USGS EROS Archive - Landsat Archives - Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner Collection 2 Level-1 Data
Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) Collection 2 Level-1 80-meter multispectral data. Delivered data processed to 60-meter pixel size. (1972-1992)
Dataset Citation
Please cite this dataset in the following manner:
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. (2020). Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner Level-1, Collection 2 [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AF14YV
The Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) sensor was carried onboard Landsat 1 through Landsat 5 and acquired images of the Earth nearly continuously from July 1972 to October 1992. In June 2012, the MSS sensor was powered back on to see if data could be acquired, and the sensor collected nearly 20,000 scenes until January 2013.
Landsats 1, 2 and 3 had an 18-day revisit cycle on the Worldwide Reference System-1. Landsats 4 and 5 maintained a 16-day revisit cycle, and followed the Worldwide Reference System-2.
In early 1980, the MSS experienced an anomaly where the sensor had trouble properly synchronizing scan lines at the beginning of each new line, resulting in data gaps or inconsistencies at the start of each image. This affects about 1/3 of each Landsat 3 MSS image. Visit this page to learn more about the affects of this anomaly.
Standard Processing Parameters
All Landsat 1-5 MSS Collection 2 Level-1 data are processed through the Landsat Product Generation System (LPGS) with the following parameters applied:
| Parameter | |
| Pixel Size | 60 meters Reflective bands 4-7 (Landsat 1-3) and bands 1-4 (Landsat 4-5) |
| Output Format | Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG) |
| Resampling Method | cubic convolution (CC) |
| Map Projection | UTM – WGS 84 Polar Stereographic for the continent of Antarctica. |
| Image Orientation | Map (North Up) |
| Distribution | HTTPS Download Only |
| Delivery Time | Immediate download |
While many Landsat MSS scenes are processed to full Terrain Precision Correction (L1TP), some scenes do not have the ground control or elevation data necessary to perform these corrections. In these cases, the best level of correction is applied. (See Landsat Processing Details for details on correction levels.)
Specific terrain precision corrected scenes are available for most of the globe under the Global Land Surveys (GLS) collections of 1975, 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010. These datasets can be found on EarthExplorer or the USGS Global Visualization Viewer (GloVis).
Landsat 1-5 MSS Collection-2 Level-1 Data
Landsat Tiers are the inventory structure for Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 data and are based on data quality and level of processing. All scenes in the Landsat archive are assigned to a Collection category. The purpose of Collection categories is to support rapid and easy identification of suitable scenes for time-series pixel level analysis. These data have well-characterized radiometric quality and are cross-calibrated among the different Landsat sensors.
Collection 2 Categories
- Tier 1 (T1) - Contains the highest quality Level-1 Terrain Precision (L1TP) data considered sutable for time-series analysis. The georegistration is consistent and within prescribed tolerances [<12m root mean square error (RMSE)].
- Tier 2 (T2) - Contains L1TP scenes not meeting Tier 1 criteria and all Systematic Terrain (L1GT) and Geometric Systematic (L1GS) scenes. Users interested in Tier 2 scenes can evalutate the RMSE and other properties to determine suitability for use in their applications and studies.
The Landsat Collections page contains additional information about changes applied to Landsat Level-1 data for Collection 2.
Additional Information
- Landsat Collection 2
- Landsat FAQs
- Technical Information (Including calibration and definitive ephemeris files)
- Project Documentation
- USGS Landsat - Earth Observations Satellite Fact Sheet
Access Data
Landsat 1-5 MSS Collection 2 Level-1 scenes held in the USGS archive can be searched using EarthExplorer or GloVis. On EarthExplorer, Collection 2 Landsat 1 - 5 MSS scenes can be found under the Landsat menu in the “Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 ” section, in the “Landsat 1-5 MSS C2 L1” dataset.
Some Landsat 1 - 5 MSS scenes acquired outside of the United States were collected and archived at International Ground Stations. The Landsat Global Archive Consolidation (LGAC) effort has brought copies of MSS data back to the USGS archive.
Data Citation History
The preferred citation for this dataset was revised in 2024 to improve accuracy and alignment with USGS Fundamental Science Practices. The dataset digital object identifier (DOI) and version did not change.
Please cite this dataset in the following manner:
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. (2020). Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner Level-1, Collection 2 [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AF14YV
The previously used citation shown below is provided here for historical reference only:
Earth Resources Observation And Science (EROS) Center. (2020). Collection-2 Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) Level-1 Data Products [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AF14YV
Below are other science products associated with this product.
USGS EROS Archive - Landsat Archives - Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus Collection 2 Level-1 Data
USGS EROS Archive - Landsat Archives - Landsat 8-9 Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor Collection 2 Level-1 Data
USGS EROS Archive - Landsat Archives - Landsat 4-5 Thematic Mapper Collection 2 Level-1 Data
Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) Collection 2 Level-1 80-meter multispectral data. Delivered data processed to 60-meter pixel size. (1972-1992)
Dataset Citation
Please cite this dataset in the following manner:
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. (2020). Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner Level-1, Collection 2 [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AF14YV
The Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) sensor was carried onboard Landsat 1 through Landsat 5 and acquired images of the Earth nearly continuously from July 1972 to October 1992. In June 2012, the MSS sensor was powered back on to see if data could be acquired, and the sensor collected nearly 20,000 scenes until January 2013.
Landsats 1, 2 and 3 had an 18-day revisit cycle on the Worldwide Reference System-1. Landsats 4 and 5 maintained a 16-day revisit cycle, and followed the Worldwide Reference System-2.
In early 1980, the MSS experienced an anomaly where the sensor had trouble properly synchronizing scan lines at the beginning of each new line, resulting in data gaps or inconsistencies at the start of each image. This affects about 1/3 of each Landsat 3 MSS image. Visit this page to learn more about the affects of this anomaly.
Standard Processing Parameters
All Landsat 1-5 MSS Collection 2 Level-1 data are processed through the Landsat Product Generation System (LPGS) with the following parameters applied:
| Parameter | |
| Pixel Size | 60 meters Reflective bands 4-7 (Landsat 1-3) and bands 1-4 (Landsat 4-5) |
| Output Format | Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG) |
| Resampling Method | cubic convolution (CC) |
| Map Projection | UTM – WGS 84 Polar Stereographic for the continent of Antarctica. |
| Image Orientation | Map (North Up) |
| Distribution | HTTPS Download Only |
| Delivery Time | Immediate download |
While many Landsat MSS scenes are processed to full Terrain Precision Correction (L1TP), some scenes do not have the ground control or elevation data necessary to perform these corrections. In these cases, the best level of correction is applied. (See Landsat Processing Details for details on correction levels.)
Specific terrain precision corrected scenes are available for most of the globe under the Global Land Surveys (GLS) collections of 1975, 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010. These datasets can be found on EarthExplorer or the USGS Global Visualization Viewer (GloVis).
Landsat 1-5 MSS Collection-2 Level-1 Data
Landsat Tiers are the inventory structure for Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 data and are based on data quality and level of processing. All scenes in the Landsat archive are assigned to a Collection category. The purpose of Collection categories is to support rapid and easy identification of suitable scenes for time-series pixel level analysis. These data have well-characterized radiometric quality and are cross-calibrated among the different Landsat sensors.
Collection 2 Categories
- Tier 1 (T1) - Contains the highest quality Level-1 Terrain Precision (L1TP) data considered sutable for time-series analysis. The georegistration is consistent and within prescribed tolerances [<12m root mean square error (RMSE)].
- Tier 2 (T2) - Contains L1TP scenes not meeting Tier 1 criteria and all Systematic Terrain (L1GT) and Geometric Systematic (L1GS) scenes. Users interested in Tier 2 scenes can evalutate the RMSE and other properties to determine suitability for use in their applications and studies.
The Landsat Collections page contains additional information about changes applied to Landsat Level-1 data for Collection 2.
Additional Information
- Landsat Collection 2
- Landsat FAQs
- Technical Information (Including calibration and definitive ephemeris files)
- Project Documentation
- USGS Landsat - Earth Observations Satellite Fact Sheet
Access Data
Landsat 1-5 MSS Collection 2 Level-1 scenes held in the USGS archive can be searched using EarthExplorer or GloVis. On EarthExplorer, Collection 2 Landsat 1 - 5 MSS scenes can be found under the Landsat menu in the “Landsat Collection 2 Level-1 ” section, in the “Landsat 1-5 MSS C2 L1” dataset.
Some Landsat 1 - 5 MSS scenes acquired outside of the United States were collected and archived at International Ground Stations. The Landsat Global Archive Consolidation (LGAC) effort has brought copies of MSS data back to the USGS archive.
Data Citation History
The preferred citation for this dataset was revised in 2024 to improve accuracy and alignment with USGS Fundamental Science Practices. The dataset digital object identifier (DOI) and version did not change.
Please cite this dataset in the following manner:
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. (2020). Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner Level-1, Collection 2 [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AF14YV
The previously used citation shown below is provided here for historical reference only:
Earth Resources Observation And Science (EROS) Center. (2020). Collection-2 Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner (MSS) Level-1 Data Products [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AF14YV
Below are other science products associated with this product.