Practical Applications of a Space Station (1984) / Chapter Skim
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EARTH'S RESOURCES
EARTH'S RESOURCES
Pages 7-18
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From page 7... ...
The primary benefit of satellite data to the earth's resources community is that they provide a current synoptic view from space that makes it possible to detect patterns and to recognize features not readily seen in conventional data. A notable geological example is the detection, in Landsat images, of previously unrecognized extensions of the San Andreas fault in California.
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From page 8... ...
Unfortunately, because of problems with data processing, handling, and distribution -- and more recently because the continuity of Landsat data is unpredictable -- few of these applications can be considered operational in terms of meeting users' needs. Although processing and distribution have improved over the past ten years, at present the elapsed time between data acquisition and receipt of data by the potential user is still too long for many important applications.
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From page 9... ...
Minerals and Petroleum Exploration Satellite images combined with other forms of data have helped in maintaining inventories and surveys of existing mineral and petroleum resources. Repeat coverage has provided surface change maps that help monitor mining operations and describe progress.
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From page 10... ...
Landsat can also help states inventory, measure, and monitor surface water levels. As a result of congressional legislation requiring the safety inspection of dams, numerous states have used Landsat computer analysis techniques to identify and map water reservoirs.
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From page 11... ...
The states of South Dakota, Ohio, and Illinois, the North Carolina Triangle J, and the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Councils of Governments are among numerous state and local governments that use information interpreted from Landsat data to help meet EPA Section 208 requirements. States often encounter problems when gathering information about the larger geographic areas used for resource development.
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From page 12... ...
Because of the large amount of data to be processed and handled in future earth observation missions, it is likely that the necessary processor architecture will be one that can support both general and special purpose functions. For example, data management processing can be handled adequately with a general purpose computer, but some complex image processing functions, such as multispectral classification, will require special purpose computers.
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From page 13... ...
POSSIBLE USES OF A SPACE STATION TO SUPPORT DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING Previous unmanned systems for earth observation data acquisition, processing, and distribution have suffered from several problems: An excess of data Incomplete calibration of the sensor data A small percentage of the acquired data processed
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From page 14... ...
Cloud cover, failed or faulty sensor operation, and other conditions that should inhibit sensor operation could be monitored by a human in the space station and used to control the data acquisition periods. It is likely that images of opportunity could be acquired by an attentive operator, such as fire, storm, and other conditions.
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From page 15... ...
With sufficient processing capability on the space station, information extraction operations, such as multispectral classification and principal component analysis, could be performed, thus reducing the amount of bits that need to be transmitted and providing information products directly to the user. Providing Data on a Timely Basis to the User Previous systems have provided data to the user late; weeks or even months have elapsed from the time of data acquisition.
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From page 16... ...
Geostationary orbits -- either zero or very low inclination (exemplified by both communications and weather satellites primarily designed as operational-type missions) Sun-synchronous, low earth orbits are most important to earth resources users.
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From page 17... ...
Further and more rapid improvement of data quality could be achieved if a person is observing the instruments as they perform. Data Processing, Compression, and Storage As previously noted, a trained human operator in a space station could accept or reject data, decide to apply data-compression techniques, and decide whether to store data onboard or transmit it to the ground.
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From page 18... ...
CONCLUSIONS The Panel has identified some of the potential benefits to be derived from a manned space station. The Panel has identified some roles for man, although we cannot justify a space station solely on the basis of earth resources applications.
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