The first Earth Resources Technology Satellite - Nearly two years of operationA brief status report is given of the ERTS-1 satellite system as of June, 1974, and some applications of the ERTS-1 images are discussed. The multispectral images make it possible to identify or measure the quality and composition of water, the potential water content of snow, the moisture and possible composition of soils, the types and state of vegetation cover, and factors relating to stresses on the environment. The orthographic view of the earth provided by the satellite makes it possible to rapidly produce thematic maps, on a scale of 1:250,000, of most areas of the world. The regular, repetitive coverage provided by ERTS-1 every 18 days is important in areas such as water-supply and flood-damage studies. The use of ERTS-1 imagery for land-use planning, wetlands surveying, assessing marine resources, and observing processes such as desertification in the African Sahel is discussed.
Document ID
19750038455
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Nordberg, W. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1974
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Meeting Information
Meeting: Seminar on Space Applications of Direct Interest to Developing Countries