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Credit: TIROS Program,
NASA
Explanation:
The Television
InfraRed Observational Satellite (TIROS) 1 was the first
weather satellite.
Launched into a
polar orbit
40 years ago
(April 1, 1960)
equipped with two TV cameras,
TIROS 1
was operational for only 78 days but demonstrated the
feasibility of monitoring
planet Earth's cloud cover and
weather patterns from space.
TIROS satellites eventually began continuous
coverage in 1962 and
enabled accurate worldwide weather forecasts and
alerts.
Above is the first TIROS TV image, taken from an altitude of
about 700 kilometers.
Crude by
contemporary standards, it represents the beginning
of what is still one of the most important
continuing applications
of space technology.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Earth - spacecraft - planet - weather - satellite - image - tiros
Publications with words: Earth - spacecraft - planet - weather - satellite - image - tiros
See also: