March 29, 2024

NASA launches powerful Landsat 9 satellite to monitor climate change, forest cover and more

The spacecraft, called Landsat 9, will assist extend the 50-year continuous record of global images gathered by the Landsat family of satellites considering that 1972. Weather condition concerns then pushed the launch back a couple of more days.In pictures: Earth photos from space: Landsat satellite legacyImage 1 of 3A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Landsat 9 Earth-observation satellite launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sept. 27, 2021. (Image credit: ULA)Landsat 9NASA was in charge of building and launching Landsat 9, though the United States Geological Survey will operate the satellite and procedure its data.The mission, which costs around $750 million, is the ninth in the Landsat program and will continue the programs role of monitoring and managing land resources. Landsat 9 will replace the aging Landsat 7 satellite, which has been in orbit considering that 1999, and will work in tandem with Landsat 8, which was launched in 2013. Signing up with Landsat 9 for the trip today were 4 tiny cubesats, which will deploy from the launcher after Landsat 9 has been transferred in space.

Weather condition issues then pressed the launch back a few more days.In images: Earth pictures from area: Landsat satellite legacyImage 1 of 3A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket bring the Landsat 9 Earth-observation satellite launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sept. 27, 2021. (Image credit: ULA)Landsat 9NASA was in charge of structure and releasing Landsat 9, though the United States Geological Survey will run the satellite and procedure its data.The mission, which costs around $750 million, is the ninth in the Landsat program and will continue the programs role of tracking and handling land resources. Landsat 9 will change the aging Landsat 7 satellite, which has been in orbit since 1999, and will work in tandem with Landsat 8, which was released in 2013.