Story
Peering Homeward, 1972
Key takeaway
In 1972, the first civilian satellite designed to image Earth's land surfaces was launched, marking an important milestone in our ability to observe and study our planet from space.
Quick Explainer
The news article describes the launch of the first civilian satellite designed to image Earth's land surfaces, the Landsat 1, in 1972. It highlights the unexpected success of the Multispectral Scanner System (MSS) instrument on board, which became a powerful cartographic and geological tool.