H. Res. 891 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

April 22, 2008. 

Whereas the year 2007 represents 35 years of continuous collection of space-based observations of the Earth’s land 

cover by the United States Landsat satellites, which have 

enabled increased scientific understanding of the interrelationships of the Earth’s land cover, energy balance, 

and biogeochemical processes as well as the realization of 

numerous societal benefits from the applied uses of the 

data; 

Whereas on July 23, 1972, the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration launched Landsat 1, originally 

called the Earth Resources Technology Satellite, as the 

first civilian Earth observation satellite to study the 

Earth’s land cover and monitor natural resources; 

Whereas since 1972, the United States Geological Survey has 

led the data archiving and distribution efforts for the 

Landsat program, which has continued to collect data 

without interruption through the successful launches of 

Landsats 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, and has established the longest and most comprehensive record of global land surface 

data ever collected; 

Whereas the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 

the United States Geological Survey, the Department of 
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Commerce, the Department of Defense, and the private 

sector have all played a role in Landsat’s history; 

Whereas Landsat greatly enhanced remote sensing science, 

helped give rise to a global change research plan and 

international initiatives to study the Earth system, and 

led to new types of careers in engineering and natural 

sciences; 

Whereas Landsat data have been used for multiple scientific 

and applied purposes including cartography, land surveys 

and land use planning, agricultural forecasting, water resource management, forest management, mapping of sea 

ice movement, assessment of tropical deforestation, food 

security, mineral and oil exploration, and global change 

research; 

Whereas Landsat data are being widely used by Federal, 

local, county, and State governments, and by foreign nations, nongovernmental organizations, private industry, 

and universities; 

Whereas Landsat data are collected at a scale that enables 

the study of both natural and human-induced changes in 

land cover over time and their impacts on the Earth’s 

ecosystems; 

Whereas Landsat data illuminated for the first time how 

human decisions, such as the expansion of cities, led to 

large-scale impacts on the environment; 

Whereas the U.S. Climate Change Science Program has recognized Landsat and its long-term data record as instrumental to the study of climate and environmental change, 

noting that ‘‘Landsat data are invaluable for studying 

the land surface and how it affects and is affected by climate’’; and 
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Whereas the scientific and societal benefits of the Landsat 

program and its 35-year data record illustrate the significant return on the public investment in Earth observations and the need for continued support for this critical 

national asset: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) expresses its appreciation to all of the dedicated 

scientists, engineers, and program personnel who have 

contributed to the successful development and operation 

of the Landsat program over the past 35 years; 

(2) looks forward to another 35 years of continuous 

Landsat-like observations of the Earth; 

(3) urges the continuation of the Landsat program 

and data record so as to sustain Landsat’s value to scientific research, especially the study of global and climate change, and to the myriad applied uses of the data 

for societal benefit; and 

(4) believes that the Nation should continue to support the research, technological improvements, educational outreach, and development of decision making 

tools required to expand the use of Landsat data sepa-
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rately and as integrated with other Earth observations 

data. 

Attest: 

Clerk.