An evaluation of national policies governing the United States civilian satellite land remote sensing program.

摘要

United States Government policies that guide the Nation's civilian satellite land remote sensing program are reviewed and evaluated. Data on government policy formulation and execution were obtained from personal communications with selected government leaders, from reference materials often not found in the open literature (letters, memoranda, unpublished government documents, and special committee and working group reports), and from journal articles, news reports and other published materials. A methodology is used that is based on assumptions which the writers believes are valid, and a series of goals that if reached would be consistent with the assumptions. The evolution of the Nation's space remote sensing program is presented and its current status described. Critical policy issues concerning domestic and international law, commercialization, national security, and international cooperation are identified and discussed. Results show that the U.S. has created an operational civilian satellite land remote sensing program that has poorly defined goals, suffers from institutional barriers, fails to recognize foreign competition, lacks technological advancement, stifles innovative research and applications development, and restricts education and training. Four policy options for the future, that possibly could be used to improve the current program, are identified, and their advantages and limitations are discussed. Each option is evaluated in terms of the degree to which it supports the stated assumptions and goals. A U.S. Government policy to accelerate international cooperation as part of a joint public/private sector program is recommended. Such a policy could guide this national program into the twenty-first century if a consensus is reached on program objectives and if management responsibility is given to a government agency willing to champion the cause, such as the Department of the Interior.