Nimbus 5
Former U.S. meteorological satellite / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nimbus 5 (also called Nimbus E or Nimbus V) was a meteorological satellite for the research and development of sensing technology. It was the fifth successful launch in a series of the Nimbus program.
Quick Facts Mission type, COSPAR ID ...
Mission type | Weather satellite |
---|---|
COSPAR ID | 1972-097A |
SATCAT no. | 06305 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | RCA Astrospace |
Launch mass | 770.0 kg (1,697.6 lb) |
Dimensions | 3.7 metres (12 ft) tall x 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) dia. |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | December 11, 1972 07:56:00 (1972-12-11UTC07:56Z) UTC[1] |
Rocket | Delta-900 577/D93 |
Launch site | Vandenberg SLC-2W |
End of mission | |
Last contact | March 29, 1983 (1983-03-30)[2] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Eccentricity | 0.0008 |
Perigee altitude | 1,089 kilometers (677 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 1,101 kilometers (684 mi) |
Inclination | 99° |
Period | 107.2 minutes |
Close
The objective of Nimbus 5 was to test and evaluate advanced sensing technology, and to provide improved photographs of cloud formations.[3]