Landsat 1, 2, and 3
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Landsat 1 was launched on July 23, 1972; at that time the satellite was known as the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS). It was the first Earth-observing satellite to be launched with the express intent to study and monitor our planet’s landmasses.
Landsat 2 carried the same sensors as its predecessor: the Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) and the Multispectral Scanner System (MSS).
Landsat 3 was launched on March 5, 1978. Operation was shifted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1983.
Model credit: Ross K. Walter