Terra

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

18:57:39

Saturday December 18, 1999

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

Launch Notes

First Atlas Centaur from VAFB

Terra

Wiki

Terra (EOS AM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in a Sun-synchronous orbit around the Earth. It is the flagship of the Earth Observing System (EOS). The name "Terra" comes from the Latin word for Earth. A naming contest was held by NASA among U.S. high school students. The winning essay was submitted by Sasha Jones of Brentwood, Missouri. The identifier "AM-1" refers to its orbit, passing over the equator in the morning.

Polar Orbit

1 Payload

4,864 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Atlas IIAS

Active 1993 to 2004

Lockheed Martin logo

Agency

Lockheed

Rocket

Height: 47.5m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 8,618 kg

GTO: 3,933 kg

Liftoff Thrust

2,957 Kilonewtons

Stages

2

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

SLC-3E

Vandenberg SFB, California, USA

Fastest Turnaround

32 days 16 hours

Stats

Atlas II


44th

Mission

5th

Mission of 1999

1999


73rd

Orbital launch attempt