Windy Community
    • Unread
    • Categories
    • Groups
    • Go to windy.com
    • Register
    • Login

    60 years of satellite meteorology (TIROS-1)

    Articles
    satellite article satellite image archive satellite map
    1
    2
    2.8k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Gkikas LGPZG
      Gkikas LGPZ Moderator
      last edited by Korina

      photo: Nesdis NOAA; licence: cc

      Source:
      https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/celebrating-60-years-world’s-first-weather-satellite
      https://vlab.ncep.noaa.gov/web/nws-heritage/-/the-satellite-era-begins

      On 1 April 1960, NASA launched the world’s first weather satellite named TIROS-1 (Television Infra Red Observation Satellite). Although the mission was short lived (only 78 days) TIROS-1 sent back 19,389 usable pictures, proving the worth of weather observing satellites to the world and opening the door for the weather systems of the future.

      The first image from the satellite was a fuzzy picture of thick bands and clusters of clouds over the United States.

      photo: TIROS 1; licence: cc

      “It really was a milestone in the history of weather observation,” said Stephen Volz, Ph.D., Assistant Administrator of NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service.

      Today, with the next generation of environmental observation satellites in orbit we are continuously improving our weather monitoring and prediction with state-of-the-art data and imagery. These satellites are also significantly enhancing our understanding of the Earth as a whole system.

      “TIROS was just the first step,” Volz added. “Now we're starting to peel back those environmental layers and understand how they connect together. We can see vegetation health from space and measure how warm the ground is. We can see fires around the world and determine the altimetry of water and waves from space.

      All of this is based on what we learned—and what we saw—with our first glimpses from TIROS.”

      photo: NASA; licence: cc

      TIROS Technical Control Center at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA (File photo, 1964). Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

      photo: TIROS 1; licence: cc

      One of the first images returned (May 9, 1960) by TIROS-1. Superimposed on the cloud patterns is a generalized weather map for the region.

      photo: TIROS 1 and NOAA 15; licence: cc

      The comparison of the progress in meteorological imaging. Left: image taken by the TIROS 1 satellite, 1960. Right: the same region imaged by the satellite NOAA 15, 2000.

      ... and today

      photo: Windy.com; desc: Satellite; licence: cc

      Gkikas LGPZG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 9
      • Gkikas LGPZG
        Gkikas LGPZ Moderator @Gkikas LGPZ
        last edited by Gkikas LGPZ

        A video from NASA, on 50th Anniversary of TIROS-1

        ..... an RCA film for NASA

        and TIROS-1 mission profile

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
        • First post
          Last post
        Windyty, S.E. - all rights reserved. Powered by excellent NodeBB
        NodeBB & contributors, OSM & contributors, HERE maps
        Terms of Use     Privacy Policy