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The polar platform infrastructure in itself will be a magnificent example of international cooperation. Initially, NASA will provide one polar platform to be equipped with instruments provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Plans call for a second U.S. polar platform later. Our Space Station partner, ESA, will provide a third platform, hopefully in the same time period as the first U.S. platform. Japan, another partner, is seriously considering developing its own platform, as well, in the late 1990s. 

I'm pleased that ESA, Japan and the U.S. have been coordinating our respective efforts. Just this past January, NASA issued an Announcement of Opportunity for EOS instruments and investigations. The announcements was coordinated with similar announcements issued by ESA and Japan. Scientists from the United States, Europe and Japan will work together to analyze the EOS data to establish an initial profile of Earth as a system. 

In time, up to five geostationary platforms could complement the detailed data flow from the polar platforms to enrich our understanding of the Earth system with a continuous broad overview. 

This augmented capability would add up to a Mission to Planet Earth on a scale never before attempted to study any planet. In fact, the ISY could, in effect, initiate activities to support a global study which could lead to a full-scale Mission to Planet Earth in the late 1990s.