Landsat 7
Landsat 7 is the seventh satellite of the Landsat program. Launched on 15 April 1999, Landsat 7's primary goal is to refresh the global archive of satellite photos, providing up-to-date and cloud-free images. The Landsat program is managed and operated by the United States Geological Survey, and data from Landsat 7 is collected and distributed by the USGS. The NASA WorldWind project allows 3D images from Landsat 7 and other sources to be freely navigated and viewed from any angle. The satellite's companion, Earth Observing-1, trailed by one minute and followed the same orbital characteristics, but in 2011 its fuel was depleted and EO-1's orbit began to degrade. Landsat 7 was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems.
Landsat 7 before launch | |
| Mission type | Satellite imagery |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA / USGS |
| COSPAR ID | 1999-020A |
| SATCAT no. | 25682 |
| Mission duration | 5 years (planned) 24 years, 11 months, 25 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | TIROS-N |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Space Systems |
| Launch mass | 1973 kg |
| Dimensions | 4.04 metre long 2.74 metre diameter |
| Power | 1550 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 15 April 1999, 18:32:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7920 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg, SLC-2W |
| Contractor | Boeing |
| Entered service | 1999 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous orbit |
| Altitude | 705 km |
| Inclination | 98.21° |
| Period | 98.83 minutes |
| Repeat interval | 16 days |
In 2016, NASA announced plans to attempt the first ever refueling of a live satellite by refueling Landsat 7 in 2020 with the OSAM-1 mission; after multiple delays, NASA announced the cancellation of OSAM-1 in March 2024.