is narrower, and of course only one kind of film could be used at a time. The flight pattern makes 
it difficult to find complete coverage of any standard map sheet. 
As with S-190A,cartographic experiments with S-190B are just beginning. The resolution 
of the photography seems most compatible with map scale 1:100 000, which unfortunately is not a 
standard scale in the United States. : 
A state base mosaic is being assembled for Connecticut using black-and-white enlargements 
from the original color image. The scale will be 1:125 000 to match the existing line-drawn base 
map. Some small gaps may be filled in with high altitude U-2 photographs if an adequate match can 
be attained. Cartographic enhancement, if any, is yet to be determined. Two map revision projects at 
scale 1:100 000 have been initiated. The first is monoscopic revision of the Sonoma County map in 
California. The second is a stereo compilation at 1:100 000 in the Kern PG-2 or the Analytical 
Plotter AS-11A for Montgomery County, Maryland. In both cases the original photography is in co- 
lor. Preliminary estimates are that feature classification will be much easier than with the S-190A 
photographs. 
Conclusions 
It has been amply demonstrated that ERTS-1 images can be transformed into cartogra- 
phic products, both black-and-white and color at scales 1:500 000 and 1:1 000 000. The resolution 
is inadequate for scale 1:250 000 except for areas where terrain morphology is the principle carto- 
graphic feature and cultural features are nearly nonexistent. National Map Accuracy Standards can 
be met at scales up to 1:500 000 by fitting the UTM to the images, or at scale 1:250 000 by digital 
manipulation of the data. The utility and demand for these small scale products as adjuncts to mul- 
tispectral interpretation remains to be determined. 
It is most probable that S-190A photography from Skylab will prove useful for photo image 
base maps and, with less certainty, for map revision at scale of 1:250 000. Photography from 
S-190B will be useful for compilation and revision at scale 1:100 000 and possibly as large as 
1:62 500 or 1:50 000. 
What Does the Future Hold ? 
  
The ERTS-1 satellite is nearly defunct. Though the empty Skylab is still in orbit there are 
no plans to reoccupy it. The ERTS-B satellite is constructed identical to ERTS-1. It is ready for 
launch late in 1974 or early in 1975, though final approval has not yet been given. ERTS-C has been 
discussed. Its sensor package would be similar to ERTS-B except that the focal length, scale, and 
resolution of the RBVs may be doubled, and the MSS may carry a thermal infrared channel. Nobody 
knows if ERTS-C willever materialize. NASA has conducted studies for an Earth Observatory 
Satellite (EOS) for launch in the 1980 time frame. It would carry a thematic mapper (TM) much like 
the MSS on ERTS except that resolution would be increased to 30 m. It would also carry a high re- 
solution pointable imager (HRPI) not unlike the ERTS RBV except that resolution would be 10 m. 
EOS is not an approved or funded system. 
Next year (1975) will come the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP). There was extended 
study about putting large camera systems derived from the lunar program aboard ASTP. However 
due to the short time on orbit, and spacecraft constraints on power, space, and weight, these plans 
were abandoned. ASTP will carry nothing more elaborate than hand held Hasselblads. 
Beyond that there is the Space Shuttle, a manned recoverable vehicle capable of launching 
and retrieving various types of special purpose spacecraft. One grandiose scheme is for a manned 
Spacelab with a variety of sensors. Processing and interpretation would be done aboard. If these 
schemes materialize they will be more for the benefit of the aerospace industry than for those sin- 
cerely interested in resource surveys and mapping from space. 
Studies have been conducted for a standard camera package to be carried on all Shuttle 
sortie missions. They came up with the unimaginative package of 35 mm Nikon, 70 mm Hasselblad 
with interchangeable lenses, and the S-190B camera from Skylab. 
It takes no great amount of photogrammetric analysis to determine the characteristics of 
a system which could make a substantial contribution to standard topographic mapping. In 1967 the 
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