Exploring The Planets - Earth Exploring Earth From Orbit The Earth, like other planets, is explored by spacecraft.
Earth orbiting spacecraft observe phenomena that are large and global in scale.
Using a variety of sensors, satellites may record data that would require tens of thousands of ground-based measurements. Much has been learned about our planet from the vantage point of space that we could not see from the ground. OrbImage Below are some of the earliest satellites used to study the Earth from space. It was joined in 1992 by Lageos II . Lageos satellites are passive satellite that carry no electronic equipment or moving parts.