Status and outlook for NASA's Land Remote Sensing Program

Both LANDSAT 2 and LANDSAT 3 are currently in operational status following recovery from technical problems. The LANDSAT D program continues NASA's R&D with the dual objectives of assessing the capabilities of the thematic mapper sensor and evaluating the requirements for an operational land observing system. LANDSAT D' will not be launched until LANDSAT D ceases operation, to provide data continuity through 1988. Future NASA remote sensing programs will continue to emphasize research, technology development, cooperative projects with end users of data and cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on transition to an operational land observing system. Technology development should extend the results of research to practical applications through improved ground data processing and information extraction techniques and development of new sensors such as the solid state multi-spectral linear array.