How NASA’s orbital eye has expanded since 2013

Space · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In July 2013, a specific satellite mission ended, leaving NASA with exactly sixteen Earth science satellites in orbit. A decade later, that fleet has grown substantially, providing a much more robust view of our changing planet's systems and climate.

On July 3, 2013, the decommissioning of the Jason-1 satellite marked a transition in NASA's Earth science capabilities. At that precise moment, the agency's fleet of Earth science missions in orbit consisted of sixteen operating satellites. This period of observation was part of a broader effort to monitor the planet's complex systems, including the Landsat Data Continuity Mission, which was a focus during Earth Day visits to the Goddard Space Flight Center. During Earth Day 2013, NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver visited the Goddard Space Flight Center to review these critical programs. Her tour specifically included the control room for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission.

The scale of Earth observation has changed significantly since that era. While the 2013 fleet was relatively small, ten years later, the number of satellites monitoring Earth has grown substantially. This expansion in orbital hardware complements the massive growth in visual data archives. For instance, the NASA Earth Observatory, which began publishing imagery in 1999, has expanded its collection to include more than 17,000 stories. This growth in data mirrors the agency's broader outreach, such as the activities held at DC's Union Station to educate travelers about planetary sustainability.

These observations are far more than mere snapshots. By analyzing long-term imagery, scientists can track how the apparent position of continents shifts with the seasons due to the tilt in Earth's axis of rotation. This continuous stream of data from both the growing satellite fleet and the deep archives allows for a deeper understanding of the diverse, changing processes that sustain our planet's climate. Beyond seasonal shifts, recent imagery even captures the Earth illuminated by moonlight as seen from the perspective of the Artemis II mission.

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