TABLES

Table 1. Satellite image maps for sale by the U. S. Geological

Survey

2. Laser Geodynamic Satellite (LAGEOS)

ABSTRACT

The Department of Interior recognizes its continuing responsibility

to maintain its stewardship of this Nation's natural resources and, further, has significant new responsibilities under the Surface Mining

Act. The GS, through its Land Information and Analysis activities,

including the EROS Program, is working to develop cost beneficial services

that are needed to meet the Department's responsibilities.

We feel

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strongly that a number of new information needs resulting from this

recent legislation may be offset by the applications of aeronautics and

space technology.

Further, in order to address many of the problems of people living

in areas for which the Department has responsibilities (from the

Virgin Islands in the East to Micronesia in the West), consideration is

being given to possible demonstrations using NASA spacecraft in an

attempt to determine the feasibility and costs compared to benefits of

providing information and services in the territories using space

technology.

The Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Program is a depart

mental program, managed by the Geological Survey for the Department of

The Department of the Interior and similar agencies in State and

local governments are now making use of space data, which are needed

to fulfill resource and environmental information needs.

In addition,

the Department provides NASA with information needs that cannot be

accommodated by existing or planned satellite systems, but which require

further space system planning, research, and development.

Currently, space technology is used for exploration for minerals,

small-scale mapping, monitoring land cover change, and many other uses.

Space missions that have been approved but not yet flown will provide

infrared data for use in mineral resource exploration, and global

measurements of the Earth's magnetic field to aid in understanding the

physics of the Earth.

Other missions will continue the collection of

space images, the uses of which have become routine by the Department

Longer term research will involve the use of microwave systems,

and possibly luminescence imaging systems, which have not yet been used

from space but which have already provided useful data acquired from

aircraft; laser ranging to passive retro-reflector satellites to permit

precision measurement of intercontinental distances; and additional

research with digitally processed Landsat images to assess its potential

role in identifying energy resources in evaporite basins, and in

monitoring dynamic marine phenomena in coastal areas.

Continuation of the development of uses of space data and the creation

of new space and data systems based on recognized information needs are

basic needs of future space programs of benefit to the Department of