Missions, Instruments, Measurements and Datasets
The CEOS Database is updated annually based on a survey of
CEOS
member space agencies and has a number of applications.
-
Information sharing in support of the coordination of future Earth observation mission,
instrument, and measurements plans.
-
Earth observation measurement gap analysis - including that performed by the
CEOS Systems Engineering Office (SEO)
.
-
A connection between the Earth observation user community and satellite-operating
agencies of CEOS.
-
Generation of content for the print edition of
The Earth Observation Handbook
.
The CEOS Database is updated annually (usually October/November). It is the only official
consolidated statement of the programmes and plans of CEOS Agencies. Contents are provided
by CEOS Agencies, and while best efforts are made to keep the database up to date,
information from individual agencies supersedes information presented here.
The database currently features details of
568
Earth observing satellite
missions
and
1013
instruments
(546
distinct instruments, some being repeats), which are currently operating or planned for
launch in the next 15 years - funded and operated by around 30 CEOS space
agencies
worldwide.
Missions
Instruments (Distinct)
Operating:
Approved:
Planned:
Considered:
Operating:
Being developed:
Approved:
Proposed:
The last CEOS Agency survey was completed in October 2025.
Agency table with links to agency summary pages.
Table Searchable mission table with links to mission and
instrument summary pages.
Index An alphabetical list with links to mission summary
pages.
Table Searchable instrument table with links to
instrument and mission summary pages.
Index An alphabetical list with links to instrument
summary pages.
Overview An overview of the measurement categories and
detailed measurements indexed in the database.
Timelines Customizable measurement timelines with links
to mission summary pages.
Activity Checkout datasets and recent data releases and
activity.
Overview An
overview of satellite contributions to climate monitoring in support of GCOS.
Index An index of GCOS Essential Climate Variables
linked to actions, status, and satellite measurements.
Links
EO
Handbook Status and plans for Earth observation satellite programmes.
eoPortal The eoPortal aims to open the door to the world
of Earth Observation resources.
COVE
Satellite coverage visualisation.
GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECVs).
CEOS
Coordination of civil space-borne observations of the Earth.
CelesTrak SATCAT Launch information and orbital
tracking.
UCS Satellite Database In-depth
details on the satellites currently orbiting Earth from the Union of Concerned
Scientists.
OSCAR/Satellite Details of environmental satellite
missions, instruments, and related information from the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO).
The
Instrument Table
supports URL-based filter presets, allowing external platforms to link directly to a
pre-filtered view. Either the
?tech= or
?filter= query string
parameter can be used — both accept the same set of values and behave identically.
For example, the following two URLs both open the Instrument Table pre-filtered to SAR instruments:
database/instrumenttable.aspx?tech=sar
database/instrumenttable.aspx?filter=sar
The supported ?tech= values are listed below. By default, all instruments
of the given type are shown regardless of status or data access. Use the optional
parameters described below to narrow the results.
A confirmation banner is shown on the page when a preset is active.
Note: some technology slugs (e.g. thermal-ir) map to more
than one technology category internally. In these cases the Technology dropdown on the page
will show All rather than a specific value, but the filter is still active —
the "Filtered by" banner confirms what is applied.
| Parameter value |
Technology filter applied |
Additional filters |
sar | Imaging radar (SAR) | |
insar | Imaging radar (SAR) | |
radar-altimeter | Radar altimeter | |
radar-scatterometer | Radar scatterometer | |
imaging-mw-radiometer | Multi-purpose imaging MW radiometer | |
absorption-mw-radiometer | Absorption-band MW radiometer/spectrometer | |
gnss-ro | GNSS radio-occultation receiver | |
gnss-reflectometer | GNSS receiver | |
mr-spectro-radiometer | Medium-resolution spectro-radiometer | |
hr-optical | High resolution optical imager | Spatial resolution 10–100 m |
vhr-optical | High resolution optical imager | Spatial resolution <1 m |
multipurpose-vis-ir | Multi-purpose imaging Vis/IR radiometer | |
thermal-ir | High-resolution nadir-scanning IR spectrometer or Narrow-band channel IR radiometer | Waveband: TIR |
hr-ir-spectrometer | High-resolution nadir-scanning IR spectrometer | |
mr-ir-spectrometer | Medium-resolution IR spectrometer | |
limb-ir-spectrometer | Limb-scanning IR spectrometer | |
broadband-radiometer | Broad-band radiometer | |
lightning-imager | Lightning imager | |
sat-ranging | Satellite-to-satellite ranging system | Defaults to Data Access: all |
Four optional parameters can be combined with any ?tech= URL to include,
exclude, or narrow the results further. All are optional and can be combined freely.
| Parameter |
Value |
Effect |
?tech-not= | any ?tech= slug | Exclude instruments of that technology |
&status= | all (default) | No status filter applied |
operational | Operational only |
current-future | Operational, Being developed, Approved, or Proposed |
future | Being developed, Approved, or Proposed |
past | No longer operational or No longer considered |
&access= | all (default) | No data access filter applied |
open | Open Access only |
open-constrained | Open Access or Constrained Access |
?type= | type slug (see below) | Include only instruments of that type |
?type-not= | type slug (see below) | Exclude instruments of that type |
The supported values for ?type= and ?type-not= are:
| Type slug |
Instrument type |
atmospheric-chemistry | Atmospheric chemistry |
atmos-sounders | Atmospheric temperature and humidity sounders |
cloud-rain-radar | Cloud profile and rain radars |
earth-radiation-budget | Earth radiation budget radiometers |
high-res-optical | High resolution optical imagers |
vis-ir-radiometer | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) |
passive-mw-radiometer | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (passive microwave) |
imaging-radar | Imaging microwave radars |
lidar | Lidars |
multi-dir-polarisation | Multiple direction/polarisation radiometers |
ocean-colour | Ocean colour instruments |
radar-altimeter | Radar altimeters |
scatterometer | Scatterometers |
gravity | Gravity instruments |
magnetic-field | Magnetic field |
precision-orbit | Precision orbit |
lightning | Lightning sensors |
hyperspectral | Hyperspectral imagers |
Examples:
You can contact the CEOS Database team via email
ceosmim@gmail.com
and
@EOHandbook
Information provided through the CEOS MIM is made available on an ‘as is’ basis,
without warranty of any kind, and CEOS makes no representation as to its accuracy,
completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose.