221 
Table 4 
MAPPING CAPABILITY OF LFC/PAN SYSTEM 
Nominal Altitude 278 km (150 n.m.) 
Parameter 
LFC 
Pan (Jr 40° sweep) 
Image scale 
1:910,000 
1:450,000 - 1:G00,000 
Along track coverage 
417 km 
50 km 
Across track coverage 
208 km 
466 km 
AWAR 
10-15 m 
3.4 - 4.4 m 
Position accuracy = Oy 
10 m 
5 m 
Elevation a z 
10 m 
10 m 
Relative mapping 
Content for image map scale 
1:100,000 
1:25,000 
Content for line map scale 
— 
1:25,000 
Position accuracy for map scale 
1:50,000 
1:25,000 
Contour interval 
25 m 
25 m 
Absolute mapping 
Position accuracy Oy 
17 m 
* 
Position accuracy for map scale 
1:50,000 
* 
Elevation o z 
14 m 
* 
Contour interval 
40 m 
* 
*Panoramic photographs must be referenced to positions and elevations 
established from LFC photographs 
With this system there would be for the first time the capability of pro 
ducing standard large-scale line and image maps from space. Cartog 
raphers are aware, however, that multi-purpose manned missions are not 
an efficient way for acquiring systematic photography. As an example, 
the S-190B camera was operated on the three manned Skylab missions which 
comprised a total of 171 days in orbit. A look at the coverage pattern 
over the United States shows that at no place is it possible to map a 
complete quadrangle sheet at a scale comparable to the resolution of 
the photography obtained (NASA, 1974). 
NASA has performed a study of putting the Large Format Camera (and per 
haps the panoramic camera also) on an independent free-flying satellite, 
such as the Multi-mission Modular Spacecraft to be launched and 
serviced by the Shuttle (NASA, 1977). The system would operate until 
all film had been usefully expended. Then a rendezvous mission with the 
Shuttle would bring the spacecraft back into the cargo bay where exposed 
film could be collected and fresh film supplied. The spacecraft would 
then be relaunched into its operating orbit. When not actually col 
lecting data the spacecraft could be raised to a higher conservative 
orbit by its own onboard propulsion system. With NASA's present budget 
austerity, however, there is little chance of this system materializing 
any time in the near future. 
On the other hand, the German Space Research Agency (DFVLR) is con 
ducting a study to place the European Space Agency Metric Camera - or a 
later camera design - on an independent free-flying spacecraft with the 
objective of providing 1:50,000 mapping data for developing countries. 
But this, too, is not yet a funded project. 
Photogrammetrists and cartographers have waited a long time for a space 
system which would meet their requirements for standard mapping at 
useful scales. There is a worldwide requirement for topographic maps 
at 1:50,000 scale. This need is particularly keen in developing