This paper examines the contributions and limitations of satellite Earth Observation in the context of global environmental issues and the exponentially increasing availability of high-resolution data. Since the 1960s, images of the Earth taken from space have modified our representations and knowledge of the planet. The famous Earthrise photographed from Apollo 8 in 1968 raised awareness of the beauty and fragility of our world, and the first Landsat satellite in 1972 launched the era of continuous and ever more precise observation of the Earth. After a historical overview of the evolution of satellite imagery production up to the current deluge of data, this article shows how remote sensing can support international policies on the environment and sustainable development, while continuously renewing our vision of planet Earth.