 The world's first weather satellite - Tiros I - a polar-orbiting satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 1960. Named 'TIROS' for Television Infrared Observation Satellite, this was NASA's first experimental step to determine if satellites could be useful in the study of the Earth and whether they could continue operating for an extended period of time. The series proved extremely successful, with one satellite operating for almost five years and several operating more than three years. |