Frequently Asked Questions about the Landsat Missions

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Question:
How are acquisitions planned for Landsat satellites?

Answer:

Landsat 7 images are collected in accordance with the Long Term Acquisition Plan (LTAP). The LTAP directs the acquisition of Landsat 7 scenes, using parameters such as seasonality, land definition, historical cloud cover, gain settings, and sun angle.

Landsat 5 suspended acquisitions in 2012.

Acquisition calendars and schedules can be found on the Landsat Acquisition page.