Name
|
Status
|
Agency
|
Launch [note 1]
|
Description
|
ALOS-2
|
Active
|
JAXA
|
2014
|
|
Alsat-2A and 2B
|
Active
|
Algerian Space Agency (ASAL)
|
2016
|
|
Amazônia-1
|
Active
|
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
|
2021
|
|
Aqua
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2002
|
Carries six instruments to observe interactions among the four spheres for Earth's systems: oceans, land, atmosphere, and biosphere.[5]
|
ASNARO-2
|
Active
|
JAXA
|
2018
|
|
Aura
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2004
|
Studies earth's ozone, air quality, and climate though observation of composition, chemistry, and dynamics of the atmosphere.[6]
|
Badr-B
|
Active
|
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO)
|
2001
|
Cartosat-1
|
Active
|
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
|
2005
|
|
Cartosat-2A and 2B
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2007
|
|
Cartosat-2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2016
|
|
Cartosat-3
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2019
|
|
CBERS-4
|
Active
|
China National Space Administration (CNSA) and INPE
|
2014
|
|
Chollian 1, 2A, and 2B
|
Active
|
KARI
|
2010
|
Also known as Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellites (COMS). Used for communication, oceanography, and meteorological observation.
|
CloudSat
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2006
|
Uses radar to measure the altitude and properties of clouds.[7]
|
COSMO-SkyMed 1 to 4
|
Active
|
Italian Space Agency (ASI)
|
2007
|
Used for defense and security assurance in Italy and other countries, seismic hazard analysis, environmental disaster monitoring, and agricultural mapping.
|
CryoSat-2
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2010
|
|
CYGNSS
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2016
|
Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System.
|
DSCOVR
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2015
|
Deep Space Climate Observatory. Designed to study the Sun-lit side of Earth from the L1 Lagrange point.[8]
|
DubaiSat-1 and 2
|
Active
|
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)
|
2009
|
|
Elektro-L No. 1, 2, and 3
|
Active
|
Russia's Roscosmos
|
2011
|
|
Fengyun 2D to 4A
|
Active
|
China Meteorological Administration
|
2006
|
Translated from Chinese, the word Fengyun means "wind cloud." Series 3 satellites are Sun-synchronous and series 2 and 4 satellites are geosynchronous.
|
Formosat-5
|
Active
|
Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO)
|
2017
|
|
Gaofen-2
|
Active
|
CNSA
|
2014
|
|
Gaofen-3
|
Active
|
CNSA
|
2016
|
|
GOES-16 and 17
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2016
|
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. Collects weather observations. See also: List of GOES satellites.
|
Gokturk-1
|
Active
|
Turkish Ministry of National Defense
|
2016
|
Used for mapping and planning, landcover survey, geology, ecosystem monitoring, disaster management, environmental control, coastal zone management, and water resources.
|
Gokturk-2
|
Active
|
Turkish Ministry of National Defense
|
2012
|
Used for mapping and planning, landcover survey, geology, ecosystem monitoring, disaster management, environmental control, coastal zone management, and water resources.[9]
|
GPM
|
Active
|
NASA and JAXA
|
2014
|
Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory. Used to study rainfall and snowfall.[10][11]
|
GOES-16, -17
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2016
|
monitors weather for NOAA.
|
GRACE-FO
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2018[12][13]
|
Gravity and climate. The mission will track changes in global sea levels, glaciers, and ice sheets, as well as large lake and river water levels, and soil moisture.[14]
|
GOSAT
|
Active
|
JAXA
|
2009
|
Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite. The first precise carbon dioxide observing satellite and precursor to OCO-2.
|
Himawari 8 and 9
|
Active
|
Japan Meteorological Agency
|
2014
|
Similar to NASA's GOES satellites.
|
ICESat-2
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2018
|
Measures ice sheet height changes for climate change diagnoses.[15][16]
|
IMS-1
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2008
|
|
ISS
|
Active
|
NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA
|
1998
|
The International Space Station (ISS) has long been used as a central satellite platform for other sensors, including Earth observation sensors. For example: LIS, SAGE III, TSIS-I, ECOSTRESS, GEDI, OCO-3, Diwata-1, and HICO.
|
Jason-3
|
Active
|
NASA and CNES
|
2016
|
Radar altimeter used to monitor ocean surface height.
|
KhalifaSat
|
Active
|
MBRSC
|
2018
|
Also known as DubaiSat-3.
|
KOMPSAT-2
|
Active
|
KARI
|
2006
|
Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-2. Also known as Arirang-2.
|
KOMPSAT-3, 3A, and 5
|
Active
|
KARI
|
2012
|
Korean Multi-purpose Satellite-3, 3A, and 5. Also known as Arirang-3, 3A, and 5.
|
LAGEOS-1 and 2
|
Active
|
NASA
|
1976
|
LAGEOS 1 launched in 1976 and LAGEOS 2 launched in 1992. Used as an orbiting benchmark for geodynamical studies.[17]
|
Landsat-7
|
Active
|
NASA and USGS
|
1999
|
Images Earth's land surfaces and coastal areas with global coverage at high spatial resolution.[18]
|
Landsat-8
|
Active
|
NASA and USGS
|
2013
|
Follow on to Landsat-7 with improved imager OLI and thermal sensor TIRS.
|
Landsat-9
|
Active
|
NASA and USGS
|
2021
|
Follow on to Landsat-8 with OLI sensor and thermal sensor TIRS-2. Landsat-9 will extend the Landsat program to maintain the time series of these type of data.
|
Megha-Tropiques
|
Active
|
CNES and ISRO
|
2011
|
|
Meteor-M No. 1 and 2
|
Active
|
Roscosmos
|
2009
|
|
Meteosat 8
|
Active
|
EUMETSAT
|
2002
|
Also known as MSG 1.
|
MetOp A, B, and C
|
Active
|
NASA, ESA, and NOAA
|
2006
|
Meteorological Operational satellite. Part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) program.
|
Mohammed VI-A and VI-B
|
Active
|
Arianespace and Morocco
|
2017
|
See also: Vega flight VV11 and Vega flight VV13
|
NigComSat-1R
|
Active
|
NASRDA
|
2009
|
DFH-4 satellite and replacement for the failed NigComSat-1
|
NigeriaSat-1 and 2
|
Active
|
NASRDA
|
2003
|
Part of the worldwide Disaster Monitoring Constellation System
|
NOAA-15, 18, and 19
|
Active
|
NASA, ESA, and NOAA
|
1998
|
Part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) program.
|
NOAA-20
|
Active
|
NASA and NOAA
|
2017
|
Part of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program.
|
Oceansat-2
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2009
|
|
OCO-2
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2014
|
Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2. Part of the A-Train. The second precise carbon dioxide observing satellite after GOSAT.
|
PACE
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2024
|
Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem measures hyperspectral and polarimetric characteristics of solar radiation reflected off Earth’s surface and atmosphere.
|
PakTES-1A
|
Active
|
SUPARCO
|
2018
|
|
Paz
|
Active
|
Spain's Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
|
2018
|
|
Pleiades 1A and 1B
|
Active
|
CNES
|
2011
|
|
PRISMA
|
Active
|
Italian Space Agency (ASI)
|
2019
|
PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa, in English: Hyperspectral PRecursor of the Application Mission.
|
PROBA-V
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2013
|
Continues the traditional Vegetation (the "V" in PROBA-V) products that began with the SPOT satellites.[19]
|
PRSS-1
|
Active
|
SUPARCO
|
2018
|
Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite 1.
|
RCM
|
Active
|
CSA
|
2019
|
RADARSAT Constellation Mission.
|
RADARSAT-2
|
Active
|
CSA
|
2007
|
C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR-C) satellite.
|
RASAT
|
Active
|
TÜBITAK-UZAY
|
2011
|
|
Resourcesat-1 and 2
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2003
|
|
Resurs-P No.1 and 2
|
Active
|
Roscosmos
|
2013
|
|
SAOCOM
|
Active
|
CONAE
|
2018
|
|
SARAL
|
Active
|
ISRO
|
2013
|
|
Sentinel-1A and B
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2014
|
Constellation of two, each satellite carries C-SAR sensor. Part of the Copernicus Programme.
|
Sentinel-2A, B, and C
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2015
|
Constellation of three, each satellite carries MSI sensor for high spatial resolution imaging. Part of the Copernicus Programme.
|
Sentinel-3A and B
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2016
|
Constellation of two, each satellite carries sensors OLCI and SLSTR. Slightly coarser spatial resolution and more spectral bands than Sentinel-2. Part of the Copernicus Programme.
|
Sentinel-6A
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2020
|
Continuing the legacy of the Jason series missions, Sentinel-6/Jason-CS will extend the records of sea level (sea surface height) and provide information for operational oceanography, marine meteorology, and climate studies.[20]
|
SMAP
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2015
|
Soil Moisture Active Passive. Measures soil moisture and its freeze/thaw state, which enhance understanding of processes that link water, energy, and carbon cycles to extend the capabilities of weather and climate models. Radar payload failed in July 2015, leaving a radiometer as the primary instrument of the mission.[21]
|
SORCE
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2003
|
monitors total output from the Sun for understanding of Earth's absorption of radiation energy.[15]
|
Suomi NPP
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2011
|
Part of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program.
|
SWOT
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2022
|
|
TanDEM-X
|
Active
|
DLR
|
2010
|
|
Terra
|
Active
|
NASA
|
1999
|
Carries five instruments to observe the state of the atmosphere, land, and oceans, as well as their interactions with solar radiation and with one another.[22]
|
TerraSAR-X
|
Active
|
DLR
|
2007
|
|
THEOS
|
Active
|
GISTDA
|
2008
|
Also known as Thaichote.
|
TIMED
|
Active
|
NASA
|
2001
|
Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Energetics, and Dynamics.
|
VNREDSat-1A
|
Active
|
VAST
|
2013
|
The Vietnamese Natural Resources, Environment and Disaster Monitoring Satellite.
|
VRSS-1 and 2
|
Active
|
ABAE
|
2012
|
The Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite.
|
Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P)
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2017
|
|
SMOS
|
Active
|
ESA
|
2009
|
|