Which NASA mission mapped about 80 percent of Earth’s land surface with radar in 2000?

The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission mapped about 80 percent of Earth’s land surface with radar in 2000.

The mission flew aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour from February 11 to February 22, 2000. It used radar antennas on the shuttle and a 60-meter mast extending from the payload bay to measure Earth’s elevation through interferometry.

SRTM produced one of the most important near-global digital elevation datasets. The data improved maps of mountains, valleys, coastlines, watersheds, and urban regions, supporting research in geology, hydrology, disaster planning, and climate science.

The mission did not cover the entire planet: its primary mapping range extended from about 60 degrees north to 56 degrees south latitude. SRTM is distinct from Landsat, which primarily collects optical and infrared imagery rather than a near-global radar elevation model.