ASTROMETRY IN THE FUTURE

The introduction of the extragalactic reference frame and the availabi lity of the Hipparcos and Tycho catalogs will have major impacts on ch anging the accuracy levels of astrometry in the future. There is a nee d for accurate densification of the reference frames down to at least 20(th) magnitude. Also accurate space motions and distances will be re quired. The ground based observations must be supplemented by space mi ssions. In addition to traditional positional astrometry, the scientif ic applications of planetary detection, distance scales, multiple star systems, mass detections, solar system motions and geodesy will be ad vanced by the new accuracies.