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October 22, 2012 - LTWG#21 Meets in Sioux Falls, SD

The Landsat Technical Working Group #21 (LTWG#21) meeting was held in Sioux Falls, SD, USA, on September 24 through September 28, 2012.

Participants from 19 countries, including members of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Landsat and Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) Projects, represented 29 U.S. and international ground stations and discussed a wide range of technical topics.

Special guest Dr. Frank Kelly, USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center Director and Space Policy Advisor, welcomed the attendees. He also provided an overview of the EROS Center over the last 40 years, and shared the Center's course for the next 40 years.

The USGS presented material on the Land Satellites Data System (LSDS) and related future plans. Landsat Project presentations included the latest Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 mission statuses, Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) processing capability progress, the Landsat Global Archive Consolidation (LGAC) initiative, Landsat mission planning, Landsat product evolution, operational Data Validation & Exchange (DV&E) status, Calibration/Validation, and LandsatLook.

NASA, USGS, and LDCM observatory contractor presentations included Project and Ground System status including plans and timelines for LDCM Ground System processing software availability, the LDCM Ground System-to-International Cooperator interface testing, DV&E, and Ground Station certification. The USGS also prepared in-depth LDCM Ground System technical presentations including follow-up Question & Answer (Q&A) splinter sessions for its International Cooperator attendees. The technical sessions covered LDCM Ground System content such as requirements, interfaces, design, implementation, and current testing results and performance.

Each International Cooperator briefed the attendees on the status of their stations including LDCM Ground System readiness, future satellite missions, and current status of their LGAC activities.

International Cooperators and U.S. attendees included representatives from the following countries and organizations:

  • Australia (GA-NEO)
  • Brazil (INPE)
  • Canada (CCRS, MDA)
  • China (CEODE)
  • Colombia (IGAC)
  • Europe (ESA)
  • France (Zodiac Data Systems)
  • Gabon (AGEOS)
  • Germany (DLR)
  • Indonesia (LAPAN)
  • Japan (AIST, TSIC)
  • Mexico (INEGI)
  • Norway (KSAT)
  • South Africa (SANSA, PinkMatter, Forest Sense)
  • Taiwan (CSRSR-NCU)
  • Thailand (GISTDA, Precise Steel)
  • United Kingdom (Logica)
  • United States (USGS, NASA, Aerospace, ASRC, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp, CVG-Avtec, ERT, Information Dynamics, Orbital Sciences Corporation, RT Logic, SeaSpace, SGT, Virtuoso)
  • Zambia (NRSC)