Liftoff! Launch Photos for NASA's Advanced Landsat 8 Mission

Atlas 5 Rocket With Landsat Payload Ready to Launch

Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base with NASA’s Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) payload on Feb. 11, 2013.

Landsat Satellites' 40-Year Legacy Explained (Infographic)

Karl Tate, SPACE.com

See how NASA's Landsat satellite constellation has revolutionized our understanding of Earth over 40 yearsa in this SPACE.com infographic.

Landsat Data Continuity Mission LDCM Spacecraft Hoisted Aloft

NASA/VAFB

The payload faring containing the Landsat Data Continuity Mission LDCM spacecraft is lifted to the top of Space Launch Complex-3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base where it will be hoisted atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V for launch. Image released Jan. 25, 2013.

Landsat Data Continuity Mission LDCM Spacecraft Rolls Out

NASA/VAFB

The payload faIring containing the Landsat Data Continuity Mission spacecraft arrives at Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex-3E where it will be hoisted atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V for launch. Image released Jan 25, 2013.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.