In 1972, NASA launched the first civilian satellite, Landsat 1, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This satellite was designed to image Earth’s land surfaces and carried two sensors: the Return Beam Vidicon (RBV) and the Multispectral Scanner System (MSS). The RBV used three cameras to capture images, while the MSS was an experimental instrument.
The RBV and MSS sensors were mounted on a butterfly-shaped spacecraft, repurposed from the successful Nimbus weather satellite series. This launch marked a significant milestone in Earth observation technology, providing crucial data for monitoring and understanding our planet’s changing landscapes and resources.
Original Source: NASA Source