The top science guy at the White House is giving high praise to EROS Data Center. John Marburger is the president's science advisor and is also in charge of making sure the United States has ready access to satellite imagery. And since EROS is the country's main archive for those pictures, Marburger foresees a bright and expanding future for EROS. 

EROS presented John Marburger with a satellite photo of his home in Long Island, New York. He's the highest-ranking member of the White House to ever visit EROS, and now has a clearer picture of the center's mission. "Here at EROS, I've learned a lot about the capabilities of this operation." 

Marburger says the use of satellite imagery is becoming more important than ever as nations study the effects of climate change. And EROS is the go-to agency to gain a better understanding of how the earth is impacted. "I think it's inevitable that EROS's role will grow, given the conditions that we have now of rapid environmental change."

In 2011, a new satellite will go into space to replace the aging satellites in orbit right now. In the meantime, EROS will make do with images beamed back to earth from satellites long past their prime. "There is a period of transition where we all have our fingers crossed hoping that these ancient satellites will make it through so that they will continue to be operating when the next ones go up." 

With a new generation of satellites on the horizon. Marburger is confident of EROS's leading role in watching the world. 

EROS is also planning on building its own command-and-control center so its researchers can guide the satellites' flight over the earth. That job is currently being done at a center in Maryland.