Spectacular successes in lunar flights and in weather and communications satellites demonstrate presently available technology for obtaining worldwide color photography. The synoptic perspective afforded by satellite photography adds a new dimension to geologic investigation, as demonstrated by interpretations of many photos from Gemini and Apollo flights.

A logical first step in an earth resources program would be a small, automated, short-lived, film recovery stereoscopic color coverage of the entire earth's land area. Among the advantages of such a program are (1) effective geologic interpretation of the data is readily available, (2) obsolete maps could be updated throughout the world, and (3) standards would provide for interpretation of later, more sophisticated data.

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