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SMAP Landsat 8 Aqua OCO-2
SMAP Landsat 8 Aqua OCO-2

Recent Imagery

You will be directed to the NASA Visible Earth webpage when you select Images by Mission below, or click on the images at right that are randomly generated to represent four out of all possible topics.

Images by Mission
ADEOS Aqua Aquarius Aura CALIPSO CloudSat EO-1 GOES 13-15 GRACE ICESat Jason-1 Landsat 7 Landsat 8 OSTM/Jason-2 QuikSCAT Seasat 1 SeaWinds SORCE Suomi NPP Terra TOPEX TOMS-EP TRMM

CubeSats and Their Roles in NASA’s Earth Science Investigations

Our feature article in the Nov-Dec 2020 issue of The Earth Observer focuses on how researchers and technologists worldwide are turning their attention to CubeSats and other “small satellites” as a means of getting the most bang for the research buck. A subclass of nanosatellites with remarkable capabilities given their small size, NASA and other space agencies are increasingly supporting observations from CubeSats, which are a subclass of nanosatellites with remarkable capabilities given their small size and are flown largely as piggy-back payloads of opportunity. CubeSats are already making contributions to terrestrial remote sensing—and to space science as well—having platforms that include the basic functional satellite modules as well as sensors that provide data comparable to and/or supportive of measurements from larger platforms. Turn to page 5 of this issue to learn more.

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Flying in the “Gap” Between Earth and Space: NASA’s Airborne Science Program

The feature article in the September-October issue of The Earth Observer focuses on the NASA ESD’s Airborne Science Program (ASP), which is a critical component of the division effort—flying in the “gap” between satellite and ground-based observations. Airborne Earth science goes back to the 1960s, when NASA retrofitted passenger and military aircraft with equipment that enabled collecting in situ and remote sensing data for the full range of Earth science disciplines. In addition to acquiring unique datasets, aircraft campaigns play a major role in supporting satellite missions through calibration (i.e., measurements) and validation (i.e., retrieved geophysical products) activities as well as providing a testbed for future satellite remote sensing instruments. Please turn to page 4 of this issue to read a comprehensive report on the ASP.

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2020 Sun–Climate Symposium

Observations of the Sun and Earth from space have revolutionized our view and understanding of how solar variability and other natural and anthropogenic forcings impact Earth’s atmosphere and climate. For more than four decades, the total and spectral solar irradiance and global terrestrial atmosphere and surface have been observed continuously, providing an unprecedented, high-quality time series of data for Sun–climate studies. To learn more, see page 4 of the July-August issue of The Earth Observer. 

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Earth Day at Home with NASA

Earth Day celebrated its fiftieth anniversary during an unprecedented time in history as the human race fights back against the global spread of a new, or novel, coronavirus—COVID-19. With Earth Day on the horizon and many NASA personnel continuing to do their jobs remotely, the agency had to think quickly about how to participate in the usual Earth Day celebrations around the globe. In the May-June 2020 issue of The Earth Observer, learn how NASA made the decision to shift its celebration from its traditional in-person event with a variety of hands-on activities to engage the public, to one that could be carried out online, encouraging its web and social media followers to collectively appreciate the wondrous beauty of our planet and the extraordinary science that helps us understand how it all works— from the safety of home.

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Symposium on Earth Science and Applications from Space with Special Guest Michael Freilich

In January 2020, a Symposium on Earth Science and Applications from Space with Special Guest Michael Freilich took place at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. The event was organized to pay tribute to the career of Michael Freilich who was director of the Earth Science Division at NASA HQ from 2006–2019, capping off a long and distinguished career in ocean research that spanned nearly 40 years. During his career, Freilich was also a mentor for many other scientists and scientific leaders, many of whom attended the Symposium. We are delighted to refer you to the lead article in the March-April issue of The Earth Observer that provides a detailed summary of the symposium. 

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NASA's Earth Observing System Project Science Office

NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans. As a major component of the Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, EOS enables an improved understanding of the Earth as an integrated system. The EOS Project Science Office (EOSPSO) is committed to bringing program information and resources to the Earth science research community and the general public alike.

Download ChartEarth Science Mission Profiles

This website has been designed to cover not just the original Earth Observing System (EOS) missions, but also all of NASA’s Earth-observing satellite missions (many of them joint with other nations and/or agencies), along with other elements of NASA’s Earth Science program. The EOSPSO is funded through the Earth Science Division of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.

NASA Earth Science Division Operating Missions

Updated: October 10, 2019

 
  • ACRIMSAT
    Launch: Dec 20 1999
    Altitude:
    720km
    Inclination:
    98.10°
    Local Node:
    10:00 a.m.
  • ADEOS
    Launch: Aug 17 1996
    Altitude:
    803km
    Inclination:
    98.60°
    Local Node:
    10:15 a.m.
  • ATS
    Launch: Dec 7 1966
  • Aquarius (NASA/Argentina )
    Launch: Jun 10 2011
    Altitude:
    657km
    Inclination:
    98.00°
    Local Node:
    6:00 a.m.
  • ATLAS-1
    Launch: Mar 24 1992
  • CHAMP
    Launch: Jul 15 2000
  • CATS on ISS (NASA)
    Launch: Jan 10 2015
    Altitude:
    420km
    Inclination:
    51.65°
  • CRRES
    Launch: Jul 25 1990
  • DE 1
    Launch: Aug 3 1981
  • DE 2
    Launch: Aug 3 1981
  • EO-1
    Launch: Nov 21 2000
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    10:01 a.m.
  • ERBS
    Launch: Oct 5 1984
  • ESSA
    Launch: Feb 3 1966
  • ERS-1 (ESA)
    Launch: Jul 17 1991
  • GEOSAT
    Launch: Mar 12 1985
  • GOES A-C
    Launch: Oct 16 1975
  • GOES D-H
    Launch: Sep 9 1980
  • GOES I-M
    Launch: Apr 13 1994
  • GRACE (Joint with Germany)
    Launch: Mar 17 2002
    Altitude:
    485km
    Inclination:
    89.00°
  • ICESat
    Launch: Jan 12 2003
    Altitude:
    600km
    Inclination:
    94.00°
  • ISS-RapidScat (NASA)
    Launch: Sep 21 2014
    Altitude:
    420km
    Inclination:
    51.65°
  • Jason-1 (Joint with France)
    Launch: Dec 7 2001
    Altitude:
    1,336km
    Inclination:
    66.00°
  • MOS-1
    Launch: Feb 19 1987
  • MOMS
    Launch: Jun 18 1983
  • Nimbus 1
    Launch: Aug 28 1964
  • Nimbus 2
    Launch: May 15 1966
  • Nimbus 3
    Launch: Apr 14 1969
  • Nimbus 4
    Launch: Apr 8 1970
  • Nimbus 5
    Launch: Dec 11 1972
  • Nimbus 6
    Launch: Jun 12 1975
  • Nimbus 7
    Launch: Oct 24 1978
  • NOAA-POES
    Launch: Mar 28 1993
  • OSTM/Jason-2 (Joint with NOAA, CNES, and EUMETSAT)
    Launch: Jan 20 2008
    Altitude:
    1,336km
    Inclination:
    66.00°
  • PARASOL (France)
    Launch: Dec 4 2004
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.00°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • QuikSCAT
    Launch: Jun 19 1999
    Altitude:
    803km
    Inclination:
    98.60°
    Local Node:
    10:15 a.m.
  • RADARSAT (Joint with Canada)
    Launch: Nov 4 1995
  • SeaWiFS
    Launch: Aug 1 1997
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    12:00 noon
  • Seasat 1
    Launch: Jun 28 1978
  • SeaWinds (Joint with Japan and France)
    Launch: Dec 14 2002
    Altitude:
    803km
    Inclination:
    98.60°
  • SRTM (Joint with NGA, Germany, and Italy)
    Launch: Feb 11 2000
  • SIR-C (Joint with Germany and Italy)
    Launch: Apr 19 1994
  • SAGE-III
    Launch: Dec 10 2001
    Altitude:
    1,020km
    Inclination:
    99.50°
    Local Node:
    9:30 a.m.
  • SMS
    Launch: May 17 1974
  • TIROS (NASA)
    Launch: Apr 1 1960
  • TOPEX
    Launch: Aug 10 1992
  • TOMS-EP
    Launch: Jul 2 1996
  • TRMM (Joint with Japan)
    Launch: Nov 27 1997
    Altitude:
    402km
    Inclination:
    35.00°
  • UARS
    Launch: Sep 12 1991
    Altitude:
    585km
    Inclination:
    57.00°
  • Aqua (Joint with Japan and Brazil)
    Launch: May 4 2002
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • Aura (Joint with Netherlands, Finland, and the U.K.)
    Launch: Jul 15 2004
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    1:45 p.m.
  • CALIPSO
    Launch: Apr 28 2006
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • CloudSat (Joint with Canada)
    Launch: Apr 28 2006
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • CYGNSS (NASA)
    Launch: Dec 15 2016
    Altitude:
    510km
    Inclination:
    35.00°
  • DSCOVR (NOAA)
    Launch: Feb 11 2015
  • ECOSTRESS (NASA)
    Launch: Jun 29 2018
    Altitude:
    400km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • GOES-16 (NASA/NOAA)
    Launch: Nov 19 2016
    Altitude:
    35,800km
  • GOES 13-15
    Launch: May 24 2005
  • GEDI on ISS (NASA)
    Launch: Dec 5 2018
    Altitude:
    400km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • GPM Core
    Launch: Feb 27 2014
    Altitude:
    407km
    Inclination:
    65.00°
  • GRACE-FO (NASA, German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ))
    Launch: May 22 2018
    Altitude:
    490km
    Inclination:
    89.00°
  • ICESat-2
    Launch: Sep 15 2018
    Altitude:
    481km
    Inclination:
    92.00°
  • Jason-3 (Joint with NOAA, CNES, and EUMETSAT)
    Launch: Jan 17 2016
    Altitude:
    1,336km
    Inclination:
    66.00°
  • JPSS-1
    Launch: Nov 18 2017
    Altitude:
    833km
    Inclination:
    98.70°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • Landsat 7 (Joint with USGS)
    Launch: Apr 15 1999
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    10:05 a.m.
  • Landsat 8
    Launch: Feb 11 2013
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    10:30 a.m.
  • LIS on ISS (NASA)
    Launch: Feb 19 2017
    Altitude:
    420km
    Inclination:
    51.65°
  • NOAA-N
    Launch: May 20 2005
  • OCO-2 (NASA)
    Launch: Jul 2 2014
    Altitude:
    705km
    Inclination:
    98.20°
    Local Node:
    1:15 p.m.
  • ISS-OCO-3 (NASA)
    Launch: May 4 2019
    Altitude:
    400km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (ESA/CNES/COM/EUMETSAT/NASA/NOAA)
    Launch: Nov 21 2020
    Altitude:
    1,366km
    Inclination:
    66.00°
  • SMAP
    Launch: Jan 31 2015
    Altitude:
    685km
    Inclination:
    98.00°
    Local Node:
    6:00 a.m.
  • SORCE
    Launch: Jan 25 2003
    Altitude:
    640km
    Inclination:
    40.00°
  • SAGE III-ISS (NASA, ESA)
    Launch: Feb 19 2017
    Altitude:
    350km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • Suomi NPP
    Launch: Oct 28 2011
    Altitude:
    824km
    Inclination:
    97.10°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • Terra
    Launch: Dec 18 1999
    Altitude:
    720km
    Inclination:
    98.10°
    Local Node:
    10:40 a.m.
  • GCOM-W1 (JAXA)
    Launch: May 18 2012
    Altitude:
    700km
    Inclination:
    98.00°
  • TSIS-1
    Launch: Dec 15 2017
    Altitude:
    415km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • Sentinel-6B
    Launch: 2025
    Altitude:
    1,336km
    Inclination:
    66.00°
  • CLARREO Path. (NASA)
    Launch: 2020
    Altitude:
    400km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • EMIT on ISS (NASA)
    Launch: 2022
    Altitude:
    400km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • GeoCarb (NASA)
    Launch: 2022
    Altitude:
    35,400km
  • GLIMR
    Launch: 2026
  • JPSS-2
    Launch: 2021
    Altitude:
    833km
    Inclination:
    98.70°
    Local Node:
    1:30 p.m.
  • JPSS-3
    Launch: 2027
    Altitude:
    833km
    Inclination:
    98.70°
  • JPSS-4
    Altitude:
    833km
    Inclination:
    98.70°
  • Landsat 9 (NASA/USGS)
    Launch: 2021
  • MAIA (NASA)
    Launch: 2021
  • NI-SAR (NASA, ISRO)
    Launch: 2022
    Altitude:
    747km
    Inclination:
    98.00°
  • PACE (NASA)
    Launch: 2024
  • PREFIRE (NASA)
    Launch: 2021
    Altitude:
    470km
    Inclination:
    82.00°
  • SWOT (Joint with France)
    Launch: 2022
  • TROPICS (NASA)
    Launch: 2022
    Altitude:
    600km
    Inclination:
    30.00°
  • TSIS-2 (NASA)
    Launch: 2023
    Altitude:
    415km
    Inclination:
    51.60°
  • TEMPO (NASA)
    Launch: 2022
    Altitude:
    35,786km
    Inclination:
    0.00°
• Completed Missions • Current Missions • Future Missions