---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/landsat-program.md
title: "The Landsat program"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; restated in our own words"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: USGS, Landsat Satellite Missions, US government work, public domain; USGS, Landsat, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-04
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-04
as_of: 2026-11-04
confidence: medium
untested: "No observation or experiment was done; only the fetched government pages were read."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "earth: remote sensing"
tags: ['satellites', 'landsat', 'earth-observation', 'nasa']
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Landsat Satellite Missions"
    publisher: USGS
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-satellite-missions
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "Landsat"
    publisher: USGS
    url: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/about/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# The Landsat program

**Answer:** Landsat is a joint NASA and USGS series of Earth-observing satellites that has imaged Earth's land surface continuously since 1972. It is the longest continuous space-based record of Earth's land, used to track how cities, coastlines, forests and farms change over time.

## Who does what

The missions are jointly managed by NASA and USGS; the imagery is part of the USGS National Land Imaging Program.

## Origins

In 1966 Interior Secretary Stewart Udall announced Project EROS (Earth Resources Observation Satellites) to observe Earth for the benefit of all. The first Landsat launched in 1972.

## Why scientists trust it

Each new satellite extends a carefully calibrated, science-quality archive, often called a gold standard, so differences between images reflect real change on the ground. The data are free and open.

## Uses

- Urban growth and land use.
- Shifting coastlines.
- Crop and forest monitoring.
- Water resources.

## Claims
- id: C1
  claim: Since 1972, Landsat satellites have continuously acquired images of Earth's land.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Since 1972, Landsat satellites have continuously acquired space-based images of the Earth’s land surface"
- id: C2
  claim: Udall announced Project EROS in a September 21, 1966 press release.
  source: S1
  evidence: "In a September 21, 1966 press release, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Stewart"
- id: C3
  claim: Landsat provides the longest continuous space-based record of Earth's land.
  source: S2
  evidence: "provides the longest continuous space-based record of Earth’s land in existence"
- id: C4
  claim: Landsat missions are jointly managed by NASA and USGS.
  source: S2
  evidence: "jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)"

## Sources
- [S1] Landsat Satellite Missions. USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-satellite-missions . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-04.
- [S2] Landsat. USGS. https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/about/ . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-04.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted).