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Tiros N
Tiros-N
Credit: NASA |
American earth weather satellite. Tiros N was part of the ongoing US series of polar-orbiting weather satellites. These were preceded by the TIROS series and the ITOS (Improved TIROS) series.
Status: Operational 1978. First Launch: 1978-10-13. Last Launch: 2002-06-24. Number: 6 . Gross mass: 1,416 kg (3,121 lb). Height: 3.70 m (12.10 ft).
These satellites made measurements of atmospheric temperature and humidity, surface temperature, cloud cover, water-ice-moisture boundaries, and space proton and electron fluxes. They could receive, process, and retransmit data from free-floating balloons, buoys, and remote automatic stations around the globe. These satellites were managed by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and NASA was responsible for developing and launching the spacecraft. The NOAA spacecraft used a letter designator (NOAA G) before launch, and received a numeric designator after reaching orbit. TIROS-N through NOAA-D were called the TIROS-N series. NOAA-E through NOAA-N were called the TIROS ATN series (Advanced TIROS N). NOAA-D was launched out of sequence and later became NOAA 12. The spacecraft were 3-axis stabilized, nadir pointing with control to 0.1 deg using reaction wheels. The TIROS-N series incorporated significant design heritage from DMSP. A hydrazine propulsion system was used for orbit maintenance. A single solar panel generated over 1 kW (EOL). NiCd batteries provided power during eclipse. The structure was an elongated 5-sided box constructed of aluminum and titanium. S-Band communications were used with NOAA/NESDIS ground stations located in Redwood City, CA; Wallops, VA; and Fairbanks, AK. Payloads included: UL> AVCS (Advanced Vidicon Camera System)APT (Automatic Picture Transmission system)FPR (Flat Plate Radiometer)SPM (Solar Proton Monitor)VTPR (Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometer)VHRR (Very High Resolution Radiometer)AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer)ASS (Atmospheric Sounding System)SEM (Space Environment Monitor)TOVS (TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder)TIP (TIROS Information Processor)MIR (Manipulated Information Rate processor)CSU (Cross-Strap Unit).
Family: Earth,
Earth weathersat,
Sun synchronous orbit.
Country: USA.
Spacecraft: TIROS.
Launch Vehicles: Titan,
Atlas,
Titan II,
Atlas E,
Atlas F,
Titan II SLV.
Launch Sites: Vandenberg,
Vandenberg SLC3W,
Vandenberg SLC4W.
Agency: NASA,
NOAA,
Martin,
RCA,
Astro Space.
More at: 13279,
13280.
Bibliography: 2,
278,
279,
3977,
3978,
3979,
3980,
552,
554,
6.
Photo Gallery
 | NOAA 8
Credit: Manufacturer Image |
 | N-ROSS
Credit: Manufacturer Image |
1978 October 13 - .
11:23 GMT - .
Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W.
LV Family: Atlas.
Launch Vehicle: Atlas F.
1979 June 27 - .
15:51 GMT - .
Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W.
LV Family: Atlas.
Launch Vehicle: Atlas F.
- NOAA 6 - .
Payload: NOAA A. Mass: 723 kg (1,593 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NOAA.
Program: Tiros.
Class: Earth.
Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Tiros N.
Spacecraft: Tiros N.
USAF Sat Cat: 11416 . COSPAR: 1979-057A. Apogee: 800 km (490 mi). Perigee: 785 km (487 mi). Inclination: 98.6000 deg. Period: 100.70 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C)..
1980 May 29 - .
10:53 GMT - .
Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W.
LV Family: Atlas.
Launch Vehicle: Atlas F.
FAILURE: Atlas sustainer engine under-thrust resulted in 50 second extended burn time, and spacecraft attempted to separate and fired apogee kick motor while booster was still thrusting.. Failed Stage: P. - NOAA B - .
Payload: NOAA B. Mass: 1,405 kg (3,097 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NOAA.
Program: Tiros.
Class: Earth.
Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Tiros N.
Spacecraft: Tiros N.
Decay Date: 1981-05-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 11819 . COSPAR: 1980-043A. Apogee: 1,445 km (897 mi). Perigee: 264 km (164 mi). Inclination: 92.2000 deg. Period: 102.10 min.
Unusable orbit; would have been NOAA 7. At engine start up, one of the booster engines suffered an internal fuel leak, causing it to run at about 80% thrust. As a result the booster was low on velocity and heavy on propellant over much of its flight and ran an incredible 50 seconds longer than the nominal burn. The NOAA Advanced TIROS payload was designed with no direct communication with the booster, and unaware of the booster problem, at 375 sec after liftoff attempted to separate with the booster still firing. The booster's continued thrusting defeated the payload's attempt to perform the required pitch maneuver. When the payload fired its apogee kick motor, it blew the top of the booster's liquid oxygen tank off. The spacecraft survived all this, but the resultant orbit was highly elliptical rather than the desired circular sun-synchronous. The mission was a total loss. Officially: Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).>
1981 June 23 - .
10:52 GMT - .
Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W.
LV Family: Atlas.
Launch Vehicle: Atlas F.
- NOAA 7 - .
Payload: NOAA C. Mass: 1,405 kg (3,097 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NOAA.
Program: Tiros.
Class: Earth.
Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Tiros N.
Spacecraft: Tiros N.
USAF Sat Cat: 12553 . COSPAR: 1981-059A. Apogee: 847 km (526 mi). Perigee: 828 km (514 mi). Inclination: 98.9000 deg. Period: 101.70 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C)..
1991 May 14 - .
15:52 GMT - .
Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC3W.
LV Family: Atlas.
Launch Vehicle: Atlas E.
- NOAA 12 - .
Payload: NOAA D. Mass: 1,416 kg (3,121 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NOAA.
Program: Tiros.
Class: Earth.
Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Tiros N.
Spacecraft: Tiros N.
USAF Sat Cat: 21263 . COSPAR: 1991-032A. Apogee: 824 km (512 mi). Perigee: 805 km (500 mi). Inclination: 98.6000 deg. Period: 101.20 min. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). .
2002 June 24 - .
18:23 GMT - .
Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Launch Complex: Vandenberg SLC4W.
LV Family: Titan.
Launch Vehicle: Titan II SLV.
- NOAA 17 - .
Payload: NOAA-M. Mass: 1,475 kg (3,251 lb). Nation: USA.
Agency: NOAA.
Manufacturer: Lockheed.
Program: Tiros.
Class: Earth.
Type: Weather satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Tiros N.
Spacecraft: Tiros N.
USAF Sat Cat: 27453 . COSPAR: 2002-032A. Apogee: 820 km (500 mi). Perigee: 802 km (498 mi). Inclination: 98.4000 deg. Period: 101.10 min.
Launch delayed from August 2001. The refurbished Titan 2 missile put the NOAA M satellite on a suborbital trajectory of about -2500 x 820 km x 98 deg. at 1829 UTC. At 1837 UTC the NOAA M propulsion module fired its ATK/Thiokol Star 37XFP solid motor for the orbit insertion burn, followed by a hydrazine trim burn to put the satellite in an 807 x 822 km x 98.8 deg operational orbit. NOAA M became NOAA 17 on entering service with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the primary morning weather satellite, supplementing the NOAA 16 afternoon satellite. Built by Lockheed Martin, NOAA M carried weather imagers and microwave and infrared sounders, as well as a SARSAT search-and-rescue package. It had an on-orbit mass of 1475 kg.
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