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Terra (satellite)
Encyclopedia
Terra is a multi-national NASA
scientific research satellite
in a sun-synchronous orbit
around the Earth
. It is the flagship of the Earth Observing System
(EOS). The name "Terra" comes from the Latin
word for Earth.
on December 18, 1999, aboard an Atlas IIAS vehicle and began collecting data on February 24, 2000.
and ongoing changes in its climate
system:
Data from the satellite helps scientists better understand the spread of pollution around the globe. Studies have used instruments on Terra to examine trends in global carbon monoxide and aerosol
pollution. The data collected by Terra will ultimately become a new, 15-year global data set.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
scientific research satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
in a sun-synchronous orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
around the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. It is the flagship of the Earth Observing System
Earth Observing System
The Earth Observing System is a program of NASA comprising a series of artificial satellite missions and scientific instruments in Earth orbit designed for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans of the Earth. The satellite component of the program was...
(EOS). The name "Terra" comes from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word for Earth.
Launch
The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force BaseVandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
on December 18, 1999, aboard an Atlas IIAS vehicle and began collecting data on February 24, 2000.
Mission
Terra carries a payload of five remote sensors designed to monitor the state of Earth's environmentNatural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
and ongoing changes in its climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
system:
- ASTERAdvanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection RadiometerASTER is a Japanese sensor which is one of five remote sensory devices on board the Terra satellite launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999...
(Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) - CERESClouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy SystemClouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System is NASA climatological experiment from Earth orbit.The CERES are scientific satellite instruments, part of the NASA's Earth Observing System...
(Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System) - MISRMISRThe Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer is a scientific instrument on the Terra satellite launched by NASA on December 18, 1999. This device is designed to measure the intensity of solar radiation reflected by the Earth system in various directions and spectral bands; it became operational in...
(Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer) - MODISMODISThe Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board the Terra Satellite, and in 2002 on board the Aqua satellite...
(Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) - MOPITTMOPITTMOPITT is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA on board the Terra satellite in 1999. It is designed to monitor changes in pollution patterns and its effect in the lower atmosphere of the Earth...
(Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere)
Data from the satellite helps scientists better understand the spread of pollution around the globe. Studies have used instruments on Terra to examine trends in global carbon monoxide and aerosol
Aerosol
Technically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. In general conversation, aerosol usually refers to an aerosol spray can or the output of such a can...
pollution. The data collected by Terra will ultimately become a new, 15-year global data set.
See also
- AquaAqua (satellite)Aqua is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the precipitation, evaporation, and cycling of water. It is the second major component of the Earth Observing System preceded by Terra and followed by Aura .The name "Aqua" comes from the Latin word...
- AuraAura (satellite)Aura is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the Earth's ozone layer, air quality and climate. It is the third major component of the Earth Observing System following on Terra and Aqua...
- Man-made structures visible from spaceMan-made structures visible from spaceMan-made structures visible from earth orbit without magnification include highways, dams, and cities...