 | |
| Mission type | Weather satellite |
|---|---|
| Operator | ESSA/NASA[1] |
| COSPAR ID | 1968-114A |
| SATCATno. | 3615 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | RCA Astro |
| Launch mass | 297 kilograms (655 lb)[2] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | December 15, 1968, 17:21:04 (1968-12-15UTC17:21:04Z) UTC[3] |
| Rocket | Delta N |
| Launch site | VandenbergSLC-2E |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | March 12, 1976 (1976-03-13) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 7,816.70 kilometers (4,857.07 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0031481 |
| Perigee altitude | 1,421 kilometers (883 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 1,470 kilometers (910 mi) |
| Inclination | 101.31 degrees |
| Period | 114.63 minutes |
| Epoch | December 7, 2013, 13:01:30 UTC[4] |
ESSA-8 was aweather satellite launched by theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on December 15, 1968, fromVandenberg Air Force Base,California. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, theEnvironmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).
ESSA-8 was an 18-sided polygon. It measured 42 inches (110 cm) in diameter by 22 inches (56 cm) in height, with a mass of 130 kilograms (290 lb). It was made ofaluminum alloy andstainless steel covered with 10,020 solar cells. The cells charged 63nickel–cadmium batteries, which served as a power source. The satellite could take 8 to 10 pictures every 24 hours. Each photo covered a 2,000-square-mile (5,200 km2) area at a resolution of 2 miles (3.2 km) per pixel.
ESSA-8's mission was to replaceESSA-6, and provide detailed cloud pattern photography to ground stations worldwide. Partners in the project included NASA, ESSA,RCA, theNational Weather Service, and theNational Centers for Environmental Prediction (NMC).
ESSA-8 operated for 2,644 days until it was deactivated on March 12, 1976.
TIROS satellites | ||
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| TIROS |  | |
| TOS | ||
| ITOS | ||
| TIROS-N | ||
| Adv. TIROS-N | ||
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