On April 1, 1960, the world’s first weather observation satellite (TIROS-1) was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It became operational for 78 days, despite the mission duration being 90 days.

April 1 story of what happened this day in Science, Technology, Astronomy, and Space Exploration history.

Tiros-1

IROS-1 (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) was the first weather satellite launched by the United States on April 1, 1960. It was designed to gather data on the Earth’s weather patterns and transmit it back to Earth for analysis.

The satellite was built by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. TIROS-1 was a small satellite, weighing only 122.5 kilograms (270 lb), and was cylindrical in shape, measuring 42 inches (1.1 meters) in length and 22 inches (0.56 meters) in diameter.

Technicians working on the TIROS-1 satellite
Technicians working on the TIROS-1 satellite. On April 1, 1960, this satellite, designed by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), launched to become the nation’s first weather satellite. That satellite, the Television InfraRed Observational Satellite, or TIROS 1, operated for only 78 days but demonstrated the feasibility of monitoring Earth’s cloud cover and weather patterns from space. This NASA program provided the first accurate weather forecasts based on data gathered from space. It also captured the first television picture of Earth from space. Photo: NASA

TIROS-1 was equipped with two television cameras and two video recorders, which were used to capture images of the Earth’s weather patterns. It was also equipped with temperature and humidity sensors, as well as a radiation detector.

The satellite orbited the Earth every 98.5 minutes and transmitted data back to Earth at a frequency of 136.77 MHz. During its 78-day mission, TIROS-1 sent back 23,000 photos of the Earth, including the first images of a tropical storm and a hurricane from space, 19,000 of them usable for weather analysis. It also captured the first television picture of Earth from space.

TIROS-1 was a groundbreaking achievement in the field of meteorology and paved the way for further advances in weather forecasting and satellite technology. It demonstrated the value of using satellites to monitor weather patterns and showed that it was possible to gather accurate data from space.

The first television picture of Earth from space

Related: The first television picture of Earth from space

April 1 in Science, Technology, Astronomy, and Space Exploration history

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres
Latest posts by M. Özgür Nevres (see all)

Join the Conversation

1 Comment

  1. I DEVELOPED THE FIRST FOUR PHOTOS SENT BYTIROS ON
    APRIL 1, 1960 early in the morning at the HEXACON LAB BUILDING
    AT FORT MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY – I WAS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
    THOMAS B. ABRUZZINI
    For more on TIROS my e-mail is abruzzini64@aol.com

    From: Thomas ABRUZZINI
    Sent: Friday, March 15, 2024 5:43 PM
    To: Thomas ABRUZZINI ; TOM ABRUZZINI
    Subject: Re: 5:44pm – -March 15 – FEB- MARCH

    From: Thomas ABRUZZINI
    Sent: Friday, March 15, 2024 5:43 PM
    To: Thomas ABRUZZINI ; TOM ABRUZZINI
    Subject: Re: 5:44pm – -March 15 – FEB- MARCH

    Reply

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.