U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Landsat 8 Data PolicyLandsat 8 Data Policy

April 14, 2006

Jay FeuquayLand Remote Sensing

2

USGS Objectives for the Discipline of Geography

Provide Leadership in U.S. Land Science and Applications Manage the USGS science program in land surface change Generate and support a multidisciplinary approach to land science Provide enabling capabilities for management of the Territorial

Interests of the United States Ensure the Continuity and Fidelity of U.S. National Land Imagery

Capabilities Sponsor land imagery initiatives that further U.S. scientific,

economic, national security, and foreign policy interests Gather land imagery requirements for the U.S. and manage U.S.

land imagery systems, data, and business operations Propose and implement U.S. land remote sensing data policy

3

USGS Land Remote Sensing Mission

The USGS Land Remote Sensing (LRS) Program provides leadership among U.S. civil agencies:

-- Managing U.S. requirements for operational land imaging

-- Acquiring and managing land imaging data

-- Managing U.S. satellite resources necessary for the effective operation of the U.S. Government

To meet these goals, the USGS:

-- Operates the Landsat series of satellites

-- Coordinates land imaging data acquisition from commercial and international sources

-- Manages the land imagery archive of the U.S.

-- Provides leadership in land remote sensing and land use change research

-- Supports U.S. agriculture and forestry, land use management, global change research, and hazard management

-- Supports U.S. security and foreign policy interests

4

Landsat 5 Status

Landsat 5 and its Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor have been on orbit for 22 years

No onboard data recorder – only U.S. (Sioux Falls, Australia, plus Alaska during fire season) and 8 International Cooperators (ICs) with 10 ground stations capture TM data

Solar array drive malfunctioned again in November 2005 (side A 10 mos. earlier); operations changed to compensate for problem

19 years of extended operations Fuel to be depleted in 2010 Satellite could fail anytime before 2010 Backup amplifier problem March 16, 2006 Full U.S. and IC operations resumed March 30, 2006

5

Landsat 7 Status

Landsat 7 and its Enhanced Thematic Mapper-Plus (ETM+) sensor have been on orbit for 7 years

ETM+ scan line corrector (SLC) failed May 2003; USGS developed gap filler products 1 of 3 Landsat 7 gyros turned off May 2004; USGS developing 1-gyro flight capability

(spacecraft maneuver capability now; not full science operations) and moving towards “virtual” gyro operations

Full U.S. and global data coverage being collected 2 years of extended mission operations Fuel to be depleted in 2010 Satellite could fail anytime before 2010

USGS/NASA Data Gap Study Team formed to investigate options and resources for Landsat-like global data sets

6

Landsat Global Network

ASA: Alice Springs, Australia (L5/L7)BJC: Beijing, China (L5)BKT: Bangkok, Thailand (L5)COA: Cordoba, Argentina (L5/L7)CUB: Cuiaba, Brazil (L5) DKI: Parepare, Indonesia (L7)

GLC: Gilmore Creek (L5)GNC: Gatineau, Canada (L5)HAJ: Hatoyama, Japan (L5)HIJ: Hiroshima, Japan (L7)HOA: Hobart, Australia (L5/L7)JSA: Johannesburg, South Africa (L5)

KIS: Kiruna, Sweden (L5)LGS: Landsat Ground Station (L5/L7)MTI: Matera, Italy (L5)PAC: Prince Albert, Canada (L5)PF1: Gilmore Creek (L5)UPR: University of Puerto Rico (L7)

7

OSTP December 2005 Memorandum

• Proceed with the NPOESS program without incorporating a Landsat-type instrument;

• NASA acquire a single Landsat data continuity mission in the form of a free-flyer spacecraft to collect the required land surface data and deliver its data to the Department of the Interior (DOI) / United States Geological Survey (USGS);

• DOI, through the USGS, will be responsible for the operations of the Landsat data continuity mission and for the collection, archiving, processing, and distribution of the land surface data to U.S. Government and other users; and

• National Science and Technology Council, in coordination with NASA, DOI/USGS, and other agencies and EOP offices as appropriate, lead an effort to develop a long-term plan to achieve technical, financial, and managerial stability for operational land imaging in accord with the goals and objectives of the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System.

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued on December 23, 2005 a memorandum on Landsat Data Continuity Strategy Adjustment that directed that the effected agencies:

8

Landsat Free Flyer

Objective to ensure continuous availability of scientifically sound Landsat-

type data Approach:• Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract for a free-flyer spacecraft mission

Instrument(s)– Option for thermal channels

Spacecraft(s) Spacecraft/instrument integration and test Real-time ground system (flight operations) Operational sustaining engineering support 5-year mission life with 10-year expendable provisions Incentivize on orbit delivery to minimize if not eliminate potential gap with Landsat 7 RFP schedule (Draft 2nd Qtr CY 2006; Final 3rd Qtr CY 2006)

• NASA will provide launch services for the spacecraft

• NASA will conduct on-orbit delivery acceptance

• After prescribed on-orbit acceptance period, NASA will transfer ownership of the spacecraft and the associated contract to the USGS

• USGS will operate the spacecraft and manage the data

9

Future Operational Land Imaging

• Goal to transition the Landsat program from a series of independently planned missions to a sustained operational program funded and managed by a U.S. Government operational agency or agencies, international consortium, and/or commercial partnership

• Effort led by White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

• Supported by interagency working group (USGS, NASA, USDA, DoD, and NOAA)

• The team will develop a long-term plan to achieve technical, financial, and managerial stability for operational land imaging in accord with the goals and objectives of the U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System

• Report to OMB in the fall 2006

10

Goals of Landsat 8 data policyGoals of Landsat 8 data policy

Maintain and expand global acquisition strategy Improve current long-term acquisition plan

Broaden operational use of data within Federal community Grow value added remote sensing industry

Reduce barriers to access Ensure that data is widely available

Lower cost of producing data products Increase efficiency of data production and distribution

Improve cooperation with and integration of International Cooperators

GEOSS pathfinder activities

11

Model of Landsat Data DistributionModel of Landsat Data Distribution

USGS(NSLRSDA)

State & Local Government

General Public

US FederalGovernment

Commercial Industry

SatelliteData

Data Distributors

Value-AddedIndustry

Web Enabled Access(L0 & L1)

Academia

12

Implementation QuestionsImplementation Questions

Maintain and expand global acquisition strategy Improve current long-term acquisition plan Approximately 150 more scenes collected per day

Broaden operational use of data within Federal community How to demonstrate value of program to Congress and Administration

Grow value added remote sensing industry Data rights Partnerships

Lower cost of producing data products How to increase efficiency of data production and distribution Defining the types of products offered