Best Earth Observation
Sentinel-2 is an Earth observation mission developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the Copernicus Programme. Consisting of two identical satellites (Sentinel-2A launched in 2015 and Sentinel-2B in 2017), the mission provides multispectral imagery with 13 spectral bands at spatial res...
Why this score?
Widely used high resolution open imagery transformed environmental monitoring, agriculture, disaster response, and mapping; exceptional practical impact and data accessibility.
Scoring methodology
Launched by the European Space Agency in 2014, Sentinel-1 is a radar imaging satellite and a core component of the Copernicus program. It utilizes a C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument to provide continuous all-weather, day-and-night imagery of the Earth's surface. This data is used by...
Why this score?
Transformative free radar data supports disaster response, climate science, agriculture, and mapping worldwide; outstanding utility despite a major spacecraft loss within the constellation.
Scoring methodology
Sentinel-2B is an Earth observation satellite operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) as part of the Copernicus Programme. Launched in 2017, it flies in a sun-synchronous orbit phased 180 degrees opposite its twin, Sentinel-2A. Equipped with a multispectral imager, the satellite captures high-re...
Why this score?
Core Copernicus optical satellite with excellent open data, high revisit, and broad scientific, commercial, and public-sector adoption.
Scoring methodology
Nimbus-7 was an American meteorological research satellite launched by NASA in 1978 into a sun-synchronous orbit. As the final satellite in the highly successful Nimbus program, it carried a suite of remote sensing instruments to study Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and climate. Notably, it hosted the...
Why this score?
Foundational atmospheric satellite carrying TOMS, crucial for ozone-hole discovery and long-term climate chemistry records.
Scoring methodology
GOES-18 is a geostationary weather satellite operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and launched in 2022. It replaced GOES-17 as the operational GOES-West satellite, taking up a vantage point at 137.2 degrees West longitude. As part of the advanced GOES-R series, it u...
Why this score?
Successful GOES-West replacement with modern ABI performance, strong operational value, and no comparable major anomaly reported.
Scoring methodology
Sentinel-3 is an Earth observation satellite mission developed by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus Programme. The initial satellite, Sentinel-3A, was launched in 2016 to accurately measure sea surface topography, sea and land surface temperatures, and ocean color. The mission is d...
Why this score?
Reliable global ocean and land monitoring supplies crucial climate and forecasting data; highly valued operationally, though less publicly prominent than Sentinel-2.
Scoring methodology
GOES-19 is the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-series, launched in 2024. Operated by NOAA and NASA, it is designed to be positioned in geostationary orbit as GOES-East. From this vantage point, it monitors weather and environmental conditions acr...
Why this score?
Latest GOES-R class spacecraft with advanced weather-monitoring capability, strong expected value, but limited long-term operational record.
Scoring methodology
Sentinel-2C is an Earth observation satellite developed by the European Space Agency for the Copernicus program, successfully launched in 2024. It joins the Sentinel-2 constellation to ensure the continuity of multispectral imaging operations previously managed by its predecessors. From a sun-synchr...
Why this score?
Important Sentinel-2 continuity satellite with excellent expected Copernicus value, but short operational history.
Scoring methodology
SPOT-1 was a French Earth observation satellite launched by the CNES in 1986, marking the inaugural mission of the commercial SPOT satellite program. Operating in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, it was equipped with two HRV (High Resolution Visible) imaging instruments capable of capturing 10-meter p...
Why this score?
Pioneering commercial high-resolution optical EO satellite, launching the influential SPOT program and stereo mapping capability.
Scoring methodology
Sentinel-1C is a European Space Agency Copernicus program satellite carrying a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument. Launched in December 2024, it joined the Sentinel-1 constellation in Sun-synchronous polar orbit to provide continuous, all-weather, day-and-night Earth imaging. Its data...
Why this score?
Critical Sentinel-1 continuity satellite with strong SAR capability, but limited time in service prevents higher consensus.
Scoring methodology
Landsat 4 was a joint NASA and U.S. Geological Survey Earth observation satellite launched on July 16, 1982 into a Sun-synchronous near-polar orbit at approximately 705 km altitude. It carried the Thematic Mapper sensor, which provided 30-meter resolution in six visible and infrared bands plus a 120...
Why this score?
Important Landsat milestone introducing Thematic Mapper, strengthening a globally foundational Earth-observation record.
Scoring methodology
Sentinel-3B is an Earth observation satellite operated by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus Programme, launched in April 2018. It flies in a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, orbiting in tandem with Sentinel-3A to provide optimal global coverage. The satellite carries multiple instr...
Why this score?
Reliable Copernicus ocean and land monitoring satellite, respected for continuity and data quality, though less iconic than Sentinel-1 or 2.
Scoring methodology
IRS-1A was India's first indigenous remote sensing satellite, launched on March 17, 1988 from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soviet Vostok rocket. Built by ISRO, it operated in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at approximately 900 km altitude. The satellite carried two Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor...
Why this score?
India's first operational remote-sensing satellite, foundational for national EO program and agricultural monitoring.
Scoring methodology
Launched in February 2009, NOAA-19 is the final spacecraft in the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) series operated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The satellite circles Earth in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, collecting global atmospheric, oceanic, and te...
Why this score?
Final POES satellite with long service life and strong continuity value, regarded as dependable though technologically superseded.
Scoring methodology
NOAA-18 is an environmental monitoring satellite launched in May 2005 as part of the U.S. Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) series. Built by Lockheed Martin, it orbits Earth in a sun-synchronous trajectory to provide global atmospheric and surface data. The satellite carries a suite o...
Why this score?
Reliable POES workhorse with long operational service and useful sounding and imaging data, despite older-generation capability.
Scoring methodology
ERS-2 (European Remote-Sensing Satellite 2) was an Earth observation satellite operated by the European Space Agency. Launched in 1995, it built upon the capabilities of its predecessor by introducing the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment, an instrument designed to measure global stratospheric ozon...
Why this score?
Built on ERS-1 with ozone monitoring and strong continuity, respected Earth observation mission.
Scoring methodology
NOAA-15 is a polar-orbiting environmental satellite launched by the United States in 1998 as part of the Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) series. It operates in a sun-synchronous orbit, carrying instruments such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and th...
Why this score?
Exceptionally long-lived POES satellite still valued by weather and APT communities, though aging instruments limit modern standing.
Scoring methodology
ERS-1, or European Remote-Sensing Satellite 1, was the first Earth observation satellite developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched in 1991, the satellite carried advanced instruments, including a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and a radar altimeter, to monitor the planet's surface. It s...
Why this score?
ESA remote-sensing pioneer with valuable radar ocean, ice, and land data.
Scoring methodology
Launched in April 2013, GaoFen-1 is the first satellite deployed in China's High-Definition Earth Observation System (CHEOS). It operates in a sun-synchronous orbit equipped with high-resolution and wide-field cameras. The satellite provides 2-meter panchromatic and 8-meter multispectral imagery, al...
Why this score?
Important first Gaofen satellite and national EO milestone, useful wide coverage but moderate resolution by global standards.
Scoring methodology
Resurs-P No.1 is a Russian civilian Earth observation satellite launched into orbit in 2013 to provide high-resolution imagery for environmental monitoring and resource management. Operated by Roscosmos, the satellite is equipped with advanced imaging payloads, including a 1-meter panchromatic camer...
Why this score?
Capable Russian high-resolution civilian EO satellite with hyperspectral payload, useful but affected by uneven program reliability.
Scoring methodology
Sentinel-1B was a European Space Agency (ESA) Earth observation satellite launched in April 2016 as part of the Copernicus Programme. Operating in a polar orbit, it was equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to provide continuous, all-weather day-and-night imagery of the Earth's surfa...
Why this score?
Strong Sentinel-1 radar capability and Copernicus value, but premature power failure significantly damaged mission reputation.
Scoring methodology
GOES-17 is a NOAA geostationary weather satellite launched in 2018 as the second spacecraft in the GOES-R series. Its main imaging instrument, the Advanced Baseline Imager, provides observations used for weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and analysis of Earth's atmosphere and surface. A...
Why this score?
Advanced GOES-R platform, but loop heat pipe anomaly degraded infrared availability and hurt operational reputation despite recovery procedures.
Scoring methodology
