TIROS-2 (or TIROS-B) was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the second in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites. It re-entered in May 2014.
Spacecraft TIROS-2 was an 18-sided right prism, 107 cm in diameter and 56 cm high, with 9,260 1 by 2 cm silicon solar cells covered the top and sides. Five small directly opposed pairs of solid-fuel thrusters maintained a spin of 8 to 12 rpm. For attitude control, the spacecraft used an infrared horizon sensor and a magnetic attitude control device, made of 250 cores of wire wound around the outer surface, which oriented the spin axis to a 1 to 2 degree accuracy. It also had a direction indicator for picture orientation.
The satellite had two independent television camera subsystems, one low-resolution and one high-resolution, for taking pictures of cloud cover. Each camera had a magnetic tape recorder for storing photographs while out of range of the ground station network. It also had a five-channel medium-resolution scanning radiometer and a two channel non-scanning low resolution radiometer for measuring radiation from the earth and atmosphere.
Development TIROS-2 was developed by a 44-year-old scientist named Dr. Morris Tepper,Page A4614 https://archive.org/details/sim_congressional-record-proceedings-and-debates_aprill-11-july-20-1962_108/page/A4613/mode/1up?q=%22brain+behind+tiros%22 Chief Meteorological Satellite Program, NASA, and was affiliated with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He also was born in Palestine in 1916.Special to The New York Times. (1960, Nov 24). Brain behind tiros: Morris tepper. New York Times (1923-) Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/1960/11/24/archives/brain-behind-tiros-morris-tepper.html Morris Tepper would later come to The United States of America in 1922 and became a citizen in 1926. He would earn a professional membership which included The American Meteorological Society, The American Rocket Society, and eventually The Washington Academy of Science.
Morris Tepper was in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19620003680/downloads/19620003680.pdf He would later become responsible for launching the satellite. During development, Dr. Tepper proposed the longer-term NASA Meteorological Satellite Program which included later TIROS satellites. This eventually included The Nimbus Program and the anticipated Aeros series. Due to this proposal by Dr. Tepper, NASA started to establish a program to support the work.
Morris Tepper worked alongside Mr. R. M. Rados who was a general contact and Dr. R. A. Stampfl, who was a project manager affiliated with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center as well. Morris later retired from NASA and was formerly in Dep Dir, Earth Obs. Programs.
In 1959, NASA was temporarily housing its weather satellite group at the NRL known as TIROS. Marjorie Townsend was a part of the development for the ground equipment which was responsible for the infrared experiment.
At NASA, Marjorie Townsend's presence was often challenged due to one engineer calling her "stupid." But, she fought back and kept working out of desperation. Townsend later retired from NASA in 1980.
Launch TIROS-2 was launched on November 23, 1960, at 11:13:03 UTC, by a Thor-Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This was followed by the launch on November 11 which The Weather Bureau and NASA invited scientists from 21 nations to participate in the analysis of weather data gathered by TIROS II. With, the cooperation of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, The Weather Bureau meteorologists issue first advisories on air pollution potential over the eastern United States.
The spacecraft functioned nominally until January 22, 1961. The satellite orbited the Earth once every 98 minutes, at an inclination of 48.5°. Its perigee was and apogee was .
Instruments TIROS 2 added two infrared radiometers to TIROS 1 instruments, which allowed more analysis of frontal zones.
Gallery
References