TIROS I
(“Television and InfraRed Observation Satellite”) is launched on
April 1, 1960 at Cape Canaveral, Florida by the NASA. For the first
time it became possible to observe weather conditions on a regular
basis.
The satellite
received cloud pictures via television cameras that took snapshots of
the scene below, a snapshot was taken every ten seconds. TIROS I was
equipped with two cameras, one with a wide angle lense providing
views approximately 1207 km on a side, and a narrow angle camera with
a view that was about 129 km on a side.
Two CDA (“Command
and Data Acquisition”) stations were used, the Army Signal Corps
laboratory in Belmar, New Jersey and the U.S. Air Force facility a
Kaena Point, Hawaii. A third, back-up station, was located at
Hightstown, New Jersey.
 |
| Tiros I assembly |
The data from the
satellite was recorded on 35-mm film for making prints and large
projections. Afterwards this was transmitted to the U.S. Weather
Bureau National Meteorological Center (NMC) near Washington, D.C. By
1962 (TIROS IV, TIROS V) some satellite pictures were sent to other
large Weather Bureau offices. In June 1960 TIROS I ceased operating
due to an electrical failure. TIROS II was launched on November 23,
1960.
 |
| Tiros I section |
No comments:
Post a Comment