The NASA Agency Program Management Council unanimously approved the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) to proceed to into Phase D following a Key Decision Point-D (KDP-D) review at NASA Headquarters on November 8, 2011. Phase D is the final development phase of the NASA satellite mission life cycle prior to launch. This phase includes the final assembly and testing of the integrated satellite system and the launch of the satellite. The Agency Program Management Council conducts a Key Decision Point review of satellite system development prior to the initiation of each phase in the life cycle and the successful KDP-D represents a major milestone for LDCM. LDCM development is on schedule for a December 2012 launch date.

Ten Years of TIRS: Data for a Thirsty World
Landsat 8 very nearly flew without a thermal infrared sensor. This is the backstory of how TIRS made it onto Landsat 8.