Earth-watching satellites

1,647 satellites in orbit, 1,223 operating.

The count is the catalogue’s as of Nov 8, 2026, 4:17 PM; whether a satellite is operating is as Orbinauts writes it where it has written when the satellite’s mission ended, and otherwise as Jonathan McDowell’s general catalogue believes it, licensed CC BY 4.0: GCAT

An Earth-watching satellite looks down: the weather satellites GOES-19 and Meteosat-12, the Earth science missions Terra and Landsat 9. Otherwise the kind is the one GCAT gives a payload whose purpose is imaging, radar imaging, weather, Earth science or geodesy.

A satellite’s kind is the one Orbinauts writes for it, else its constellation’s, else the one its purpose in GCAT gives.

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SatelliteKindOrbit classLaunchedOperating
The Terra spacecraft, wrapped in gold thermal blankets, standing in the processing facility at Vandenberg before its launch in 1999.
Photograph: NASA (public domain)
Terra
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Landsat 9 spacecraft with its folded solar array, in front of the rocket fairing that will enclose it, at Vandenberg in August 2021.
Photograph: NASA / Randy Beaudoin (public domain)
Landsat 9
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The GOES-U weather satellite, later named GOES-19, hanging from a crane in a clean room near Kennedy Space Center in January 2024.
Photograph: NASA / Ben Smegelsky (public domain)
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 19 (GOES-19)
Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
Artist's rendering of a Meteosat Third Generation imaging satellite, the design Meteosat-12 is the first of, with its two solar wings open in orbit.
Rendering: ESA (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
Meteosat-12
Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
Sentinel-1AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
Sentinel-1CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Sentinel-1D spacecraft in its gold foil, hanging from a crane above its Ariane 6 launch adaptor in the clean room at Kourou in 2025, the two halves of the fairing behind it.
Photograph: ESA / M. Pédoussaut (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
Sentinel-1D
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Sentinel-2AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Sentinel-2B satellite wrapped in gold insulation at ESA’s test centre in the Netherlands in 2016, an engineer in an ESA smock in front of it.
Photograph: ESA / G. Porter (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
Sentinel-2B
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Sentinel-2CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Sentinel-3AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Sentinel-3BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Sentinel-5 Precursor (Sentinel-5P)Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich spacecraft, black solar panels along its sides, wheeled into place for fuelling by technicians in SpaceX’s clean room at Vandenberg in October 2020.
Photograph: NASA / USAF 30th Space Wing / Mike Peterson (public domain)
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich (Sentinel-6MF)
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Sentinel-6B spacecraft standing in the processing facility at Vandenberg during tests of its solar arrays in October 2025.
Photograph: NASA / USSF 30th Space Wing / Anthony Mendez (public domain)
Sentinel-6B
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
MetOp-SG A1 standing on its Ariane 6 launch adaptor in Kourou in August 2025, dark thermal blankets over its instruments, the two halves of the rocket’s fairing behind it and two technicians at its base.
Photograph: ESA / M. Pédoussaut (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
MetOp-SG A1
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Metop-BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The payload module of Metop-C, wrapped in gold foil, being lowered into ESA’s Large Space Simulator vacuum chamber in the Netherlands for testing in 2017.
Photograph: ESA / G. Porter (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)
Metop-C
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Meteosat-11Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
The GOES-R weather satellite, later named GOES-16, standing fully assembled in a clean room in Titusville, Florida, in September 2016, with a technician at its base.
Photograph: NASA / Dimitri Gerondidakis (public domain)
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 16 (GOES-16)
Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
The GOES-S weather satellite, later named GOES-17, hanging from a crane as technicians move it to a work stand in a clean room in Titusville, Florida, in December 2017.
Photograph: NASA / Leif Heimbold (public domain)
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 17 (GOES-17)
Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
The GOES-T weather satellite, later named GOES-18, standing on its stand in a clean room in Titusville, Florida, in January 2022, its solar array folded against its side.
Photograph: NASA / Ben Smegelsky (public domain)
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 18 (GOES-18)
Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
EnvisatEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
The Aqua satellite in gold and silver thermal blankets, the round dish of an antenna at one end, lying on its stand in a clean room at Vandenberg before its launch in 2002.
Photograph: NASA (public domain)
Aqua
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Suomi NPP satellite standing upright in a clean room at Vandenberg before its launch in 2011, wrapped in gold and silver insulation, its solar array folded along one side.
Photograph: NASA / Mark Mackley (public domain)
Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP)
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The SMAP satellite in gold insulation, its antenna boom and folded mesh reflector on top, lowered onto a stand in a clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2014, engineers in white suits around it.
Photograph: NASA / JPL-Caltech (public domain)
Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP)
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2)Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
Artist’s rendering of NISAR in orbit over the Earth, its 12-metre mesh reflector open on a long boom above the satellite and its two solar wings.
Rendering: NASA / JPL-Caltech (public domain)
NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR)
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The Landsat 8 satellite in gold thermal blankets, its black solar panel folded against one side and its instruments under silver covers, at Vandenberg before its launch in 2013.
Photograph: NASA (public domain)
Landsat 8
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
The SAOCOM 1A satellite in a test hall in Bariloche before its launch, its gold-foiled body upright at the centre of its unfolded radar antenna, technicians in clean-room suits looking on.
Photograph: CONAE (CC BY 4.0)
SAOCOM 1A
Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PAZEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
WorldView-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAOGAN-50 03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
XIGUANG-4 01Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
T-MICROSAT-4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOMORROW-S15Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOMORROW-S14Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
UMBRA-14Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
UMBRA-13Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PELICAN-12 3013Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X110Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X109Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X88Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X84Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PULSAR-003Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NEONSAT-06Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT KEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NEONSAT-05Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NEONSAT-04Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NEONSAT-03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NEONSAT-02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 10Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 9Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
MOI-1AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 8Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 6Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT CKEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SIDLOC PQ-06Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT CGEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 7Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GYEONGGISAT-2AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GHGSAT-C19Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 18Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BSEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GHGSAT-C18Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLOCK 4J 17Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BFEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AXEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HOTSAT-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT ASEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
IRIDE-MS1-EAG2-24Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT APEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
IRIDE-MS1-EAG2-23Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X85Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
IRIDE-MS1-EAG2-17Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X86Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT ABEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TITANIAEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JACK-006Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ATHENE-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ALTAIR-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X87Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOMORROW-S12Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOMORROW-S13Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X83Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FOREST-20 ARAUCARIAEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TANAGER-2 4004Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
STRIX-12Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT JEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT HEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT GEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PIESAT-2 16Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PIESAT-2 15Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PIESAT-2 14Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PIESAT-2 13Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
STRIX-10Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TIANYI 52Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TIANYI 51Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SENTINEL-3CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FLEXEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GLOBAL-36Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
EOS-5Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
STRIX-9Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
MTG-I2Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
OBJECT GEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
QPS-SAR-18Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
QPS-SAR-13Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT HEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT GEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LEMUR-2-ELEONOREEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CLOUDCT-PRECURSOREarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LEMUR-2-NURAYEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
N2-P-BODYEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOM-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CUBY-5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOM-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
BALKAN-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CUBY-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X80Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X77Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FIRESAT3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X81Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FIRESAT1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAM-17Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CUBY-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-3GEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CUBY-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CUBY-4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FIRESAT2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TOM-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PELICAN-11Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X79Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
STRIX-8Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT HEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT GEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PETRELEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
STRIX-7Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
BALKAN-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HYDRA-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PELICAN-9 3010Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PELICAN-8 300FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
EDDA-1 300EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
EYCORE-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
DRISHTIEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
YAM-14Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAM-12Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OT-FOREST-19 PATADASTRAEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FOREST-18 MANGOSHRIKHANDEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OT-FOREST-16 SOWITASGOHTEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAM-15Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X82Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X78Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAM-13Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAM-16Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAM-11Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
BUSANSATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OT-FOREST-17 TELPERIONEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
IRIDE-MS2-HEO-15Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes