USGS

Acronym for United States Geological Survey.

The USGS is an agency of the United States federal government Department of the Interior. It was created for the purpose of classifying public lands and examining the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the nation. The USGS was established on March 3, 1879 by President Rutherford B. Hayes.

The USGS does not confine its operations to Earth. It also operates the USGS Astrogeology Science Center. The USGS-ASC provides resources for the Nation, the international planetary science community, and the general public's pursuit of new knowledge of our Solar System. Some of its endeavors include:

• Participating in the planning and operation of space exploration missions.
• Research in planetary cartography, geoscience, and remote sensing.
• Producing and distributing accurate cartographic products.
• Establishing data archiving and mapping standards.