. Elero Administration Martin Marietta Astro Space Dino Brugioni Jack Koeppen Fredericksburg, VA Douglas B. Gerull National Oceanic and Atmospheric WorldView Imaging Corp. Administration Dixon Butler National Aeronautics and Space Louis Gomberg Russell Koffler Administration Hughes Space and Communications Fort Washington, MD Group Barbara Cherry John S. Langford National Aeronautics and Space Ken Hadeen Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. Administration NOAA National Climatic Data Center Donald Light Thomas Cremins U.S. Geological Survey National Aeronautics and Space Michael Hall Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Keith Lyon Administration orbital Sciences Corp. William Crocker U.S. General Accounting Office Stephen Harper John MacDonald EOSAT Corp. MacDonald Dettwiler Brian D. Dailey Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Fred Henderson Inc. Geosat Committee Inc. VIII Jeffrey Marquese Ted G. Nanz Shelby Tilford Institute for Defense Analyses SPOT Image Corp. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Thomas Meyer Clark Nelson Los Alamos National Laboratory SPOT Image Corp. Milton C. Trichel ERIM Aram Mika Scott Pace Hughes Santa Barbara Research The Rand Corp. Paul F. Uhlir Center National Academy of Sciences Carl Reber David Moore NASA Goddard Space Flight Pat Viets Congressional Budget Office Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Stanley Morain Sally Ride Technology Application Center California Space Institute Wulf Von Kries University of New Mexico University of California, MST Aerospace GMbH San Diego Richard Mroczynski Allen H. Watkins EOSAT Corp. Thomas Sever U.S. Geological Survey John C. Stennis Space Center Firouz Michael Naderi Daniel Woods Jet Propulsion Laboratory