AT: Politics – Landsat Popular

AT: Politics – Landsat Popular

Some of the most popular and valued remote sensing images of the earth are obtained from the Landsat satellites which have been orbiting the earth for over thirty years. Landsat is a joint venture between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. On April 15, 1999, NASA launched Landsat 7 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the last Landsat to be deployed since 1984. Prior to the launch of Landsat 7, two Landsats were in operation - Landsat 4 (operating from 1982 to decommission in June 2001) and Landsat 5 (operating since March 1984). Landsat 6 was launched in 1993 but it failed to attain proper orbit. The Landsat satellites make loops around the earth and are constantly collecting images of the surface through the use of a variety of sensing devices. Since the beginning of the Landsat program in 1972, the images and data have been available to all countries around the world. Images are used to measure rain forest loss, assist with mapping, determine urban growth, and population change.

Over the past decade, NASA has convinced the White House, Congress and the public of the importance of investigating the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and land from space.

That success has led to increasing pressure to extend NASA’s Earth monitoring program by launching new spacecraft and instruments, but not to the funding needed to carry out the new missions, said Michael Freilich, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division at the agency’s Washington headquarters. “There is relentless pressure to expand the scope of our contributions,” Freilich said Dec. 17, during a meeting here of the American Geophysical Union. “People want us to do more. They for some reason don’t see a way of getting us additional resources.”
LDCM popular – comparatively
Werner 9 (Debra, 12/31, http://www.spacenews.com/civil/091231-nasa-budget-earth-science-lags-behind.html, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

One of those decadal survey missions, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, scheduled to launch in December 2012, has been expanded to include a thermal infrared sensor. “We were given $10 million from the generosity of Congress to make that addition which cost about $160 million,” Freilich said. In contrast, budgetary pressures are forcing the space agency to scrap plans to include a low-inclination orbiter as part of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, a joint U.S.-Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency effort. “The Global Precipitation mission continues on track with the core observatory which will launch in July of 2013,” Freilich said. “Changes in agency budgeting practices, where they are asking us to budget for what it really is going to cost, forced me to de-scope GPM so that the low inclination orbiter now is no longer fully funded. We are, however, building the instrument, and we have money for its integration on a partner spacecraft. We have money for all the data downlink and data processing associated with it. We are going to be working next year hard to find a partner to fly the mission.”

AT: Politics – Landsat Popular – Oil Lobby

Oil lobby supports landsat
Short 10 (Nicholas M., Publisher, Federation of American Scientists, Apr. 28, http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect5/Sect5_5.html, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

Landsat results in geological applications excited many in the petroleum and mining industries. Various companies banded together as a consortium, starting in 1976, in what became known as The Geosat Committee. Their avowed aims were along three lines: 1) to share information and conduct studies using space imagery to search for petroleum and minerals (mainly metallic ores); 2) to "lobby" NASA and Congress for a continuation and expansion of the Earth-Observing Satellite program; and 3) to provide inputs in determining and improving sensors in future satellites. One of their principal study sites was the Patrick Draw oil field near the Beaver Creek field in Wyoming. (see summary online at this website: Patrick Draw oil field). Hydrocarbons appear to be leaking as gases at various points above the oil field. This map shows the results of a field study (ground cored typically to depths of 3-4 m) that retrieved samples analyzed for propane:

AT: Politics – Landsat Bipart

Landsat bipart – resolution proves
Prather 7 (Alisha, House Science and Technology Committee News, Dec. 18, http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/news/news-archive/news_0117.html, accessed 7-8-11, JMB)

Today U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, introduced a bipartisan House resolution to celebrate 35 years of space-based observations of the Earth by Landsat spacecraft – an accomplishment that has helped revolutionize our understanding of the Earth’s land surface as well as enable a wide range of applications of Landsat data that have had significant societal benefits.

Landsat bipart
NASA 8 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/48794703/Landsat-Brochure, accessed 7-8-11, JMB)

The Landsat Mission has evolved from an experimental system in the 1970’s to a required capability for the 21st century. It has enjoyed bipartisan support and challenge. Its capabilities have been honed by political and scientific debate. Its history reflects well the leadership of the United States in space, and its future ensures our ability to explore, to characterize, to monitor, and to manage the land surfaces of the Earth
Landsat bipartisan – supported by Bush and Obama
GIS talk 3/15 (Paltiello was public witness at a congressional hearing, 2011, http://www.educationgis.com/2011/03/mapps-not-happy-with-usgs-initiatives.html, accessed 7-9-11, JMB)

"On the bright side," Palatiello said, "we are pleased the budget request includes an increase, or reallocation, of $48 million to support the current and future mission of the National Land Imaging Program, principally through LANDSAT. The moderate resolution data provided by LANDSAT does not compete with the private sector and is an appropriate government investment. It provides for data that is primarily used in research and scientific applications, much of it funded by the government, which complements higher resolution satellite and airborne capabilities available from the private sector. This funding by the Obama Administration continues implementation of the 'Future of Land Imaging' program initiated in the Bush Administration. We support this bipartisan program. MAPPS supports the increase, or reallocation, of $48 million to support the NLIP, principally through LANDSAT. The bipartisan program provides government funding for satellites that will ensures data continuity, which compliments higher resolution satellite and airborne capabilities from the private sector."

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