The Army Intelligence Center and School developed and is sponsoring Terra Scout. The intent of Terra Scout is to determine what an experienced imagery interpreter can observe of military value from onboard the Space Shuttle. The Shuttle crewmembers used the Spaceborne Direct View Optical System (SPADVOS). The SPADVOS is a developmental device which uses a manual pointing and tracking system with manually controlled zoom lens. This optical system allows the operator to view terrestrial targets with image degradation caused by current systems. On orbit observations will be reported using a UHF SATCOM radio compatible with the Army's PSC-3, UHF radio. The Army selected two Warrant Officers and one Non-Commissioned Officer as primary, backup and alternate payload specialist candidates. Army Astronaut LTC Jim Voss and Payload Specialist CW3 Tom Hennen performed the first phase of Terra Scout during Space Shuttle Mission STS-44 in November 1991.
