Life Sciences in the Space Program 



biosphere-atmosphere interactions. For example, the Malaria Project proposed to 

 the Life Sciences Advisory Committee by the Biospherics Research Program uses 

 correlation of remotely detectable soil and vegetation characteristics to predict 

 subsequent mosquito populations and to identify areas of incipient malaria 

 outbreaks. The same approach may be applicable to other public health or 

 environmental problems. 



Issues of Policif and Infrastructure 



Issues of policy and infrastructure address the standing of the Biospherics 

 Research Program within NASA and the institutional capabilities needed to cany 

 out program objectives. 



The Problem of Near-Term Data Acquisition. Investigators in the Biospherics 

 Research Program rely on remote sensing as a means for integrating point 

 measurements into a regional or global perspective. At present, however, NASA 



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observing satellites designed for 

 |jy biospherics or related research. 

 » x B Furthermore, there are no 



plans for any permanently 



The city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, lies at the center of this picture acquired In/ the " . * , , 



Shuttle Imaging Radar-B on October 7, 1984. Computer processing was used to apply sensors until the advent of the 

 colors to the original image to emphasize various surface features, including the flood Earth Observing System (EOS). 



plain of the Guayas River, areas of rice cultivation, and forest cover. Although EOS is scheduled for 



orbit in 1993, the problems of 

 launch vehicle availability and unforeseen budget constraints could delay this 

 mission into the late 1990's or into the next century. Without any active missions, 

 investigators in the Biospherics Research Program are often forced to use data 

 from other missions, from the aircraft program, or from commercial remote- 

 sensing satellites. 



Given the lack of suitable orbital missions, remote sensing of the Earth from space 

 has been called "A Program in Crisis" (5). Some investigators in the Biospherics 

 Research Program have maintained measurement and/or modeling efforts by using 

 data acquired from satellites not specifically designed for landscape investigations. 

 Such sources include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 

 (NOAA) weather satellites, and promising results have been obtained in 

 application of these data to biospherics investigations. Because of their relatively 

 poor spatial and spectral resolution, however, many experiments simply cannot be 

 conducted with these alternative data sources. Investigators must then relv on 

 aircraft-based sensors or commercial satellites for data. The location, timing, 

 frequency, and scale of data collection from aircraft are limited bv high costs and 

 very tight schedules. Commercially acquired satellite remote-sensing data are also 

 costly and often only marginally appropriate for global scale investigation. 



Interagency Cooperation. Even with appropriate data sources, the logistical 

 fficulties of global research pose enormous challenges that transcend the 



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