Also called:
Nimbus E
Date of launch (location):
Dec. 10, 1972 (WTR)
Launch vehicle:
Delta 2910
Weight (kg):
772
Shape:
butterfly (1.42-meter torus ring base
and hexagonal shaped housing plus two solar paddle
wings)
Dimensions (m):
3.05 tall
3.55 wide
1.52 diameter ring
Power source:
Solar panels plus 8 NiCd
batteries
Responsible NASA center:
GE Company
Project manager:
Stanley Weiland
Project scientist:
John S. Theon
Objectives:
Improve and extend capability for
vertical soundings of temperature and moisture in the
atmosphere; demonstrate improved thermal mapping of the
Earth.
Equipment:
Selective Chopper Radiometer
(SCR)
Temperature Humidity Infrared
Radiometer (THIR)
Infrared Temperature Profile
Radiometer (ITPR)
Nimbus E Microwave Spectrometer
(NEMS)
Electrically Scanning Microwave
Radiometer (ESMR)
Surface Composition Mapping
Radiometer (SCMR)
Results:
Successful; ceased operations in
April 1983.
Reference: NASA, "Nimbus 5 Mission Operations Report," S-604-72-05, Nov. 28, 1972.