Landsat missions span for more than half a century starting from 1972. In this first episode of the four part mini series we explore how the project got started and what sorts of challenges were faced during the initial design of this legendary Earth observing instrument. The episode introduces people including William Pecora, Stewart Udall and Virginia Norwood who were pivotal in realization of Landsat 1. The Landsat Program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The most recent satellite in the series Landsat 9 has been launched in orbit on September 27, 2021 and is now operational.
The early designs of Landsat satellite sensors could only operate within visible light range. More recent Landsat designs, including Landsat 9, have two advanced sensors: the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS). These sensors can collect data at near-infrared, shortwave-infrared, and thermal infrared wavelengths. By comparing observations of different wavelengths, scientists can identify algal blooms, storm damage, fire burn scars, the health of plants, and more.
Since 2008, the entire Landsat archive is freely available to all.
Landsat 9: part 1, Getting Off The Ground
Landsat 9: part 2, Designing For The Future
Landsat 9, part 3: More Than Just A Pretty Picture
Landsat 9, part 4: Plays Well With Others
1 Comment