NOAA-7
Encyclopedia
NOAA-7 was launched on 23 June 1981 from Vandenberg Air Force Base
, California
. NOAA-7 was launched atop an Atlas F rocket. Launch occurred at 3:53am PST. Its mass was 588.9 kilograms (1,298.3 lb). It had an orbital time of 102 minutes at an inclination of 98.9, a perigee of 845 kilometres (456.3 nmi) and an apogee of 863 kilometres (466 nmi). NOAA-7 was an operational meteorological satellite for use in the National Operational Environmental Satellite System (NOESS), which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
. It was used to support the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) during 1978-1984.
The satellite design provided an economical and stable sun synchronous platform for advanced operational instruments to measure the Earth's atmosphere, its surface and cloud cover, and the near space environment. The primary sensors included an Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
(AVHRR) and a TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS). There were a number of secondary experiments on-board NOAA-7. These include a Space Environment Monitor (SEM) and a Data Collection and Platform Location System (DCPLS). The United States Air Force also provided a contamination monitor to assess contamination sources, levels and effects for consideration on future spacecraft.
NOAA-7 was based upon the Block 5D spacecraft bus developed for the U.S. Air Force. The satellite was capable of maintaining an earth-pointing accuracy of better than plus or minus 0.1 degree with a motion rate of less than 0.035 deg/second.
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. NOAA-7 was launched atop an Atlas F rocket. Launch occurred at 3:53am PST. Its mass was 588.9 kilograms (1,298.3 lb). It had an orbital time of 102 minutes at an inclination of 98.9, a perigee of 845 kilometres (456.3 nmi) and an apogee of 863 kilometres (466 nmi). NOAA-7 was an operational meteorological satellite for use in the National Operational Environmental Satellite System (NOESS), which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
. It was used to support the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) during 1978-1984.
The satellite design provided an economical and stable sun synchronous platform for advanced operational instruments to measure the Earth's atmosphere, its surface and cloud cover, and the near space environment. The primary sensors included an Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer is a space-borne sensor embarked on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration family of polar orbiting platforms . AVHRR instruments measure the reflectance of the Earth in 5 relatively wide spectral bands...
(AVHRR) and a TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS). There were a number of secondary experiments on-board NOAA-7. These include a Space Environment Monitor (SEM) and a Data Collection and Platform Location System (DCPLS). The United States Air Force also provided a contamination monitor to assess contamination sources, levels and effects for consideration on future spacecraft.
NOAA-7 was based upon the Block 5D spacecraft bus developed for the U.S. Air Force. The satellite was capable of maintaining an earth-pointing accuracy of better than plus or minus 0.1 degree with a motion rate of less than 0.035 deg/second.