| TITLE IV |
ASSESSING OPTIONS FOR SUCCESSOR LAND
REMOTE SENSING SYSTEM
|
| SEC. 401. |
ASSESSING OPTIONS FOR SUCCESSOR LAND REMOTE SENSING
SYSTEM.
|
| (a) |
ASSESSMENT.-Within 5 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Landsat Program Management, in consultation with
representatives of appropriate United States Government agencies,
shall assess and report to the Congress on the options for a successor
land remote sensing system to Landsat 7. The report shall include
a full assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of-
| (1) |
private sector funding and management of a successor
land remote sensing system;
|
| (2) |
establishing an international consortium for the
funding and management of a successor land remote sensing system;
|
| (3) |
funding and management of a successor land remote
sensing system by the United States Government; and
|
| (4) |
a cooperative effort between the United States
Government and the private sector for the funding and management
of a successor land remote sensing system.
|
|
| (b) |
GOALS.-In carrying out subsection (a), the Landsat Program
Management shall consider the ability of each of the options to-
| (1) |
encourage the development, launch, and operation
of a land remote sensing system that adequately serves the civilian,
national security, commercial, and foreign policy interests
of the United States;
|
| (2) |
encourage the development, launch, and operation
of a land remote sensing system that maintains data continuity
with the Landsat system; and
|
| (3) |
incorporate system enhancements, including any
such enhancements developed under the technology demonstration
program under section 303, which may potentially yield a system
that is less expensive to build and operate, and more responsive
to data users, than is the Landsat system projected to be in
operation through the year 2000.
|
|
| (c) |
PREFERENCE FOR PRIVATE SECTOR SYSTEM.-If a successor
land remote sensing system to Landsat 7 can be funded and managed
by the private sector while still achieving the goals stated in subsection
(b) without jeopardizing the domestic, national security, and foreign
policy interests of the United States, preference should be given
to the development of such a system by the private sector without
competition from the United States Government.
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