 This study compared two different types of satellite sensors to measure the correlation between nighttime light and gross regional product, GRP. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program's Operational Linescan System, DMS-POLS, was the only sensor available until the launch of the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite, VIRS, sensor on the Suomi National Polar Orbiting Partnership, NPP, satellite in October 2011. The study found that the VIRS sensor had a higher correlation with GRP than the DMS-POLS sensor, indicating that the VIRS sensor is better at measuring economic activity. This finding provides a basis for using the VIRS sensor to accurately estimate economic activity in areas where census data is unavailable or difficult to obtain. This article was authored by Chang Li, Xiaoling Chen, Shili, and others.