Nimbus 1
A circular orbit was intended but a partial failure of Agena (early shutdown)
caused an elliptical orbit instead.
The project objectives were to provide improved photographs of local cloud
conditions by an automatic picture transmission (APT) system, and to evaluate
an advanced vidicon camera system for daylight coverage and a high-resolution
infrared radiometer system for night-time cloud cover observation.
First high resolution photos (27000 photos taken) Five hurricanes and two
typhoons were spotted in photographing 70 percent of the world each day. The
APT system supplied daytime photos to more than 60 low-cost ground stations.
Radiometer photos were remarkably clear and covered a 12,500 square mile
area.
Out
of service
|
23
Sep 1964
|
Cause
|
solar
panel drive failed
|
Decay
|
16
May 1974
|