TIROS, America's First Meteorological Satellite

It is hard to imagine the evening news without satellite imagery. But in 1960, space-based meteorology was in its formative stages, still to be proven. One of the earliest groups to transfer to the newly organized Goddard Space Flight Center was a group from the Army Signal Corps, which developed the nation's first weather satellite called the Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS). With the launch of TIROS-1 from Cape Canaveral on April 1, 1960, scientists immediately saw the benefit of studying Earth's weather systems from the vantage of space. The satellite, which weighed 270 lbs. (122 kg), was specifically designed to test experimental television techniques that would lead to a worldwide meteorological information system. The spacecraft carried two television cameras, a magnetic tape recorder, timer systems, transmitters and a power supply. Early photographs provided new information on cloud systems, including spiral formations associated with large storms, immediately proving their value to meteorologists...Image # : G-65-5216