Landsat Mission Finder
Find the right Landsat satellite for your research year. Enter any year from 1972 to 2035 and discover which satellites were operational and their capabilities.
How It Works
Not sure which Landsat satellite to use for your analysis? This tool helps you identify which Landsat missions were operational during specific years, along with their technical specifications and data availability.
Simply enter one or more years, and we'll tell you which satellites were collecting data, their sensor capabilities, spatial resolution, and spectral bands available.
Search by Year
Enter up to 5 years to compare available satellites:
Quick Search Examples:
Understanding the Results
Operational Status
Shows whether the satellite is currently operational, decommissioned, or planned for future launch.
Operational Period
The exact dates when the satellite was collecting data. Essential for temporal analysis.
Instruments & Sensors
The sensor type (MSS, TM, ETM+, OLI/TIRS) determines the data quality and processing requirements.
Spatial Resolution
The ground pixel size varies by mission: 80m (Landsat 1-3), 30m (Landsat 4-9), down to 10-20m (Landsat Next).
Spectral Bands
Number of spectral bands available, ranging from 4 bands (early missions) to 26 bands (Landsat Next).
Data Access
Information on where to access the data, typically through USGS Earth Explorer or NASA data portals.
Data Sources
All mission timelines, specifications, and operational dates sourced from official USGS and NASA documentation. Data is regularly updated to reflect current mission status.