National Research Council. Satellite Observations to Benefit Science and Society

Recommended Missions for the Next Decade 2008. — Washington: National Academies Press, 2008. VIII, 32 p. — ISBN-13: 978-0-309-10903-1, ISBN-10: 0-309-10903-5. This booklet is based on the report Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond, available at no cost as a PDF file at ttp://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11820. Details about obtaining printed copies of that report, together with more information about the Space Studies Board and its activities, can be found at http://www7.national-academies.org/ssb/. The Space Studies Board is a unit of the National Research Council, which serves as an independent advisor to the federal government on scientific and technical questions of national importance. The decadal survey that produced Earth Science and Applications from Space was sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); organized by the Space Studies Board; and conducted by the Committee on Earth Science and Applications from Space: A Community Assessment and Strategy for the Future, with input from seven study panels. Support for the preparation and production of this booklet was provided by NASA (Science Mission Directorate), NOAA (National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service), and USGS (Geography). Support for the production of this publication was also provided by the Presidents’ Circle Communications Initiative of the National Academies. The committee extends special thanks to Robert Henson, who wrote the text of the booklet, and to Van Nguyen, who designed it.

Satellite Observations to Benefit Science and Society: Recommended Missions for the Next Decade brings the next ten years into focus for the Earth and environmental science community with a prioritized agenda of space programs, missions, and supporting activities that will best serve scientists in the next decade. These missions will address a broad range of societal needs, such as more reliable weather forecasts, early earthquake warnings, and improved pollution management, benefiting both scientific discovery and the health and well-being of society.

Based on the 2007 book, Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond, this book explores each of the seventeen recommended missions in detail, identifying launch dates, responsible agencies, estimated cost, scientific and public benefits, and more. Printed entirely in color, the book features rich photographs and illustrations, tables, and graphs that will keep the attention of scientists and non-scientists alike.

Based on the 2007 book, "Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond", this book explores each of the seventeen recommended missions. It identifies launch dates, responsible agencies, estimated cost, and scientific and public benefits. It features photographs and illustrations, tables, and graphs. Recommends seventeen missions in diverse areas, including ASCENDS, Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons and SCP, Snow and Cold Land Processes