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Information and History
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Polar-orbiting Satellites: The First to be Launched
The world's first meteorological satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral on
April 1, 1960. Named TIROS for Television Infrared Observation Satellite, it
demonstrated the advantage of mapping the earth's cloud cover from satellite altitudes.
TIROS showed clouds banded and clustered in unexpected ways. Sightings from the surface
had not prepared meteorologists for the interpretation of the cloud patterns that the
view from an orbiting satellite would show.
From April 1, 1960 to July 2, 1965 ten TIROS satellites were launched. The satellites
ensured continuity of data throughout the early years. The first four TIROS satellites
had an inclination of 48 degrees and the next four had an inclination of 58 degrees,
thus they were not polar-orbiting. The last two TIROS were the first polar-orbiting
meteorological satellites. The next series of satellites, named ESSA, for Environmental
Science Services Administration, were launched from February 3, 1966 to Feb. 26, 1969.
Nine satellites in the ESSA series were launched during this time. These satellites
were also polar-orbiting satellites.
On Jan. 23, 1970, the first of the improved satellites was launched. This
satellite was named ITOS 1, for Improved TIROS Operational Satellite. Between
December 11, 1970 and July 29, 1976. Five ITOS satellites designated NOAA-1
through 5 were launched. NOAA-1 was the first satellite to bear the NOAA name
and the first to be launched after the establishment of NOAA in October 1970.
From October 13, 1978 to July 23, 1981, satellites in the TIROS-N series were
launched. The N represented the next generation of operational satellites.
NOAA-6 and NOAA-7 were launched during this time frame. Flight of the AVHRR
(Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) and TIROS Operational Vertical
Sounder suite started on TIROS-N.
On March 28, 1983, the first of the Advanced TIROS-N (or ATN) satellites
designated NOAA-8 was launched. These satellites are physically larger and have
more power, than their predecessors, to accommodate more equipment. NOAA
continues to operate the ATN series of satellites today with improved
instruments. The current configuration is NOAA-14, launched Dec. 12, 1994, and
NOAA-15, launched May 13, 1998. NOAA-15 is the first in a series of five
satellites with improved imaging and sounding capabilities that will operate
over the next decade. (This series is NOAA-K (15), -L, -M, -N, and N'.) NOAA-L
is currently planned for launch in August 2000.
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