Automatic Picture Transmission
Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) enabled meteorologists to obtain immediate local area cloud pattern photographs when the Nimbus satellite was within a 1700-mile range of a receiving station. The APT subsystem pioneered on Nimbus 1, which was launched August 28, 1964, provided direct readout of nighttime and daytime cloud coverage. It transmitted photographic data of synoptic meteorological conditions in areas 1200nmi square to over 300 ground stations in more than 43 countries. APT was part of three experiments performed on Nimbus 1, with the other experiments being Advanced Vidicon Camera Subsystem (AVCS) and High Resolution Infrared Radiometer (HRIR). This subsystem facsimile receiver required relatively simple ground station equipment at the price of about $30,000 per set.
Credit: NASA
Image Number:
Date: August 28, 1964
Automatic Picture Transmission
Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) enabled meteorologists to obtain immediate local area cloud pattern photographs when the Nimbus satellite was within a 1700-mile range of a receiving station. The APT subsystem pioneered on Nimbus 1, which was launched August 28, 1964, provided direct readout of nighttime and daytime cloud coverage. It transmitted photographic data of synoptic meteorological conditions in areas 1200nmi square to over 300 ground stations in more than 43 countries. APT was part of three experiments performed on Nimbus 1, with the other experiments being Advanced Vidicon Camera Subsystem (AVCS) and High Resolution Infrared Radiometer (HRIR). This subsystem facsimile receiver required relatively simple ground station equipment at the price of about $30,000 per set.
Credit: NASA
Image Number:
Date: August 28, 1964