Weather Satellites: TIROS II

TIROS II - Television Infrared Observation Satellite II

Launch date: November 23, 1960

Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida

Launch vehicle: Three-stage Delta

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE:

To test the experimental television techniques and infrared equipment leading to a world-wide meteorological satellite information system. To evaluate a new attitude control system for spacecraft orientation which utilizes the earthÕs magnetic field.

SPACECRAFT DESCRIPTION:

The spacecraft was 42 inches in diameter, 19 inches high and weighed 280 pounds. The craft was made of aluminum alloy and stainless steel then covered by 9260 solar cells. The solar cells served to charge the nicad batteries.

Two television cameras were housed in the craft, one low resolution and one high resolution. A magnetic tape recorder for each camera was supplied for storing photographs while the satellite was out of range of the ground station network. In addition, an infrared horizon sensor for attitude control, a direction indicator for picture orientation, two infrared radiation experiments, and a magnetic orientation control experiment were included.

The antennas consisted of four rods from the base plate to serve as transmitters and one vertical rod from the center of the top plate to serve as a receiver.

The video systems relayed thousands of pictures containing cloud-cover views of the Earth. Early photographs provided information concerning the structure of large-scale cloud regimes. In addition, the experiment to partially control the orientation of the satellite spin axis was successful, as was the experiment with infrared sensors.

TIROS II was operational for 376 days.

PARTICIPANTS:

NASA, US ARMY Signal Research and Development Lab, RCA, US Weather Bureau, US Naval Photographic Interpretation Center.