The Terra spacecraft is a multipurpose Earth observation satellite launched by NASA in December 1999. The name “Terra” comes from the Latin for Earth. Terra carries five instruments that observe the land surface, ocean, atmosphere, and energy budget of our planet. Data from these instruments are used to study global climate change, better understand the processes that drive the Earth’s weather and climate, and monitor environmental issues such as deforestation and urbanization.
The Terra spacecraft flies in a polar orbit at an altitude of 705 kilometers (438 miles). It completes one orbit every 99 minutes, meaning it can observes any location on Earth once every 16 days. The 590-kilogram (1,300-pound) spacecraft is 14 meters (46 feet) long with its solar panels deployed and has a wingspan of 32 meters (105 feet).
Terra was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, California. Its launch vehicle was an Atlas IIAS rocket provided by International Launch Services Incorporated of Virginia.