Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
18:57:39
Saturday December 18, 1999
Watch Replay
Official Livestream
First Atlas Centaur from VAFB
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
Agency
LockheedRocket
Height: 47.5m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 8,618 kg
GTO: 3,933 kg
Liftoff Thrust
2,957 Kilonewtons
Stages
2
Strap-ons
4
44th
Mission
5th
Mission of 1999
73rd
Orbital launch attempt