Skip Navigation

Projects

Terra

Terra Project Logo

NASA launched the Earth Observing System's flagship satellite "Terra," named for Earth, on December 18, 1999. Terra has been collecting data about Earth's changing climate. Terra carries five state-of-the-art sensors that have been studying the interactions among the Earth's atmosphere, lands, oceans, and radiant energy. Each sensor has unique design features that will enable scientists to meet a wide range of science objectives. The five Terra onboard sensors are:

  • ASTER, or Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer
  • CERES, or Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System
  • MISR, or Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer
  • MODIS, or Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
  • MOPITT, or Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere.