'Eye in the sky': NASA's newest satellite launches into space
NASA has launched a new earth-observing satellite into space from the coast of California.
The satellite, dubbed Landsat 9, took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Monday 27 September at 2.12 pm local time.
It will orbit the Earth at an altitude of about 705 kilometres.
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Close-up of Atlas V rocket engines during the Landsat 9 launch. NASA
The satellite will work together with Landsat 8 to collect images spanning the entire planet every eight days.
The mission is part of a joint NASA and US Geological Survey to observe Earth. It began with the launching of the first Landsat almost 50 years ago in 1972.
To honour the work done by the Landsat program so far, NASA shared a series of photos to its Instagram.
The space agency shared these two Landsat images on Instagram. On the left is the Holuhraun volcanic eruption in Iceland. The right shows the Mississippi River - North America's largest river system. NASA
"Success! Earth has a new eye in the sky with #Landsat 9," it wrote.
"(It) will continue the program's critical role in monitoring the health of Earth and helping people manage essential resources, including crops, irrigation water, and forests."
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The satellite mission is being run by NASA and US Geological Survey. AAP
Data collected by the satellites will help scientists continue monitor the footprint of human activities and their impact.
The data therefore will lead to advice for the better management of essential resources, including crops, irrigation water and forests.
A Landsat image of Elephant Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. NASA
The images collected by Landsat 9 will be added to nearly 50 years of free and publicly available data from the mission, which is the longest data record of Earth's landscapes taken from space.
NASA livestreamed the launch on NASA Television.
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