Earth Observing Fleet (January 2023)

Earth observing fleet for December 2021 - this version includes Landsat-9 in nominal orbit and excludes Landsat-7 This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth observing spacecraft that are considered operational as of December 2021. Note that Landsat 9 is still completing the commissioning period and is expected to be declared operational in mid-January 2022. The clouds used in this version are from a high resolution GEOS model run at 10 minute time steps interpolated down to the per-frame level.Changes to this version include: removal of Landsat-7 and addition of Landsat-9.Spacecraft included: • Aqua • Aura • CALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation • CYGNSS-1: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1 • CYGNSS-2: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 2 • CYGNSS-3: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 3 • CYGNSS-4: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 4 • CYNGSS-5: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 5 • CYGNSS-6: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 6 • CYGNSS-7: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 7 • CYGNSS-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 8 • Cloudsat • GPM: Global Precipitation Measurement • GRACE-FO-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-1 • GRACE-FO-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-2 • ICESat-2 • ISS: International Space Station • Landsat 8 • Landsat 9 • OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 • SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive Active • Suomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership • Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich • Terra Related pages

Earth observing fleet for August 2021 - this version labels the "Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich" spacecraft: Sentinel-6 Earth observing fleet from August 2021 - this version labels the "Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich" spacecraft: Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Earth observing fleet without satellite labels This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth observing spacecraft that are considered operational as of August 2021. The clouds used in this version are from a high resolution GEOS model run at 10 minute time steps interpolated down to the per-frame level.Changes to this version include: removal of SORCE and the addition of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich.Spacecraft included:AquaAuraCALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite ObservationCYGNSS-1: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1CYGNSS-2: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 2CYGNSS-3: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 3CYGNSS-4: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 4CYNGSS-5: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 5CYGNSS-6: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 6CYGNSS-7: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 7CYGNSS-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 8CloudsatGPM: Global Precipitation MeasurementGRACE-FO-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-1GRACE-FO-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-2ICESat-2ISS: International Space StationLandsat 7Landsat 8OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive ActiveSuomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting PartnershipSentinel-6 Micael FreilichTerra Related pages

NASA's Earth Observing Fleet (December 2019) This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth observing spacecraft that are considered operational as of December 2019. The clouds used in this version are from a high resolution GEOS model run at 10 minute time steps interpolated down to the per-frame level.Changes to this version include: removal of Jason-2 and Jason-3 and the camera does not show DSCOVR within its view.Spacecraft included:AquaAuraCALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite ObservationCYGNSS-1: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1CYGNSS-2: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 2CYGNSS-3: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 3CYGNSS-4: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 4CYNGSS-5: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 5CYGNSS-6: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 6CYGNSS-7: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 7CYGNSS-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 8CloudsatGPM: Global Precipitation MeasurementGRACE-FO-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-1GRACE-FO-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-2ICESat-2ISS: International Space StationLandsat 7Landsat 8OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive ActiveSORCE: Solar Radiation and Climate ExperimentSuomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting PartnershipTerra Related pages

NASA's Earth Science Fleet as of October 2018 This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth observing spacecraft that are considered operational as of October 2018. New elements in this version include the ICESat-2 and Cloudsat/CALIPSO in new orbits. The clouds used in this version are from a high resolution GEOS model run at 10 minute time steps interpolated down to the per-frame level.Spacecraft included:AquaAuraCALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite ObservationCYGNSS-1: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1CYGNSS-2: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 2CYGNSS-3: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 3CYGNSS-4: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 4CYNGSS-5: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 5CYGNSS-6: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 6CYGNSS-7: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 7CYGNSS-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 8CloudsatDSCOVR: Deep Space Climate ObservatoryGPM: Global Precipitation MeasurementGRACE-FO-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-1GRACE-FO-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-2ICESat-2ISS: International Space StationJason 2Jason 3Landsat 7Landsat 8OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive ActiveSORCE: Solar Radiation and Climate ExperimentSuomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting PartnershipTerra Related pages

NASA's Earth observing starting at L1 and moving in towards Earth This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth observing spacecraft that are considered operational as of June 2018. New elements in this version include the GRACE Follow-On 1 and 2. The clouds used in this version are from a high resolution GEOS model run at 10 minute time steps interpolated down to the per-frame level.Spacecraft included:AquaAuraCALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite ObservationCYGNSS-1: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1CYGNSS-2: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 2CYGNSS-3: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 3CYGNSS-4: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 4CYNGSS-5: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 5CYGNSS-6: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 6CYGNSS-7: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 7CYGNSS-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 8CloudsatDSCOVR: Deep Space Climate ObservatoryGPM: Global Precipitation MeasurementGRACE-FO-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-1GRACE-FO-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow On-2ISS: International Space StationJason 2Jason 3Landsat 7Landsat 8OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive ActiveSORCE: Solar Radiation and Climate ExperimentSuomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting PartnershipTerra Related pages

NASA's Earth observing fleet as of March 2017 NASA's Earth observing fleet as of March 2017 with the A-train in highlighted in green This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth observing spacecraft that are considered operational as of March 2017. New elements in this version include the CYGNSS constellation and DSCOVR at L1. The clouds used in this version are from a high resolution GEOS model run at 10 minute time steps interpolated down to the per-frame level.The following spacecraft are included:AquaAuraCALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite ObservationCYGNSS-1: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1CYGNSS-2: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 2CYGNSS-3: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 3CYGNSS-4: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 4CYNGSS-5: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 5CYGNSS-6: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 6CYGNSS-7: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 7CYGNSS-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 8CloudsatDSCOVR: Deep Space Climate ObservatoryGPM: Global Precipitation MeasurementGRACE-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-1GRACE-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-2ISS: International Space StationJason 2Jason 3Landsat 7Landsat 8OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive ActiveSORCE: Solar Radiation and Climate ExperimentSuomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting PartnershipTerraQuikSCATAlso included:StarsMoonSunEarthL1: Sun-Earth Lagrange Point Related pages

Orbital Fleet including SMAP without TRMM Orbital fleet including SMAP, TRMM, and EO-1This video is also available on our YouTube channel. Orbital fleet including SMAP, but without TRMM or EO-1 A newer version of this visualization can be found here. This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth remote sensing observatories as of February 2015.The satellites include components of the A-Train:AquaAuraCloudSatCALIPSORecently launched missions:SMAPGPMOCO-2the International Space Stationand eleven others:AquariusSuomi NPPTerraSORCEGRACE Jason 2Landsat 7Landsat 8QuikSCATTRMMEO-1These satellites measure rainfall, solar irradiance, clouds, sea surface height, ocean salinity, and other aspects of the global environment. Together, they provide a picture of the Earth as a system.This is an update of entry 4208. This update includes a version created for display on the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) hyperwall, a 5 x 3 array of high-definition displays with a total pixel resolution of 9600 x 3240. The orbits are based on orbital elements with epochs on February 10, 2015. The date shown in the animation is 2015 Februrary 16 with times from 00:00:00 GMT to 12:00:00 GMT.There are two other versions: without TRMM; and without TRMM or EO-1. Related pages

This is the standard version with all spacecraft on for the entire animation. This version also includes hyperwall frames. NASM version of the fleet starting with Terra, Aqua, and Aura and then adding the rest of the Earth observing fleet This animation shows the orbits of NASA's fleet of Earth remote sensing observatories as of August 2014.The satellites include components of the A-Train:AquaAuraCloudSatCALIPSORecently launched missions:GPMOCO-2the International Space Stationand eleven others:AquariusSuomi NPPTerraSORCEGRACE Jason 2Landsat 7Landsat 8QuikSCATTRMMEO-1These satellites measure tropical rainfall, solar irradiance, clouds, sea surface height, ocean salinity, and other aspects of the global environment. Together, they provide a picture of the Earth as a system.This is an update of entry 3725. This update was created both for an annual presentation at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) and for display on the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) hyperwall, a 5 x 3 array of high-definition displays with a total pixel resolution of 9600 x 3240. The version for NASM starts with three flagship missions (Terra, Aqua, and Aura) then fades on the other spacecraft. The hyperwall version shows all of the spacecraft the entire time. The orbits are based on orbital elements with epochs on August 1, 2014. The NASM version is from 00:00:00 GMT to 12:10:26 GMT. The hyperwall version is from 00:00:00 GMT to 07:18:16 GMT. Related pages

NASA's Earth observing fleet including GPM (in red) and TRMM (in green) NASA's Earth observing fleet including GPM (all orbits colored blue) A newer version of this visualization can be found here.This animation shows the orbits of NASA's current (as of January 2014) fleet of Earth remote sensing observatories. The satellites include components of the A-Train (Aqua, Aura, CloudSat, CALIPSO), two satellites launched in 2011 (Aquarius, Suomi NPP), and eleven others (ACRIMSAT, SORCE, GRACE, Jason 1 and 2, Landsat 7, Landsat 8, GPM, QuikSCAT, TRMM, and EO-1). These satellites measure tropical rainfall, solar irradiance, clouds, sea surface height, ocean salinity, and other aspects of the global environment. Together, they provide a picture of the Earth as a system.This is an update of visualization #4070. The orbits are based on orbital elements with epochs in April of 2013. The visualization spans twenty-nine hours, from 04:10 UT on April 14, 2013 to 09:24 UT on Aril 15, 2013. Some simulated orbits where added, such as GPM, as they had not launched at the time these visualizations were created.Two versions of this visualization are provided. The first colors the orbits blue except that TRMM is colored green and GPM is colored red. The second visualization colors all of the orbits blue. Related pages

HD resolution version of NASA's Earth Observing Fleet (including Landsat 8) A newer version of this visualization can be found here.This animation shows the orbits of NASA's current (as of May 2013) fleet of Earth remote sensing observatories. The satellites include components of the A-Train (Aqua, Aura, CloudSat, CALIPSO), two satellites launched in 2011 (Aquarius, Suomi NPP), and nine others (ACRIMSAT, SORCE, GRACE, Jason 1 and 2, Landsat 7, Landsat 8, QuikSCAT, TRMM, and EO-1). These satellites measure tropical rainfall, solar irradiance, clouds, sea surface height, ocean salinity, and other aspects of the global environment. Together, they provide a picture of the Earth as a system.This is an update of visualization #3725. It was created for display on the NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS) hyperwall, a 5 x 3 array of high-definition displays with a total pixel resolution of 6840 x 2304. The orbits are based on orbital elements with epochs in April of 2013. The visualization spans twenty-nine hours, from 04:10 UT on April 14, 2013 to 09:24 UT on Aril 15, 2013. Related pages

NASA's Earth Observing Fleet NASA's Earth Observing Fleet NASA's Earth Observing fleet of vehicles constitutes a major milestone in the history of Earth science, facilitating the kinds of wide scale and synergistic research endeavors that until the last decade have been impossible to even consider. Many of the techniques being employed around Earth are a direct offshoot of technological and scientific techniques developed on missions to other worlds. NASA's continued commitment to primary research about our home remains a top priority not only to the agency, but to the nation, and the world as a whole. This visualization shows the spacecraft in NASA's Earth Observing fleet. The relative altitudes, speeds, and sun position are correct for 12-01-2003 starting at 5:00 UTC. Aura was added as it would have appeared in orbit had it already been launched at that time. This is an HD version that uses an earth with clouds. Related pages