Category: News and Events

News and Events

We’re kicking off the new year with a fresh homepage layout and a new bi-weekly series of infographics that highlight important Terra information. Our first infographic highlights the continued high quality of Terra instrument data — even with Terra’s new orbit (click the link to learn more!). Feel free to share this graphic widely, and check back for more Terra facts every other week on the Terra website homepage.

Headline: The quality of Terra's instrument data remains as high as expected, even after changes to the satellite's orbit.  Main text: Did you know? The Terra satellite has been drifting in orbit since February 2020, and was lowered ~5km in altitude in October 2022.  These new orbit conditions only impact Terra data in minor ways, like earlier data collection times and small swath width changes for some instruments; but there has been no degradation in the quality or usefulness of Terra instrument data.
Did You Know? The quality of Terra’s instrument data remains as high as expected, even after changes to the satellite’s orbit.

In late November, Science magazine interviewed Terra Project Scientist Dr. Kurtis Thome for an article about Terra’s orbital drift and the novel science opportunities that will come from Terra’s earlier data collection. Access the full article here.


Terra’s Lower Orbit Virtual Community Forum took place on December 8th. Thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to our discussion! Check out the full recording with links to the slide deck on our updated Terra’s Lower Orbit Virtual Community Forum webpage!


On December 18th, Terra celebrated its 23rd launch anniversary! Happy Birthday, Terra!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year — see you in 2023!

From undergoing an orbit lowering to headlining workshops on novel drifting data, Terra has had a big year so far! (And that’s not even accounting for the satellite’s continuous collection of high quality, earth science data, with no unintended interruptions!)

This news post will provide several important updates on recent instrument team meetings, upcoming virtual workshops featuring Terra, and an overview of three early career scientists using Terra data in their research.

Keep checking the website often for more updates and information on all things Terra!


2022 Meetings and Conferences

  • The CERES instrument team participated in the Fall 2022 Earth Radiation Budget Workshop in Hamburg, Germany from October 12 – 14, 2022. More information, including an agenda and presentation slide decks, can be found on the CERES website.
  • Several members of the Terra team participated in the 22nd William T. Pecora Memorial Remote Sensing Symposium in Denver, CO from October 23 – 28, 2022. More information available on the Pecora 22 website.
  • The ASTER instrument team will hold a science and interface meeting in Tokyo, Japan from November 7-9, 2022.
  • The American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall 2022 meeting will be held in Chicago, IL from December 12 – 16, 2022. For more information and an agenda, visit the AGU Fall Meeting 2022 website.

Upcoming Terra Workshops and Community Forums

Here’s a reminder that it’s your last chance to sign up for the virtual Terra, Aqua, and Aura Drifting Orbits Workshop that starts tomorrow, November 1-2, 2022. For more information and registration, visit the Terra website (or register here!).


On December 8th, 2022 from 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM ET, the Terra team will be hosting a virtual community forum on Terra’s recent orbit lowering maneuvers (that took place October 12th and 18th). See the graphic below for more information and a QR code linking directly to the Webex webinar registration page.

Infographic on upcoming virtual community forum on Terra satellite's new lower orbit.
Information on Terra’s Lower Orbit Community Forum (virtual webinar) scheduled for December 8, 2022, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM ET.

Highlighting Two Decades of Terra Talent

Last week, several NASA Early Career researchers presented their current scientific work during the 2022 Early Career Scientist Forum (full agenda linked here).

The Terra Flight Operations Team is planning a set of orbital maneuvers for October 12 and 19 to lower Terra’s orbit by 6 km, as part of an effort to reduce orbital crossings with several other missions currently at Terra’s 705 km altitude. For more information, view the animation and graphic below, which are also available on the Terra website.


Brief animation of Terra’s October Orbital Maneuvers

NASA previously released a Request for Information (RFI) on a Terra, Aqua, and Aura Drifting Orbits Workshop, for which the response date is October 11, 2022

The Terra, Aqua, and Aura Drifting Orbits Workshop will be held virtually on November 1-2, 2022. The Workshop Agenda has been posted on the NSPIRES page for this RFI. To attend please register at https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/terra-aqua-and-aura-drifting-orbits-workshop-registration, or use the QR code in the image below.