successful working arrangement. NASA now has 

 the responsibility for the development of new 

 sensors to be carried aboard meteorological satel- 

 lites; the performance specifications are prepared 

 by ESSA. NASA launches the satellite and places 

 it in the prescribed orbit. When certified as fully 

 operational, the satellite is turned over to ESSA 

 which maintains operational control, receiving 

 data through its own read-out stations, and trans- 

 mits appropriate raw and analyzed satellite data 

 over standard meteorological communications cir- 

 cuits. These arrangements have yielded excellent 

 system performance. 



In regard to new oceanographic sensors the 

 question arises as to whether they should be flown 

 aboard specific "oceanographic" satellites or, 

 where feasible, share a platform. In many cases, it 

 is desirable to obtain physical oceanographic and 

 meteorological data from the same area simul- 

 taneously; for this reason it would be well to fly 



ocean and atmosphere sensors aboard the same 

 satellite. NASA considers the development of 

 ocean sensors as part of its earth resources 

 program; thus future developments may lead to 

 ocean sensors being coupled with sensors de- 

 veloped to map specific resources. Conceptually, 

 satellite oceanographic sensor development should 

 be considered part of the environmental sciences 

 effort. Wherever feasible, these sensors, if not 

 requiring a separate satellite for engineering rea- 

 sons, should be coupled with atmosphere sensors. 



Recommendation : 



The agency responsible for NEMPS should adopt 

 arrangements with NASA for satellite ocean- 

 ographic sensor development and operation similar 

 to those which have worked effectively in the 

 National weather satellite program. 



11-57 



