USGS — Landsat-5 Responding To Tests

As you may recall, on January 7th we offered a news story regarding the failure of Landsat-5. Encouraging news now follows…

Test image capture by Landsat-5

Tests were run on Landsat 5 late last week.  The back-up TWTA ( Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier ) which had been operating since 1987 had failed on December 18,2009.  Engineers worked to revive the primary TWTA, which had malfunctioned early in the mission, causing the shift the the back-up. Engineering tests have been successful and test imagery has been acquired (see attached image over central Nebraska.)  Testing will continue, though preliminary indications are encouraging.

According to The Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, engineering tests have been successful and test imagery has been acquired (see the image capture of central Nebraska, above.)  Testing will continue — preliminary indications are encouraging.