Taylor M Potter

Robotic spacecraft missionSputnik 1Earth orbit

Robotic spacecraft: Sputnik 1
Destination: Earth orbit

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Geodetic and space-environment research satelliteVanguard 1Elliptical Earth orbit

Radio systems: Battery-powered 108 MHz transmitter and solar-powered 108.03 MHz transmitter
Scientific method: Precision radio and optical orbital tracking
Destination: Earth orbit

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 1Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 1 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Thor-Agena B
Earth-observation payload: Advanced Vidicon Camera System, Automatic Picture Transmission, and High-Resolution Infrared Radiometer

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 2Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 2 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Thor-Agena B
Earth-observation payload: Advanced Vidicon cameras, Automatic Picture Transmission, High- and Medium-Resolution Infrared Radiometers

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 3Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 3 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Thorad-Agena D
Earth-observation payload: Satellite Infrared Spectrometer, Interrogation Recording and Location System, cameras, infrared radiometers, and SNAP-19 power experiment

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 4Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 4 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Thorad-Agena D
Earth-observation payload: Backscatter Ultraviolet experiment, infrared temperature sounder, selective chopper radiometer, cameras, and remote-platform relay

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 1Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 1 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 900
Earth-observation payload: Multispectral Scanner and Return Beam Vidicon cameras

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 5Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 5 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 900
Earth-observation payload: Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer, Temperature-Humidity Infrared Radiometer, infrared sounders, and radiation experiments

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteSMS-1Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: SMS-1 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer, space-environment monitor, data-collection relay, and weather-facsimile communications

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 2Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 2 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2910
Earth-observation payload: Multispectral Scanner and Return Beam Vidicon cameras

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteSMS-2Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: SMS-2 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer, space-environment monitor, data-collection relay, and weather-facsimile communications

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 6Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 6 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2910
Earth-observation payload: High-Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder, Scanning Microwave Spectrometer, Earth Radiation Budget experiment, and remote-platform relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-1Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-1 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer, space-environment monitor, data-collection relay, and weather-facsimile communications

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-2Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-2 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer, space-environment monitor, data-collection relay, and weather-facsimile communications

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 3Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 3 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2910
Earth-observation payload: Multispectral Scanner with thermal band and Return Beam Vidicon cameras

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-3Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-3 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer, space-environment monitor, data-collection relay, and weather-facsimile communications

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteSeasat 1Near-polar low Earth orbit

Satellite: Seasat 1 ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Atlas-Agena D
Science payload: Radar altimeter, synthetic-aperture radar, scatterometer, scanning multichannel microwave radiometer, and visible/infrared radiometer

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteNimbus 7Near-polar low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Nimbus 7 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 2910
Earth-observation payload: Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer, Coastal Zone Color Scanner, Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer, limb sounders, and Earth Radiation Budget instruments

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-4Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-4 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder, space-environment monitor, and data-collection relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-5Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-5 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder, space-environment monitor, and data-collection relay

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 4Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 4 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3920
Earth-observation payload: Thematic Mapper and Multispectral Scanner

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-6Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-6 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder, space-environment monitor, and data-collection relay

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 5Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 5 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3920
Earth-observation payload: Thematic Mapper and Multispectral Scanner

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-GGeostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-G spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder, space-environment monitor, and data-collection relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-7Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-7 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta 3914
Environmental payload: Visible Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer Atmospheric Sounder, space-environment monitor, and data-collection relay

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteTOPEX/Poseidon1,336-kilometer, 66-degree ocean-altimetry orbit

Satellite: TOPEX/Poseidon ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Ariane 42P
Science payload: Dual-frequency NASA TOPEX radar altimeter, CNES Poseidon altimeter, microwave radiometer, DORIS, GPS demonstration receiver, and laser retroreflector

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 6Planned sun-synchronous low Earth orbit; not achieved

Spacecraft: Landsat 6 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Titan II
Earth-observation payload: Enhanced Thematic Mapper with a new 15-meter panchromatic band

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-8Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-8 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas I
Environmental payload: Separate GOES Imager and GOES Sounder, space-environment monitor, data-collection system, and search-and-rescue relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-9Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-9 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas I
Environmental payload: Separate GOES Imager and GOES Sounder, space-environment monitor, data-collection system, and search-and-rescue relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-10Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-10 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas I
Environmental payload: Separate GOES Imager and GOES Sounder, space-environment monitor, data-collection system, and search-and-rescue relay

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 7Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 7 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7920
Earth-observation payload: Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus

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Uncrewed Earth-observation and climate satelliteTerraDescending morning Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Satellite: Terra Earth-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Atlas IIAS
Science payload: ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS, and MOPITT instruments spanning surface imaging, radiation budget, aerosols, vegetation, temperature, and atmospheric chemistry

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-11Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-11 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA
Environmental payload: Separate GOES Imager and GOES Sounder, space-environment monitor, data-collection system, and search-and-rescue relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-12Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-12 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas IIA
Environmental payload: Separate GOES Imager and GOES Sounder, space-environment monitor, data-collection system, and search-and-rescue relay

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteJason-11,336-kilometer, 66-degree ocean-altimetry orbit

Satellite: Jason-1 ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7920-10
Science payload: Poseidon-2 radar altimeter, Jason microwave radiometer, DORIS, GPS receiver, and laser retroreflector

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Uncrewed Earth-observation and climate satelliteAquaAfternoon Sun-synchronous orbit followed by a controlled free drift

Satellite: Aqua Earth-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7920-10L
Science payload: AIRS, AMSR-E, AMSU-A, CERES, HSB, and MODIS instruments measuring water, temperature, radiation, land, ocean, clouds, snow, and ice

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Uncrewed Earth-observation and climate satelliteAuraAfternoon Sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Satellite: Aura Earth-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7920-10L
Science payload: High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder, Microwave Limb Sounder, Ozone Monitoring Instrument, and Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer

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Uncrewed Earth-observation and climate satelliteCALIPSOSun-synchronous A-Train and later C-Train orbit

Satellite: CALIPSO Earth-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7420-10C
Science payload: CALIOP two-wavelength polarization lidar, Imaging Infrared Radiometer, and Wide Field Camera

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Uncrewed Earth-observation and climate satelliteCloudSatSun-synchronous A-Train and later C-Train orbit

Satellite: CloudSat Earth-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7420-10C
Science payload: 94-gigahertz nadir-pointing Cloud Profiling Radar with roughly 500-meter vertical resolution

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-13Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-13 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)
Environmental payload: Improved GOES Imager and Sounder, Solar X-Ray Imager, space-environment monitoring, data collection, and search-and-rescue relay

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteJason-21,336-kilometer reference orbit followed by a geodetic orbit

Satellite: Jason-2 ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7320
Science payload: Poseidon-3 radar altimeter, advanced microwave radiometer, DORIS, GPS receiver, laser retroreflector, and experimental payloads

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-14Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-14 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)
Environmental payload: Improved GOES Imager and Sounder, Solar X-Ray Imager, space-environment monitoring, data collection, and search-and-rescue relay

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-15Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-15 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)
Environmental payload: Improved GOES Imager and Sounder, Solar X-Ray Imager, space-environment monitoring, data collection, and search-and-rescue relay

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 8Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 8 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas V 401
Earth-observation payload: Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor

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Uncrewed Earth-observation and climate satelliteOrbiting Carbon Observatory-2Sun-synchronous orbit at the head of the A-Train

Satellite: Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 Earth-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Delta II 7320-10C
Science payload: Three high-resolution grating spectrometers measuring oxygen and carbon-dioxide absorption bands

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteJason-31,336-kilometer, 66-degree ocean-altimetry orbit

Satellite: Jason-3 ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 v1.1
Science payload: Poseidon-3B radar altimeter, advanced microwave radiometer, DORIS, GPS receiver, and laser retroreflector

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-16Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-16 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas V 541
Environmental payload: Advanced Baseline Imager, Geostationary Lightning Mapper, Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors, Solar Ultraviolet Imager, space-environment sensors, magnetometer, and communications services

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-17Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-17 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas V 541
Environmental payload: Advanced Baseline Imager, Geostationary Lightning Mapper, Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors, Solar Ultraviolet Imager, space-environment sensors, magnetometer, and communications services

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteSentinel-6 Michael Freilich1,336-kilometer, 66-degree ocean-altimetry orbit

Satellite: Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5
Science payload: Poseidon-4 synthetic-aperture radar altimeter, advanced microwave radiometer, precise-orbit package, and GNSS radio-occultation instrument

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Uncrewed Earth-observation satelliteLandsat 9Near-polar sun-synchronous low Earth orbit

Spacecraft: Landsat 9 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas V 401
Earth-observation payload: Operational Land Imager 2 and Thermal Infrared Sensor 2

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-18Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-18 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Atlas V 541
Environmental payload: Advanced Baseline Imager, Geostationary Lightning Mapper, Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors, Solar Ultraviolet Imager, space-environment sensors, magnetometer, and communications services

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Geostationary ultraviolet-visible air-quality spectrometerTEMPOMission destination

UV-visible spectrometer: Measures sunlight absorbed and scattered by trace gases, aerosols, clouds, and the surface
Standard scans: Hourly daytime coverage of greater North America
Special scans: Sub-hourly regional observations during fires, eruptions, storms, and field campaigns

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Cloud, aerosol, precipitation, and radiation observatoryEarthCAREMission destination

ATLID: High-spectral-resolution ultraviolet lidar for aerosol and thin-cloud profiles
Cloud Profiling Radar: 94-gigahertz Doppler radar for cloud structure and particle vertical velocity
Multi-Spectral Imager: Visible-to-thermal-infrared context across a wide swath

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Geostationary operational environmental satelliteGOES-19Geostationary Earth orbit

Spacecraft: GOES-19 spacecraft
Launch vehicle: Falcon Heavy
Environmental payload: Advanced Baseline Imager, Geostationary Lightning Mapper, Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensors, Solar Ultraviolet Imager, space-environment sensors, magnetometer, and communications services, plus Compact Coronagraph-1

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Uncrewed ocean-observation and altimetry satelliteSentinel-6B1,336-kilometer, 66-degree ocean-altimetry orbit

Satellite: Sentinel-6B ocean-observation satellite
Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5
Science payload: Poseidon-4 synthetic-aperture radar altimeter, advanced microwave radiometer, precise-orbit package, and GNSS radio-occultation instrument

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AstronautAtlas

Earth Science

Earth Science science and payloads

Earth Science

Earth Science science and payloads