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NOAA-5
Launch of ITOS-H. This became NOAA 5 after becoming operational.
Mission typeWeather
OperatorNOAA / NASA
COSPAR ID1976-077A[1]
SATCAT no.9057[2]
Mission duration2 years and 11 months
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerRCA Astrospace
Launch mass336 kilograms (741 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateJuly 29, 1976, 17:07 (1976-07-29UTC17:07Z) UTC[3]
RocketDelta-2310 605/D126
Launch siteVandenberg SLC-2W
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedJuly 16, 1979 (1979-07-17)[4]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Sun-synchronous
Semi-major axis7,894 kilometers (4,905 mi)
Eccentricity0.009562
Perigee altitude1,515.7 kilometers (941.8 mi)
Apogee altitude1,530.8 kilometers (951.2 mi)
Inclination101.8785°
Period116.2 minutes
RAAN155.0105 degrees
Argument of perigee309.9627 degrees
Mean anomaly161.3050 degrees
Mean motion12.3775781
EpochJune 28, 2018[2]
Revolution no.89456
Instruments
SPM, SR, VHRR, VTPR

NOAA-5, also known as ITOS-H was a weather satellite operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was part of a series of satellites called ITOS, or improved TIROS, being the last of the series.[5] NOAA-5 was launched on a Delta rocket on July 29, 1976.[6]

Mission

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NOAA-5 was one in a series of improved TIROS-M type satellites launched with new meteorological sensors on board to expand the operational capacity of the ITOS (NOAA) system. The primary objectives of the NOAA-5 meteorological satellite were to provide global daytime and nighttime direct readout cloud cover data on a daily basis. The Sun-synchronous spacecraft was capable of supplying global atmospheric temperature soundings and very high resolution infrared cloudcover data of selected areas in either a direct readout or a tape recorder mode. A secondary objective was to obtain global solar proton density data on a routine daily basis. The primary sensors consisted of a very high resolution radiometer (VHRR), a vertical temperature profile radiometer (VTPR), and a scanning radiometer (SR). The VHRR, VTPR, and SR were mounted on the satellite baseplate with their optical axes directed vertically earthward. The nearly cubical spacecraft measured 1 by 1 by 1.2 meters (3.3 ft × 3.3 ft × 3.9 ft). The satellite was equipped with three curved solar panels that were folded during launch and deployed after orbit was achieved. Each panel measured over 4.2 meters (14 ft) in length when unfolded and was covered with 3,420 solar cells, each measuring 2 by 2 centimeters (0.79 in × 0.79 in).

The ITOS dynamics and attitude control system maintained desired spacecraft orientation through gyroscopic principles incorporated into the satellite design. Earth orientation of the satellite body was maintained by taking advantage of the precession induced from a momentum flywheel so that the satellite body precession rate of one revolution per orbit provided the desired "earth looking" attitude. Minor adjustments in attitude and orientation were made by means of magnetic coils and by varying the speed of the momentum flywheel. The satellite was placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit with equatorial crossing of the ascending node near 08:30 A.M. local time.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center. "NASA/NSSDC NOAA-5 spacecraft details". NSSDCA. Retrieved June 7, 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "Live Real Time Satellite Tracking and Predictions: NOAA-5 (ITOS-H)". n2yo.com. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  3. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  4. ^ "WMO OSCAR / Satellite:NOAA-5". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  5. ^ Wade, Mark. "ITOS". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on June 21, 2002. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "The NOAA series". NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
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