thus be possible to transmit a very large 
amount of data with high reliability from 
ship-to-shore and vice versa using the 
satellite system. This would mean that 
it would be possible to send data directly 
ashore for data analysis as desired. The 
active satellites which are referred to 
for this type of data relaying operate in 
real time. Another type of satellite 
known as the COURIER type is perhaps the 
most adaptable under the present basis of 
operation. The COURIER type of satel- 
lite does not retransmit radio signals in 
real time, but involves a memory system. 
The COURIER satellite is planned on being 
programmed to a much lower orbit, namely, 
the range from 300 to 400 miles. Since 
it is much lower, it will require a great 
deal less power to effect reliable com- 
munication between buoy and satellite. 
At present the COURIER type of satellite 
is designed to record information re- 
ceived via radio and play it back on 
proper interrogation from the ground 
based station. It is considered prac- 
tical to program the COURIER type of sat- 
ellite to interrogate buoys as it passes 
over various portions of the ocean and 
then to playback the data obtained from 
the buoy when it passes over a suitable 
land based station. The land based sta- 
tion would be able to keep a longer con- 
tact with the satellite, since it would 
have a much superior antenna system than 
that possessed by the floating station. 
In view of the many difficulties 
which are found in the use of the con- 
ventional portions of the electromagnetic 
communications spectrum, perhaps we 
should search out other regions. 
A most significant problem presently 
exists with the proposed use of any of 
the satellites and this is the fact that 
there are now tremendous demands upon the 
electromagnetic communications spectrum 
that is expected to be available to the 
satellite systems, and unless the re- 
search groups interested in obtaining 
ocean data make a very strenuous effort 
to obtain proper frequency allocations, 
or time allocations, on the communica- 
tions types of satellites, it is quite 
probable that none will be available when 
needed at some future date. It is almost 
impossible to overemphasize the amount of 
pressure being brought to bear to obtain 
communications frequencies in the satel- 
lite programs. Since groups interested 
in collecting data from the ocean are not 
in any way represented on the committees 
and boards making such studies, it is im- 
perative that remedial steps be taken 
along this line as soon as possible. 
166 
Since the oceanographers! communi- 
cation problems extend well beyond the 
continental limits of the United States, 
it 1s apparent that international re- 
lationships are involved. This would be 
true whether high flying aircraft or sat- 
ellites are used in the solution of the 
communication problems. 
Unfortunately, the groups interested 
in various aspects of marine research in 
this country are not organized from the 
standpoint of representation to the FCC 
for frequency assignments. Also, there 
is no voice from the oceanographers in 
the ICSU (International Council of 
Scientific Unions), which through the 
CCIR (International Radio Consultative 
Committee), reports directly to the ITU, 
or International Telecommunications 
Union, for ultimate international fre- 
quency allocations. 
So much for the background. We have 
seen something of the problems confront- 
ing the oceanographer. We will now con- 
cern ourselves with the current status 
and what is being done. As of June 29, 
the National Academy of Sciences Com- 
mittee on Oceanography, acting for the 
oceanographic and meteorological com- 
munity, voted to initiate a formal study 
of the problem. The direct responsi- 
bility is placed with the Panel on New 
Devices which serves as a sub-committee. 
An engineering firm has been re- 
tained to assist in delimiting the en- 
gineering requirements from the inputs 
supplied by oceanographers and meteor- 
ologists. After the preliminary study 
is complete, the report will be studied 
by the Panel on New Devices and plans 
developed to carry out the major program, 
which is the development of engineering 
requirements for the justification of a 
new type of service in the field of radio 
communication. It will be necessary to 
work up a complete case which may then be 
ultimately presented to the FCC. 
The major engineering study will be 
worked up with the advice and assistance 
of the National Academy of Sciences Com- 
mittee on Radio Frequency Assignments 
for Science. This committee was formed 
initially to justify the radio frequency 
requirements of the radio astronomers, 
and will now be fulfilling a somewhat 
broader purpose. 
The National Academy of Sciences Com- 
mittee on Oceanography will undertake to 
check the input requirements from the 
standpoint of oceanographers and 
