TERRA

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TERRA is classified as:

NORAD ID: 25994

Int'l Code: 1999-068A

Perigee: 697.4 km

Apogee: 698.6 km

Inclination: 98.0 °

Period: 98.6 minutes

Semi major axis: 7069 km

RCS: 13.0039 m² (large)

Launch date: December 18, 1999
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE WESTERN TEST RANGE (AFWTR)

TERRA (EOS AM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in a Sun-synchronous orbit around the Earth. It is the flagship of the Earth Observing System (EOS). The name "TERRA" comes from the Latin word for Earth. The satellite was placed into a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 705 km, with a 10:30am descending node. TERRA carries a payload of five remote sensors designed to monitor the state of Earth's environment and ongoing changes in its climate system: ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer); CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System); MISR (Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer); MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer); MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere). Data from the satellite helps scientists better understand the spread of pollution around the globe. Studies have used instruments on TERRA to examine trends in global carbon monoxide and aerosol pollution. The data collected by TERRA will ultimately become a new, 15-year global data set.