SATELLITES DESTINED FOR EARTH SCIENCES

The Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) Program promises to be among the most significant undertakings in Space in the 1970 s. 

Program is... a system devoted to developing and demonstrating the capability for more effective management of the Earth s resources (NASA and G.E., 1971, p. 1). 

As we know, the earth sciences are the last-minute guests, as satellites launched up to 1970 were essentially for meteorological purposes. The capability offered by high-resolution radiometers, however, made it possible for our discipline to participate in fundamental research. 

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