# Terra

> NASA climate research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q584697](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q584697)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/terra

## Summary
Terra is a NASA climate research satellite and an Earth observation spacecraft launched to study Earth's climate from low Earth orbit. It was launched on 1999-12-18 and is operated and manufactured by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

## Key Facts
- Terra is a NASA climate research satellite and an Earth observation satellite.  
- Launch date: 1999-12-18.  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3.  
- Launch vehicle: Atlas II; launch contractor: International Launch Services.  
- Operator and manufacturer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  
- Mass at takeoff: 4,864 kilogram.  
- Orbit type: low Earth orbit; semi-major axis: 7,080 km.  
- Orbit periapsis: 708.6 km; apoapsis: 710.6 km; orbital eccentricity: 0.0001392.  
- Orbital inclination: 98.2098°; orbital period: 98.8 minutes.  
- Primary identifiers: COSPAR ID 1999-068A; NAIF ID -142; NSSDCA ID 1999-068A; SCN 25994.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Terra?
A: Terra is a NASA-operated Earth observation satellite specifically described as a climate research satellite. It was built and is operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

### Q: When and how was Terra launched?
A: Terra was launched on 1999-12-18 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3. The launch vehicle was an Atlas II and the launch contractor was International Launch Services.

### Q: What orbit does Terra operate in?
A: Terra operates in low Earth orbit with a semi-major axis of 7,080 km, periapsis ~708.6 km, apoapsis ~710.6 km, an orbital inclination of 98.2098°, and an orbital period of 98.8 minutes.

### Q: How heavy is Terra and who made it?
A: Terra had a launch (takeoff) mass of 4,864 kg and was manufactured by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

## Why It Matters
Terra is a dedicated NASA platform for observing Earth and studying climate from orbit. As an Earth observation satellite, it provides a sustained presence in low Earth orbit with orbital parameters suited for near-global coverage, enabling repeated measurements of atmospheric and surface conditions. Operated and manufactured by NASA, Terra contributes to climate research by serving as a stable, long-duration spacecraft platform launched in 1999 that continues to support scientific monitoring of Earth systems. Its specific orbital characteristics—near-circular orbit at roughly 709–711 km altitude, an inclination of about 98.2°, and an orbital period of about 98.8 minutes—allow consistent, repeatable observations essential for tracking changes over time. Terra’s formal identifiers (COSPAR 1999-068A, NAIF ID -142) and public web presence (https://terra.nasa.gov/) make it discoverable and citable by researchers and the public.

## Notable For
- Being identified as NASA’s climate research satellite and an Earth observation platform (also known as EOS AM-1).  
- Launch date and origin: launched 1999-12-18 from Vandenberg SLC-3 by an Atlas II rocket.  
- Near-circular low Earth orbit with precise orbital parameters (periapsis ~708.6 km, apoapsis ~710.6 km, inclination 98.2098°).  
- Relatively large launch mass for an Earth observation satellite at 4,864 kg.  
- Multiple formal identifiers used in scientific catalogs (COSPAR 1999-068A, NAIF ID -142, SCN 25994).

## Body
### Overview
- Official description: NASA climate research satellite.  
- Instance classes: Earth observation satellite; artificial satellite of the Earth.  
- Wikipedia title: Terra (satellite).  
- Website: https://terra.nasa.gov/.

### Launch and mission start
- Launch date: 1999-12-18.  
- Launch site/start point: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3.  
- Launch vehicle: Atlas II.  
- Launch contractor: International Launch Services.  
- Significant event recorded: rocket launch at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3 on 1999-12-18.

### Operator and manufacturer
- Operator: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).  
- Manufacturer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

### Orbital characteristics
- Orbit regime: low Earth orbit.  
- Semi-major axis: 7,080 km.  
- Periapsis: 708.6 km.  
- Apoapsis: 710.6 km.  
- Orbital eccentricity: 0.0001392.  
- Orbital inclination: 98.2098°.  
- Orbital period: 98.8 minutes.  
- Mean anomaly: 276.3654°.  
- Argument of periapsis: 83.7699°.  
- Longitude of ascending node: 251.3130°.

### Physical characteristics
- Mass (at takeoff): 4,864 kg.

### Identifiers and catalog entries
- COSPAR ID: 1999-068A.  
- NSSDCA ID: 1999-068A.  
- NAIF ID: -142.  
- SCN: 25994.  
- Freebase ID: /m/02dgfw.  
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "25994"].

### Names and aliases
- Common alternate names and aliases: EOS AM-1, Terra衛星, Terra彗星, Terra卫星, 妥拉衛星.

### Images and media
- Spacecraft model image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Terra_spacecraft_model.png.  
- Aerial/mission-related image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Arctic_eclipse.jpg.

### Cataloging and references
- Sitelink count (Wikipedia/related links): 24.  
- Wikipedia languages include: ar, be, ca, commons, da, de, el, en, es, et.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)