Towards a U.S. Framework for Continuity of Satellite Observations of Earth’s Climate and for Supporting Societal Resilience

There is growing urgency for improved public and commercial services to support a resilient,
secure, and thriving United States in the face of mounting decision-support needs for
environmental stewardship and hazard response, as well as for climate change adaptation and
mitigation. Sustained space-based Earth observations are critical infrastructure to support the
delivery of science and decision-support information with local, national, and global utility.
However, the United States lacks an overarching, systematic plan or framework to identify,
prioritize, fund, and implement sustained space-based Earth observations to meet the Nation’s
full range of needs for science, government policy, and societal support. To aid and accelerate
the discussion on our nation’s needs, challenges and opportunities associated with sustained
critical space-based Earth observations, the Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) sponsored a
multi-week think-tank study to offer ways forward. Based on this study, the KISS study team
suggests the establishment of a robust coordination framework to help address U.S. needs for
sustained Earth observations. This coordination framework should account for: 1) approaches
to identify and prioritize satellite observations needed to meet U.S. needs for science and
services, 2) the rapidly evolving landscape of space-based Earth viewing architecture options
and technology improvements with increasing opportunities and lower cost access to space and
3) the technical and programmatic underpinnings required for proper and comprehensive data
stewardship to support a wide range of research and public services.