SATELLITES-------
ESSA-ESSA VII--------
ESSA-ESSA VII--------
The two cameras were mounted 180
degrees opposite each other along the side of the cylindrical
craft. The "cartwheel" configuration of the TIROS IX was selected
as the orbital configuration of the operational series of ESSA
satellites. Therefore, a camera could be pointed at some point on
Earth every time the satellite rotated along its axis. The
spacecraft operating system was the same as on the TIROS IX. The
craft was placed in its planned sun-synchronous 102 degree
inclination retrograde orbit. The satellite spin axis was rotated
using the magnetic attitude control system into an alignment
perpendicular to the orbital plane and tangent to the Earth's
surface. The ESSA VII system transmitted images covering 2000 mile
square areas with 2 mile resolution from every location once per
day. Two arrays of radiometer sensors were also mounted 180 degrees
apart to measure the global distribution of solar radiation
reflected by the earth and the earth's atmosphere, as well as the
long wave emissions from the earth (a contribution from the NIMBUS
program).
ESSA VII remained operational for 571 days until deactivated by NASA on March 10, 1970.
PARTICIPANTS:
NASA, ESSA, RCA, US Weather Bureau, NMC.
ESSA VII remained operational for 571 days until deactivated by NASA on March 10, 1970.
PARTICIPANTS:
NASA, ESSA, RCA, US Weather Bureau, NMC.
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