within the next year; it is based on the committee’s review and analysis of mission plans that were current as of April 2005. The committee did not attempt to evaluate new missions—a task whose results will be presented in the committee’s final report in late 2006.

As a result of recent mission cancellations, budget-induced delays, and mission descopes, the committee finds the existing Earth observing program to be severely deficient. The near-term recommendations presented below describe the minimum set of actions needed to maintain the health of the NASA scientific and technical programs until more comprehensive community recommendations are made in the committee’s final report. They address deficiencies in the current program at NASA and some of the emerging needs of NOAA and the USGS. The recommendations address issues in six interrelated areas:

1. Canceled, descoped, or delayed Earth observation missions;

2. Prospects for the transfer of capabilities from some canceled or descoped NASA missions to NPOESS;

3. The adequacy of the technological base for future missions;

4. The status and future prospects of NASA Earth science Explorer-class missions;

5. The adequacy of research and analysis programs to support future programs; and

6. Development of baseline climate observations and data records.

Table 3.1 summarizes a number of recent Earth observing missions or mission programs that have been canceled, descoped, or delayed. The instruments on all of these missions have been demonstrated technologically and are ready for near-term launch. All have important societal applications, as discussed below.