The　successful　launch　of　Landsat　8　on　February　11,　2013　has　made　it　possible　for　the　continuity　of　Landsat　earth　observation　mission　once　stopped　due　to　the　failure　of　the　aged　Landsat　5　in　late　2011.　The　satellite　has　two　sensors,　the　Operational　Land　Imager　(OLI)　and　the　Thermal　Infrared　Sensor　(TIRS),　which　collect　remotely-sensed　data　over　a　185　km　swath.　Landsat　8　has　several　new　characteristics　as　well　as　those　of　Landsat　7.　These　include　adding　two　spectral　bands　(deep　blue　and　cirrus　bands),　refining　spectral　range　of　some　bands　of　Landsat　7　ETM+,　splitting　one　thermal　band　to　two　bands,　and　improving　radiometric　resolution　from　8　bits　to　16　bits.　This　paper　aims　to　examine　the　new　characteristics　of　the　satellite＇s　image.　Image　processing　and　analysis　have　been　carried　out　on　the　satellite＇s　first　image　acquired　on　March　18,　2013.　The　results　show　that　(1)　the　addition　of　the　cirrus　band　can　be　useful　for　the　separation　of　cloud　from　bright　ground　objects;　(2)　the　band　is　also　helpful　for　the　distinguishing　soil　from　building　materials　because　the　spectral　range　of　the　cirrus　band　is　designed　within　a　strong　water　vapor　absorbing　zone　of　the　clay　minerals;　(3)　the　addition　of　the　deep　blue　band　can　be　useful　for　monitoring　suspended　materials　in　open　waters;　(4)　the　narrowing　of　spectral　range　of　the　panchromatic　band　can　help　the　differentiation　of　vegetated　and　non-vegetated　area　in　the　panchromatic　image;　and　(5)　the　enhancement　of　radiometric　resolution　from　8　bits　to　16　bits　would　avoid　spectral　saturation　of　the　data　in　extremely　dark/　light　regions.　In　general,　Landsat　8　has　technical　advantages　over　Landsat　7　except　a　lower　spatial　resolution　in　thermal　data.　Its　launch　and　operation　can　undoubtedly　make　significant　contributions　to　the　morning　of　global　ecosystem　and　environmental　changes.