What is EOS and NASA Earth Science Program?
In 1992, NASA began a global-scale examination of the Earth to study the interaction of the atmosphere, oceans and land that make up the Earth system. This global program, called NASA’s Earth Science Program (formerly Mission to Planet Earth), is NASA’s long term, coordinated effort to study the Earth as a global environmental system. This program, using spacecraft, aircraft and ground instruments will allow humans to better understand environmental changes and to distinguish between natural and human-induced changes. Phase II of NASA’s Earth Science Program begins in 1998 with the launch of the first Earth Observing System (EOS) spacecraft EOS AM-1. EOS is a series of polar-orbiting and low inclination spacecraft and supporting ground and data systems that will study the interactions of the atmosphere, land, and oceans. EOS will develop a 15-year environmental database to focus on climate change. NASA’s Earth Science Program is NASA’s contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Pr
