Data Gap Concerns Persist Despite Landsat Decision

摘要

Scientists who rely on Landsat imagery applauded the White House decision to build and launch a dedicated new land observation satellite, but still worry that the current Landsat 7 spacecraft will not last until its replacement is safely on orbit. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a memo Dec. 23 stating the administration's intent to construct a free-flying Landsat satellite. Previous plans called for adding a Landsat-type camera to the National Polar-orbiting Op erational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), a new generation of weather satellites whose projected costs have soared.