This paper attempts to identify the gaps and limitations in our ability to remotely sense the oceans and troposphere from air and space platforms. We set down the directions that offer solutions and new opportunities for advancing the state of the art. The needs are clearly related to the scientific problems. Special attention is given to the synergistic benefits of simultaneous observations because of the interdependence of the remotely sensed parameters and the problem areas to which they are directed. Emphasis is also given to the adaptation of spaceborne remote sensing to aircraft platforms and vise versa. The problem areas covered are (1) directional ocean wave spectra. (2) ocean surface winds, (3) ocean circulation, (4) sea ice, (5) a subset of atmospheric measurements, and (6) air-sea interaction.