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The first Landsat satellite in the 21st century was named the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) during development and the on-orbit calibration phase. Once routine operations began, it became Landsat 8. Two instruments with improved spectral bands and data quality mark another step-up in Landsat’s spectral coverage. Landsat 8 collects nearly 750 scenes per day, a higher volume than any previous Landsat.

Learn more about Landsat 8

Type

Earth Observation Satellite

Data Center

LP DAAC

Launch

February 11, 2013

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.
Learn more about Landsat 8 with the USGS
United States Geological Survey (USGS) Logo

Instruments Aboard Landsat 8

Instrument Name Operational Date(s) Spectral Resolution Type of Instrument
Operational Land Imager (OLI) February 11, 2013 - present

0.43 µm to 2.29 µm

 Spectrometers/Radiometers
Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) February 11, 2013 - present

10.6-12.5 µm

 Spectrometers/Radiometers

Related Platforms

Landsat 1

Landsat 1 is the first Earth-observing satellite designed specifically for studying planet Earth.

Landsat 2

Landsat 2 continued Landsat 1's legacy and established continuous observation from the same vantage point and collected data for 7 years.

Landsat 3

Landsat 3 launched a little over 3 years after Landsat 2, with improved instrument technology and a mission to continue Landsat observations.
Landsat 4

Landsat 4 was launched with the Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and a new advanced imaging sensor, Thematic Mapper (TM).
Landsat 5

Landsat 5 transmitted over 2.5 million images of Earth over the course of 28 years.
Landsat 7

Landsat 7 marked history when data from the satellite became free to the global public.
Landsat 9

Landsat 9 carries the same instruments as Landsat 8: Operational Land Imager 2 (OLI-2) and Thermal Infrared Sensor 2 (TIRS-2)

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