Technical Abstract: Remote sensing in the optical spectrum has potential to detect plant manifestations of both transient and chronic crop water stress. Crop water status and evaporation rate have been directly related to thermal indices, such as crop water stress index (CWSI), water deficit index (WDI) and thermal kinetic window (TKW) index. Measurements of surface reflectance in narrow visible and near-infrared wavelengths have potential for monitoring crop photosynthesis and fluorescence. Surface reflectances in wide bands of the visible, near-IR and short-wave IR spectrum have been used to detect plant manifestations of chronic crop water stress, such as phenologic adaptations and leaf expansion and loss. To apply these approaches with satellite-based sensors for farm-scale irrigation scheduling and crop management, there are still needs for improved sensor design, timely image delivery, and reduced image cost