TIROS-N

Mission type	Weather
Operator	NOAA
COSPAR ID	1978-096A
SATCAT no.	11060
Mission duration	2 years (planned) 868 days (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	TIROS-N
Launch mass	734 kg (1,618 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	13 October 1978, 11:23:00 UTC[1]
Rocket	Atlas F
Launch site	Vandenberg Air Force Base
End of mission
Deactivated	27 February 1981
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Sun-synchronous orbit
Perigee altitude	829 km (515 mi)
Apogee altitude	845 km (525 mi)
Inclination	98.70°
Period	101.70 minutes
Instruments AVCS Advanced Vidicon Camera System APT Automatic Picture Transmission System FPR Flat Plate Radiometer SPM Solar Proton Monitor VTPR Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometer VHRR Very High Resolution Radiometer AVHRR Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer ASS Atmospheric Sounding System SEM Space Environment Monitor TOVS TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder TIP TIROS Information Processor MIR Manipulated Information Rate processor CSU Cross-Strap Unit
Polar Operational Environmental Satellites ← NOAA-5 NOAA-6 →

TIROS-N satellite is the first of the TIROS-N series. It is a weather satellite launched on 13 October 1978.^[2] It was designed to become operational during 2 years. Its mass is 734 kilograms.^[2] Its perigee to Earth is 829 kilometers. Its apogee is 845 kilometers away from Earth. Its inclination is 98.70°. It was managed by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); designed and launched by NASA. The spacecraft was 3-axis stabilized.^[2] TIROS-N was operated for 868 days until deactivated by NOAA on 27 February 1981.^[3]

Gallery of cyclones captured by this satellite

• 
  Typhoon Tip (14 October 1979) 2 days after reaching peak intensity.
• 
  Hurricane Bob (10 July 1979)
• 
  Tropical Storm Claudette (24 July 1979)
• 
  Hurricane Frederic (12 September 1979)
• 
  Hurricane Henri (17 September 1979)
• 
  Hurricane Gloria (8 September 1979)