Landsat Missions
Previous |
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) is the next-generation Landsat satellite and will be launched on January 24, 2013. The LDCM will ensure the continued acquisition and availability of Landsat-like data beyond the duration of the current Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 missions.
The LDCM was created in October 2002 to investigate and research options for the most feasible solution to follow the Landsat 7 mission. Four options were considered:
The original LDCM plans called for NASA to purchase data meeting LDCM specifications from a commercially owned and operated satellite system. (Option 2 above) However, after an evaluation of proposals received from industry, NASA cancelled the Request for Proposals in September 2003. In August 2004, a memorandum from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) directed Federal agencies to place Landsat-type sensors on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) platform.
Following an evaluation of the technical complexity of this task, the strategy was adjusted and on December 23, 2005, a memorandum from the OSTP directed planning to begin for a free-flyer government-only mission, carrying the Operational Land Imager (OLI). In December 2009 a decision was made to add a thermal infrared sensor (TIRS) to the mission payload.
NASA leads the work on building the flight segment, securing launch services, flight ground systems integration, and conducting on-orbit initialization and verification. After launch checkout processes, the USGS will be responsible for the operations of this mission, which include collecting, archiving, processing, and distributing data products.
Milestones (Key Decision Points) of LDCM
To date, a number of Key Decision Points have been achieved:
September 2008: LDCM KDP-B.This milestone occurred following a successful series of concept and technology development activities whereby the feasibility of the mission concept was measured, system requirements were generated and independently reviewed, and an Initial Confirmation Review was successfully held with NASA Headquarters.
December 2009: LDCM KDP-C.This milestone occurred following a successful series of system and mission preliminary design activities whereby an initial baseline capable of meeting mission needs (requirements) was established. KDP-C was declared following a successful Mission Confirmation Review held for NASA Headquarters
October 2011: LDCM KDP-D.This milestone occurred following a successful series of system and mission critical design activities, whereby the detailed design of the entire system was completed and successfully fabricated, including all hardware, software, and operational components. KDP-D was declared following a successful Mission Integration Review held for the LDCM Standing Review Board.
These upcoming milestones are anticipated:
November 2012: LDCM KDP-E.This will occur following successful system assembly, integration and test. Prior to KDP-E, the project must demonstrate high confidence that the LDCM will be able to meet system requirements, conduct launch and early orbit operations, and meet operational performance expectations. KDP-E will be declared following a successful Flight Readiness Review held for the LDCM Standing Review Board.
April 2013: LDCM Initial Operating Capability (IOC).This will follow the successful completion of the LDCM on-orbit commissioning phase whereby LDCM is prepared for normal and routine operations. IOC will be declared following a successful Post-Launch Assessment Review (PLAR) and Operational Readiness Review (ORR).
A Landsat Science Team was established to address the science goals of the mission. NASA and the USGS plan to implement LDCM in a manner that does not preclude a long-term solution for continuity of Landsat-type data.
In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), specifics of the mission are source selection sensitive. Information will be released as appropriate on this page.
Previous |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://landsat.usgs.gov
Page Contact Information: Ask Landsat
Page Last Modified: 05/9/12 12:58 pm
Sitemap
