National Aeronautics and Space Administration

ERBS

‘The Earth Radiation Budget Satelite
investigated the Sun-Earth connection and
was instrumental in determining how
‘natural and human activities affect the
planet's radiation balance and ozone layer.

60 Years of Earth Observations

OSTA-1

The first Space Shuttle scientific payload, Office of
‘Space and Terrestrial Applications 1, performed
remote sensing of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans
and land resources.

‘The Tracking and Data Relay Satelite 1 was the first in an
‘ongoing series of satellites that form a space-based data
‘commiunications rietwork.

www.nasa.gov


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

0CcO-2

‘The Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 is NASA's first
‘spacecraft dedicated to studying atmospheric carbon
Gioxide. It orbits as part of the A-Train constellation.

SMAP

The Soil Moisture Active Passive mission is NASA's
first to measure the amount of water in the top layer
of soil and its freeze/thaw state.

2010s

GPM 60 Years of Earth Observations

‘The Global Precipitation Measurement mission is an international
network of satellites, including the NASA/JAXA Core Observatory,
that provides global observations of rain and snow.

Suomi NPP

The NASA/NOAA/DOD Suomi National Polar
Orbiting Partnership satelite was developed to
both collect a wide-range of land, ocean and
atmospheric data and address operational
‘weather forecasting,

Aquarius

NASA and Argentina's space agency (CONAE) operattéd the first
dedicated sea surface salinity satelite instrument as part of the
SAC-D mission.

CYGNSS

‘Small spacecratt and satellites, such’as the
Cyclone Global Navigation Satelite System,
advance scientific and human exploration, reduce
cost and expand access to space,

www.nasa.gov


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

GOES-1

The Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satelite program began in 1975 as a joint effort
of NASA and the National Oceanic and
“Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

/ SAM 1
Conducted on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project,
\: =i] tho Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement
experiment marked the first time atmospheric
‘aorosol measurements were taken from space.

Seasat

‘Seasal was the first satelite spectficaly
designed to test sensors to better understand
Earth's ocean.

Nimbus 7

The last ofits series, Nimbus 7 marked the
beginning of space-based Earth System Science —
looking at the planet as an interconnected system.

60 Years of Earth Observations

Landsat-1

Landsat-1, originally designated Earth
Resources Technology Satelite 1, was

the first in an ongoing series of NASIVU,S,
Geological Survey (USGS) sataltes that have
monitored Earth's land masses for over 45 years,

www.nasa.gov


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

TOPEX/Poseidon

ANASAJCNES collaboration,
TOPEX/Poseidon delivered the first highly
accurate sea surface height measurements,

1990s

60 Years of Earth Observations

UARS

‘The Upper Atmosphere Research Satelite was the first satelite
dedicated to stratospheric science.

SeaWiFS

“The Sea. viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor
‘collected the first global ocean biological data,
providing observations about life on Earth,

TRMM

‘The precipitation radar on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring
Mission was the first spaceborne instrument to provide SD maps
of storm structure,

Terra

‘The flagship satelite of NASA's Earth
Observing System, Terra's five instruments
provide a comprehensive look at Earth
‘System Science,

www.nasa.gov


=xplorer 1

of Earth Observations

\


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

A-Tri

NASA and international partners operate
multiple Earth-observing satellites orbiting
together in the Afternoon Constellation,
including Aqua, Aura; CloudSat and CALIPSO.

SRTM

Flown aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the
‘Shuttle Radar Topography Mission produced the
first near-global data set of land elevations,

The lee, Cloud and land Elevation Satelite was the first mission
to use laser-ranging (lidar) for continuous observations of the
surface elevation of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets:

GRACE

Ajoint NASA/German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
mission, the Gravity Recovery and Climate
Experiment tracked the continuous movernent
Of quid water, ice and solid ground for more
than 15 years,

_<-2=2000s

60 Years of Earth Observations.

uy

‘www.nasa.gov


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

vies 3 natactass ane

Explorer 1

Launched Jan. 31, 1958,

Explorer 1 was the first U.S.

satelite and discovered the Van i
‘Allen Radiation Belts, i

1950s | |

60 Years-of Earth Observations

Vanguard 1

‘The second USS. and first
solar-powered satellite, Vanguard 1
tested launch capabilities and
spacecraft systems,

renee

www.nasa.gov


National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

TIROS 1

The fist U.S. weather satelite,
Television Infrared Observation
Saielite 1, demonstrated
accurate weather forecasts were
possible based on data gathered

~ 1960s

60 Years of Earth Observations

Echo 1

The “satelloon” — a long-term, high-altitude balloon — was the
frst satelite to enable two-way, live communications by
reflecting radio and radar signals

TIROS 3

TIROS 2 captured the first image of a hurricane
from space, Hurricane Esther, supplementing
ground-based and aircraft observations,

Nimbus 1

The first of seven Nimbus missions that provided weather,
environmental and atmospheric observations over 30 years, Nimbus 1
returned the frst global images of clouds and large weather systems.

ATS 1

The frst of si Applications Technology
Satelite missions designed to test satelite
technologies, ATS 1 captured the fist ful-isk
images of Earth trom geosynchronous orbit