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The experimental data of the spaceborne Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner MOMS-02 acquired on the German Spacelab D2 mission will be used in the near future for a broad range of geo- scientific objectives. The simultaneous acquisition of high spatial resolution multispectral and stereo data by one system enables a real combination of thematic and topographic information, thus consid- erably improving the verification and interpretation of dynamic changes of the Earth's surface by means of remote sensing. The sensor was successfully launched on board of the Second German Spacelab Mission D2 on Space Shuttle flight STS-55 from 26 April to May 6 1993. The MOMS-02 system itself is a combination of two modules, a panchromatic, high-resolution stereo module with one nadir-looking (resolution 4.2 m x 4.2 m) and two tilted channels and a 4-channel multispectral module covering the visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) range of the electromagnetic spectrum at 12.8 m x 12.8 m ground resolution. The width and centre wavelength of the multispectral spectral bands are optimised for the detection of the spectral response of vegetation and for the discrimination of Fe-bearing rock and soil surfaces due to significant absorption in the VIS/NIR spectral range. The paper gives an overview on geoscientific applications in Australia, Egypt and South America. First images of MOMS-02 data clearly show the ability of the multispectral, as well as the combination of multispectral and high resolution data, to improve geoscientific studies that were done with Landsat TM data in the past. In the near future the MOMS-02 science team will produce high accuracy digital elevation models derived from the stereo data which will be used in combination with MOMS-02 or other sensors multispectral datasets for a wide range of geoscientific and environmental applications (e.g. landuse, erosion risk, natural hazards), as well as for radiometric correction of satellite images. After the first experimental mission on Spacelab D2, MOMS-02 is planned to be deployed in early 1995 on the Russian space platform MIR incorporated in the environmental PRIRODA module. This mission, offering the opportunity of multisensor data registration with a repetition rate of 2 to 7 days, is considered an indispensable step to achieve high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution environmental monitoring at global scales.
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