NOAA-7

NOAA-7
Atlas E/F-Star-37S-ISS (s/n 87F) launch carrying the NOAA 7 satellite, 23 June 1981
NamesNOAA-C
Mission typeWeather
OperatorNOAA
COSPAR ID1981-059A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.12553
Mission duration2 years (planned)
5 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeTIROS
BusTIROS-N[1]
ManufacturerRCA Astro Electronics
Launch mass1,418 kg (3,126 lb) [2]
Dry mass735 kg (1,620 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date23 June 1981, 10:52:59 UTC[3]
RocketAtlas F-Star-37S-ISS
(Atlas S/N 87F)
Launch siteVandenberg, SLC-3W
ContractorConvair
End of mission
DisposalDecommissioned
DeactivatedJune 1986
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[4]
RegimeSun-synchronous orbit
Perigee altitude845 km (525 mi)
Apogee altitude863 km (536 mi)
Inclination98.90°
Period102.00 minutes
← NOAA-B
NOAA-8 →
Typhoon Bess from NOAA-7 (29 July 1982)
Hurricane Iwa from NOAA-7 (24 November 1982)

NOAA-7, known as NOAA-C before launch, was an American operational weather satellite for use in the National Operational Environmental Satellite System (NOESS) and for the support of the Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) during 1978-1984. The satellite design provided an economical and stable Sun-synchronous platform for advanced operational instruments to measure the atmosphere of Earth, its surface and cloud cover, and the near-space environment.[5] An earlier launch, NOAA-B, was scheduled to become NOAA-7, however NOAA-B failed to reach its required orbit.[6]

  1. ^ "Tiros N". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. ^ "NOAA-6". World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 28 July 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  3. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Trajectory: NOAA 7 1981-059A". NASA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Display: NOAA-7 1981-059A". NASA GSFC. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ Bell, Peter M. (1980). "NOAA-B satellite mission unsuccessful". Eos. 61 (27): 515. Bibcode:1980EOSTr..61R.515B. doi:10.1029/eo061i027p00515-03. Retrieved 2 September 2014.[permanent dead link]