Landsat 8

Landsat 8 is an American Earth observation satellite launched on February 11, 2013. It is the eighth satellite in the Landsat program, a joint initiative of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA. Landsat 8 carries two main instruments: the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS).

The OLI instrument collects data in nine spectral bands, providing enhanced information on land surface conditions compared to previous Landsat sensors. These bands cover visible, near-infrared, and shortwave infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The TIRS instrument measures thermal infrared radiation emitted from the Earth's surface in two spectral bands. This data is valuable for monitoring surface temperatures, water resources, and other environmental applications.

Landsat 8 data is freely available to the public and is widely used by researchers, government agencies, and commercial organizations for a variety of purposes, including: land use planning, agriculture monitoring, forestry management, disaster response, and climate change studies. The consistent and calibrated data record provided by Landsat 8 and its predecessors offers a valuable tool for tracking changes in the Earth's environment over time. The satellite is designed for a five-year mission but is expected to operate for a longer duration.