SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS IN THE 1970'S 339 



EARTH RESOURCES INFORMATION SYSTEM 



Opening three days of hearings in June 1977, on the Earth Re- 

 sources Information System, Chairman Fuqua stated: 



The number of users of Landsat data and the market for Earth resources informa- 

 tion have increased dramatically. Many users have expressed great concern over the 

 lack of commitment to insuring a continuing source of these data. In the minds of 

 many persons the time has arrived to prepare for transition of Landsat from experi- 

 mental status to an operational status. A policy needs to be established which out- 

 lines the respective roles of Government and industry. 



The committee contracted with Charles W. Mathews, formerly 

 NASA Associate Administrator for Applications, to synthesize the 

 views of industrial firms, Government agencies and other individuals 

 on the definition and structure for an Earth resources information 

 system. Mathews produced two reports, one of the definition and scope 

 of the system, and the second on the institutional arrangements re- 

 quired for a transition from an experimental to an operational system. 

 The subcommittee then prepared a report recommending early and 

 positive action to make Landsat a truly operational worldwide system. 



Following the hearings, Fuqua suggested to Dr. Frank Press, 

 Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, that the 

 Federal Government should take a more active leadership role in 

 "organization and communication" of the data developed. In a July 15, 

 1977 letter, Fuqua stressed that this was especially important for the 

 private sector and state and local governments, which had expressed 

 some dissatisfaction with the confusing lack of a central coordinating 

 authority. Dr. Press replied on July 22 that he would establish a task 

 group under the leadership of NASA Deputy Administrator Alan 

 Lovelace for this purpose. 



Once again, on November 29, 1977, Fuqua wrote Dr. Press, citing 

 some of the significant issues in this area needing attention: 



Clarification of agency roles, clarification of government/private sector roles, a 

 commitment to provide continuity of data, a mechanism for user input to the Federal 

 planning process, and enhanced technology transfer activities are needed in the near 

 term. Furthermore, the Federal Government should commit to a 5-year Earth re- 

 sources information system validation program with a stated goal of an orderly 

 transition to an operational system. 



Dr. Press responded on December 6, 1977: 



The administration shares the sense of the Congress that remote sensing tech- 

 nologies can be of ever increasing benefit to the nation and the world, and is com- 

 mitted to a positive program that will advance these promising applications of 

 space science and technology. 



