Remote Sensing SystemsRemote Sensing Systems

• Thaddeus Lowe’s Thaddeus Lowe’s BalloonBalloon

• Corona SystemCorona System

• Electro-optical Electro-optical systems systems (Landsat, Terra,(Landsat, Terra,

AVHRR, SeaWiFS, AVHRR, SeaWiFS, GOES, VCL, etc.)GOES, VCL, etc.)

• BalloonBalloon,, telescope telescope ,, telegraphtelegraph

• Space craftSpace craft,, cameracamera,, film dropfilm drop

• Space craftSpace craft,, scanner or scanner or push broom push broom instrumentinstrument,, digital digital transmissiontransmission

PlatformPlatform, , sensing devicesensing device, , data transmissiondata transmission

Thaddeus Lowe’s Civil War BalloonsThaddeus Lowe’s Civil War Balloons U.S.Army of the Potomac 1861-1865U.S.Army of the Potomac 1861-1865

Massachusetts’ man Professor and visionary

Platform: Balloon

Sensor: Telescope

Data System: Telegraph

Thaddeus Lowe’s Civil War Balloons’Thaddeus Lowe’s Civil War Balloons’support equipment on the Mallsupport equipment on the Mall

Reaction trailers for hydrogen gasReaction trailers for hydrogen gas

Thaddeus Lowe’s Civil War BalloonsThaddeus Lowe’s Civil War Balloonsgassing the bag, Battle of Fair Oaks, June 1862gassing the bag, Battle of Fair Oaks, June 1862

Thaddeus Thaddeus Lowe’s Civil Lowe’s Civil

War BalloonsWar Balloons

Going upGoing upto observeto observethe rebelsthe rebels4-5 mile4-5 milevisibilityvisibility

Thaddeus Lowe’s Civil War BalloonsThaddeus Lowe’s Civil War Balloonsdata transmission and receptiondata transmission and reception

Thaddeus Lowe, Thaddeus Lowe, circa 1861-1865,circa 1861-1865,

remote sensing for remote sensing for military purposes. military purposes.

Then, as now, newest Then, as now, newest developments are developments are

always in the military always in the military spheresphere