Earth-watching satellites

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

The count is the catalogue’s as of Nov 10, 2026, 4:17 AM; 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.

Page 6 of 9

SatelliteKindOrbit classLaunchedOperating
AMAZONIA 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GHGSAT-C2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAOGAN-33Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 14Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FALCON EYE 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
RISAT-2BR2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 13Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
ICEYE-X6Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X7Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HJ-2BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HJ-2AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HAIYANG 2CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01 GAOFEN 3FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01 GAOFEN 3EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 11 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GHGSAT-C1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NEMO-HDEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GNOMES-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
SAOCOM 1-BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 9 05Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
GAOFEN 9 04Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
ZINYUAN-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN DUOMO (GFDM)Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 9 03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
HAIYANG 1DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 9 02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
GEO-KOMPSAT-2BEarth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
JILIN-01 KUANFU 01Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ELEKTRO-L 3Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
OBJECT LEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT HEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CBERS 4AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
OBJECT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CSG-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
IHOPSAT-TDEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
RISAT-2BR1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01 GAOFEN 2BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 12Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CARTOSAT 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01 GAOFEN 2AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 7Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PALISADEEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
GAOFEN 10REarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
YUNHAI 1-02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ZHUHAI-1 03EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ZHUHAI-1 03DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ZHUHAI-1 03BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
BNU-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ZY-1 02DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
COSMOS 2540Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GLOBAL-4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
METEOR M2-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FORMOSAT7-5/COSMIC2-5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FORMOSAT7-6/COSMIC2-6Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FORMOSAT7-2/COSMIC2-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FORMOSAT7-4/COSMIC2-4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FORMOSAT7-1/COSMIC2-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FORMOSAT7-3/COSMIC2-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
RCM 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
RCM 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
RCM 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
OBJECT EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
OBJECT CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
RISAT 2BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TIANHUI 2-01BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TIANHUI 2-01AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PRISMAEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
S5Earth-watching satelliteInclined geosynchronousEnded
EGYPTSAT AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-10Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-09Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 2-1FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 2-1EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 2-1DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 2-1CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 2-1BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 2-1AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRUS-1AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
KANOPUS-V 6Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
KANOPUS-V 5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GEO-KOMPSAT-2AEarth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
GLOBAL-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICEYE-X2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C12Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
KAZSTSATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
M1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CORVUS BC4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HYSISEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
MOHAMMED VI-BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
DIWATA 2BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
KHALIFASATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GOSAT 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CFOSATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HAIYANG 2BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NOVASAR 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SSTL S1-4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ICESAT-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HAIYANG 1CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 11Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
PRSS 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PAKTES 1AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FENGYUN 2HEarth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
LUOJIA-1 01Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 6Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRACE-FO 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GRACE-FO 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN-5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
ZHUHAI-1 OHS-02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ZHUHAI-1 OVS-02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 1-04Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 1-03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 1-02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LKW-4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
KANOPUS-V 4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
KANOPUS-V 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-08Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-07Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ASNARO-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LKW-3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CARTOSAT 2FEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SUPERVIEW-1 03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LKW-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
GCOM-CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LKW-1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-06Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-05Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-01-04Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
NOAA 20Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FENGYUN 3DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
MOHAMMED VI-AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C6Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C7Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C8Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C9Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C10Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C11Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
VRSS-2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
FORMOSAT-5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
VENUSEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
OBJECT AAEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
OBJECT ZEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CORVUS BC1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CORVUS BC2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
OBJECT UEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
WNISAT 1REarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
KANOPUS-V-IKEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CARTOSAT 2EEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CARTOSAT 2DEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN-1-03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SPARK 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SPARK 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YIJIANEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
TANSATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CYGFM03Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CYGFM07Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CYGFM08Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CYGFM01Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CYGFM02Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CYGFM04Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CYGFM05Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
FENGYUN 4AEarth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
RESOURCESAT 2AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GOKTURK-1AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YUNHAI 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
HIMAWARI 9Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
SCATSAT 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
PATHFINDER 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
ALSAT 2BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ALSAT 1BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PISATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
SKYSAT C3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C5Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C4Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
PERUSAT 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
INSAT 3DREarth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
GAOFEN 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LAPAN A3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SKYSAT C1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
CARTOSAT 2CEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
COSMOS 2517 (GEO-IK)Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
ZY 3 2Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
YAOGAN 30Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
SENTINEL 1BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
COSMOS 2515Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
CHUBUSAT 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
JASON 3Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
GAOFEN 4Earth-watching satelliteGeostationaryYes
KENT RIDGE 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
VELOX C1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
ELEKTRO-L 2Earth-watching satelliteInclined geosynchronousYes
YAOGAN 29Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
YAOGAN 28Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
JILIN 1Earth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LINGQIAO VIDEO BEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes
LINGQIAO VIDEO AEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitEnded
LQSATEarth-watching satelliteLow Earth orbitYes