979 
d time-criti- 
:ext of flood 
come increas- 
problems have 
or satellite- 
the Seasat 
1 B (1981 and 
xpected, such 
the Japanese 
dian Radarsat 
ler erratic— 
can compete 
3wave systems 
ddle and far 
, though very 
lways been a 
om satellites 
plications in 
particularly 
mapping mis- 
g all usable 
ii has already 
rather than 
expected for 
atellite sys- 
from the con- 
opic imagery 
laser-altime- 
ch that defor 
gravitational 
ion about the 
obtained. The 
ce this is a 
lopments are 
ce is in its 
d, particular 
id photogram- 
in inter 
several types 
re spacecraft 
launched for 
are, in fact, 
emphasis put 
he study of 
science ap- 
or photogram- 
space research, resulting in a centralized admini 
stration. This seems hardly feasible to me: many 
countries want to develop their own satellites and 
administrative structures, fully participating in 
the high technology of the future and enhancing 
their national prestige. Personally, I feel that 
such competition is very desirable because only 
this way will challenges be mutually presented that 
will yield optimum results. Good international co 
operation will, of course, be required to avoid 
major inefficiencies and undue duplications. 
The best solution may prove to be joint efforts 
of groups of countries. This could to be a very 
inportant aspect of space technology: bringing the 
nations together because there is a job at hand that 
cannot be done by any country individually. This 
job, I think, is to study, map and monitor the globe 
with the aim of safeguarding our threatened environ 
ment, "mother earth", for the generations to come 
and to give them the quality of life required for 
economic social and spiritual development. We should 
not pursue technology for its own sake but put it to 
use for the study of the "ordinary business of 
life", a term I quote from a recent issue of the UNU 
periodical "Work in Progress". Only this way will 
the costly efforts of space research in the long run 
be justified! May this symposium contribute to this 
aim. I wish you all a good journey home and success 
in your work. I hope to see you again in Kyoto, 
1988! 
ing, 
disaster 
Hites having 
iched in the 
Llite techno- 
rery high. In 
on or Space, 
, an annual 
expected a- 
liture by the 
1 (approxima 
lis the con- 
of countries 
etc., astro- 
Lgures assume 
ling decades, 
y less funds 
the lead in