This chart shows the number of commercial and government/civil satellites launched each year since 1972. This information is updated quarterly.
Visit the Earth Observing Satellites webpage to learn more.
Multimedia
Images
Number of Commercial, Government-Civil Satellites Launched
This chart shows the number of commercial and government/civil satellites launched each year since 1972. This information is updated quarterly.
Visit the Earth Observing Satellites webpage to learn more.
Countries with Earth Observing Satellites
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.
Visit the Earth Observing Satellites webpage to learn more.
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.
Visit the Earth Observing Satellites webpage to learn more.
Spatial Resolution Digital Imagery Guideline
This Spatial Resolution Digital Imagery Guideline was developed by Innovative and Imaging Research (I2R) for the USGS. This guide demonstrates how certain image specification parameters affect spatial resolution.
This Spatial Resolution Digital Imagery Guideline was developed by Innovative and Imaging Research (I2R) for the USGS. This guide demonstrates how certain image specification parameters affect spatial resolution.
Landsat Ground Station Operators Working Group 52 Meeting Attendees
The attendees of the Landsat Ground Station Operators Working Group (LGSOWG) #52 meeting in Canberra, Australia in November 2024.
Visit this USGS webpage to learn more about LGSOWG #52.
The attendees of the Landsat Ground Station Operators Working Group (LGSOWG) #52 meeting in Canberra, Australia in November 2024.
Visit this USGS webpage to learn more about LGSOWG #52.
JACIE 2025 Workshop deadlines
The JACIE 2025 Workshop will be held April 7-11, 2025 at USGS Headquarters in Reston, Virginia. This graphic displays the deadlines for the workshop components.
Visit the JACIE 2025 Workshop webpage to learn more about the workshop.
The JACIE 2025 Workshop will be held April 7-11, 2025 at USGS Headquarters in Reston, Virginia. This graphic displays the deadlines for the workshop components.
Visit the JACIE 2025 Workshop webpage to learn more about the workshop.
JACIE 2025 Workshop Save the Date
JACIE 2025 will be held April 7 - 11, 2025 at USGS Headquarters in Reston, Virginia.
Annual JACIE Workshops are sponsored by government agencies and allow remote sensing experts to discuss system capabilities, calibration, and the impacts of data quality on various applications.
Highlights of JACIE Workshops include:
JACIE 2025 will be held April 7 - 11, 2025 at USGS Headquarters in Reston, Virginia.
Annual JACIE Workshops are sponsored by government agencies and allow remote sensing experts to discuss system capabilities, calibration, and the impacts of data quality on various applications.
Highlights of JACIE Workshops include:
Videos
Watering the Sahara
In a remote part of the Sahara Desert in Egypt, center pivot irrigation fields fill the landscape. Thanks to the Landsat archive, we can see how dramatically this area has changed over the last 35 years. But until the growth in irrigation, this part of the world hadn't changed much from a satellite's perspective.
In a remote part of the Sahara Desert in Egypt, center pivot irrigation fields fill the landscape. Thanks to the Landsat archive, we can see how dramatically this area has changed over the last 35 years. But until the growth in irrigation, this part of the world hadn't changed much from a satellite's perspective.
Landsat's Calibration and Validation
Engineers and scientists from both Landsat and Sentinel missions are working together to calibrate observation data and validate its quality to improve the science using these resources.
Engineers and scientists from both Landsat and Sentinel missions are working together to calibrate observation data and validate its quality to improve the science using these resources.
Every Pixel - Landsat's Sensors
On board Landsat 8 are two sensors that capture data about earth's surface. Here is an explanation of the instruments that capture every pixel.
On board Landsat 8 are two sensors that capture data about earth's surface. Here is an explanation of the instruments that capture every pixel.
Every Pixel - Processing Data
Once the ground stations receive data from Landsat, there's still a lot of processing to make every pixel usable. Here's an overview of some of that work.
Once the ground stations receive data from Landsat, there's still a lot of processing to make every pixel usable. Here's an overview of some of that work.
Audio
Eyes on Earth Episode 74 – A Satellite Cross Calibration Mission
When the first Landsat satellite launched 50 years ago, it was the only game in town in terms of civilian land remote sensing. In the years that followed, a host of satellites have launched to serve similar purposes. But that data doesn't always play well together.
When the first Landsat satellite launched 50 years ago, it was the only game in town in terms of civilian land remote sensing. In the years that followed, a host of satellites have launched to serve similar purposes. But that data doesn't always play well together.
Eyes on Earth Episode 32 - Lunar Calibration
Calibration teams at the USGS EROS Center use a variety of methods to make sure the data collected by Landsat satellites are an accurate representation of the Earth’s surface.
Calibration teams at the USGS EROS Center use a variety of methods to make sure the data collected by Landsat satellites are an accurate representation of the Earth’s surface.
Eyes on Earth Episode 4 - Cataloging Earth Observation Satellites
Earth observation used to be the province of a handful of countries with satellite technology. Today, hundreds of satellites built all over the world are launched every year. This episode of Eyes on Earth talks about the explosive growth in the civilian and commercial remote sensing and EROS’ role in it.
Earth observation used to be the province of a handful of countries with satellite technology. Today, hundreds of satellites built all over the world are launched every year. This episode of Eyes on Earth talks about the explosive growth in the civilian and commercial remote sensing and EROS’ role in it.