The U.S. National Space Policy was released today. The Policy explicitly lists improving space-based observation as one of its goals, and directs NASA and USGS to “work together in maintaining a program for operational land remote sensing observations.”
For more details:
+ U.S. National Space Policy
+ DOI Press Release: Land Remote Sensing Under National Space Policy

STELLA: A DIY Handheld Scientific Instrument
If you are looking for a do-it-yourself (DIY) handheld spectrometer, you need to meet STELLA. STELLA (Science and Technology Education for Land/Life Assessment) is a portable scientific instrument developed by