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Nimbus, Meteorological Satellite

Nimbus-5 stabilization control prototype subsystem being delicately balanced during development tests of NASA's meteorological satellite. The tests were conducted at the General Electric Valley Forge, Pennsylvania plant. Nimbus was a NASA program to develop observation systems for atmospheric and Earth science satellites. Nimbus-5 was launched on December 11, 1972, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and was operational until March 29, 1983. The Horizon scanning equipment in the spacecraft locates the Earth's horizon, as simulated by the forward edge of the circular chamber, to keep it in proper position (pointed at the Earth at all times) as it makes its flight around the Earth. The first Nimbus was launched on August 28, 1964.

 

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Credit: NASA

Image Number: 62-Nimbus-5

Date: December 10, 1972

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Uploaded on December 10, 2020
Taken on December 10, 1972