Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/84685
NEWSLINK Landsat Program Celebrates 40 Years of fallen mostly to NASA, which has sent aloft six of the seven Landsat satellites. "Landsat has given us a critical perspective on Service The world's longest-running Earth-observing satel- lite program marked its 40th year of service during summer 2012. Launched in July 1972 and maintained by part- ners NASA and the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Landsat program has for four decades contin- ued to provide global-coverage data that offer users insights into human activities such as urbanization and agriculture. "Over four decades, data from the Landsat series of satellites have become a vital reference worldwide for advancing our understanding of the science of the land," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. "The 40-year Landsat archive forms an indelible and objective register of America's natural heritage and has become part of this department's legacy to the American people." The Department of the Interior manages Landsat satellites and data after the spacecraft are launched. Through the decades, the actual launch work has our planet over the long term and will continue to help us understand the 'big picture' of Earth and its changes from space," noted Charles Bolden, NASA administrator. "With this view, we are better prepared to take action on the ground and be better stewards of our home." NASA's next Landsat-related work should come in February 2013, when the agency prepares to launch the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). The new satellite will fly as the most technologically advanced satellite in the Landsat series, using new detector and sensor technologies to deliver better, more reliable data. LDCM will join the two active Landsat satellites, Landsat 5 and Landsat 7. Volunteer GIS Group Marks 100th Mission The GISCorps, a volunteer initiative of the nonprofit Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), has undertaken its 100th mission to improve GIS services and applications in underprivileged com- munities. Founded in 2003, GISCorps has tapped the abilities of more than 360 volunteers to work on special projects, or "missions," in 46 countries. The 100th mission, "WatchTheMed," saw vol- unteers working through a partnership involving several academic and research organizations led by the Forensic Oceanography research project. The mis- sion concerned the death of migrants at sea (in the Mediterranean). Three GISCorps volunteers provided remote sensing, data mining and data conversion services for the project. Other recent GISCorps projects include a three- phased project with the U.S. Agency for International Development in which GISCorps deployed 58 volun- teers; a 20-volunteer project focusing on North Korea; an education-related (K-12) mission in Albania; and two remote-sensing-related projects in Mozambique and Oklahoma. "It is amazing what volunteers can do to make the A composite "pseudo-natural color" image acquired from the Landsat 7 satellite in 2002 shows the Cape Cod National Seashore. Landsat satellites have been collecting similar imagery across the planet for four decades. 8 GEO W ORLD / SEPTEMBE R 2O12 world a better place," said Greg Babinski, URISA presi- dent. "So many individuals have given their valuable time since 2003 to make GISCorps the successful program it has become. From responding to disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Japan to mapping health clinics in Mexico and teaching GIS to kids in Albania, they are truly making a difference with GIS." NASA