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- The ITOS (Improved Tiros Operational Satellite) series (TIROS-M was the prototype spacecraft) were the second generation of operational sun-synchronous meteorological spacecraft. Operational satellites were renamed NOAA. The primary objective of ITOS was to provide improved operational infrared and visual observations of earth cloud cover for use in weather analysis and forecasting. Secondary objectives included providing both solar proton and global heat balance data on a regular daily basis. To accomplish these tasks, the spacecraft carried: -two television cameras for Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) and -two Advanced Vidicon Camera System (AVCS) cameras. It also carried -a low-resolution Flat Plate Radiometer (FPR), -a Solar Proton Monitor (SPM), and -two scanning radiometers that not only measured emitted infrared radiation, but also served as a backup system for the APT and AVCS cameras. The nearly cubical spacecraft measured 1 by 1 by 1.2 m. The TV cameras and infrared sensors were mounted on the satellite baseplate with their optical axes directed verticially earthward. 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 m in length when unfolded and was covered with 3420 solar cells, each measuring 2 by 2 cm. 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. Additional information available at "http://www.skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/noaa_itos-a.htm"
Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: TIROS-M Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Earth Observation Satellites Platform_Series_or_Entity: TIROS Short_Name: TIROS-M Long_Name: Television Infrared Observation Satellite-M End_Group Group: Synonymous_Platform_Names Short_Name: ITOS End_Group Group: Platform_Associated_Instruments Short_Name: HRIR End_Group Creation_Date: 2007-11-14 Online_Resource: http://www.skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/noaa_itos-a.htm Sample_Image: http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/700s/spac0170.jpg Group: Platform_Logistics Launch_Date: 1970-01-23 Primary_Sponsor: NASA End_Group End_Group
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