Landsat: A global land-observing program

Fact Sheet 2005-3130
By:

Links

  • More information: USGS Index Page (html)
  • Document: Report (pdf)
  • Superseding Publications:
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Landsat represents the world’s longest continuously acquired collection of space-based land remote sensing data. The Landsat Project is a joint initiative of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) designed to gather Earth resource data from space. NASA developed and launched the spacecrafts, while the USGS handles the operations, maintenance, and management of all ground data reception, processing, archiving, product generation, and distribution.

Landsat satellites have been collecting images of the Earth’s surface for more than thirty years. Landsat’s Global Survey Mission is to repeatedly capture images of the Earth’s land mass, coastal boundaries, and coral reefs, and to ensure that sufficient data are acquired to support the observation of changes on the Earth’s land surface and surrounding environment. NASA launched the first Landsat satellite in 1972, and the most recent one, Landsat 7, in 1999. Landsats 5 and 7 continue to capture hundreds of additional images of the Earth’s surface each day. These images provide a valuable resource for people who work

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Landsat: A global land-observing program
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2005-3130
DOI 10.3133/fs20053130
Edition Supersedes FS 023-03
Year Published 2005
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Description 4 p.
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details