Terra (EOS AM-1) is a multinational NASA scientific research satellite in a Sun-synchronous orbit around the Earth. It is the flagship of the Earth Observing System (EOS). intro
The Terra satellite was launched on December 18, 1999 and began collecting data on February 24, 2000. Terra is in a circular sun-synchronous polar orbit that takes it from north to south (on the daylight side of the Earth) every 99 minutes. About
The objective of the mission is to obtain information about the physical and radiative properties of clouds; air-land and air-sea exchanges of energy, carbon, and water ; measurements of trace gases ; and volcanology. Measurements made by the five instruments aboard Terra: ASTER, CERES, MISR, MODIS, and MOPITT Intruments
For 20 years, Terra, the flagship Earth observing satellite, has chronicled changes on Earth. Designed and built in the 1980s and 90s, NASA and Lockheed Martin engineers set out to build a satellite that could take simultaneous measurements of Earth’s atmosphere, land, and water. Its mission – to understand how Earth is changing and to identify the consequences for life on Earth. Season after season, Terra data continues to help us understand how the evolving systems of our planet affect our lives – and how we can use that data to benefit society. Conclusion