IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 891 
Celebrating 35 years of space-based observations of the Earth by the Landsat 
spacecraft and looking forward to sustaining the longest unbroken record 
of civil Earth observations of the land. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 18, 2007 
Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself and Mr. REGULA) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology 
RESOLUTION 
Celebrating 35 years of space-based observations of the 
Earth by the Landsat spacecraft and looking forward 
to sustaining the longest unbroken record of civil Earth 
observations of the land. 
Whereas the year 2007 represents 35 years of continuous col-
lection of space-based observations of the Earth’s land 
cover by the United States Landsat satellites, which have 
enabled increased scientific understanding of the inter-
relationships 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 
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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 Landsat program has continued to 
collect data without interruption through the successful 
launches of Landsats 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, and has estab-
lished the longest and most comprehensive record of glob-
al land surface data ever collected; 
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 re-
source 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 na-
tions, 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; 
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Whereas the U.S. Climate Change Science Program has rec-
ognized Landsat and its long-term data record as instru-
mental 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 cli-
mate’’; and 
Whereas the scientific and societal benefits of the Landsat 
program and its 35-year data record illustrate the signifi-
cant return on the public investment in Earth observa-
tions 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 dedi-
cated scientists, engineers, and program personnel 
who have contributed to the successful development 
and operation of the Landsat program over the past 
35 years; 
(2) urges the continuation of the Landsat pro-
gram 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 
(3) 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 
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data separately and as integrated with other Earth 
observations data. 
Æ 
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