TIROS 1

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TIROS 1 is classified as:

Weather

NORAD ID: 29

Int'l Code: 1960-002B

Perigee: 637.6 km

Apogee: 670.5 km

Inclination: 48.4 °

Period: 97.7 minutes

Semi major axis: 7025 km

RCS: 0.8537 m² (medium)

Launch date: April 1, 1960
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE EASTERN TEST RANGE (AFETR)

TIROS-1 (or TIROS-A) was the first successful low-Earth orbital weather satellite, and the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites. The TIROS Program was NASA's first experimental step to determine if satellites could be useful in the study of the Earth. At that time, the effectiveness of satellite observations was still unproven. Since satellites were a new technology, the TIROS Program also tested various design issues for spacecraft: instruments, data and operational parameters. The goal was to improve satellite applications for Earth-bound decisions, such as "should we evacuate the coast because of the hurricane?".

1 00029U 60002B   21270.66855068 -.00000045  00000-0  24334-4 0  9995
2 00029  48.3786 263.5266 0023413  70.8965 289.4479 14.74455715287482

Source of the keplerian elements: AFSPC