§ 5641. — Assessing options for successor land remote sensing system.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC5641]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 82--LAND REMOTE SENSING POLICY
SUBCHAPTER IV--ASSESSING OPTIONS FOR SUCCESSOR LAND REMOTE SENSING
SYSTEM
Sec. 5641. Assessing options for successor land remote sensing
system
(a) Assessment
Within 5 years after October 28, 1992, the Landsat Program
Management, in consultation with representatives of appropriate United
States Government agencies, shall assess and report to the Congress on
the options for a successor land remote sensing system to Landsat 7. The
report shall include a full assessment of the advantages and
disadvantages of--
(1) private sector funding and management of a successor land
remote sensing system;
(2) establishing an international consortium for the funding and
management of a successor land remote sensing system;
(3) funding and management of a successor land remote sensing
system by the United States Government; and
(4) a cooperative effort between the United States Government
and the private sector for the funding and management of a successor
land remote sensing system.
(b) Goals
In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Landsat Program
Management shall consider the ability of each of the options to--
(1) encourage the development, launch, and operation of a land
remote sensing system that adequately serves the civilian, national
security, commercial, and foreign policy interests of the United
States;
(2) encourage the development, launch, and operation of a land
remote sensing system that maintains data continuity with the
Landsat system; and
(3) incorporate system enhancements, including any such
enhancements developed under the technology demonstration program
under section 5633 of this title, which may potentially yield a
system that is less expensive to build and operate, and more
responsive to data users, than is the Landsat system projected to be
in operation through the year 2000.
(c) Preference for private sector system
If a successor land remote sensing system to Landsat 7 can be funded
and managed by the private sector while still achieving the goals stated
in subsection (b) of this section without jeopardizing the domestic,
national security, and foreign policy interests of the United States,
preference should be given to the development of such a system by the
private sector without competition from the United States Government.
(Pub. L. 102-555, title IV, Sec. 401, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4175.)
