390 likes | 416 Views
SOME HISTORY OF U.S. METSAT SYSTEMS Dr. Sam Miller Satellite Meteorology – MTO 506E Istanbul Technical University. Sputnik 1 [ Cпутник-1 ] (4 October 1957). Launched by the Soviet Union. Caught most Americans by surprise. Sputnik 1 [ Cпутник-1 ].
E N D
SOME HISTORY OF U.S. METSAT SYSTEMS Dr. Sam Miller Satellite Meteorology – MTO 506E Istanbul Technical University
Sputnik 1 [Cпутник-1] (4 October 1957) • Launched by the Soviet Union. • Caught most Americans by surprise.
Sputnik 1 [Cпутник-1] • United States developed Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in response. • Within 18 months United States launched its first satellite.
Explorer (1959) • Returned first photo from Earth orbit. • Highly elliptical orbit.
Explorer • Apogee: 1088 km • Perigee: 556 km • Period: 101.3 minutes • Orbits not equatorial; not polar.
Explorer 7 (October, 1959) • Carried first radiometer (quantitative radiation sensor). • First successful meteorological instrument.
TIROS (1960) • TIROS 1 lasted 79 days. • Returned about 23,000 images.
TIROS • Television and Infrared Observational Satellites • Carried standard TV camera – one complete image every 2 seconds. • Ten TIROS satellites launched in original program – last one launched in 1965.
TIROS • Television and Infrared Observational Satellites • Carried standard TV camera – one complete image every 2 seconds. • Ten TIROS satellites launched in original program – last one launched in 1965. • Apogee: 722 km • Perigee: 677 km • Period: 98.7 min • Orbits not equatorial; not polar.
TIROS • First 4 TIROS were put into orbit with inclination (i) of 48 degrees.
TIROS • First 4 TIROS were put into orbit with inclination (i) of 48 degrees. • TIROS 5 - 10: i set to 58 deg – gave better images of poles.
TIROS • First 4 TIROS were put into orbit with inclination (i) of 48 degrees. • TIROS 5 - 10: i set to 58 deg – gave better images of poles. • TIROS 8: Introduced Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) – Images broadcast to Earth via VHF.
TIROS • First 4 TIROS were put into orbit with inclination (i) of 48 degrees. • TIROS 5 - 10: i set to 58 deg – gave better images of poles. • TIROS 8: Introduced Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) – Images broadcast to Earth via VHF. • TIROS 9: Changed camera orientation, making mosaic photos possible.
TIROS • First 4 TIROS were put into orbit with inclination (i) of 48 degrees. • TIROS 5 - 10: i set to 58 deg – gave better images of poles. • TIROS 8: Introduced Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) – Images broadcast to Earth via VHF. • TIROS 9: Changed camera orientation, making mosaic photos possible. • TIROS N (1978) began 3rd generation of U.S.-launched polar orbiters.
TIROS • First 4 TIROS were put into orbit with inclination (i) of 48 degrees. • TIROS 5 - 10: i set to 58 deg – gave better images of poles. • TIROS 8: Introduced Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) – Images broadcast to Earth via VHF. • TIROS 9: Changed camera orientation, making mosaic photos possible. • TIROS N (1978) began 3rd generation of U.S.-launched polar orbiters. • Latest = TIROS N-PRIME/NOAA 19 launched in February, 2009.
NIMBUS • Stabilized on 3 axes using flywheels (gyroscopes). • Rotated on its own axis once/orbit so that instruments pointed “down” at Earth all the time. • Carried High-Resolution Infrared Radiometers (HRIR) similar to modern-day instruments. • NIMBUS 1 was first sunsynchronous satellite – passed over points on Earth surface at about the same time of day.
NIMBUS • NIMBUS 3 carried instrumentation to estimate atmospheric soundings from space. • NIMBUS 4 carried Backscatter Ultraviolet instrument for measuring ozone. • NIMBUS 7 (last) remained operational through 1994.
NIMBUS • NIMBUS 3 carried instrumentation to estimate atmospheric soundings from space. • NIMBUS 4 carried Backscatter Ultraviolet instrument for measuring ozone. • NIMBUS 7 (last) remained operational through 1994. • Apogee: 937 km • Perigee: 429 km • Period: 98.5 minutes • Polar orbiters.
ESSA (1966) • Environmental Science Service Administration (ESSA) was predecessor of NOAA. • Commissioned satellites ESSA 1 – 9. • Similar to TIROS, but all in sunsynchronous orbits. • Carried video and radiometer (IR) cameras.
ESSA • Even-numbered satellites (2, 4, 6, 8) carried APT for VHF transmission to Earth. • Odd-numbered satellites carried Advanced Vidicon Camera System (AVCS) – stored images for later playback to Earth station.
ESSA • Even-numbered satellites (2, 4, 6, 8) carried APT for VHF transmission to Earth. • Odd-numbered satellites carried Advanced Vidicon Camera System (AVCS) – stored images for later playback to Earth station. • Apogee: 818 km • Perigee: 689 km • Period: 100 minutes • Polar orbiters.
DMSP • Defense Meteorological Satellite Program • USAF. • Program continues to the present day: DMSP 19 launched in 2011. • Sunsynchronous orbits. • Instrumentation began with video cameras; evolved to include many others, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).
DMSP • Apogee: 872 km • Perigee: 680 km • Period: 100.5 minutes • Polar orbiters.
ATS (1966) • Applications Technology Satellite • First metsat in geostationary orbit. • Placed above Western Hemisphere. • Designed to test meteorological and other types of instrumentation. • ATS 3 launched with equipment for creating color images (see plate 1 on page facing pg. 214); launched in 1967; remained active until 2001.
ATS • Total of 6 launched – last one in 1974.
ITOS (1970) • Improved TIROS Operational System • NOAA 1 – 5 completed this series (total of 6). • Sunsynchronous orbits.
ITOS • Improved TIROS Operational System • NOAA 1 – 5 completed this series (total of 6). • Sunsynchronous orbits. • Apogee: 1477 km • Perigee: 1432 km • Period: 115 minutes • Polar orbiters.
LANDSAT (1972) • LANDSAT 1 aka Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) • High resolution sensors – 80 meters in first satellite and 15 meters in latest. • Used by meteorologists to study small clouds. • Apogee: 911 km • Perigee: 899 km • Period: 103.2 minutes • Polar orbiters.
POES STATUS • As of 6 February 2012: • METOP-A (EUMETSAT): AM Primary • NOAA 11: Decommissioned 2004 • NOAA 12: Decommissioned 2007 • NOAA 14: Decommissioned 2007 • NOAA 15: AM Secondary • NOAA 16: PM Secondary • NOAA 17: AM Backup • NOAA 18: PM Secondary • NOAA 19: PM Primary
GOES • Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite • Operational workhorse of day-to-day weather forecasting. • United States has generally maintained two operational satellites in orbit at all times: One above 75 west; one above 135 west. • Additional GOES in standby orbit and on loan to South America
GOES • Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite • Operational workhorse of day-to-day weather forecasting. • United States has generally maintained two operational satellites in orbit at all times: One above 75 west; one above 135 west. • Apogee: 35,804 km • Perigee: 35,797 km • Period: 1436.7 minutes (~1 day) • Equatorial orbiters.
GOES STATUS • As of 6 February 2012: • GOES 8: Decommissioned 2004 • GOES 9: Decommissioned 2007 • GOES 10: Decommissioned 2009 • GOES 11: Decommissioned 2011 • GOES 12: S. America (60 ºW) (Earth Observing Partnership of the Americas) • GOES 13: Operational East (75 ºW) • GOES 14: On-Orbit Storage (105 ºW) • GOES 15: Operational West (135 ºW)
FOR CURRENT STATUS OF ALL METSAT SYTEMS http://www.oso.noaa.gov