Multispectral Scanner (MSS)

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Landsat MSS Image (Los Angeles, CA)

Product Description

The Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) was a sensor onboard Landsats 1 through 5 and acquired images of the Earth nearly continuously from July 1972 to October 1992, with an 18-day repeat cycle for Landsats 1 through 3 and a 16-day repeat cycle for Landsats 4 and 5.

Landsat MSS image data consist of four spectral bands (band designations), although the specific band designations changed between Landsats 1-3 and Landsats 4-5. The resolution for all bands of 79 m, and approximate scene size is 170 km north-south by 185 km east-west (106 mi by 115 miles).

Product Processing Parameters

Product Type	L1T Terrain Corrected*
Pixel Size	60m Reflective bands 4-7 (Landsat 1-3) and 1-4 (Landsat 4-5)
Output Format	GeoTIFF
Resampling method	cubic convolution (CC)
Map Projection	UTM – WGS 84 Polar Stereographic for the continent of Antarctica.
Image Orientation	Map (North Up)
Distribution	FTP Download Only
Delivery Time	Immediate for scenes already processed and ready for download
Delivery Time	For new archive scene(s) requests, the estimated delivery time is 1 to 3 days unless otherwise noted.

*While most data available at no charge will be processed as Level 1T (precision and terrain corrected), certain scenes do not have ground control or elevation data necessary for precision or terrain correction, respectively. In these cases, the best level of correction will be applied (Level 1G-systematic). (See below for descriptions of correction levels.)

Terrain Correction (Level 1T) The Level 1T (L1T) data product provides systematic radiometric and geometric accuracy by incorporating ground control points*, while also employing a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for topographic accuracy. Geodetic accuracy of the product depends on the accuracy of the ground control points and the resolution of the DEM* used. For locations outside the United States, the accuracy of a terrain-corrected product will depend on the availability of local ground control points (GCPs), as well as the quality of the best available DEM. Scenes that have a quality score of 9 and less than 40 percent cloud cover will be automatically processed, and any archived scene, regardless of cloud cover, can be requested for processing through GloVis or Earth Explorer.

Ground control points used for Level 1Terrain correction come from the GLS2005 data set. DEM data used for terrain correction include SRTM, NED, CDAD, DTED, and GTOPO 30.

Systematic Correction (Level 1G) The Level 1G (L1G) data product provides systematic radiometric and geometric accuracy, which is derived from data collected by the sensor and spacecraft. The scene will be rotated, aligned, and georeferenced to UTM map projection.

All Landsat 5 TM standard Level 1 products will be processed through the Level 1 Product Generation System (LPGS). All Landsat 4 TM standard Level 1 products will be processed through the National Land Archive Production System (NLAPS). For information on these two processing systems, please visit:
http://landsat.usgs.gov/products_IP_LPGSvsNLAPS.php

Additional Information

Search & Request

All Landsat MSS scenes in the USGS archive can be searched by geographic location using Earth Explorer or the USGS Global Visualization Viewer (GloVis). Only scenes with browse capability can be searched and ordered on GloVis.

Landsat MSS data from satellites 1 through 3 are referenced to the Landsat Worldwide Reference System of paths and rows - WRS-1; Landsat MSS data from satellites 4 and 5 are referenced to WRS-2.

There are several commercial firms that can provide printed images from USGS digital data.

Image Previews

Browse images of available scenes may be viewed by searching on GloVis or Earth Explorer.

Each Landsat MSS browse image is a resampled JPEG of the raw scene data. The browse image will be displayed as a 4,2,1 (RGB) composite.

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U.S. Department of the Interior \| U.S. Geological Survey URL: http://eros.usgs.gov/ Page Contact Information: custserv@usgs.gov Page Last Modified: August 22, 2006