Organizations:

U.S Military uses a satellite called the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA )
U.S. Space Surveillance Network
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Trackers watch for dangerous space junk

Title: Trackers Watch for Dangerous 'Space Junk'
Source: Air Force Link
Author: Scott King
Publication Date: May 2, 2006
Page Number: n.p.
Database: SIRS Government Reporter
Service: SIRS Knowledge Source <http://www.sirs.com>


-What I discovered..
As various on orbit satellites perform their military, civilian or scientific functions, they monitor the relative presence of every man made deep space object in earth orbit.

-What i found Interesting...
There are more than 9,000 other items in space that are tracked by the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, which is known as GEODSS.

-Question...
What will they do with the junk that's in space?
Can it be harmful?



Polluting the Heavens

Title: Polluting the Heavens
Source: American Legion Magazine
Author: Lance Frazer
Publication Date: June 1994
Page Number: 20+
Database: SIRS Researcher
Service: SIRS Knowledge Source <http://www.sirs.com>


-What I discovered...
As astronaut expand farther and farther into space, the orbiting junk that is the legacy of the world's space program poses an increasing threat to the machines and humans who orbit the Earth.

-What I found interesting...
Since the late 1950s more than 20,000 objects have been placed in orbit.

-Question...
How much damage can it make in the future if this continues?


NASA snow data helps maintain nation's largest, oldest bison herd

Title: NASA Snow Data Helps Maintain Nation's Largest, Oldest Bison Herd
Source: Top Story
Author:
Publication Date: Nov. 2, 2006
Page Number: n.p.
Database: SIRS Government Reporter
Service: SIRS Knowledge Source <http://www.sirs.com>


-What I discovered...
The Yellowstone bison are the only herd in lower North America that survived since prehistoric times.

-What I found interesting...
Every winter, the deep snow in Yellowstone drives most bisons to lower elevations as they come across their search for food.

-Question...
Will NASA do this every year?


Final frontier littered with junk

Title: Final Frontier Littered with Junk
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, GA)
Author: Mike Toner
Publication Date: Feb. 26, 2006
Page Number: A1+
Database: SIRS Researcher


-What I discovered...
9,233 pieces of space junk were tracked in Earth orbit.

-What i found interesting...
The European Space Agency estimated that 93% of all the man made material in orbit is useless junk.

-Question...
Will there be any benefit if this junk is destroyed?



Studies of the Planet Earth

Title: Studies of the Planet Earth
Source: AERONAUTICS AND SPACE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT: FISCAL YEAR 1992 ACTIVITIES
Author:
Publication Date: 1993
Page Number: 43-49
Database: SIRS Government Reporter
Service: SIRS Knowledge Source <http://www.sirs.com>


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Three things i found interesting
  • The U.S. Geological Survey was also supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development's Famine Early Warning System project by providing technical support and satellite derived products to help assess the nature and extent of the drought and famine in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique.
  • The Bureau of Reclamation continued numerous applications of remote sensing to a variety of resource management objectives
  • A major step in understanding the oceans came on August 10, 1992, when the U.S. and France successfully launched the joint Ocean Topography Experiment, TOPEX/POSEIDON, aboard an Ariane 42P expendable launch vehicle from the European Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

Questions i want to ask
1. How thought of the idea to make the cameras for the satellites?
2. How long did they take to make the satellite cameras?

Things i find interesting
I. How the satellites can find anything on the earth.
II. How accurate the satellite cameras are.


Subject Headings

Artificial satellites, Military use
Artificial satellites, Tracking
Space environment
Space stations, Design and construction
U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Adm.
Artificial satellites in wildlife management
Astronomy, Forecasting
Atmosphere, Research