The next phase of the United States-led Earth observation program plans to launch in 2031.
Landsat Next satellites will capture data at a higher resolution and fidelity than any previous Landsat mission.
The partnership builds and expands on the near half-century of collaboration between Geoscience Australia and the United States Geological Survey on Landsat missions.
Landsat Next’s improved data collection and analysis capability will have many uses, including helping Australia to:
- improve our understanding and responses to climate change impacts and natural disasters
- improve urban environment and infrastructure planning
- better manage our natural resources and crops
- explore and discover critical minerals and strategic materials with greater accuracy.
The 2024-25 Budget committed $207.4 million over the next 4 years, and then $38.2 million each year for Australia’s ongoing partnership in the Landsat Next mission.
Geoscience Australia will deliver an upgraded ground station in Alice Springs along with advanced spatial data processing and analytics capabilities. This will ensure the success of the next generation satellite mission and help Australians use Landsat Next data.
The partnership will extend free and open access to Landsat Next data to users in Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This will support evidence-based decision making across the region, particularly in relation to climate change adaptation planning and disaster management activities.
Read the full text of the communique below.
Ministerial communique between the governments of Australia and the United States of America
Australia-United States: Landsat Next 2030 International Partnership Initiative
It is with immense pleasure and anticipation that the Australian and United States Governments (“governments”) celebrate Australia formally joining the Landsat Next 2030 International Partnership Initiative (“2030 Initiative”) as a founding partner under the aegis of the Australia-U.S. Landsat Next Partnership (“the partnership”).
Australia is a partner uniquely positioned and prepared to play a central role in the U.S. Landsat Next satellite mission’s success. Australia will provide critical ground station infrastructure, personnel, services and science in support of the Landsat Next mission.
The partnership builds and expands on the near half-century of cooperation between Geoscience Australia and the United States Geological Survey in Earth observation. The continuation and expansion of the Landsat partnership underscores the governments’ mutual dedication to maximising the benefits of Earth observation to help address complex global challenges and advance shared priorities, including climate change resilience, sustainable development, and opportunities to maximise shared economic prosperity to both nations’ citizens, and to the global community.
Australia and the United States will work side-by-side to deliver a step-change in land imaging data collection and analysis capability that will contribute to an unrivalled public geo-information infrastructure.
The Landsat Next mission will provide critical, actionable insights to empower our nations to improve natural resource and crop management, urban environment and infrastructure planning, enhance climate change resiliency, preparation and mitigation, and inform disaster relief activities.
The partnership promotes the ability of our countries to carry out targeted resource exploration, accurate discovery and fast-tracked supply-chain development for critical minerals and other strategic materials. These activities will be crucial to our nations’ and the international community’s transition to net zero.
The Australia-US Landsat Next Partnership extends our joint commitment to deepening international cooperation with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region, empowering regional users to access highly advanced datasets, cutting-edge science, informed insights and user-friendly platforms to support evidence-based decision making on economic, social and environmental opportunities and challenges.
Australia and the United States welcome the conclusion of the written arrangements that underpin this multi-decadal partnership, underscoring the vital importance of our historic, strong and enduring alliance.
We acknowledge the work already underway, with Australian experts participating on US development teams, contributing to the design and development of the infrastructure, science and digital capabilities that will be required to maximise the societal and economic benefits of the Landsat Next system.
We look forward to the collaboration and engagement the 2030 Initiative will confer, and welcome the opportunity to work together in lock-step for the continued success of the Landsat programs to advance both our nations’ interests, and to promote a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Signed at Washington August 5, 2024.
Senator the Hon. Penny Wong Minister for Foreign Affairs
Antony J. Blinken U.S. Secretary of State