The TIROS Operational Satellite (TOS) Program is a joint effort by NASA and the Department of Commerce to provide systematic, global, cloud-cover observations. Governed by a NASA-Commerce agreement, dated 30 January 1964, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for establishing the requirements for and operating the system, and NASA is responsible for developing the spacecraft and associated ground stations, for launching the spacecraft, and for ensuring the successful operation of the spacecraft. The TOS Program consists of a first series of spacecraft (ESSA-1 through 9), now all launched, which included four Advanced Vidicon Camera System (AVCS) versions for remote global cloud-cover imaging and five Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) versions for local-area coverage. Also approved is a second series of Improved TOS (ITOS) spacecraft combining the remote and local viewing functions into a single spacecraft, having in addition, a nighttime viewing capability. TIROS-M/ITOS-1, a NASA experimental spacecraft, was launched as the flight prototype of this second series. Upon completion of its in-orbit engineering evaluation and checkout on 15 June 1970, this spacecraft was used operationally by NOAA. ITOS-D is being launched as the latest operational spacecraft of this series. It too will assume an operational role in the National Operational Meteorological Satellite System (NOMSS) as soon as the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) h as completed its engineering evaluation in orbit. Additional operational spacecraft of this type are being procured by NASA for NOAA to serve operational needs in the 1971-1976 time period. As provided for in the NASA-Commerce agreement, NASA is conducting an R&D program to develop improved sensors and techniques for the operational program. This program includes development of higher resolution camera systems, advanced radiometers and atmospheric sounders, improved spacecraft subsystems, etc.


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    Title :

    Improved TIROS Operational Satellite (ITOS-D) Mission Operation Report


    Publication date :

    1972


    Size :

    21 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English