It feels great to check tomorrow's weather on your mobile phone and tablet. Would it possible without weather satellites? The answer is ‘NO’!
The first successful low-Earth orbital weather satellite TIROS 1 was launched by NASA and partners at 6:40 am on April 1, 1960.
I can very well relate to Jane Lubchenco’s statement, “This satellite forever changed weather forecasting.” Meteorologists after its launch have been able to get much more information about severe weather and issue more accurate forecasts and warnings.
TIROS 1 or Television and InfraRed Observation Satellite was designed to test the feasibility of obtaining and using TV cloud cover pictures from satellites.
The first weather satellite launched in Florida’s Cape Canaveral in the United States opened a new and exciting dimension in weather forecasting. It was the first experimental step to determine if satellites could be useful in the study of the Earth.
India launched the first successful weather satellite Kalpana -1 from INSAT 1 series on the 12th of September, 2002. The second one was INSAT-3A launched on 10th April, 2003.
The image above was taken on April 1, 1960 by TIROS 1. This was the first television picture of Earth from space.
Today, on TIROS 1's 55th Anniversary, we leave you with the journey of TRIOS 1
Picture Credit: NASA