1. Landsat Program
The World’s Most Sophisticated Optical Observatories of the Earth
The World’s Model for International Collaboration in Earth Observation
Landsat 1 - 3
Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) 79 meter
Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) 80/40 meter
Landsat
International
Cooperator
Stations
Landsat 7
Enhanced Thematic Mapper
Plus (ETM+) 30/15 meter
Landsat
International
Cooperator
Stations
Landsat 4 - 5
Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) 79 meter
Thematic Mapper (TM) 30 meter
Landsat 8
(Lower left) We have been acquiring Landsat data since The main operational center for the Department is at the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, SD. EROS has been collecting, archiving and distributing Landsat data since the very beginning of the Landsat program.
(Upper left) This slide also lists the satellites in the Landsat series (1-3, 4-5, 7 and the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) or Landsat 8. Landsat 6 was a commercial mission that did not achieve orbit after launch in October Also note that we have taken advantage of technological advances over the years and flown better Landsat instruments while still providing “data continuity” between the missions. Landsat 5 is still flying after 26 years, it had a 3 year design life. Landsat 7 has been flying since We hope to keep both satellites flying until the LDCM launch.
(Upper right) This illustration references the international cooperator network that receives Landsat data. They have been part of the program since the 1970’s. Today the international cooperators receive Landsat 5 and 7 data.
(Center and Lower right) Provide examples of the number of Landsat scenes and geographic location of those scenes. Red meaning the greatest number of scenes and blue the least. We use state-of-the-art computer technology to store and distribute these data.
EROS Center Sioux Falls, SD
37-year Archive of Global Data
Modern Digital Silo
Department of the Interior Center of Expertise in Satellite Imaging and Land Science

2. Landsat Web-Enabled Imagery Distribution
Total Landsat Scenes Selected By Users Since October 1, 2008
Over 2.4 million images available today
Seven fold increase in scientific and educational users
Data delivered to 180 countries
User shift to multi-year scenes at same location
Highly favorable user response
Exceeded 1 Million scenes selected on August 17, 2009
Daily Average = 3,125 scenes of web-enabled data selected
Scenes Selected 1M
In fiscal year 2009 we went to web-enabled distribution of Landsat data over the Internet. When we sold Landsat data we sold about 53 scenes/day or about 20,000 scenes/year. Under the web-enabled or distributing the data for free approach, we average over 3,000 scenes/day and distributed over 1 million Landsat scenes in 1 year. These data were distributed to over 180 countries and we saw a 7x increase in scientific and educational uses of the data.
We also distribute (web-enabled) the other USGS datasets over the Internet and have seen similar growth in products delivered to users.
Daily Average = 53 scenes for best year of sales (2001)
Cumulative Scenes (Web-enabled) Cumulative Scenes (Sales) 2

3. Beginning of a new era - Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) or Landsat 8
Mission Characteristics
Orbit: Polar, 705km circular, sun-synchronous (WRS2), 98.2° inclined, mid-morning, 16-day repeat
Launch Date: Dec. 2012; Launch Vehicle: Atlas V
Mission Life: 5 Years (with consumables 10 years)
Mission Project Management: NASA/USGS
DOI USGS developed Ground System
4 design elements
Critical Design Review this week!
Operational Land Imager (OLI)
9 spectral bands (including new deep blue and cirrus bands)
30m resolution for VIS/NIR/SWIR, 15m for PAN
185km swath width
Collect 400 WRS-2 scenes/day; 265Mbps
Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS)
TIRS in initial design at NASA; proposed in American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 Approximately 100m resolution in 2 bands; 185km swath
LDCM is the next Landsat mission. It will provide data continuity with the previous Landsat missions and will launch in December It has 2 instruments – OLI and TIRS. NASA is responsible for building the instruments, spacecraft, buying the launch vehicle, launching the spacecraft and doing the initial on-orbit checkout. The DOI/USGS is responsible for developing the ground system, the Landsat Science team and operations after on-orbit checkout. It has a 5 year design life ( ), but we hope to fly it for 10 years.
This week the DOI/USGS ground system will hold its critical design review. A review for an external panel to to see if we are ready to start building the ground system.
Spacecraft
Observatory mass of 3085kg
Maximum power of 2130W
3Tb Solid State Recorder
384Mbps X-band downlink 3

4. Landsat 9 and Beyond
DOI/USGS has served as the Landsat data steward since program’s inception in 1966
experienced several changes in program leadership, including two unsuccessful attempts to commercialize the satellites
DOI/USGS Joined NASA in 2000 as full partner in program management
Presidential Decision Directive NSTC-3 (5/94, revised 10/00)
NASA and DOI/USGS funded for Landsat 8 development; funding projected for USGS operations through 2017
No agency yet has responsibility or funding for Landsat 9 or beyond
8 Federal agencies recommend that DOI/USGS manage the Landsat program and NASA build and launch Landsat 9 and beyond (see A Plan for a U.S. National Land Imaging Program, National Science and Technology Council, 2007)
Definition of Landsat 9 needs to start in FY12 to support a launch in FY17
DOI recognizes the need for a civil operational land remote sensing program and is starting to plan for Landsat 9
DOI/USGS has been involved in the Landsat program since the beginning. In 2000 the Landsat Program Management team was defined as NASA and the DOI/USGS.
We will develop, launch, and operate the LDCM, but there are no plans for a follow-on mission and if it fails on launch we’re out of luck.
The OSTP report recommendations were to create an operational Landsat program or civil operational land remote sensing program and have the Department lead it.
It takes 5 years to build these spacecraft, so if we plan on launching Landsat 9 five years after we launch Landsat 8, we need to start working on Landsat 9 requirements in FY12. 4