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* APPLICATIONS 1
~NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
 CONTENTS

Overview of NASA Applications Program ................. 1

Flight Programs

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

SMS: Synchronous Meteorological Satellite;

GOES: Geostational Operational Environmental
Satellite ...................................... * 5

ITOS: Improved TIROS Operational Satellite .... 5

TIROS-N: Television Infrared Observation

Satellite ...................................... 7

WEATHER AND CLIMATE/POLLUTION MONITORING

Nimbus ......................................... 8

*; 'Il
X*~I EARTH RESOURCES SURVEY

ERTS: Earth Resources Technology Satellite .... 9

HCMM: Heat Capacity Mapping Mission ............ 10
Earth Observations Aircraft Program .............. 11

t COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM

ATS-F: Applications Technology Satellite ........ 12

CAS-C/CTS: Cooperative Applications Satellite/
Communications Technology Satellite .............. 14

EARTH AND OCEAN PHYSICS

GEOS-C: Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite ..... 15

LAGEOS: Laster Geodynamic Satellite ............ 16
SEASAT ......................................... *17

Editors: This fact sheet is intended to be retained for reference.

 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF' APPLICATIONS

The Office of Applications is responsible for the

planning, direction, execution and evaluation of programs
for the application of space-related technology and sys-
tems to the civil sector. The major emphasis is research
and development activities that relate to: Weather and
Climate, Pollution Monitoring, Earth Resources Survey,
Earth and Ocean Physics, Space Processing, Communications,
Energy, Data Management, Shuttle Experiment Definition,
and Applications Experi-ents and Studies.
In Weather and Climate, the developments over the
past several years have centered on polarorbiting meteorological
satellites. A well developed capability to monitor the
large-scale features of atmosr'eric weather and climate
patterns on a daily basis 1. Deen achieved. These develop-
ments give promise of extending the capability for broad-
area forecasts to periods of up to one week. New efforts
will concentrate on the forecasting of severe local storms,
such as tornadoes, and the long-range forecasting of climate
changes arising from natural and man-made causes.

Pollution Monitoring activities are centered on the

question of the effect that environmental degradation will
have on the ability of Earth to support an expanding popu-
lation. The answer i3 complicated by a slowly expanding energy
crisis that will require studies of the causes and affects
on our environment of reverting to alternate sources of k
energy. Precise means for rapidly acquiring and processing
information about air, land, and water quality are required
to define and assess the problems.
NASA Earth Observations activities conducted over the
past several years have demonstrated the applicab lity of
of remote-sensing techniques for the detection and monitoring
of air, water, and land pollution problems. Strip mining,
eutrophication of lakes, the affects of atmospheric aerosols,
and oil spills are examples of environmental degradation that
have been detected from satellites. New thrusts will focus
on two new areas: development of a regional pollution moni-
toring system in cooperation with the user agencies; and
broad-based multidisciplinary stratospheric research.
 2

In Earth Resources Survey, the emphasis is on the

use of spacecraft imagery to survey land use; agricultural,
forest, mineral, and water resources; and geological struc-
tures. Unprecedented progress has been made in this area
since the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1)
was launched in July 1972. Images transmitted from this
spacecraft have exceeded expectations in quality and quantity.
The experimental program using these images (with the aid
of ground proof and aircraft data) has defined, in precise
terms, the kinds of information that can be extracted from
scanner images. This has resulted in the identification of
a large number of potential information uses. Effort is
now underway to launch a follow-on satellite which will per-
mit the examination of these uses over extended periods of
time (seasons, weather cycles, growth cycles, etc.)
The Earth and Ocean Physics discipline has been de-
signed specifically to develio and demonstrate space-derived
techniques for monitoring and forecasting ocean surface con-
ditions on a global, near-real-time basis and for observing
Earth's dynamic motions to contribute to knowledge of earth-
quake mechanisms and the development of earthquake predic-
tion approaches. An Earth Dynamics portion of the program
is aimed specifically at the measurement of crustal motion
near earthquake fault zones and the detection of polar mo-
tion anomalies that are thought to precede earthquakes. An
Ocean Dynamics portion is directed toward the measurement
and prediction of ocean surface conditions including wave '
heights and directional spectra, surface winds, and ocean
temperatures, as well as the mapping of ocean currents
and circulations.

The overall goal in Space Processing is to initiate

commercially oriented private utilization of space flight
capabilities in fields related to materials science and
technology. In its early phases, such utilization will un-
doubtedly be confined to research and development activities,
and these activities can be expected to continue on a per-
manent basis if space proves to be a cost-effective setting
for industrial research. In addition, it is believed that
space techniques can be used to produce uniquely valuable
products for use on Earth, and that extensive privately funded
space operations will eventually be instituted to manufacture
such products. Flight experiments have already demonstrated
that processing materials in a weightless environment in-
volves many novel effects that cannot be accurately predic-
ted and therefore offers a fertile field for new discovery.

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effort
The Energy Aplications Program is a long-term options
aimed at identifyig, developing, and demonstrating
on technologies
for energy generation and management based are studies
Included in the program
that NASA has developed. and Delivery
of Space and Earth Based Solar Power Conversion
Production and Utilization Systems, and
Systems, Hydrogen solar-
including
Energy Environment Conservation Systems,
energy heating and cooling of buildings.
been
The objectives in Communications have recently that
national needs
refocussed towards meeting long-term communications
require the unique, in-government, satellite the past decade
technical capability developed by NASA over agencies.
other
to be maintained and made available to and ad-
These needs are in technical studies, consultation,
the Federal Communications Commission on
vice (e.g., for and for
matters affecting domestic satellite communications
on maritime communications);
U.S. Maritime Administration services (e.g.,
studies conducted for specialized government and maintenance of
1 r NOAA on a Disaster Warning Service);
conducting advanced research
a capability for such support by in the implemen-
on technology beyond that now available or by the com-
tation stages and beyond what will be developed
with risk capital. Satellite flight mission
mercial sector of flight
with the completion
activity is being phased down
projects to be launched in 1974 and 1975.
first study,
The objectives in Data Management are atodata management
and then design, develop, and emonstrate
the sensing
systems that provide improved data flow from The approach is
of data to its applications by the users.
data needs and the techniques that will be neces-
to study to gene-
by systems analysis
sary to satisfy them, followed system. Once
rate a model of a functioning data management
management system model will be func-
established, the data
its operation.
tionally simulated and exercised to optimize
The primary interests in Shuttle Experiment Definition to
are to identify and define the applications experiments Shuttle will
be conducted during the period when the Space
In addition
be the principal Space Transportation System. carrying out the
to providing long-range planning data for
information stemming from these acti-
Applications program, used
vities will become a major part of the documentation
the Space Transpor-
to formulate the design requirements for
tation System.

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The reataining activities of the Applications program

are carried under the discipline heading of Applications
Applications
Experiments and Studies. These are the Advanced
and the Applications Systems
Flight Experiments program
Analyses Program.
(AAFE) pro-
The Advanced Applications Flight Experiments
gram plays a very important role in developing instrumenta-
pollution -O
tion for future missions in earth resources survey, and
climate, earth and ocean physics,
monitoring, weather and AAFE program
space processing. During the past four years, the
improvements
has developed a number of experiments that provide such
in user data and new types of instruments for missions the SEASAT-A
as the Nimbus-G pollution monitoring satellites,
and fu-
ocean dynamics satellite, the Shuttle Sortie missions
ture Earth Observation Spacecraft.
em-
In the Applications Systems Analyses program, the and
and economic analyses
phasis is on user-oriented studies and on the con-
assessment of applications program activities
These insure
duct of feasibility analyses of new initiatives. have real
that the programs being carried out and proposed
potential for economic and social return to the public.
of how and
Another important consideration is the assessment sta-
when applications should be transitioned to operational
to operating agencies or the private
tus and transferred
sector.

I I.
* *** *

flight pro-
Brief descriptions of Office of Applications
jects follow.

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WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Program: SMS: Synchronous Meteorological Satellite

GOES: Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite

Description: Geostationary satellite weighing 626 kilo-

grams (1378 pounds) designed to meet
National Operational Meteorological Satel-
lite System (MOMSS) requirements as speci-
fied by NOAA for continuous observation
of atmosphere on an operational basis.
Will be turned over to NOAA for operational
use after being placed in orbit and checked
out. The spin-stabilized spacecraft design,
based on Syncom and Appliiations Technology
Satellite technology, has a day-and-night
cloudcover viewing capability and a cakd-
bility for collection and dissemination of
meteorological data and carries a space
environment monitoring sensor package.
Design life: SMS-A, 1 year; SMS-B, 3 years;
GOES-A, 5 years.

Schedule: NASA to fund and launch SMS-A and -B in

1974. Launch by Delta from KSC.

Goddard Space Flight Center. Spacecraft

Management:
contractor: Philco-Ford Corp.

Program
Officials: Program manager, Michael L. Garbacz, NASA Hq.
Project manager, Don V. Fordyce, GSFC.
Project scientist, William E. Shenk, GSFC.

Funding: Estiuated rurout costs, $56-$57 million.

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Program: ITOS: Improved TIROS Operational

Satellite

Description: Joint effort by NASA and National Oceanic

a--d Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to
meet NOAA operational requirements for both
day and night meteorological observations
by a single spacecraft in both direct read-
out and stored modes of operation. NASA
responsible for design and development of
spacecraft and launch; NOAA responsible for
operation.

Series of spacecraft, based on earlier

TIROS research, weighing about 340 kilo-
grams (750 lb.) in near-polar, sun-syn-
chronous orbit of 1450 km (900 miles).
Stabilized in 3 axes, Earth-oriented.
Current ITOS sensors are Vertical Tempera-
ture Profile Radiometers, Scanning Radio-
meters, Very High Resolution Radiometer,
and Solar Proton Monitor.

Schedule: First ITOS spacecraft, ITOS-1 (TIROS-M)

NASA R&D satellite, launched in January
1970, later turned over to Environmental
Science Services Administration: ITOS-B,
October 1971, luanch vehicle failed;
ITOS-D (NOAA-2), October 1972, carried
AMSAT-OSCAR-C, small communications relay
satellite for radio amateur frequency
bands, piggyback; ITOS-E, July 1973,
launch vehicle failed; ITOS-F (NOAA-3),
November 1973; ITOS-G scheduled for
launch mid-1974; ITOS-C in storage; long-
lead-time hardware for ITOS-H, -I, and -J
on order. Launch by Delta from Western
Test Pange.

Management: For NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center.

Industrial contractor: RCA.

NASA Program
Officials: Program manager, Michael Garbacz, NASA Hq.
Project manager, Stanley Weiland, GSFC.

Funding: By NOAA.
 77

project: TIROS-N: Television Infrared Observation

Satellite

Description: Prototype of the next generation of

^
polar-orbiting operational meteorological
satellites. Will use new and advanced in-
struments required for NOAA's National
Operational Env ronmental Satellite System.
These will provide: improved accuracy of
sea-surface temperature measurement; im-
proved cloud cover and height data; im-
proved snow-melt forecasting and calcula-
tion of surface water boundaries; improved
temperature sensing up to 45 km (27 miles)
vs present 30 km; improved water vapor
sensing through greater atmospheric depth;
and atmospheric ozone data, important to
environmental studies.

Spacecraft, using elements of the 5D

spacecraft being developed by the Air
Force, will weight about 600 kilograms
(1,300 lb.) and will operate in a sun-
synchronous orbit of about 830 km (450
nautical miles).

Schedule: First launch in mid-1977.

Management: Goddard Space Flight Center.

Spacecraft contractor: To be selected.

Program
Officials: Program manager, Michael L. Garbacz, NASA Hq. a
Program scientist, Norman Durocher, NASA Hq.
Project manager, Stanley Weiland, GSFC.
Project scientist, William E. Shenk, GSFC.

Funding: Less than $50 million.

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WEATHER AND CLIMATE/POLLUTION MONITORING

Program: Nimbus

Description: Series of spacecraft to develop and

flight test advanced sensors and techno-
logy to study the atmosphere and provide
data for weather and climate research.
Program consits of seven flight missions
using same basic spacecraft of about 800
kilograms (1760 lb.) but each incorpora-
ting system improvements and new and im-
proved sensors. Flights are launched in-
to about 1,100-kilometer (600-mile) nearly
polar orbit. Spacecraft is stabilized in
three axes and points at Earth at all times.
Orbit enables it to provide daily global
coverage with atmospheric structure sen-
sors as well as visual and infrared ima-
gery. Design life, 1 year.

Schedule: Five spacecraft launched: Nimbus-l in

May 1964; Nimbus-2, May 1966; Nimbus-3,
April 1969; Nimbus-4, April 1970; Nimbus-5,
December 1972. All successful, with a
May 1968 failure of launch vehicle of
Nimbus-B. One more flight of basic series
scheduled, Nimbus-F in 1974. Nimbus-G
experimental pollution, ocean-ographic and
meteorological monitoring satellite is
planned for launch in 1978. All launched
by Delta vehicle from Western Test Range.

Management: Project management: Goddard Space Flight

Center. Spacecraft contractor: General
Electric Company.

Program i
Officials: Program Manager, Bruton B. Schardt, NASA Hq.
Project Manager, Jack Sargent, GSFC.
Program Scientist, Nimbus-F, Norman Durocher,Hq;
Nimbus-G, Morris Tepper, Hq.
Project Scientist, Nimbus-F, John S. Theon, GSFC.
Nimbus-G, William Nordberg, GSFC.

Funding: Estimated runout costs, Nimbus-I through -F.

$343 million; Nimbus-G, $65-$85 million.

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EARTH RESOURCES SURVEY

Program, ERTS: Earth Resources Technology

Satellite

Description: Spacecraft circles globe 14 times a

day, scanning swath of Earth's surface
185 km (115 miles) wide in green, red,
and two near-infrared spectral bands.
From 912 km (560-mile) circular, near-
polar, sun-synchronous orbit, satellite
passes over almost entire globe every
18 days and views each cloud-free area
repetitively at same local time of day
and thus at same sun angle. Imagery used
in investigations in such resources dis-
ciplines as agriculture and forestry,
geology and mineral resources, land-use,
water resources, environment, mapping.
Data also available to public through
Dept. of Interior.

Spacecraft weighs 941 kilograms (2,070

lb.) measures 3.96 meters (13 ft.) from
tip to tip of solar panels and 3 meters
(10 ft.) in height, and is stabilized in
three axes and Earth oriented. Design
life, 1 year. ,

Spacecraft weighs 941 kilograms (2,070

lb.) measures 3.96 meters (13 ft.) from
tip to tip of solar panels and 3 meters
(10 ft.) in height, and is stabilized
in three axes and Earth oriented. Design
life, 1 year.

Schedule; ERTS-1 launched July 1972; ERTS-B planned

for early 1975, depending on continued
operation of ERTS-1. Launch by Delta
from Western Test Range.

Management: Project management: Goddard Space Flight

Center. Spacecraft contractor: General
Electric.

Program O
Officials: Program manager, Bruton B. Schardt, NASA, Hq.
Program scientist, Dr. Martin Molloy, NASA, Hq.
Project manager, Jack Sargent, GSFC.
project scientist, William Nordberg, GSFC.

Funding: Estimated runout coqf, $185-$200 million.

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Project: HCMM: Heat Capacity Mapping Mission

Description: Small spacecraft, proposed as a new start

in FY 1975 budget, to measure day and night
temperature differences of areas of Earth's P
surface to determine thermal inertia of
the surface material. These measurements
can help to identify the surface composi-
tion and thus aid in exploration for mi-
nerals and determing proper location of
civil works such as highways. Tempera-
ture data is expected also to help deter-
mine plant stress, measure soil moisture,
map thermal effluents and ocean currents,
locate geothermal areas, and predict run-
off from snow fields.
An Explorer-class spacecraft of about
138 kilograms (300 lbs.) in near-polar
sun-synchronous orbit at 600 km (370
miles) will pass over each local area at
about 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. to measure
maximum temperature differences.

Schedule: Launch in 1977 by Scout rocket from

Western Test Range.

Managment: Goddard Space Flight Csoter.

Spacecraft contractor: To be determined.

Program
Officials: Program manager, Thomas L. Fischetti, NASA Hq.
Program scientist, Dr. Martin W. Molloy, NASA Eq.
Program manager, Paul Marcotte, GSFC.
Project scientist, Warren A. Hovis, GSFC.

Funding: Estimated cost to completion, $10-12 million.

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Program: Earth Observations Aircraft Program

Description: Uses a number of different aircraft to test

a variety of remote sensing instruments and
techniques. The aircraft operate at vary-
ing altitudes up to 20 kilometers (about
65,000 feet). The principal advantages of
high-altitude flights are the simulation
of conditions nearer to those which can be
expected from an orbiting spacecraft and
the roles which may be effectively filled
by aircraft in operational aircraft/space-
craft systems. By flying remote sensors
at altitudes above about 90 percent of
Earth's atmosphere, the range of the sen- ?

sor's performance capabilities can be es-

tablished and data-handling and analysis
techniques can be varified.
Survey aircraft, at high and low alti-
tudes, provide large, highly adaptable
platforms to carry developmental sensors
for comparison of performance and utility.
The program has been conducted in coopera-
tion with Federal user agencies, including
the Departments of Agriculture, Interior,
Commerce, Defense, and other qualified in-
vestigators from states, industry, and
several universities.

There are seven primary aircraft used for

remote sensing: an Electra P-3A, Hercules
C-130B, and two high altitude RB/57s flying
out of Johnson Space Center; and two U-2
high altitude aircraft and a Convair 990
flying out of Ames Research Center.

Schedule: Fly as needed on special projects and in

conjunction with spacecraft simulations
and actual flights.

Management: Project management, Johnson Space Center

and Ames Research Center.

Program
Officials: Program manager, Bernard T. iNolan, NASA Hq. X
Project manager, JSC, Olav Smistad,
Project manager, ARC, Martin Knutson.

Funding: About $16 million a year.

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COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM

Project: ATS-F: Applications Technology Satellite

Description: Large spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit

to demonstrate the feasibility of deploy-
ing a 9-meter (30 ft.) parabolic antenna
in space, with fine pointing accuracy to
about 1/10th degree, and to demonstrate
the technology of broadcasting from satel-
lites to small, low cost ground stations.
The satellite will also be used to carry
out several advanced communications user
experiments. Prominent among these are
satellite broadcasting experiments in
delivery of educational and health ser-
vices by television to low-cost community
ground receivers in the Rocky Mountain
states, Alaska, and Appalachia in coopera-
tion with the Dept. of Health Education
and Welfare. Later the satellite will
be used by government of India for experi-
ments in transmitting instructional TV to
remote villages. Other important experi-
ments include aircraft and ship navigation,
traffic control, and communication; trans-
mission to and from other orbiting space-
craft; measurements of radio interference
with ground and satellite communications;
and meteorological investigations.

Spacecraft weighs about 1,360 kilograms

(3,000 lb.) measures 15.7 meters (52 ft.)
from tip to tip of its two solar panels
and 8.4 meters (28 ft.) high. Design
life, 2 years.

Schedule: Launch spring of 1974 from Eastern Test -

Range, FLa., by Titan 111-C vehicle into
synchronous orbit of 36,680 kilometers
(22,300 miles) over Equator. At 940 West
for one year, then to 350 East for year for
Indian experiment, then back to 1050 W.

Project management: Goddard Space Flight '

Management:
Center. Spacecraft contractor: Fairchild
Industries.

Program
Officals: Program manager, Harry Man-heimer, NASA Hq.
Project manager, John M. Ttiole, GSFC.
Program scientist, Lawrence D. Kavanaugh, NASA,Hq
Project scientist, Edward D. Wolff, GSFC.
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Funding: Estimated runout cost, $180-185 million,

excluding launch vehicle.
Previous
ATS Missions: ATS-1, launched Dec. 1966, successful;
ATS-2, April 1967, vehicle failure;
ATS-3, Nov. 1967, success; ATS-4, August
1968, vehicle failure; ATS-5, August 1969,
spacecraft malfunction but partially
successful.

ATS-1 and,-3 returned black-and-white

and color cloud-cover pictures, carried
out very high frequency communications
experiments with aircraft, transmitted
TV, and made environmental measurements.
ATS-3 is being used by NOAA for weather
observations and weather data distribu-
tion. Both are being used in a variety
of experiments by potential users of satel-
lite communications. Although ATS-5 failed
to stabilize in the desired mode, several
of its experiments operated satisfactorily
and it is in continued, successful use in
ranging, navigation, and traffic control
experiments and in measurements of propo-
gation characteristics in satellite trans-
mission bands.
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Project: CAS-C/CTS: Cooperative Applications

Satellite (U.S.)/Communications Tech-
nology Satellite (Canada)

Description: Joint development by Canadian Dept. of

Communications and NASA to demonstrate
new technology for conducting communi-
cations and broadcast experiments in
the 12 GHz band to small terminals in
the U.S. and Canada. Technology advances
include high-power (200 watt) supereffi-
cient transmitter, unfurlable 1-kilowatt
solar panels, and stabilization of space-
4tj craft with flexible appendages.

Spacecraft weighs 685 kilograms (1,500

lb.) and measure 16.2 meters (3 ft.) from
tip to tip of solar array. Canada is
building the spacecraft; U.S. is providing
the transmitter package and launch vehicle
and will launch the satellite.

Design life, 2 years.

Schedule: Launch in late 1975 from Kennedy Space

Center, Fla., by Delta vehicle into
geostationary orbit over Equator at i
M116 West. i

Management: Communications Research Centre, Canada.

NASA Project management: Lewis Research
Center. Industrial contractors: RCA Ltd.
and SPAR Aerospace Products, Canada;
Litton Industries and TRW, U.S.

Program
Officials: Canadian Program Manager, Dr. I. Paghis.
Project Manager, Dr. C. Franklin
U.S. Program Manager: A.J. Cervenka,
NASA Hq.
User Experiment Manager, Wasyl M. Lew,
UNASA Hq.
Project Manager, H. 0. Slone, Lewis.
Usr Projects Manager, P.L. Donoughe, Lewis
Research Center.

Funding: Estimated runout cost to NASA, $8-11 million,

excluding launch vehicle.

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EARTH AND OCEAN PHYSICS

Project: GEOS-C: Geodetic Earth Orbiting

Satellite

Description: Earth orbiting 330-kilogram (725-pound)

gravity-gradient-stabilized geodetic
satellite will demonstrate the applica- , i

bility of new instrumentation for NASA's

Earth And Ocean Physics Applications
Program and provide data to refine the
geodetic and geophysical results of the
National Geodetic Satellt.e Program.
GEOS-C is designed to demonstrate feasi-
bility of a satellite altimeter to map
the topography of the ocean surface to
an accuracy of 5 meters (16 1/2 ft.);
determine feasibility of measuring deflec-
tion of wave height; improve positional
accuracies of tracking stations by cali-
bration of C and S band radars and Doppler
stations; establish the precision capabi-
lity of satellite-to-satellite tracking
(ATS-F/GEOS-C); support intercomparison
of new and established geodetic/geophy-
sical measuring systems; and investigate
solid-Earth dvnamic phenomena. f

Design life, 1 year.

Schedule: Launch by Delta from Western Test Range

fourth quarter 1974.

Management: Project management by Wallops Station.

Spacecraft prime contractor: Applied
Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins
University.

Program Program Manager, Dick S. Diller, NASA Hq.

Officials: Project Manager, Laurence C. Rossi, WS.
Program scientist, James P. Murphy, NAW A Hqj
Program scientist, J. Ray Stanley, WS.

Funding: Estimated runout cost, $11-15 million.

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Project: LAGEOS: Laser Geodynamic Satellite

Description: A solid passive sphere about 60 centi-

meters (2 ft.) in diameter, weighing
about 380 kilograms (835 lb.) and fitted
with about 600 laser retroreflectors.
Very stable nearly circular, polar orbit
of about 5,700 kilometers (3,420 miles).
Laser beams from ground stations will be
bounced off the spacecraft reflectors and
a very
returned to Earth, thus allowing
accurate position location of both the
is
ground station and the satellite. It
expected that measurements in position
location to approximately 2 centimeters
(0.75 in.) can be made, thus permitting
the determination of Earth movements of
the magnitude associated with tectonic
plate motion--a prime cause of earthquakes.
Design life: In excess of 50 years.

Schedule: Launch in 1976 by Delta from Western

Test Range.

Management: Marshall Space Flight Center.

Program
Officials: Program manager, Robert Spincer, NASA Hq.
Project manager, D. R. Bowen, MSFC.

Funding: Estimated cost to completion, $3 to $6

million.

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Project: SEASAT

Description: Proposed as a new start in FY 1975 budget,

SEASAT would be first satellite devoted e
exclusively to collecting data for study
of the oceans. Will carry five basic
instruments: radar altimeter, to mea-
sure surface topography and wave height
to about 10 cm (4 in.); microwave radio-
meter, to measure temperature, water
vapor, and high winds up to hurricane
speeds); imaging radar, to observe wave
patterns and spectra through clouds;
microwave scatterometer, to m asure wind
speed and direction (up to approximately
50 mpb); infrared radiometer, to measure
sea surface temperature. Such information
could lead, in the future, to faster ship
routing, improved ship design, storm
damaqe avoidance, coastal disaster warning,
improved coastal proter ion, better
deep-water port siting and development,
ocean pollution dispersion monitoring
and prediction, fishing predictions,
iceberg-avoidance$ forecasts, and im-
proved weather forecasts.
Spacecraft of about 920 kilograms (2,000 lb.)
in near-polar orbit at 800 km (500 miles)
will circle globe 14 1/2 times a day and
observe all Earth's open oceans and
coastal areas.
Design life, one year.

Schedule: Launch in 1978 by Delta from Western

Test Range.

Management: To be determined.

Program
Officials: Program Manager, Walter McCandless, NASA Hq.

Funding: Estimated cost to completion, $40 to 55

million.

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