May 2, 2024

NASA Launches Landsat 9 Today: Here’s How To Watch Live + 9 Things To Know

NASA is welcoming the public to take part in virtual activities and events ahead of the launch of the Landsat 9 satellite, a joint NASA/U. Inside the Integrated Processing Facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, both United Launch Alliance (ULA) payload fairings are secured around the Landsat 9 spacecraft on Aug. 16, 2021. The fairings will safeguard and frame Landsat 9 during launch atop the ULA Atlas V rocket. Landsat 9 will introduce on the Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg in September 2021. Landsat 9 is a cooperation between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, and will continue the Landsat programs critical role in tracking, understanding and managing the land resources needed to sustain human life.

Animation of the Landsat 9 spacecraft in orbit around Earth, passing over the Western US and Baja California. The satellite will travel at 7.5 km/second, circling around the world every 99 minutes at an altitude of 705 km (438 miles). Landsat 9 will image a swath 185 km (115 miles) in width and complete about 14 orbits each day, thus imaging every part of Earth every 16 days. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image Lab
NASA is inviting the general public to participate in virtual activities and occasions ahead of the launch of the Landsat 9 satellite, a joint NASA/U. S. Geological Survey mission that will continue the tradition of keeping track of Earths land and seaside areas. Liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket is targeted for Monday, September 27, 2021, from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Members of the public can sign up to go to the launch virtually. NASAs virtual guest program for this launch includes curated launch resources, a behind-the-scenes appearance at the mission, and a virtual visitor passport stamp following an effective launch.

Inside the Integrated Processing Facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, both United Launch Alliance (ULA) payload fairings are protected around the Landsat 9 spacecraft on Aug. 16, 2021. The fairings will safeguard and encase Landsat 9 throughout launch atop the ULA Atlas V rocket. Landsat 9 will launch on the Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg in September 2021. The launch is being managed by NASAs Launch Services Program based at Kennedy Space Center, Americas multi-user spaceport. Credit: USSF 30th Space Wing/Chris Okula
When totally commissioned in orbit, Landsat 9 will replace Landsat 7 and join its sis satellite, Landsat 8, to collect images from throughout the planet every 8 days. This adjusted data will continue the Landsat programs crucial function in keeping track of land use and assisting choice makers manage essential resources consisting of crops, water resources, and forests.
Live protection and countdown commentary of the launch will begin at 10:30 a.m. PDT/1:30 p.m. EDT and air on NASA Television and the agencys site, in addition to YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, and NASAs App.
An artists conception of the Landsat 9 spacecraft, the ninth satellite launched in the long-running Landsat program, high above the Western United States. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Conceptual Image Lab
Members of the general public can likewise share in the journey through a range of activities, including:
Interactive Mission Website
To assist the public discover more about the project and its near 50-year history, NASA has actually recently released a new interactive site: www.nasa.gov/landsat9
Camp Landsat
Camp activity enjoyable for everybody with arranged areas of Landsat info and activities– like Cities & & Suburbs, Forests Forever, Beaches & & Reefs, and more: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/outreach/camp-landsat
Virtual Launch Passport
Print, fold, and prepare to fill your virtual passport. Stamps will be emailed following launches to those who register by means of e-mail through Eventbrite.
In anticipation of the launch of Landsat 9, we count down 9 things about the Landsat objective, the science, the technology, and individuals who continue its legacy. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight
Landsat 9 is a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, and will continue the Landsat programs crucial function in monitoring, understanding and managing the land resources required to sustain human life. The objective will supply moderate-resolution (15 meter to 100 meter, depending upon spectral frequency) measurements of the Earths terrestrial and polar areas in noticeable, near-infrared, short wave infrared, and thermal infrared wavelengths. There are two instruments on the spacecraft, the Thermal InfraRed Sensor 2 (TIRS-2) and the Operational Land Imager 2 (OLI-2).
Landsat 9 will supply continuity with the almost 50-year long Landsat land imaging information set. In addition to widespread regular use for land use planning and tracking on regional to local scales, support of catastrophe reaction and assessments, and water use monitoring, Landsat measurements directly serve NASA research in the focus locations of climate, carbon cycle, communities, water cycle, biogeochemistry, and Earth surface/interior.
The Landsat program is the only U.S. satellite system designed and operated to repeatedly observe the global land surface at a moderate scale that reveals both human-induced and natural modification.