Thirty Years of Earth Observations: from Explorer-1 (1958) to CYGNSS (2017)

January 31 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of the Explorer-1 spacecraft and 60 years of Earth observations from space. This visualization shows the orbits of NASA-related near-Earth science missions from the launch of Explorer-1 in 1958 through 2017. These missions include both NASA-run missions as well as missions run by organizations that NASA has partnered with. Twenty-four of these missions are called out as "firsts" in various ways.

NASA's Earth observing spacecraft from Explorer-1 to CYGNSS

Visualizers: Greg Shirah (lead), Ernie Wright, Horace Mitchell