NASA's first Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite, Terra, has become operational, returning its first images, including this of San Francisco Bay, USA. The spacecraft carries five instruments, including moderate and high-resolution imaging radiometers, to collect data that will be used to build predictive computer models of global climatic processes. The first Earth-system models using Terra data are expected to be completed by 2005. NASA's second EOS satellite, Aqua, is set for launch this year.
Source: Flight International