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Landsat 8 Overview

April 20, 2022

Learn more about Landsat 8.

See first light images, significant events, and unique science.

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Landsat 8 was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California on February 11, 2013. The satellite carries the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) instruments.

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Related Content

  • Multimedia
    Enhanced Landsat 8 Image of Western Australia
    link
  • Publications

    Users and uses of Landsat 8 satellite imagery—2014 survey results

    Executive Summary In 2013, Landsat 8 began adding high quality, global, moderate-resolution imagery to the more than 40-year archive of Landsat imagery. To assess the potential effects of the availability of Landsat 8 imagery on users and their work, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Land Remote Sensing Program (LRS) initiated a survey of Landsat users. The objectives of the survey were to  1. Cha
    Authors
    Holly M. Miller
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

    Landsat: Sustaining earth observations beyond Landsat 8

    The Landsat series of Earth-observing satellites began 41-years ago as a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) of the Department of the Interior (DOI) and The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For the past 41 years, Landsat satellites and associated U.S. Government ground processing, distribution, and archiving systems have acquired and made available global, mo
    Authors
    Francis P. Kelly, Thomas M. Holm
    By
    Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

    Landsat Science Team meeting — First Landsat 8 evaluations

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)-NASA Landsat Science Team (LST) met at the USGS’ Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD, from October 29-31, 2013. All meeting presentations can be downloaded from landsat.usgs.gov/science_LST_October_29_31_2013.php.
    Authors
    Thomas R. Loveland, Michael A. Wulder, James R. Irons
    By
    Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

    Landsat 8

    The Landsat era that began in 1972 will continue into the future, since the February 2013 launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (renamed Landsat 8 on May 30, 2013). The Landsat 8 satellite provides 16-bit high-quality land-surface data, with instruments advancing future measurement capabilities while ensuring compatibility with historical Landsat data. The Operational Land Imager sensor co
    Authors
    By
    Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Landsat Missions
  • News
    link

    Landsat 8 Celebrates First Year of Success

    One year ago, on February 11, 2013, NASA launched the Landsat 8 Earth-observing satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California.
    Read Article