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Timeline of the Landsat program, beginning with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. Landsat 10 is expected to launch in 2031. As the tenth Landsat mission, it will continue the legacy of the Landsat program.
Visit the Landsat Missions webpage to learn more.
Timeline of the Landsat program, beginning with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. Landsat 10 is expected to launch in 2031. As the tenth Landsat mission, it will continue the legacy of the Landsat program.
Visit the Landsat Missions webpage to learn more.
This image shows the spectral bandpasses for the sensors on all Landsat satellites.
This image shows the spectral bandpasses for the sensors on all Landsat satellites.
A new Worldwide Reference System, WRS-3, was developed for Landsat 10 due to the change in orbital parameters. The WRS-3 will provide a method to acquire, index, and catalog Landsat 10 scenes.
A new Worldwide Reference System, WRS-3, was developed for Landsat 10 due to the change in orbital parameters. The WRS-3 will provide a method to acquire, index, and catalog Landsat 10 scenes.
In a September 21, 1966 press release, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall announced that the DOI was launching "Project EROS (Earth Resources Observation Satellites)." Udall's vision was to observe the Earth for the benefit of all.
In a September 21, 1966 press release, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall announced that the DOI was launching "Project EROS (Earth Resources Observation Satellites)." Udall's vision was to observe the Earth for the benefit of all.
The 2026-2030 Landsat Science Team met for their first in-person meeting May 5-7, 2026 at the USGS EROS Center.
The 2026-2030 Landsat Science Team met for their first in-person meeting May 5-7, 2026 at the USGS EROS Center.
The numbers on this map indicate the number of commercial and government/civil Earth observing satellites launched by the highlighted countries. This image is updated quarterly.
The numbers on this map indicate the number of commercial and government/civil Earth observing satellites launched by the highlighted countries. This image is updated quarterly.
This video is a demonstration of the EVA Tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar. To watch the full webinar please visit: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/visualizing-land-cover-mrlc-tools.
This video is a demonstration of the EVA Tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar. To watch the full webinar please visit: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/visualizing-land-cover-mrlc-tools.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Landsat Special Requests: Expanding Acquisition Capabilities”. This webinar was recorded on April 16, 2026.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Landsat Special Requests: Expanding Acquisition Capabilities”. This webinar was recorded on April 16, 2026.
Can you guess the locations of these mystery Landsat images?
Landsat satellites capture images of the Earth’s surface and help scientists study resource management, investigate land surface change, and support disaster response.
Can you guess the locations of these mystery Landsat images?
Landsat satellites capture images of the Earth’s surface and help scientists study resource management, investigate land surface change, and support disaster response.
This video is a demonstration of the MRLC National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Viewer tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar.
This video is a demonstration of the MRLC National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Viewer tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Visualizing Land Cover with MRLC Tools”. This webinar was recorded on January 20, 2026.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Visualizing Land Cover with MRLC Tools”. This webinar was recorded on January 20, 2026.
In May 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) collected uncrewed aircraft system (UAS, also known as drone) data to support a collaborative field campaign led by Sasha Reed of the Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) and Miguel Villarreal of the Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC) near Moab, Utah.
In May 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Uncrewed Systems Office (NUSO) collected uncrewed aircraft system (UAS, also known as drone) data to support a collaborative field campaign led by Sasha Reed of the Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) and Miguel Villarreal of the Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC) near Moab, Utah.
The Yellowstone National Park area has more than 10,000 thermal features. And while Old Faithful is a pretty predictable geyser, some thermal features can change quite a bit. New ones can even pop up! Remote sensing provides a tool for monitoring them—especially the thermal infrared sensors (TIRS) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites.
The Yellowstone National Park area has more than 10,000 thermal features. And while Old Faithful is a pretty predictable geyser, some thermal features can change quite a bit. New ones can even pop up! Remote sensing provides a tool for monitoring them—especially the thermal infrared sensors (TIRS) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites.
Landsat has been accurate and reliable for over 50 years because of the diligent calibration and validation work done by the team at EROS. One of the ways the team validates what they have so carefully calibrated is to take measurements on the ground while Landsat passes by overhead.
Landsat has been accurate and reliable for over 50 years because of the diligent calibration and validation work done by the team at EROS. One of the ways the team validates what they have so carefully calibrated is to take measurements on the ground while Landsat passes by overhead.
Exotic annual grasses, or EAGs, are invasive species. They outcompete native grasses. They are extremely flammable. And they are expanding into higher elevations. Targeted sheep grazing is one way to combat these invasive grasses, manage fire risk, and help restore native sagebrush in western states.
Exotic annual grasses, or EAGs, are invasive species. They outcompete native grasses. They are extremely flammable. And they are expanding into higher elevations. Targeted sheep grazing is one way to combat these invasive grasses, manage fire risk, and help restore native sagebrush in western states.
Landsat is the longest-running, continuously operating record of Earth observations, and it’s the gold standard reference point that other civil and commercial satellite programs trust.
Landsat is the longest-running, continuously operating record of Earth observations, and it’s the gold standard reference point that other civil and commercial satellite programs trust.
Declassified spy satellite imagery, distributed by the USGS EROS Center, is finding fascinating uses since being made available to the public starting in the 1990s.
Declassified spy satellite imagery, distributed by the USGS EROS Center, is finding fascinating uses since being made available to the public starting in the 1990s.
Eyes on Earth tackles artificial intelligence (AI) in a 2-part episode. AI is quickly becoming a necessary part of geospatial work at EROS, helping us efficiently do science to better manage our world. In Part 1, we talked about AI’s current and upcoming impact on our work at EROS and clarified some of the AI jargon.
Eyes on Earth tackles artificial intelligence (AI) in a 2-part episode. AI is quickly becoming a necessary part of geospatial work at EROS, helping us efficiently do science to better manage our world. In Part 1, we talked about AI’s current and upcoming impact on our work at EROS and clarified some of the AI jargon.
