Earth
ID: 4583
This visualization shows the orbits of NASA-related near-Earth science missions that are considered operational as of March 2017. These missions include both NASA-run missions as well as missions run by organizations that NASA has partnered with. Missions that enable science data collection (TDRS) are also included.
The following missions are included:
Also included:
Colors are used to distinguish what science category each mission is observing. In some cases, one mission may observe multiple categories (e.g., DSCOVR observes the Sun and the Earth), so only one is choosen. The colors are:
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.
NASA's Near-Earth Science Mission Fleet: March 2017
The following missions are included:
- ACE
- AIM
- Aqua
- ARTEMIS
- Aura
- CALIPSO: Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation
- Cloudsat
- Cluster 5,6,7,8
- Chandra
- CYGNSS-1-8: Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System 1
- DSCOVR: Deep Space Climate Observatory
- GOES 13, 15, 16: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites
- GPM: Global Precipitation Measurement
- GRACE-1: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-1
- GRACE-2: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-2
- Hinode
- HST: Hubble Space Telescope
- IBEX: Interstellar Boundary Explorer
- ISS: International Space Station
- Jason 2
- Jason 3
- LAGEOS
- Landsat 7
- Landsat 8
- LRO: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
- MMS 1,2,3,4: Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission
- NuSTAR: Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array
- OCO-2: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2
- Polar
- QuikSCAT
- RBSP A,B: Radiation Belt Solar Probes (also called Van Allen Probes)
- RHESSI: Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Images
- SDO: Solar Dynamics Observatory
- SMAP: Soil Moisture Passive Active
- SMAP: Solar and Heliophysics Observatory
- SORCE: Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment
- Suomi NPP: Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership
- Swift
- TDRS 3, 5-12: Tracking Data Relay Satellite
- Terra
- THEMIS: Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions During Substorms
- TIMED: Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics
- Wind
Also included:
- Stars
- Moon
- Sun
- Earth
- L1: Sun-Earth Lagrange Point-1
- L2: Sun-Earth Lagrange Point-2
Colors are used to distinguish what science category each mission is observing. In some cases, one mission may observe multiple categories (e.g., DSCOVR observes the Sun and the Earth), so only one is choosen. The colors are:
- Yellow orbits are missions that observe the sun (heliophysics)
- Blue orbits are missions that observe the Earth
- Red orbits are missions that observe the stars and planets (astrophysics)
- Orange orbits are "other"
- The green orbit is manned (International Space Station)
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.
Visualization Credits
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Lead Visualizer
Ernie Wright (USRA): Visualizer
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Eric Sokolowsky (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Project Support
Ernie Wright (USRA): Visualizer
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Technical Support
Eric Sokolowsky (Global Science and Technology, Inc.): Project Support
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4583
Data Used:
Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.
Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Orbit
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4583
Data Used:
GTOPO30 Topography and Bathymetry
Data Compilation - USGSCelesTrak Spacecraft Orbit Ephemeris
EphemerisHipparcos/Telescope/Tycho 2 Catalogue also referred to as: Tycho Catalogue
DatabaseJPL/Horizon Orbital Ephemerides
Ephemeris - NASA/JPL
Planetary ephemerides
GEOS Atmospheric Model
Model - NASA GMAOSpace-Track Two-Line Elements also referred to as: Space-Track TLE
Ephemeris - NORAD
Satellite ephemerides
Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Orbit
SVS >> Hyperwall
NASA Science >> Earth
