image: SwRI is developing electronics and flight software for the NASA/USGS Landsat 10 satellite, a set of NASA spacecraft launching no earlier than 2030 to provide new and improved Earth observation data. Pictured is Landsat imagery of Florida.
Credit: NASA and USGS
SAN ANTONIO —June 17, 2026— SwRI is developing electronics and flight software for the NASA/U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat 10 satellite that is set to launch in 2031 to collect new and improved Earth observation data. The mission is a continuation of NASA’s and USGS’ partnership on the ongoing Landsat program, which has launched nine satellites since 1972 and provided over 10 million images of the Earth’s surface.
“Landsat 10's technological innovation differs from previous missions in terms of the amount of image data they’re collecting,” said SwRI’s Patrick Phelan, who oversees SwRI’s role in the project. “Landsat 10 will process ~1.8 gigabits of compressed data each second.”
Landsat 10’s data will support a myriad of land and water science applications, providing important insights about water quality, quantity and use, agricultural production, soil conservation and forest management with unmatched radiometric precision and quality.
SwRI is a subcontractor to Raytheon, an RTX business, which is developing the Landsat Instrument Suite (LandIS), including the multispectral imager for Landsat 10. SwRI will provide electronics and software that allow LandIS to capture image data and compress it before transmission back to Earth.
SwRI is also developing control technology to regulate the instrument’s temperature and position the camera’s mirrors, which direct and focus light to help LandIS capture wide, detailed images of Earth. The Institute is developing operational and interface simulators that mimic the behavior of the spaceborne payload to rehearse scientific campaigns on the ground.
“This new technology will continue Landsat's legacy of Earth observations, and SwRI has a strong legacy of developing technology that can reach new heights,” Phelan said. “We are leveraging our work in previous NASA and private space industry projects to accomplish our goals. We hope the technology we are developing will lead to exciting new insights into Earth’s processes.”
SwRI offers extensive experience developing electronics for similar NASA applications. This project, while addressing new challenges, leverages existing expertise from previous programs.
“Fundamentally, if we can gain more information about what’s happening on the Earth in as much detail as possible, we will be better equipped to manage future challenges and utilize available resources,” Phelan said.
SwRI recently completed the preliminary design review for the project. The team is currently building a prototype unit in preparation for a critical design review later this year.
For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/what-we-do/technical-divisions/space-systems.