The history and operational status of the LANDSAT satellites and processing of LANDSAT imagery are summarized. Multispectral band scanner (MSS) data from LANDSAT 2 are being provided by recorders placed at several foreign ground stations. Return beam vidicon data are being received from LANDSAT 3. Processing and delivery of these data is improving, with disappearance of the backlog projected for 1982. The acquisition of MSS data and data from the thematic mapper (TM) is expected from LANDSAT D, with transfer of MSS data to NOAA projected for 1983 and TM data for 1985

Salomonson, V. V.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

A STATUS REPORT FOR LANDSAT 2, 3 & D
Vincent V. Salomonson (Chief - Earth Survey Applications Division -
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center -
Greenbelt, MD)
Introduction
The Landsat series of Satellites has been producing observations useful
for studying and monitoring the dynamics of surface features of the
earth and the performance of earth resources management activities.
These observations have been found to be useful in monitoring agricul-
tural practices including the acreage, growth and development of crops
and forests, the extent of snow and ice cover and other water resources
management surface features such as water bodies, irrigation practices
and wetlands, the scope and character of geologic features aiding
mineral and petroleum exploration, and general land cover mapping useful
in land use planning and management and demographic studies.
The observations from the Landsat satellites, in total, have been found
to be sufficiently useful in resources management to provide the funda-
mental impetus for the issuance of a presidential directive (PD 54) in
1979 establishing the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) as the agency to manage all operational civilian remote sensing
activities from space (NOAA 1980). This wasa significant development
in that it provides an institutional framework within which continuity
of data is assured. This subsequently signals agencies and industries
that have found these data to be useful in the past that they may pro-
ceed with long term plans and commitments that will enable them to in-
corporate Landsat data and acquire associated equipment and personnel
in such a way as to allow them to better meet their responsibilities
and commitments.
This paper will summarize the status of the existing Landsat 2/3 satel-
lites and the associated NASA ground data processing activities. It
will also provide an updated view of the progress in the Landsat D pro-
gram, because the Landsat D program is to provide the primary systems
and observations that will support the operational earth resources
satellite system in the 1980's.
Landsat 1/2/3 Status
Landsat 1 was launched in July 1972 followed by Landsat 2 in January
1975 and Landsat 3 in March 1978. For much of the period between 1975
and 1980, there were two satellites in operation although Landsat 2 did
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experience difficulties during the period of November 1979 to May 1980.
Landsat 1 ceased operations in March 1978. The MSS instruments on
Landsat I/2/3 have provided the substantial majority of observations
in four spectral Bands (0.5-0.6, 0.6-0.7, 0.7-0.8 and 0.8-1.1 micro-
meters), at 80 meter spatial resolution. Return Beam Vidicon (RBV),
panchromatic cameras for Landsat 3 have also provided a very useful
set of observations at a spatial resolution of less than 40 meters.
Due to a failure in the multiplexer circuitry associated with the MSS
on Landsat 3, the MSS was removed from operational service in December
1980. Figure 1 shows the progress of Landsat RBV and MSS scene acquisi-
tions in 1979 and 1980.
With Landsat 3 MSS not in operation, only MSS data from Landsat 2 will
be available until the launch of Landsat D in 1982. The tape recorder
associated with MSS data on Landsat 2 have been inoperative for some-
time. MSS data for US applications, other than that available from
direct readout of Landsat 2 over the United States (except Hawaii),
must be obtained by other means. Tape recorders able to store MSS data
for routine shipment to the US are being placed at ground stations in
Brazil, Sweden and Australia. A recorder developed by the Japanese is
being used in Japan. RBV data are still being acquired from Landsat 3
and the on-board tape recorder.
Since February 1979 (September 1980) the processing and archiving of
the Landsat MSS (RBV) data has been digitally based as opposed to the
image-based system used earlier. This strategy has encountered some
significant challenges in achieving a fully operational status. The
image processing facility (IPF) at Goddard Space Flight Center wherein
this strategy was instituted, accumulated a backlog of MSS and RBV
• images to be processed. The MSS backlog status is shown in Figure 2.
Data production rates for MSS data are expected to range between 850
to 950 scenes per week over the next year. The scene production rate
for the RBV data has been near 175 full frames per week and is expected
to be near 200 full frames per week during the next year. This should
gradually reduce the backlog to zero by the end of 1981 or shortly
thereafter. The median cycle time in the IPF, extending from receipt
of current data at the IPF to shipment date to the EROS Data Center
(EDC), has been near 14 days.
Landsat D
The Landsat D program has been revised and updated in the past year and
this section will describe the essence of the program as it now stands.
For a more extended discussion of these plans, see Salomonson (1981).
Landsat D is now scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 1982. A
second spacecraft, Landsat D (Prime) is to be ready for launch 12-15
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months following the launch of Landsat D. Data will be acquired from
Landsat D using the present Ground Station, Tracking & Data Network
(GSTDN), until the Tracking & Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) be-
comes available in 1983. Both Landsat D and D prime, will have an MSS
instrument in the payload. The advanced multispectral scanner termed
the "Thematic Mapper" will be flown on Landsat D if it is ready in time
for launch and will definitely be included in the payload of Landsat D
prime. Figure 3 provides an overall concept of Landsat D systems.
Figure 4 schematically describes basic elements involved in the Thematic
Mapper (TM) operation.
In concert with the establishment of NOAA as the operational earth re-
sources satellite agency, the processing capability for MSS data from
Landsat D will be developed and transferred to NOAA by January 1983.
Much more research and development is required for the TM data products.
This processing capability, therefore, is not planned for transfer to
NOAA until January 1985. Table i summarizes Landsat D production re-
quirements. The total ground processing system for Landsat D and D
prime, has been conceived to separate the processing of the MSS and TM
data, to accomplish operational status independently.
Conclusions
Landsat MSS data are being provided for domestic use by Landsat 2 using
real time US readout capability and recorders placed at some foreign
ground stations. Return Beam Vidicon data continue to be received from
Landsat 3. The processing and delivery of these data is gradually im-
proving with the disappearance of backlog in RBV or MSS data by 1982.
This should set the stage for the acquisition of data from Landsat D
MSS and, possible the TM. Pending the firm establishment of the opera-
tional earth resources satellite system, the production of Landsat D
MSS data for the user community should be achieved by 1983 and TM data
by 1985.
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SCENES PER WEEK (AVERAGED MONTHLY) 
LANDSAT-2  OFF LANDSAT-2 O N  
LANDSAT-3 
MSS OFF 
Figure 1 Landsat 2 MSS & Landsat 3 RBVIMSS Acquisitions 
- REWORK OF POST 
1 JUNE 1980 
DATA 
Figure  2 Landsat  IFF Backlog (MSS) 
F i g u r e  3 Landsat  D System 
TM Detector Details Scan
1 Bands 1 Mirr°r"'_
-1 2 3 4 5 7_6_
::!"::: !i: -:":": •
" . ,- : Alongii:-!i--.. s,,,concoo,,
"" '" Direction Detectors Detectors
: " : : : ' and Filters and Filters
Bands 4 Bands 5
3
-'-, _ 6
Scan Direction 2 71
G
P
BAND SPECTRALRANGES Orbit
I-,-8
i /Jm Direction
4>" I .45 -- .52
" 2 .52- 160 ._,,,.
3 .63 -- .69 "
4 .76 -- .90
5 1.5,5-- 1.75 Swath /1
6 10.4- t2.5 Width LJ
7 2.os- 2._s 185 km
Ground IFOV Incorporates Angular Displacement
Bands 1-5E_7 30 Meters Sensor (ADS)
Band 6 120 Meters Measures Angle of Motion from 2 to 125 Hz '_"
Data Rate -- 85 Mbps Source of Jitter Compensation Date
II
Quantization Levels -- 256 /l_J\
Figure 4 Landsat D Thematic Mapper (TM) Sensor
Table 1 Landsat D Production Requirements
Quantity
Required for NOAA
Product (Scenes/Day) When Available
1) MSS A Tape (HDT) (User Product) 200 A. Capability for 200 Scenes/Day
MSS 70 mm Film (Q.C. PF0duct) at Launch
(One Band) B. Turn Over Operational System
to NOAA, 200 Scenes/Day at
D Launch Plus 6 Months
2) MSS CCT (A or P) (Q.C. 2 At Launch of Landsat-D
I
--, Product)i,,,m
3) MSS 241 mm Film (Q.C. 4 A. At Launch of Landsat'D:
Product) 2 Scenes/Day
B. Launch + 90 Days:
4 Scenes/Day
4) TM A Tape (HDT) (User 100 A. In July 1983, 12 Scenes/Day
Product) With A Priori Jitter Correction
B. By April 1£84,12 Scenes/Day
Must be Demonstrated*
C. Turn-Over Operational System i_
To NOAA, 100 Scenes/Day,
in January 1985"
Table 1 Landsat D Production Requirements (Cont'd)
Quantity
' Required for NOAA
Product (Scenes/Day) When Available
5) TM PTape (HDT) (User Product) 50 A. In July 1983, 12 Scenes/Day
With A Priori Jitter Correction
B. By April 1984, 12 Scenes/Day
Must Be Demonstrated*
C. Turn-Over Operational System
_" To NOAA, 50 Scenes/Day in
0' January 1985"
6) TM CCT (A or P) (User Product) 10 A. In July.1983, 2 Scenes/Day
B. By April 1984,2 Scenes/Day
Must be Demonstrated
C. Turn-Over Operational System
to NOAA, 10 Scenes/Day in
January 1985"
NOTE Scenes/Day are Defined as Output With a 48-Hour Turn-Around Averaged Over a
10-Day Period.
*Assumes a Thematic Mapper was Launched by July 1983


LANDSAT 2, 3, and D

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