Overview
The Landsat programme is a joint USGS/NASA initiative that has been continuously imaging Earth's land surfaces since 1972 — making it the longest-running satellite Earth observation programme in history. The Landsat archive contains over 50 years of imagery, forming an irreplaceable record of global land change.
Current Missions
| Satellite | Launched | Orbit | Resolution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landsat 8 | Feb 2013 | 705 km SSO | 15–100 m | Operational |
| Landsat 9 | Sep 2021 | 705 km SSO | 15–100 m | Operational |
Together, Landsat 8 and 9 image the entire Earth every 8 days with a combined 16-day repeat cycle per satellite.
Impact
Landsat data is used worldwide for deforestation monitoring, urban growth tracking, agricultural assessment, water resource management, and disaster response. Since 2008, the entire Landsat archive has been freely available — a decision that revolutionised remote sensing by making satellite imagery accessible to researchers, governments, and the public.
Future
Landsat Next, the successor mission, is in development. It will carry a more advanced imaging sensor with higher spectral and spatial resolution while maintaining continuity with the 50+ year Landsat archive. Launch is planned for the late 2020s.