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Landsat 9

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Status: Current, Prime Mission
Mission Category: Earth Systematic Missions Program, Inter-Agency Partnerships
Launch Date: September 27, 2021
Launch Location: Vandenberg Space Force Base
Designed Life: September 27, 2026

The President’s fiscal year 2016 budget calls for initiation of a Landsat 9 spacecraft as an upgraded rebuild of Landsat 8, as well as development of a low-cost thermal infrared (TIR) free-flying satellite to reduce the risk of a data gap in this important measurement. The TIR free flyer will ensure data continuity by flying in formation with Landsat 8. The budget also calls for the exploration of technology and systems innovations to provide more cost effective and advanced capabilities in future land-imaging missions beyond Landsat 9, such as finding ways to miniaturize instruments to be launched on smaller, less expensive satellites.

Key Landsat 9 Facts

Mission/Portal Page: https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/landsat-9/landsat-9-overview
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket
Altitude:Distance from sea level. 705km
Inclination: 98.2°
Origination: NASA/USGS
Instruments: Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2)
Thermal Infrared Sensor-2 (TIRS-2)
Project Scientist(s): Jeff Masek
Deputy Project Scientist(s): Bruce Cook
Other Key Personnel: Dave Jarrett
Garik Gutman
Del Jenstrom