Mapping from space

Remote sensing of the earth promises to become an operational tool of the engineer and the scientist within the next few years. There are no real technical limits on the uses of data from space sensors. However, it is not practical to fly special missions, particularly in space, for each specific use. General-purpose, earth-sensing missions aimed at meeting a wide variety of requirements must be defined. Engineers must help define earth-sensing missions, based on the concepts of repetitive coverage, multispectral response, and spatial correlation.