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Landsat 4 marked the first major design change in the Landsat program. Its advanced imaging sensor, the Thematic Mapper, had the highest spatial resolution yet on a Landsat sensor. Additional spectral bands included a thermal band and allowed Landsat data to be depicted as natural color images for the first time.
Type
Earth Observation Satellite
Launch
July 16, 1982
Objective
Continuously acquire imagery of Earth’s land surface for environmental and resource management
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) provides science for a changing world, which reflects and responds to society’s continuously evolving needs. The USGS brings an array of earth, water, biological, and mapping data and expertise in support of decision-making on environmental, resource, and public safety issues.
Instruments Aboard Landsat 4
| Instrument Name | Operational Date(s) | Spectral Resolution | Type of Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic Mapper | March 1, 1984 to November 17, 2011 | 0.45 µm to 12.5 µm |
Spectrometers/Radiometers |
| Multispectral Scanner (MSS) | July 1972–Oct 1999; June 2012–Jan 2013 | 0.5 µm to 1.1 µm |
Spectrometer/Radiometer |
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