Mission type | Weather satellite |
---|---|
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1963-024A |
SATCAT no. | 604 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | TIROS |
Manufacturer | RCA / GSFC |
Launch mass | 134.7 kilograms (297 lb) [1] |
Dimensions | 1.07 m × 0.56 m (3.5 ft × 1.8 ft) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | June 19, 1963, 09:50 UTC [2] |
Rocket | Thor-Delta B 359/D-19 |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-17B |
End of mission | |
Last contact | June 3, 1968 |
Decay date | June 3, 1994 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Eccentricity | 0.001995 [1] |
Perigee altitude | 621 kilometers (386 mi) [1] |
Apogee altitude | 649 kilometers (403 mi) [1] |
Inclination | 58.23° [1] |
Period | 97.40 minutes [1] |
Epoch | June 19, 1963 [1] |
Instruments | |
Low Resolution Omnidirectional Radiometer Scanning Radiometer Langmuir probe Television Camera System | |
TIROS-7 (also called TIROS-G or A-52 ) was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the seventh in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS-7 was launched on June 19, 1963, by a Thor-Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, United States. The spacecraft functioned nominally until June 3, 1968. It reentered the atmosphere after exactly 26 years on June 3, 1994. The satellite orbited the Earth once every 1 hour and 37 minutes, at an inclination of 58.2°. Its perigee was 621 kilometers (386 mi) and apogee was 649 kilometers (403 mi). [1]
TIROS 7 was a spin-stabilized meteorological spacecraft designed to test experimental television techniques and infrared equipment. The satellite was in the form of an 18-sided right prism, 107 cm in diameter and 56 cm high. The top and sides of the spacecraft were covered with approximately 9000 1-by 2-cm silicon solar cells. It was equipped with 2 independent television camera subsystems for taking cloudcover pictures, plus an omnidirectional radiometer and a five-channel scanning radiometer for measuring radiation from the earth and its atmosphere. The satellite spin rate was maintained between 8 and 12 rpm by use of five diametrically opposed pairs of small, solid-fuel thrusters.
A magnetic attitude control device permitted the satellite spin axis to be oriented to within 1 to 2 deg of a predetermined attitude. The flight control system also optimized the performance of the solar cells and TV cameras and protected the five-channel infrared radiometer from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. The spacecraft performed normally until December 31, 1965, and sporadically until February 3, 1967. TIROS-7 was operated for an additional 1.5 years to collect engineering data. It was deactivated on June 3, 1968. [3]
On June 3, 1994, it was destroyed by being incinerated in the Earth's atmosphere.
TIROS-1 was the first full-scale weather satellite, the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites (TIROS) placed in low Earth orbit.
Television InfraRed Observation Satellite (TIROS) is a series of early weather satellites launched by the United States, beginning with TIROS-1 in 1960. TIROS was the first satellite that was capable of remote sensing of the Earth, enabling scientists to view the Earth from a new perspective: space. The program, promoted by Harry Wexler, proved the usefulness of satellite weather observation, at a time when military reconnaissance satellites were secretly in development or use. TIROS demonstrated at that time that "the key to genius is often simplicity". TIROS is an acronym of "Television InfraRed Observation Satellite" and is also the plural of "tiro" which means "a young soldier, a beginner".
NOAA-13, also known as NOAA-I before launch, was an American weather satellite operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA-I continued the operational, polar orbiting, meteorological satellite series operated by the National Environmental Satellite System (NESS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA-I continued the series (fifth) of Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) spacecraft begun with the launch of NOAA-8 (NOAA-E) in 1983. NOAA-I was in an afternoon equator-crossing orbit and was intended to replace the NOAA-11 (NOAA-H) as the prime afternoon (14:00) spacecraft.
TIROS-2 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the second in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites. It re-entered in May 2014.
ESSA-1 was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).
ESSA-9, also known as TOS-G, was a meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA). ESSA-9 replaced the ESSA-7 satellite.
Nimbus 7 was a meteorological satellite. It was the seventh and last in a series of the Nimbus program.
TIROS-3 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the third in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS-4 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the fourth in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS 5 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the fifth in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS 6 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the sixth in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS-8 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the eighth in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS-9 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the ninth in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
TIROS-10 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the tenth and last in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites.
Nimbus 1 was a meteorological satellite. It was the first in a series of the Nimbus program.
Nimbus 2 was a meteorological satellite. It was the second in a series of the Nimbus program.
Nimbus 3 was a meteorological satellite. It was the third in a series of the Nimbus program.
Nimbus 4 was a meteorological satellite. It was the fourth in a series of the Nimbus program.
NOAA-1 was a weather satellite operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was part of a series of satellites called ITOS, or improved TIROS. ITOS-B was released on October 21, 1971, from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with a Delta rocket. It failed to achieve a successful Earth orbit. A malfunction in the second stage launch vehicle caused the spacecraft to reenter the Earth's atmosphere about 1 hour after lift-off.
NOAA-5, also known as ITOS-H was a weather satellite operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was part of a series of satellites called ITOS, or improved TIROS, being the last of the series. NOAA-5 was launched on a Delta rocket on July 29, 1976.