[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2512-H2513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF SPACE-BASED OBSERVATIONS OF THE EARTH BY THE
LANDSAT SPACECRAFT
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 891) celebrating 35 years of space-based
observations of the Earth by the Landsat spacecraft and looking forward
to sustaining the longest unbroken record of civil Earth observations
of the land, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 891
Whereas the year 2007 represents 35 years of continuous
collection of space-based observations of the Earth's land
cover by the United States Landsat satellites, which have
enabled increased scientific understanding of the
interrelationships of the Earth's land cover, energy balance,
and biogeochemical processes as well as the realization of
numerous societal benefits from the applied uses of the data;
Whereas on July 23, 1972, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration launched Landsat 1, originally called
the Earth Resources Technology Satellite, as the first
civilian Earth observation satellite to study the Earth's
land cover and monitor natural resources;
Whereas since 1972, the United States Geological Survey has
led the data archiving and distribution efforts for the
Landsat program, which has continued to collect data without
interruption through the successful launches of Landsats 2,
3, 4, 5, and 7, and has established the longest and most
comprehensive record of global land surface data ever
collected;
Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
the United States Geological Survey, the Department of
Commerce, the Department of Defense, and the private sector
have all played a role in Landsat's history;
Whereas Landsat greatly enhanced remote sensing science,
helped give rise to a global change research plan and
international initiatives to study the Earth system, and led
to new types of careers in engineering and natural sciences;
Whereas Landsat data have been used for multiple scientific
and applied purposes including cartography, land surveys and
land use planning, agricultural forecasting, water resource
management, forest management, mapping of sea ice movement,
assessment of tropical deforestation, food security, mineral
and oil exploration, and global change research;
Whereas Landsat data are being widely used by Federal,
local, county, and State governments, and by foreign nations,
nongovernmental organizations, private industry, and
universities;
Whereas Landsat data are collected at a scale that enables
the study of both natural and human-induced changes in land
cover over time and their impacts on the Earth's ecosystems;
Whereas Landsat data illuminated for the first time how
human decisions, such as the expansion of cities, led to
large-scale impacts on the environment;
Whereas the U.S. Climate Change Science Program has
recognized Landsat and its long-term data record as
instrumental to the study of climate and environmental
change, noting that ``Landsat data are invaluable for
studying the land surface and how it affects and is affected
by climate''; and
Whereas the scientific and societal benefits of the Landsat
program and its 35-year data record illustrate the
significant return on the public investment in Earth
observations and the need for continued support for this
critical national asset: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its appreciation to all of the dedicated
scientists, engineers, and program personnel who have
contributed to the successful development and operation of
the Landsat program over the past 35 years;
(2) looks forward to another 35 years of continuous
Landsat-like observations of the Earth;
(3) urges the continuation of the Landsat program and data
record so as to sustain Landsat's value to scientific
research, especially the study of global and climate change,
and to the myriad applied uses of the data for societal
benefit; and
(4) believes that the Nation should continue to support the
research, technological improvements, educational outreach,
and development of decision making tools required to expand
the use of Landsat data separately and as integrated with
other Earth observations data.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on H. Res. 891, the resolution now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise on this occasion, again I mention it is on Earth
Day, to seek support for House Resolution 891, as amended, celebrating
35 years of space-based observation of the Earth by the Landsat
spacecraft.
This resolution celebrates the world's longest unbroken record of
civil Earth observations of the land beginning with the launch of the
first Landsat satellite on July 23, 1972. The data collected from
Landsat satellites have helped advance our scientific understanding of
global change and fostered applications that benefit our private
sector, as well as our State, local, regional and Federal Government
activities.
Mr. Speaker, the scientific and applied uses of these space-based
land observations are vast. Landsat data are used to monitor crop
patterns, manage natural resources such as water and forests, assist in
land use and urban growth planning, help protect wildlife habitats and
support national security objectives, to name just a few examples.
Landsat's 35 year data record has also been critical in helping to
understand the interactions between land cover changes and variations
in the Earth's climate.
The most recent report of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program
Report references Landsat as one of two critical satellites. It states,
``Without these satellite observations, the current pace of discovery
and innovation in global land use and land cover change climate
research would not be possible.''
Mr. Speaker, this celebration of Landsat's continuous 35 years record
of land observations provides a clear example of the societal benefits
derived from our Nation's space program. But there is more to be gained
from Landsat data. Increases in computing and communications
capabilities are stimulating innovative approaches to using Earth
observations data such as Landsat. One need only look to the Internet,
where anyone can access images of neighborhoods, cities and regions to
see firsthand the ways in which Landsat data are finding their ways
into our lives.
Mr. Speaker, in reflecting on the contributions that Landsat has made
over
[[Page H2513]]
the past 35 years and the growing applications of these data, we must
remember that the success of Landsat begins and continues with people.
We owe our gratitude to the many talented and hard-working scientists,
engineers and other professionals who have been involved in the Landsat
program.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 891. As we address the
implications of climate change and the pressure on our environment and
resources, it is important that we ensure the continuation of the
Landsat program and ensure the research, technology and educational
investments that are required to expand the use of Landsat data and the
benefits they provide to science and society.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleague in support of H.R. 891,
celebrating 35 years of continuous operation of the Federal
Government's Earth observing Landsat satellite program. Generations of
Landsat satellites have taken and continue to take an uninterrupted
record of images of Earth's oceans and lands, enabling resource
managers, geologists, climate researchers and scientists to closely
monitor land use changes, water consumption, forestry, agricultural and
the effects of climate change through the regular acquisition and
cataloging of these photographs. This detailed and continuous record of
observations offers an unambiguous insight into the changes that are
occurring on a global, regional and local scale.
Landsat data and the research findings they enable would not be
possible without the excellent cooperation and joint management between
NASA, who designs, builds and launches the satellites, and the United
States Geological Survey and the Department of Interior, who manage the
archives of Landsat data at the National Satellite Land Remote Sensing
Data Archives, what a title, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Their data records extend back 33 years.
The early history of Landsat offers a remarkable insight into the
events, culture, personalities and institutional jealousies of the
1960s and 1970s. When our earliest astronauts returned from the Mercury
and Gemini missions with photographs of the Earth taken from their
spacecraft, scientists and engineers quickly began to envision the
value of using robotic spacecraft as a means of monitoring land use
changes.
However, the Department of Defense initially objected to a space-
based civilian reconnaissance satellite out of concern that it would
compromise their own spy satellite programs. The Office of Management
and Budget also objected, arguing that land use data could be more
cheaply acquired by high-flying aircraft.
According to NASA historians, then Secretary of the Interior Stewart
L. Udall, being convinced of the value of space-based civil
reconnaissance satellites, announced in 1966 that his department was
initiating its own Earth observing satellite program. His pronouncement
apparently spurred NASA to take the initiative to proceed in an
ambitious manner to build Landsat.
Today, Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 continue to operate in Earth orbit,
although both are nearing the end of their operational lives and may
not last long enough to overlap the launch of their successor in 2011,
called the Landsat Data Continuity Mission. If they both fail, the 35
year record of continuous Landsat coverage will be interrupted, and
though it will be disappointing, I am optimistic that other methods of
data collection will be able to fill in most of the gaps during that
interim.
The Landsat program's data records are an invaluable national
resource. The tenacity and the brilliance of the men and women at NASA,
at USGS, and the contractors who helped design, build and launch the
satellites, as well as manage the huge volume of data generated by the
family of Landsat satellites, have created a legacy that will continue
to serve our Nation's needs for many, many years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 891.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma. It is an
astonishing history, isn't it? The fact that we have now got a
continuous record of changes at all sorts of levels, changes in ground
cover, changes in agriculture, changes in the water resources, et
cetera, is an extraordinary resource for a host of uses. Our
agriculture community benefits from this, our national parks benefit
from this, flood control managers benefit from this.
This Landsat satellite system, which was, as the gentleman from
Oklahoma pointed out, once rather controversial, is now seen as
something that would be very difficult to plan without. It has produced
enormous economic benefits and economic savings.
Who would have thought many decades ago before the space program that
one day we would be able to send up remote instruments to look back
down on Earth, not from the 40,000 foot level, but much higher, to give
us the broad sweep; but not only the temporary snapshot, but the vast
look over time, so you can see changes, both constructive changes and
the losses. Absolutely incredible and important.
I want to share the gentleman's concern. We need that continuity to
continue. Let us hope that the good engineers of NASA have produced an
instrument which can last much longer, as they have in many cases, as
we see in the Mars rover system, for example. But we need that
continuity in the data records so scientists can see what changes have
occurred over time without interruption. We need to continue that not
only with the proximate, the next Landsat satellite, but future
generations as well.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the scientists and engineers, and thank the
gentleman from Oklahoma for his support of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Again, I want to commend my colleagues for introducing
this legislation. I think this is absolutely appropriate, particularly
on Earth Day. But it is helpful for us to remember down here on Earth
that our lives on Earth are made better by the space program and the
observing network that we have up in space that help us anticipate all
kinds of potential disasters and avoid those, and also guide us in
doing proactive things to improve the health of our great planet.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge a ``yes''
vote on this resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 891, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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