Analog methods, in this context, are illustrated by human vision, film photography, and older

types of radar as microwave radiation reflected from the target. Optical radar, or lidar, using laser-
generated visible or near-visible radiation, is coming into wide use. One category of active remote
sensing has already been covered in chapter 2, under space geodesy: radar and laser altimetry,
techniques that are increasingly being included, correctly, in remote sensing. Altimetric data,
showing marine or land topography, is fundamental to understanding of both satellite geophysical
and geological methods.
The use of electromagnetic radiation in remote sensing involves a wide range of data-analysis
techniques, most generally categorized as analog and digital. Analog methods, in this context, are
illustrated by human vision, film photography, and older types of radar as displayed on an air-
traffic control screen. Digital methods, treated at length by Vicent, are now by far the dominant
method of data analysis used in remote sensing, depending now only on digital primary data but
also on initially analog data such as photography film that has been digitally scanned. A
remarkable example of this latter approach is the spectacular collection of orbital photography, in
which returned film images have been digitized and enhanced for publication. Colorization of old
movies is a better-known example of digital reprocessing of originally analog data.
With this unavoidably brief sketch of the principles of remote sensing data acquisition and
handling, let us turn to the application of remote sensing from space to geology. This chapter will
be confined to orbital methods only, but the first space photographs used for geology were taken
from sounding rockets, such as the Viking series, at altitudes of up to 200 km. many excellent
photos were taken on lunar missions by American astronauts, as shown in the collection edited by
Schick and Van Haften.
ORBITAL REMOTE SENSING IN GEOLOGY: ABRIEF HISTORY
The advantages of orbital remote sensing for meteorology were recognized well before artificial
satellites were actually launched: global coverage, systematic repetition of coverage, wide field of
view, and capability for thermal measurements. The value of orbital images for topographic
mapping and military reconnaissance was also realized at an early stage, but there was virtually no
appreciation of the value of orbital methods for geology until the mid-1960s, after hundreds of
satellites had been launched. The reasons for this are an interesting aspect of the history of space
flight in general, and will therefore be discussed at some length; a detailed account has been given
elsewhere.
President Kennedys 1961 challenge to land a man on the Moon by the end of the decade led to a
large and rapid increase in the civilian space program. Although focused on the lunar landing,
NASA planning in the early-1960s included several potential applications of our growing space
capability. One of these was the use of manned space stations for earth-oriented remote sensing,
primarily for earth resource studies, as distinguished from satellite meteorology. Earth resources
of course included geology, and NASA studies in this field were managed by geologist Peter
Badgley in cooperation with the US Geological Survey.