Spacecraft Processing
Following fueling operations, a technician inspects the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) spacecraft in the Astrotech processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Fairing Encloses Spacecraft
Technicians encapsulate the NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) satellite in its payload fairing in the Astrotech processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
How Will We Sustain a More Populated Planet?
This photograph of the LDCM satellite shows the satellite side that will point toward the sun. This photo was taken on July 8, 2011.
The Calibration Subsystem
The Calibration Subsystem uses the sun and the absence of light to establish the light and dark end points of the scale used to interpret the collected reflectance data. This image was taken Nov. 16, 2011.
Assembly of Landsat's TIRS Instrument
The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) will fly on the next Landsat satellite and is completing final tests this week at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. This photo was taken on Jan. 24, 2012
Spacecraft Processing
Following fueling operations, a technician performs thermal blanket closeouts for the fuel servicing valves on the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) spacecraft in the Astrotech processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Feb. 7, 2013.
The Cryocooler —Part of the LDCM Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS)
The Cryocooler is like a big refrigerator, except that it cools to cryogenic temperatures (below −150 °C, −238 °F or 123 K). This photo was taken on April 4, 2011.
The Operational Land Imager (OLI) - LDCM VIS/IR Instrument
The Operational Land Imager (OLI) is being built by the Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation. This photo was taken on March 9, 2011.
Assembly of Landsat's TIRS Instrument
Aleksandra Bogunovic (left) and Veronica Otero (right) look on while Pete Steigner (in the middle) adds a flow tube that will make sure that nitrogen gas flows through the instrument while it's being shipped. The gas will keep contaminating particles from infiltrating the instrument. This photo was taken on Feb. 14, 2012.
Artist Impression of Landsat in Orbit
An artist's view of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission spacecraft in orbit above the Gulf Coast of the U.S.
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