Names | TOS-A |
---|---|
Mission type | Weather satellite |
Operator | ESSA/NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1966-087A |
SATCAT no. | 2435 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | RCA Astro |
Launch mass | 145 kilograms (320 lb) [1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | October 2, 1966, 10:34 UTC [2] |
Rocket | Delta C |
Launch site | Vandenberg LC-2E |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Decommissioned |
Deactivated | December 2, 1968 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Eccentricity | 0.00703 |
Perigee altitude | 1,383 kilometers (859 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 1,493 kilometers (928 mi) |
Inclination | 100.9° |
Period | 114.6 minutes |
Epoch | October 2, 1966 |
ESSA 3 (or TOS-A ) was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. [3] Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).
The satellite's skeleton was made of aluminum and stainless steel and had the shape of a prism with an eighteen-sided base.
Power was supplied by 12,000 1x2 cm photovoltaic cells arranged on its sides, which were used to charge 21 NiCd batteries.
Stabilization in orbit was provided by rotational movement at a speed of 9.2 revolutions per minute, maintained by a magnetic attitude control system (MASC, Magnetic Attitude Spin Coil). Its actuator was a coil, and the torque necessary for position control was generated by the interaction of the Earth's magnetic field with the magnetic field induced in the satellite. An additional stabilization system was provided by five constant-current engines mounted on the circumference of its bottom. [3]
A single monopole antenna placed at top was used for communication with Earth. Two dipole antennas (4 rods protruding from the bottom) were used to transmit telemetry.
Cameras were triggered automatically when Earth entered the field of view. The pictures were transmitted directly to Earth or recorded onboard. The satellite was equipped with two twin independent wide-angle Vidicon television cameras. These could work simultaneously or alternately.
The satellite was also equipped with a Flat Plane Radiometer (FPR) used to measure solar energy reflected from the Earth. [4]
ESSA-3 was launched on October 2, 1966, at 10:34 UTC. It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. [5] [6] The spacecraft had a mass of 132 kilograms (291 lb) at the time of launch. ESSA-3 had an inclination of 100.9°, and an orbited the Earth once every 114 minutes. Its perigee was 1,383 kilometers (859 mi) and its apogee was 1,493 kilometers (928 mi). [7]
One of the first images taken by ESSA 3 was of Category 4 Hurricane Inez over the Bahamas and Florida.
The satellite operated without failures until January 20, 1967, when its FPR radiometer stopped working. On September 29, 1967, one of the cameras stopped working. On October 9, 1968, the second camera failed. The satellite was decommissioned on December 2, 1968. [3]
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".
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.
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-7 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the seventh 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.
ESSA-4 was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).
ESSA-5 was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).
Nimbus 2 was a meteorological satellite. It was the second in a series of the Nimbus program.
NOAA-1, also known as ITOS-A 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 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.
NOAA-2, also known as ITOS-D 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. NOAA-2 was launched on a Delta rocket on October 15, 1972. The launch carried one other satellite: AMSAT-OSCAR 6.
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.
This article incorporates public domain material from ESSA 3. National Aeronautics and Space Administration . Retrieved June 4, 2018.