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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0118.PDF
INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE DIRECTORY Meteosat Europe is establishing an international meteorological organisation, Eumetsat, to operate the Meteosat geostationary weather satellites. The European Space Agency built two preoperational satellites, Meteosat 1 and 2, and has ordered three operational Meteosats to be launched by Ariane in 1987, 1988, and 1990. As an interim step to cover gaps left by Goes failures, Aerospatiale will refurbish a Meteosat engineering model, P2, for launch in July 1986 on the first Ariane 4 flight. Payload radiometer operating in visible, infrared, and water-vapour spectra Owner European Space Agency/ Eumetsat Manufacturer Aerospatiale (prime contractor) Orbit Geostationary—0°E Launch/status 1 Nov 1977 Delta/failed Nov 1979 2 Jun 1981 Ariane P2 Jul 1986 Ariane 4 Operational Meteosat MOP-1 Sept 1987 Ariane MOP-2 by Ariane in 1988 MOP-3 by Ariane in 1990 Stabilisation spin Power (end of life) 0-2kW Weight (at launch) 700kg Design life 3 years Cost FFrl.lOOm (1984)—3 operational Meteosats plus parts for a spare Remarks The radiometer provides a visible-wavelength resolution of 2-5km and an infrared resolution of 5km. NOAA The polar-orbiting Tiros-N (television/ infrared observation satellite) spacecraft are operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The operational network comprises two craft on intersecting orbits. From NOAA-8 onwards the satellites carry a 406MHz Sarsat search-and-rescue transponder for locating and relaying ship and aircraft distress beacons. NOAA 9 and 10 (NOAA F and G before launch) carry equipment for the Earth radiation budget experiment (ERBE), operating in conjunction with the Earth radiation budget satellite (ERBS) deployed by Shuttle. NOAA-8 was abandoned in July 1984 when it lost altitude control and began tumbling. Payload advanced high-resolution radio meter Tiros operational vertical sounder solar backscatter ultraviolet spec tral radiometer Owner National Oceanic and Atmo spheric Administration Manufacturer RCA Astro-Electronics Orbit Sun-synchronous, 870km high, 98-86° inclined L aunch/status NOAA-6 Jun 1979 Atlas/operational NOAA-B May 1980 Atlas/failed to achieve orbit Himawari 3, Japan's third geostationary meteorological satellite (GMS-3), was launched by N-II in August 1984 NOAA-7 June 1981 Atlas/operational NOAA-D held as a backup for NOAA-G NOAA-8 Mar 1983 Atlas/abandoned Jun 1984 NOAA-9 Dec 1984 Atlas/operational NOAA-G Aug 1985 Atlas Stabilisation 3-axis Power (end of life) 0-45kW Weight (at launch) 1,712kg Cost $43 • 5m—NOAA-9 Remarks Same bus as DMSP. First Tiros-N was NOAA-6. First Advanced Tiros-N was NOAA-8. The high- 46 resolution radiometer operates at visible, near infrared, and far infrared wave lengths to measure surface temperatures, . cloud cover, and vegetation. The vertical sounder system comprises infrared, microwave and stratospheric sounders, together producing a vertical temperature , profile. The solar backscatter radiometer determines ozone distribution in the , atmosphere. The ERBE equipment comprises a medium/wide-field-of-view"*' non-scanning radiometer and a narrow- m angle scanning radiometer (see ERBS in Science section). FLIGHT International, 12 January 1985'
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