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- Nimbus-2 was launched in May 1966 and was the second in a series of second-generation meteorological research-and-development satellites that was designed to serve as a stabilized, earth-oriented platform for the testing of advanced meteorological sensor systems and for collecting meteorological data. The polar-orbiting spacecraft consisted of three major elements: (1) a sensory ring, (2) solar paddles, and (3) the control system housing. The solar paddles and the control system housing were connected to the sensory ring by a truss structure, giving the satellite the appearance of an ocean buoy. Nimbus-2 was nearly 3.7 m tall, 1.5 m in diameter at the base, and about 3 m across with solar paddles extended. The sensory ring, which formed the satellite base, housed the electronics equipment and battery modules. The lower surface of the torus-shaped sensory ring provided mounting space for sensors and telemetry antennas. An H-frame structure mounted within the center of the torus provided support for the larger experiments and tape recorders. Mounted on the control system housing, which was located on top of the spacecraft, were sun sensors, horizon scanners, gas nozzles for attitude control, and a command antenna. Use of a stabilization and control system permitted the spacecraft's orientation to be controlled to within plus or minus 1 degree for all three axes (pitch, roll, and yaw). The spacecraft carried an advanced vidicon camera system for recording and storing remote cloudcover pictures, an automatic picture transmission camera for providing real-time cloudcover pictures, and both high- and medium-resolution infrared radiometers (HRIR and MRIR) for measuring the intensity and distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted by and reflected from the earth and its atmosphere. The spacecraft and experiments performed normally after launch until July 26, 1966, when the spacecraft tape recorder failed. Its function was taken over by the HRIR tape recorder until November 15, 1966, when it also failed. Some real-time data were collected until January 17, 1969, when the spacecraft mission was terminated owing to deterioration of the horizon scanner used for earth reference. __________ Taken from the NSSDC System for Information Retrieval and Storage (SIRS). For more information contact the NSSDC Coordinated Request and User Support Office, 301-286-6695 (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 933.4, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771, USA). Nimbus-2 Users' Guide. Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: NIMBUS-2 Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Earth Observation Satellites Platform_Series_or_Entity: NIMBUS Short_Name: NIMBUS-2 End_Group Group: Synonymous_Platform_Names Short_Name: Nimbus-C Short_Name: 02173 End_Group Group: Platform_Associated_Instruments Short_Name: AVCS NIMBUS-2 Short_Name: APT NIMBUS-2 Short_Name: MRIR NIMBUS-2 Short_Name: HRIR NIMBUS-2 End_Group Group: Orbit Orbit_Inclination: 100.3499984741211 Degrees Period: 108 minutes Perigee: 1103.0 km Apogee: 1179.0 km Orbit_Type: GEO > Geosynchronous > Geostationary End_Group Creation_Date: 2007-10-11 Online_Resource: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1966-040A Online_Resource: http://nasascience.nasa.gov/missions/nimbus Online_Resource: http://atmospheres.gsfc.nasa.gov/nimbus/ Sample_Image: http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:3-Xfyn-FEFls8M:http://library01.gsfc.nasa.gov/gdprojs/images/nimbus_ii.jpg Group: Platform_Logistics Launch_Date: 1966-05-15 Launch_Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA Primary_Sponsor: USA/NASA End_Group End_Group
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