tiros vii press kit

8/8/2019 Tiros Vii Press Kit

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NEWS RELEASENATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONa A400 MARYLAND AVENUE, SW, WASHINGTON 25, D.C.TELEPHONES. WORTH 2-4155-WORTH 3-6925FOR RELEASE: A.M.'s SundayJune 16, 1963

RELEASE NO: 63-1322Press Kit


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TIROS is an abbreviation for Television Infra-RedObservation Satellite.

If successfully placed in orbit, the seventh TIROSwill set new U.S. achievement records in space: seven consecu-tive TIROS satellites in orbit in seven tries, and 18 straightsuccessful satellite launchings for the reliable three-stageDelta booster vehicle. TIROS will circle the earth in a 400-mile orbit about once every hour and 38 minutes.

Like two previous satellites of the series--TIROS V and VI


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-3-during the critical late summer and early fall periods whenmost tropical storms are spawned.

Physically, the new TIROS will resemble its six prede-cessor "weather eyes in space." This time, as part of thecontinuing TIROS research and development program conductedby NASA, the satellite will use the wide-angle Elgeet lensin both cameras as did TIROS III. This 104-degree lens, withits wide area of coverage--about 750 miles on a side whenpointed straight down from a 400-mile orbit--is especially well


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-4-satellite's 63 nickel-cadmium batteries. Protruding fromits top is an 18-inch receiving antenna through which ground-based commands are received. At the bottom, four 22--inchtransmitting whip antennas are spaced at 90-degree intervals.Through these antennas the satellite's transmitters relay TVpictures, infra-red data and telemetry information relating tospacecraft temperature, pressure, battery charge levels, spinrate and so forth.

TV Cameras:


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-5-Operation of the cameras, by direct read-out or magnetic

tape storage techniques, is based on radio commands relayedfrom a ground station. These commands set timers in the satel-lite which activate the camera system when the satellite passesover an area from whichcloud cover pictures are desired.

At the ground stations, which are located at the NASAWallops Station, Wallops Island, Va., and at San Nicholas Island,Pacific Missile Range, Calif., TV pictures received from thesatellite are flashed on special kinescopes and photographed by


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-6-The north indicator consists of nine sun sensors spaced

equally around the sides. These sensors permit measuring theposition of the spacecraft with respect to the sun. The infor-mation is telemetered to ground stations where computers de-termine sun-angles in order that technicians can orient northin each picture received.

The magnetic attitude control system consists of a simplewire coil around the outside lower portion of the satellite.


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In order to remain stable in orbit TIROS must maintaina spin rate of at least eight RPM. When this minimum isapproached, a pair of small solid fuel rockets on the rim ofthe baseplate are ignited by radio command from the ground.These rockets increase the spin rate by about three RPM. There.are five pairs of these tiny rockets, each of which can'be firedonce.

To prevent wobbling in space, the satellite has an internalarrangement of sliding weights or "precession dampers" mountedon curved tracks. These weights cancel unwanted satellite mo-tions.


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-8-The Goddard-developed medium resolution infrared experi-

ment is designed to measure reflected solar radiation fromearth and its atmosphere in five separate channels or spectralbands. These are: (1) 14-15 microns, for radiation emittedby carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; (2) 8-12 microns, forradiation emitted from the near surface of the earth or fromthe tops of clouds; (3) 0.2-6, for the entire solar radiation re-flected by the earth and its atmosphere; (4) 8-30 microns, for ther-mal radiation emitted by the earth and its atmosphere; (5) .55-.75


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-9-The omnidirectional--or non-scanning--infrared experiment

supplied by the University of Wisconsin is also designed tostudy the heat balance of the earth. It consists of two wide-angle low-resolution infrared detection devices, each consist-ing of a black and white bolometer--metallic resistancethermometers--mounted 180 degrees apart on telescoping supportsprojecting from the sides of the spacecraft. Both bolometershave a high degree of absorptivity to earth infrared radiation,but only the black bolometer can absorb solar radiation. Knowingthe readings given by both devices permits computation of re-


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THE TIROS RECORD

TIROS I:TIROS I was launched at the Cape Canaveral April 1, 1960,

by a Thor-Able rocket (Delta launch vehicles have been used tolaunch all remaining TIROS spacecraft). During its 78 days ofoperation (until June 17, 1960), TIROS I transmitted almost23,000 cloud cover photographs of which more than 19,000 wereuseable for weather analysis purposes. As the pioneer space-craft in the meteorological satellite program, TIROS I opened

weather observation by providing data covering vast


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season were observed by TIROS III. Hurricane Esther wasdetected by the satellite's camera eye two days before it wasobserved by conventional methods. TIROS III provided informa-tion which resulted in 70 storm advisories being issued to allparts of the world.

TIROS IV:Laumched on Feebruary 8, 1962, TIROS IV proved to be of

great value as a vehicle for ice study and ice reconnaissance.Project TIREC, supported jointly by the Weather Bureau, the


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TIROS VI:Launched September 18, 1962, TIROS VI continues to func-

tion although the Vidicon of its medium-angle camera failedon last December lst, As of June 5th, the sixth TIROS has sent

more than 48,348 useable earth cloud cover pictures out of54,368 taken, an 88 percent useability ratio. Plans are under-way to use TIROS VI to obtai.i pictures of the moon's shadowduring the solar eclipse of July 20. The satellite is alsoexpected to be of value in forecasting cloud cover over portions


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-13-THE TIROS TEAM

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration isresponsible for the TIROS project. Development of hardwareand operation phases of the project are directed by NASA'sGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Goddard is alsoresponsible for preparing the command programming informationwhich is relayed to the satellite by the ground stations.The programming information is based on data from the GoddardTracking and Data System Division and recommendations made


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Prime contractor for the Delta booster rocket is theDouglas Aircraft Co., Santa Monica, Calif., which also isresponsible for pre-launch and launch operations. Logisticsupport is provided by the Air Force Missile Test Centerwhich operates the Atlantic Missile Range.

Key officials responsible for the TIROS project include:NASA Headquarters

Morton J. Stoller, Director, Office of Applicatior.8Dr. Morris Tepper, Director of Meteorological Systems.


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University of WisconsinDr. Verner E. Suomi, Omnidirectional Infra-Red Experiment.

THE DELTA LAUNCH VEHICLEThe 90-foot, 57-ton, three-stage Delta booster rocket,

developed by NASA, will be used to launch the TIROS. Consideredthe nation's most reliable space booster, Delta will be reachingfor its 18th consecutive successful satellite launch. It willbe the rocket's 19th flight.

The Delta


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The Delta flight sequence is as follows: After burnout,the spent first stage falls away. The second stage ignitesimmediately. Thirty seconds after second stage ignition, thenose fairing covering to: third stage and the payload isjettisoned. After burnout, the vehicle begins its six-minutecoast period. Then the third stage is spin stabilized, theempty second stage falls away, and third stage ignition occurs.At this point the rocket achieves orbital velocity of about17,000 miles an hour, third stage separation takes place, and


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONTIROS METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE PERFORMANCE

LANCH USEFUL USEFUL TOTAL SPECIALTIROS DATE TV LIFE IR LIFE PICTURES ACHIEVEMENTSI Apr. 1, 1960 77 days 22,952 Proved feasibility of

meteorologic satellitesII Nov.23,1960 76 days 141 days 36,156 Successful infra-red

experiments, ice re-connaissance for firsttime.II I Jul.12,1961 145 days 81 days 35,033 Tropical storms observed

for first time.IV Feb. 8,1962 120 days 146 days 32,593 Ice reconnaissanceV Jun.19,1962 330 days 58,226 Tropical Storm Coverage

VI Sep.19,1962 Still operating 54,368 * Tropical Storm Coverage

Project Management: Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.Satellite Production: RCA Astro-Electronics Division, Princeton, N.J.Delta Booster Vehicle: Douglas Aircraft Company, Santa Monica, Calif.

* As of June 5, 1963

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