Date
.
Feb. 1, 1963
GSFC awarded a four-month contract to
Republic Aviation Corp. for an overall study of SMS
requirements.
Apr. 22, 1963
GSFC awarded a four-month study
contract to RCA to determine how Tiros camera technology
could be applied to SMS. A four-month study contract was
also awarded to Hughes Aircraft Co. to determine how Syncom
technology could be applied to SMS.
Nov. 18, 1963
At an in-house presentation at GSFC,
participants reviewed the findings of the three study
contracts. From this review, an SMS program proposal was
prepared.
Jan. 30, 1964
NASA and Department of Commerce
representatives signed an Agreement for Operational
Meteorological Satellites.
June 1966
GSFC completed an in-house
"Synchronous Operational Meteorological Satellite
Feasibility Study," a phase A study.
Apr. 1969
NASA announced that SMS would use the
ATS spin scan cameras.
June 3, 1969
NASA held a briefing on SMS for
ESSA.
Jan. 1970
GSFC completed an in-house phase B
SMS study.
Feb. 3, 1970
ESSA sent its requirements for SMS to
NASA.
Feb. 13, 1970
GSFC released an RFP for an SMS
spacecraft; proposals were due in April.
Apr. 9, 1970
A project approval document for SMS
was approved at NASA Headquarters.
June 24, 1970
NASA agreed to ESSA's requirements
for SMS.
July 1970
NOAA approved of the SMS Project
Plan.
July 24, 1970
NASA awarded a contract to
Philco-Ford to develop the SMS spacecraft. The first launch
was scheduled for 1972. The contract called for three
spacecraft, the third to serve as the first GOES
spacecraft.
Jan. 10, 1971
Philco-Ford's contract was
definitized.
June 1971
The SMS spacecraft design was
executed.
July 1972
Philco-Ford began fabrication of a
qualification model SMS spacecraft. The first launch was now
scheduled for October 1973.
May 1973
The first SMS flight model was
delivered to NASA.
May-July 1973
NASA and Department of Commerce
representatives signed an agreement concerning operational
environmental satellite systems.
Oct. 24, 1973
GSFC awarded Philco-Ford a contract
for two more GOES spacecraft for a total of three.
May 17, 1974
SMS 1 was launched successfully; it
was operational until January 1976; it was boosted out of
orbit in January 1981.
Feb. 6, 1975
SMS 2 was launched successfully; it
was moved to a different location in December 1975.
Oct. 16, 1975
GOES 1 was launched successfully; it
was moved during the summer of 1978 to support GARP.
Nov. 1975
GSFC solicited letters of interest
from contractors interested in building a follow-on GOES
spacecraft.
June 16, 1977
GOES 2 was launched
successfully.
June 16, 1978
GOES 3 was launched
successfully.