Ball Delivers Earth Science Instrument for Landsat 9

Ball Aerospace delivered the Operational Land Imager 2 for Landsat 9. Photo: Ball Aerospace

Ball Aerospace delivered the Operational Land Imager 2 (OLI-2) for Landsat 9, completing development of the instrument on schedule and under budget. Ball will continue to support instrument integration and spacecraft-level testing, working closely with NASA and the Landsat 9 spacecraft provider.

The Operational Land Imager 2 design is a virtual copy of the instrument’s predecessor, which launched in 2013 on the Landsat 8 spacecraft and is operating past its design life with no interruptions to operations for more than six years. OLI-2 is a push-broom sensor with a four-mirror telescope that takes measurements in the visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The instrument images the entire globe every 16 days at resolutions as high as 15 meters.

“Ball Aerospace is enabling the sustainability of the nation’s land imaging architecture through collaboration with our customer and industry partners,” said Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, Civil Space, Ball Aerospace. “By developing innovative, reliable, cost-effective instruments and investing in the next generation of land imaging technology, we are ensuring the long-term continuity of Landsat’s important data record.”