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Earth observation satellites are Earth-orbiting spacecraft with sensors used to collect imagery and measurements of the surface of the earth. These satellites are used to monitor short-term weather, long-term climate change, natural disasters. Earth observations satellites provide information for research subjects that benefit from looking at Earth’s surface from above (such as meteorology, oceanography, terrestrial ecology, glaciology, atmospheric science, hydrology, geology, and many more). Types of sensors on these satellites include passive and active remote sensors. Sensors on Earth observation satellites often take measurements of emitted energy over some portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g., UV, visible, infrared, microwave, or radio).[1]
The invention of climate research through the use of satellite remote telemetry began in the 1960s through development of space probes to study other planets. During the U.S. economic decline in 1977, with much of NASA's money going toward the shuttle program, the Reagan Administration proposed to reduce spending on planetary exploration. During this time, new scientific evidence emerged from ice and sediment cores that Earth's climate had experienced rapid changes in temperature, running contrary to the previously held belief that the climate changed on a geological time scale. These changes increased political interest in gathering remote-sensing data on the Earth itself and stimulated the science of climatology.[2]
Classification
The lists below classify Earth observation satellites in two large groups: satellites operated by government agencies of one or more countries (public domain) versus commercial satellites built and maintained by companies (private domain).[3] These lists focus on currently active missions, rather than inactive retired missions or planned future missions. However, some examples of past and future satellites are included. Active, inactive, or planned classifications are relevant as of 2021.
Public domain or government agency satellites
Active government satellites
| Name | Status | Agency | Launch [note 1] | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALOS-2 | Active | JAXA | 2014 | |
| Alsat-2A and 2B | Active | Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) | 2016 | |
| Amazônia-1 | Active | Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) | 2021 | |
| Aqua | Active | NASA | 2002 | Carries six instruments to observe interactions among the four spheres for Earth's systems: oceans, land, atmosphere, and biosphere.[5] |
| ASNARO-2 | Active | JAXA | 2018 | |
| Aura | Active | NASA | 2004 | Studies earth's ozone, air quality, and climate though observation of composition, chemistry, and dynamics of the atmosphere.[6] |
| Badr-B | Active | Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) | 2001 | |
| Cartosat-1 | Active | Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) | 2005 | |
| Cartosat-2A and 2B | Active | ISRO | 2007 | |
| Cartosat-2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F | Active | ISRO | 2016 | |
| Cartosat-3 | Active | ISRO | 2019 | |
| CBERS-4 | Active | Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and China National Space Administration (CNSA) | 2014 | |
| Chollian 1, 2A, and 2B | Active | KARI | 2010 | Also known as Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellites (COMS). Used for communication, oceanography, and meteorological observation. |
| CloudSat | Active | NASA | 2006 | Uses radar to measure the altitude and properties of clouds.[7] |
| COSMO-SkyMed 1 to 4 | Active | Italian Space Agency (ASI) | 2007 | Used for defense and security assurance in Italy and other countries, seismic hazard analysis, environmental disaster monitoring, and agricultural mapping. |
| CryoSat-2 | Active | ESA | 2010 | |
| CYGNSS | Active | NASA | 2016 | Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System. |
| DSCOVR | Active | NASA | 2015 | Deep Space Climate Observatory. Designed to study the Sun-lit side of Earth from the L1 Lagrange point.[8] |
| DubaiSat-1 and 2 | Active | Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) | 2009 | |
| Elektro-L No. 1, 2, and 3 | Active | Russia's Roscosmos | 2011 | |
| Fengyun 2D to 4A | Active | China Meteorological Administration | 2006 | Translated from Chinese, the word Fengyun means "wind cloud." Series 3 satellites are Sun-synchronous and series 2 and 4 satellites are geosynchronous. |
| Formosat-5 | Active | Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO) | 2017 | |
| Gaofen-2 | Active | CNSA | 2014 | |
| Gaofen-3 | Active | CNSA | 2016 | |
| GOES-16 and 17 | Active | NASA | 2016 | Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. Collects weather observations. See also: List of GOES satellites. |
| Gokturk-1 | Active | Turkish Ministry of National Defense | 2016 | Used for mapping and planning, landcover survey, geology, ecosystem monitoring, disaster management, environmental control, coastal zone management, and water resources. |
| Gokturk-2 | Active | Turkish Ministry of National Defense | 2012 | Used for mapping and planning, landcover survey, geology, ecosystem monitoring, disaster management, environmental control, coastal zone management, and water resources.[9] |
| GPM | Active | NASA and JAXA | 2014 | Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory. Used to study rainfall and snowfall.[10][11] |
| GOES-16, -17 | Active | NASA | 2016 | monitors weather for NOAA. |
| GRACE-FO | Active | NASA | 2018[12][13] | Gravity and climate. The mission will track changes in global sea levels, glaciers, and ice sheets, as well as large lake and river water levels, and soil moisture.[14] |
| GOSAT | Active | JAXA | 2009 | Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite. The first precise carbon dioxide observing satellite and precursor to OCO-2. |
| Himawari 8 and 9 | Active | Japan Meteorological Agency | 2014 | Similar to NASA's GOES satellites. |
| ICESat-2 | Active | NASA | 2018 | Measures ice sheet height changes for climate change diagnoses.[15][16] |
| IMS-1 | Active | ISRO | 2008 | |
| ISS | Active | NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA | 1998 | The International Space Station (ISS) has long been used as a central satellite platform for other sensors, including Earth observation sensors. For example: LIS, SAGE III, TSIS-I, ECOSTRESS, GEDI, OCO-3, Diwata-1, and HICO. |
| Jason-3 | Active | NASA and CNES | 2016 | Radar altimeter used to monitor ocean surface height. |
| KhalifaSat | Active | MBRSC | 2018 | Also known as DubaiSat-3. |
| KOMPSAT-2 | Active | KARI | 2006 | Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-2. Also known as Arirang-2. |
| KOMPSAT-3, 3A, and 5 | Active | KARI | 2012 | Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-3, 3A, and 5. Also known as Arirang-3, 3A, and 5. |
| LAGEOS-1 and 2 | Active | NASA | 1976 | LAGEOS 1 launched in 1976 and LAGEOS 2 launched in 1992. Used as an orbiting benchmark for geodynamical studies.[17] |
| Landsat-7 | Active | NASA and USGS | 1999 | Images Earth's land surfaces and coastal areas with global coverage at high spatial resolution.[18] |
| Landsat-8 | Active | NASA and USGS | 2013 | Follow on to Landsat-7 with improved imager OLI and thermal sensor TIRS. |
| Landsat-9 | Active | NASA and USGS | 2021 | Follow on to Landsat-8 with OLI sensor and thermal sensor TIRS-2. Landsat-9 will extend the Landsat program to maintain the time series of these type of data. |
| Megha-Tropiques | Active | CNES and ISRO | 2011 | |
| Meteor-M No. 1 and 2 | Active | Roscosmos | 2009 | |
| Meteosat 8 | Active | EUMETSAT | 2002 | Also known as MSG 1. |
| MetOp A, B, and C | Active | NASA, ESA, and NOAA | 2006 | Meteorological Operational satellite. Part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) program. |
| Mohammed VI-A and VI-B | Active | Arianespace and Morocco | 2017 | See also: Vega flight VV11 and Vega flight VV13 |
| NigComSat-1R | Active | NASRDA | 2009 | DFH-4 satellite and replacement for the failed NigComSat-1 |
| NigeriaSat-1 and 2 | Active | NASRDA | 2003 | Part of the worldwide Disaster Monitoring Constellation System |
| NOAA-15, 18, and 19 | Active | NASA, ESA, and NOAA | 1998 | Part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) program. |
| NOAA-20 | Active | NASA and NOAA | 2017 | Part of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program. |
| Oceansat-2 | Active | ISRO | 2009 | |
| OCO-2 | Active | NASA | 2014 | Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2. Part of the A-Train. The second precise carbon dioxide observing satellite after GOSAT. |
| PACE | Active | NASA | 2024 | Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem measures hyperspectral and polarimetric characteristics of solar radiation reflected off Earth’s surface and atmosphere. |
| PakTES-1A | Active | SUPARCO | 2018 | |
| Paz | Active | Spain's Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial | 2018 | |
| Pleiades 1A and 1B | Active | CNES | 2011 | |
| PRISMA | Active | Italian Space Agency (ASI) | 2019 | PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa, in English: Hyperspectral PRecursor of the Application Mission. |
| PROBA-V | Active | ESA | 2013 | Continues the traditional Vegetation (the "V" in PROBA-V) products that began with the SPOT satellites.[19] |