The Landsat 1 satellite was launched into orbit by NASA on July 23, 1972, marking the beginning of the longest continuous observation of Earth from outer space. Landsat 8, the most recent satellite in the series, was launched on Feb. 11, 2013. The millions of images collected over the last 40 plus years have allowed scientists to observe changes on the Earth’s surface in terms of agriculture, forestry, geology. The program has also been used as a tool for regional planning, cartography, and surveillance.
Here are some of the most striking and memorable images collected from the Landsat program.