Operational Land Imager (OLI)

Overview
The Landsat program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. For decades, the Landsat mission has gathered multispectral imagery of the Earth from space. These continuous land surface observations have created an archive unmatched in quality, detail, coverage and length.

Data from the Landsat series of satellites enable the nation to manage its natural resources effectively, including helping experts to make routine drought assessments and fire prevention plans; monitor land changes; plan land uses; and better understand the Earth’s ecosystem dynamic.

The eighth Landsat mission launched Feb. 11, 2013 on its mission to extend Landsat’s unparalleled record of observing Earth’s changing landscape. Ball Aerospace is proud to provide key systems for the next Landsat mission.

For more than 30 years, the LDCM has gathered multispectral imagery that has provided continuous land surface observations. Scientists use the data to monitor changes in global land cover; manage the Earth’s natural resources; make decisions about land-use planning; and understand ecosystem dynamics.

OLI in Ball Aerospace's Stray Light Test Facility.

Our Role

Operational Land Imager (OLI)

Ball Aerospace designed and built the Operational Land Imager (OLI) which represents a significant advancement in Landsat sensor technology by employing a more reliable design that improves performance.

 OLI’s 14-module detector array enables it to scan with a push-broom method rather than the older sweeping method. The OLI instrument provides 15-meter (49 ft.) panchromatic and 30-meter (98 ft.) multi-spectral spatial resolutions along a 185-kilometer (115 mi.)-wide swath, which allows the entire globe to be imaged every 16 days. OLI’s sensitivity ultimately provides improved land surface information with fewer moving parts.

Thermal Infrared Sensor Cryocooler

Thermal Infrared Sensor Cryocooler

In addition to OLI, Ball Aerospace is also providing the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) cryocooler for the eighth Landsat mission. The cryocooler will chill the TIRS instrument’s infrared photo detectors to a frigid 40 Kelvin.
Radiometric performance has been substantially improved over previous Landsat sensors due to Ball Aerospace innovations in OLI and the TIRS instrument.