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July 22, 2002
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF IMAGING THE EARTH
NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey this week celebrate
Landsat's 30th anniversary of imaging the Earth.
On July 23, 1972, NASA launched the first Landsat satellite,
beginning the longest-running record of Earth's continental
surfaces as seen from space -- a record unmatched in quality,
detail, coverage and importance. This 30-year archive of
imagery, a scientific partnership between NASA and the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS), provides invaluable historical
detail that helps us understand and protect our home planet.
"In essence, this archive of Landsat imagery is the
equivalent of having a periodically refreshed family photo
album for the entire Earth," said Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar, NASA
Associate Administrator of the Office of Earth Science. "The
scientific data gathered by these spacecraft allow us to see
changes on the Earth's surface over time, giving us insight
into what is happening and helping us plan for the future."
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the first Landsat
launch, NASA and the USGS have assembled an exhibit called
"Landsat: Earth as Art." These images, created by the USGS
using Landsat 7 data, introduce the general public to the
Landsat Program, administered jointly by USGS and NASA. The
USGS operates Landsat 5 and 7 and manages the national
archive of data collected by all the Landsat satellites,
distributing these data to researchers around the world.
"This archive of imagery is a valuable tool for scientists
and researchers as they work to gain a better understanding
of the Earth and its complex systems," said Charles Groat,
USGS Director. "Long-term monitoring information is critical
for maintaining the health and safety of our communities, our
economy and our environment."
The "Landsat: Earth as Art" exhibit highlights 41 images
selected on the basis of aesthetic appeal. The exhibit opens
July 23 at the Library of Congress in Washington. A selection
of "Landsat: Earth as Art" images will be on display in the
Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda in Washington, July
22-26, and in the fall at the Arizona Science Center in
Phoenix. A similar exhibit is currently on display in Rapid
City, S.D., at the Children's Science Center.
The first Landsat -- originally called ERTS, for Earth
Resources Technology Satellite -- was developed and launched
by NASA in 1972. Landsat 5 is still transmitting images, and
the Landsat 7 mission has built upon the historic strengths
of the Landsat program. The low cost of Landsat 7 data, as
well as the elimination of data copyright, has fostered an
environment in which users are free to experiment with novel
applications, and use large quantities of data for existing
applications.
Data from Landsat satellites serve many purposes. Landsat
satellites monitor important natural processes and human land
use such as vegetation growth, deforestation, agriculture,
coastal and river erosion, snow accumulation and fresh-water
reservoir replenishment, and urbanization. The USGS uses
Landsat data to spot the amount and condition of dry biomass
on the ground, which are potential sources for feeding
wildfires that can threaten humans, animals and natural
resources. Farmers and land managers use Landsat data to help
increase crop yields and cut costs while reducing
environmental pollution.
Continuity of data with previous Landsat missions is a
fundamental goal of the Landsat program. Landsat Program
Management (NASA and USGS) is required by public law to
continue gathering and preserving this important scientific
data. The planned follow-on to the Landsat program, the
Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), is a cooperative
effort between government and private industry to provide
continuity of land surface measurements, with no data gaps,
beyond Landsat 7.
Landsat is part of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, a long-
term research effort to understand and protect our home
planet. Through the study of Earth, NASA will help to provide
sound science to policy and economic decision-makers so as to
better life here, while developing the technologies needed to
explore the universe and search for life beyond our home
planet.
For more on the Landsat mission, go to:
The Earth as Art web site can be found at:
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Contacts:
Elvia H. Thompson
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1696)
Lynn Chandler
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
(Phone: 301/286-2806)
Karen Wood
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va.
(Phone: 703/648-4447)
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Landsat 7 [pictured pre-launch], launched on April 15, 1999, continues the 30-year legacy of gathering Earth surface images from space. On July 23, 1972, NASA launched the first Landsat satellite, beginning the longest-running record of Earth's continental surfaces as seen from space.
Animation of Landsat 7 [2.2 MB .mov]
Data collected from various Landsat spacecraft show how natural events and human influences can dramatically change the environment and landscape over time. This pair of images highlights the rapid growth that occurred between 1973 and 1999 in San Jose, CA. From 1970 to 1996, the population of San Jose increased from 459,000 to 839,000. The above Landsat images document the urban expansion around San Jose, which show up as light blue.
Landsat imagery is beautiful whether you're looking at it from an artistic standpoint or trying to extract useful information. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the first Landsat launch, NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey created an exhibit called "Landsat: Earth as Art."
The images, created by the USGS EROS Data Center, introduce the world to the Landsat Program administered jointly by USGS and NASA.
Morph Sequence [3.2 MB MPEG]
Bright Blur Sequence [3.2 MB MPEG]
Related Links
Landsat 7 Fact Sheet
Landsat 7 Project [USGS]
Landsat 7 Project [NASA]
Landsat: Earth as Art
Landsat 7 @ Visible Earth
GSFC PAO Coverage
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