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In the 1970s NASA inaugurated the Landsat series of satellites to study the Earth's surface from space. The program demonstrated the practical benefits of space-based mapping and study of the Earth's natural resources continuously and on a global basis.

This artifact is an engineering model of the Multispectral Scanner (MSS) instrument used on Landsat 4, launched in 1982 and operational until 1993. As the instrument flew over the Earth it "saw" only selected wavelengths of light that, when processed, provided information on the condition of land, water, and vegetation. The MSS, complemented the satellite's other major instrument, the Thematic Mapper (TM), an innovation on Landsat 4. Compared to the first generation of Landsat satellites, these instruments provided a greatly improved range and quality of data on Earth resources.

NASA transferred the model to the Museum in 1985.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Instruments & Payloads Manufacturer Hughes Aircraft Co.
 Dimensions Overall (Instrument structure): 1 ft. 6 in. tall x 2 ft. wide x 3 ft. long (45.72 x 60.96 x 91.44cm). Approximate (Instrument aperture): 11 in. tall x 1 ft. 2 1/2 in. long (27.94 x 36.83cm). Weight: 131.5 kg (290 lbs)
 Materials Aluminum, glass, plastic
 Inventory Number A19850405000 Credit Line Transferred from NASA Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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