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(gentle music)

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- [Narrator] More than
50 years, 8 satellites,

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millions of images, millions of stories.

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For over half a century,

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Landsat satellites have been watching

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over our planet from space,

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a lasting partnership between NASA

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and the US Geological Survey

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that's provided an
invaluable historic record

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of Earth's changing landscapes.

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From the lush, green
canopies of the Amazon forest

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to the sun-baked sands
of the Saharan desert,

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the images captured by Landsat

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have offered us a unique perspective

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of our world's diverse landscapes
and how they're changing.

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But the dazzling Landsat
imagery you're seeing right now

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is only one piece of a much larger puzzle

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that Landsat data helps us put together.

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Imagine if you could see

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beyond what's visible to the human eye,

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beyond the visible spectrum,

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like the ability to detect heat, moisture,

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and even chemical compositions.

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It sounds impressive because it is,

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and that's exactly what
Landsat was made for.

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Our eyes can only see in a small part

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of the electromagnetic spectrum,

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a narrow band of colors
we call visible light.

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But Landsat satellites go beyond,

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capturing solar energy
reflected off of Earth's surface

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in the visible spectrum

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as well as infrared and thermal energy.

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By detecting light in specific
ranges of wavelengths,

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commonly referred to as spectral bands,

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Landsat gives us insights into our world

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that would otherwise be
invisible to the human eye.

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For example, let's say we want to monitor

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the health of crops.

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Healthy plants reflect
near-infrared light strongly,

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while unhealthy or stressed plants

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reflect much less in this
part of the spectrum.

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By observing changes
in near-infrared light,

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Landsat can help farmers identify

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where crops may be stressed,

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helping them take action
before a minor issue

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develops into a major problem.

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The first generation
of Landsat satellites,

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Landsats 1, 2, and 3,

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were able to capture data
across four spectral bands

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in the visible and near-infrared regions

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thanks to its revolutionary
Multispectral Scanner.

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Over the decades,

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each new generation of Landsat satellites

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has increased the number and
variety of spectral bands

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its instruments can observe,

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enhancing our ability to
monitor Earth's surface

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in greater depth and detail.

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Today, Landsats 8 and 9 orbit our planet,

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capturing data across 11 spectral bands

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that allows to monitor vegetation health,

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assess water quality, map
land use, and much much more.

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And as the USGS and NASA
prepare for the next chapter

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in the Landsat program,

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they're looking to bring Earth observation

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into a brand new era

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with the Landsat Next mission.

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Boasting a trio of satellites,

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increased temporal frequency
and spatial resolution,

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Landsat Next will be able to observe

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the surface of our
planet like never before.

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And building on the existing
11 bands of Landsats 8 and 9,

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the Landsat Next mission
will be superspectral,

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adding 15 spectral
bands carefully selected

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to meet emerging needs and
unlock new applications

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to benefit humanity.

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Let's take a close look at
how these new spectral bands

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will revolutionize our
understanding of Planet Earth.

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The first band on the list, Band 1,

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is located at the beginning

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of the spectrum of visible light.

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This band is specially designed

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to detect fine particles
in the atmosphere,

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like dust, smoke, or pollution,

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making it an essential tool
for monitoring air quality.

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It can also be used to
capture subtle details

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in shallow coastal waters,

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helping scientists track sediment levels

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and study water quality near shores.

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As we move to the right on the spectrum,

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we come to Bands 6 and 7,

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right at the edge of
the visible light range.

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These new bands are designed to uncover

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hidden details in water bodies,

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like tracking the spread of algal blooms

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or measuring the amount
of suspended sediment

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in rivers and lakes.

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By measuring how light interacts

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with particles in the water,

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these bands provide valuable insights

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into water quality and ecosystem health.

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And by detecting the color
of the algal pigment,

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Landsat Next will be able
to spot toxic algal blooms,

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which can contaminate drinking
water, harm aquatic life,

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and pose serious health risks to humans.

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While Bands 6 and 7 focus

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on the quality of our water systems,

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Bands 5, 9, and 10 shift our attention

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to the land,

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specifically, the plants
that sustain life on Earth.

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These bands span the visible

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and near-infrared ranges of the spectrum,

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and are designed to dive
deep into the details

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of vegetation health,

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allowing scientists to
measure key indicators

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like the chlorophyll levels,
nitrogen content in plants,

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and the leaf area index,

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a measurement of the
total leaf surface area

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relative to the ground area.

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With this critical information,

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we can detect early signs of plant stress,

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such as drought or nutrient deficiencies,

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even before they become visible.

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Bands 13 through 16 take us higher,

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revealing critical insights
about our atmosphere

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and the snow-covered
landscapes of our planet.

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These bands are windows

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into the skies and
snowy terrains of Earth,

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measuring atmospheric water vapor,

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an important factor for
adjusting and enhancing

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the accuracy of satellite imagery.

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By understanding how
water vapor affects light,

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scientists can ensure the data
collected from other bands

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is clear and precise.

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These bands also provide detailed insights

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into snow grain size
and surface conditions,

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helping us monitor snowpack
levels and melting patterns,

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information vital for
predicting water availability

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in regions that depend on snow-fed rivers.

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Bands 19 through 21,

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situated in the shortwave infrared region

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of the electromagnetic spectrum,

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bring us back down to Earth,

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uncovering the hidden
stories in soil, plants,

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and agricultural practices.

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These bands are finely tuned

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to detect specific light
absorption patterns

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that reveal the presence of
cellulose in plant material.

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This unique capability allows scientists

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to monitor crop residues
left on fields after harvest,

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which is a key practice
in conservation tillage.

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By tracking these residues,

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we can assess how much organic material

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is being returned to the soil,

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a critical factor in soil
health and carbon sequestration.

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Healthy soils not only support
sustainable agriculture

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but also play a vital role
in combating climate change

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by locking away carbon

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that would otherwise enter the atmosphere.

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Moving into the thermal
infrared region of the spectrum,

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Bands 22 through 26 turn up the heat,

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providing groundbreaking insights
into surface temperatures

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and the hidden compositions
of Earth's materials.

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These bands provide incredibly
accurate heat measurements

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that are essential for
studying urban heat islands,

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drought conditions, and
agricultural water use.

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But these bands don't stop at temperature.

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They also detect subtle variations

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in how different materials,
like soil and rocks,

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reflect thermal energy,

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making them invaluable for
mapping mineral deposits,

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analyzing land composition,

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and studying the effects of
natural resource extraction.

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From coastal water quality
to vegetation health,

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soil composition and precise
surface temperatures,

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the added spectral bands of Landsat Next

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will unlock a world of new
possibilities and new science.

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Each band is like a unique lens,

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providing deeper insights

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into the complexities of our planet,

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whether it's monitoring
the health of crops,

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tracking atmospheric changes,
assessing soil carbon,

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or uncovering mineral resources.

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With Landsat Next, we're
not just adding new bands,

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we're building on the legacy
of other Landsat missions

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and enhancing our ability
to understand our planet.

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Whether it's tracking algal
blooms or monitoring snowpack,

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the added spectral bands on Landsat Next

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will open doors to a future
where we can monitor,

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understand and protect
Earth like never before.

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Landsat has always been our
window into Earth's story.

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And with Landsat Next,

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that story is about to get clearer

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and more colorful than ever.

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(gentle music ends)