Meteorological Satellites (continued)

In showing the silent black-and-white film to Robbie and me Harry provided a voice commentary which could only be described as lyrical. There was no way that a viewer or listener could remain unenthusiastic. In my case the sight of the film was enough to convince me of the enormous potential of satellite meteorology, although there were some northern hemisphere meteorologists in the early days of satellite meteorology whose enthusiasm was somewhat lukewarm. My enthusiasm must have been readily evident to Harry as he was eager to have converts to his cause. The result was that he welcomed my support and repaid it by giving us favoured treatment in providing us with information on and photographs from the early satellites.

Tiros I, the first meteorological satellite, was placed into orbit on 1 January 1960 just two months after the first meeting of our Panel in Geneva. Issue No 46 of Weather News in May 1960 describes it as shaped like a pillbox, about 42 in (107 mm) in diameter, 19 in (28 cm) high and weighing 270 Ibs (120 kg). At a height of about 640 km above the Earth and circling every 90 minutes between 50°N and 50°S it was programmed to photograph on command. These photographs were read out when the satellite passed over a monitoring station in the US.

Figure 29 TIROS series meteorological satellite. TIROS I was placed into orbit by USA 1 April 1960. Shaped like a pillbox it was about a metre in diameter, weighed 120 kg and orbited the earth every 90 minutes between latitudes 50 deg north and south.

Figure 30 One of the many photos taken by meteorological satellite TIROS I, copies of which Harry Wexler, of the US Weather Bureau, sent by air mail to Melbourne enabling Bill Gibbs and George Rutherford to investigate their use for routine synoptic analysis, particularly over the Southern Ocean. Photo is frame 17, orbit 446, 0418 GMT 2 May 1960.

Harry kindly agreed to airmail me photographs taken in the Australian region and I still have over 70 photographs taken on orbits 444, 445 and 446 on 2 May 1960.

Bureau of Meteorology