Current and future Earth observing missions are the descendants of satellites first launched over 40 years ago (the low Earth orbit Television Infrared Observation Satellite, TIROS-1, was launched on April 1, 1960).

In the early 1970s, modern land surface satellite observations were pioneered with the launch of the first in a series of Landsat satellites developed by NASA and operated by USGS. Early ocean color observations began in late 1970s with the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) instrument on the NASA-developed Nimbus 7 satellite. Nimbus 7 also carried the first Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). Quantitative atmospheric observations from space began with the launch of the first TIROS-N satellite on October 13, 1978. This was an experimental satellite developed by NASA and operated by NOAA. The satellite carried a 4-channel Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and an atmospheric sounding system (TOVS – TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder). NASA has also overseen the development of the geosynchronous (GEOS) series of weather satellites that began in the mid 1970s.

These early Earth observing satellites had the capability to measure much of what we continue to study today, such as land, ocean, clouds, trace gases, and radiation. Early satellites paved the way for increased instrument sophistication and improved data collection. While previous Earth observing satellites have led to our unprecedented understanding of the Earth’s climate and weather, scientists still have many questions about the details and interactions of the Earth’s systems.

Scientists are using data from NASA’s latest series of satellites to further examine the physical and chemical processes of land, ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere. In addition to allowing for a better understanding of climate and climate change, these missions have applications in understanding weather patterns, growing seasons, sea level variation, fresh water availability, and other geophysical societal concerns. Scientists can use this information to develop solutions that reduce and manage climate change.

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Results from early missions shed light on critical components of the Earth system while prompting further, more advanced investigations. The NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) program was conceived in the 1980s and began to take shape in the early 1990s. EOS is comprised of a series of coordinated polar-orbiting satellites designed to monitor and understand key components of the climate system through long-term global observations. The EOS missions focus on the following climate science areas: radiation, clouds, water vapor, and precipitation; the oceans; greenhouse gases; land-surface hydrology and ecosystem processes; glaciers, sea ice, and ice sheets; ozone and stratospheric chemistry; and natural and anthropogenic aerosols.

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As a follow-on to the EOS missions, the Earth Systematic Missions (ESM) program will continue to advance our understanding of the climate system and climate change. The primary path toward meeting this objective is the mission outlined in the National Academy of Science (NAS) Earth Science Decadal Survey document released in 2007.

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Missions in the NASA Earth System Science (ESSP) program are characterized by innovative design and relatively rapid implementation. These are focused missions that uniquely examine important components and physical processes within the global climate systems. ESSP missions concentrate on processes that are known to cause global change, but are difficult to measure and still not fully understood. These include atmospheric CO2 distribution, sea surface salinity variation, mass water movement, and the vertical structure of clouds and aerosols.

ESSP is no longer an active program for establishing new missions; the final ESSP mission (Aquarius) is slated for launch in 2010.

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The NASA Venture Class missions are a new category of highly original and cost-effective satellites recommended for development by the NRC in its Decadal Surve report. Spacecraft will be small and designed for a quick development cycle. Venture Class missions will use experimental technology to demonstrate new research applications or instruments and techniques that provide unique observations. Polar orbiting and geosynchronous satellite missions (including spacecraft/launch partnerships) as well as the use of suborbital platforms may be expected.