On this day in 1984, Landsat 5 was launched into orbit. Today, after 23 years of service, Landsat 5 is still operational. The original design life of Landsat 5 was just three years, but it has become the longest continuously operating Earth observation system in the U.S. civilian satellite fleet. Landsat 5’s tremendous life span is a tribute to the prodigious engineering behind the satellite.

A Planet in Focus – Landsat 7’s Legacy
Celebrating the 25-year mission of Landsat 7, a NASA/USGS satellite that revolutionized Earth observation with high-resolution imagery used in agriculture, disaster response, climate research, and more.