Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 2, 2026

TIROS-M

TIROS-M, also known as ITOS-1 was a weather satellite operated by the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA). It was part of a series of satellites called ITOS, or improved TIROS. TIROS-M was launched on a Delta rocket on January 23, 1970. The launch carried one other satellite, Australis-OSCAR 5. It was deactivated on June 18, 1971.

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TIROS-M
TIROS-M
Mission typeWeather
OperatorESSA / NASA
COSPAR ID1970-008A1
SATCAT no.4320
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerRCA Astro
Launch mass309 kilograms (681 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 23, 1970, 11:31 (1970-01-23UTC11:31Z) UTC2
RocketDelta-N6
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedJune 18, 1971 (1971-06-19)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Sun-synchronous
Perigee altitude1,432 kilometers (890 mi)
Apogee altitude1,478 kilometers (918 mi)
Inclination101.99 degrees
Period115 minutes
EpochJanuary 23, 1971
ITOS

TIROS-M, also known as ITOS-1 was a weather satellite operated by the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA). It was part of a series of satellites called ITOS, or improved TIROS.34 TIROS-M was launched on a Delta rocket on January 23, 1970. The launch carried one other satellite, Australis-OSCAR 5.2 It was deactivated on June 18, 1971.

  • TIROS M diagram
    TIROS M diagram
  • TIROS M mechanical and thermal test model
    TIROS M mechanical and thermal test model
  • Image of Hurricane Ella prior to its landfall in northeast Mexico from September 11, 1970, taken by ITOS-1
    Image of Hurricane Ella prior to its landfall in northeast Mexico from September 11, 1970, taken by ITOS-1
  • Sea-surface temperature map of the Southern Hemisphere created from ITOS data from September 6–8, 1970
    Sea-surface temperature map of the Southern Hemisphere created from ITOS data from September 6–8, 1970
References

References

  1. "NASA/NSSDC TIROS-M spacecraft details". Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  2. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  3. Wade, Mark. "ITOS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 21, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. "WMO OSCAR | Satellite: ITOS-1 (TIROS-M)". space.oscar.wmo.int. Retrieved March 20, 2024.