ESSA-7

Working on ESSA-7, designated TOS-E prior to launch.

Photo of Tropical Storm Shirley by ESSA-7 VII on August 19, 1968

ESSA-7 (or TOS-E) was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).

Launch

ESSA-7 was launched on August 16, 1968, at 11:31 UTC. It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA. The spacecraft had a mass of 145 kilograms (320 lb) at the time of launch. ESSA-7 had an inclination of 101.72°, and an orbited the Earth once every 114.9 minutes. Its perigee was 1,432 kilometers (890 mi) and its apogee was 1,476 kilometers (917 mi).

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from ESSA 7. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved June 4, 2018.