Environmental Science Services Administration
Encyclopedia
The U. S. Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) was a United States Federal executive agency created in 1965 as part of a reorganization of the United States Department of Commerce
(USDOC). Its mission was to oversee the nation's weather and climate operations.
In 1970 ESSA was reorganized out of existence, becoming the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
. This created the ESSA Corps, which became the NOAA Corps
in the 1970 reorganization.
(NWS) and the National Data Center was renamed the Environmental Data Service (EDS).
The activities that became known as ESSA's satellite
program was begun by NASA
in 1958, and ended with the decommissioning of the last satellite in 1977. ESSA served as a complement to the The Television Infrared Observation Satellite Program (TIROS
).
As a complement to the TIROS
program, ESSA managed the first operational United States
polar orbit
ing weather satellite
system, known as the Television Infrared Observation Satellite Program (TIROS). These satellites, known as TIROS 1 through 10, were the first generation of American weather satellites. These early satellites carried low resolution television and infrared cameras. Designed mainly to test the feaseability of weather satellites, TIROS proved to be extremely successful, and paved the way for the later project called the TIROS Operational System (TOS).
on February 3, 1966http://www.earth.nasa.gov/history/essa/essa1.html. The ESSA program launched nine satellites from 1966 to 1969, each named with ESSA followed by a number from 1 - 9.
ESSA
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
(USDOC). Its mission was to oversee the nation's weather and climate operations.
In 1970 ESSA was reorganized out of existence, becoming the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA).
Commissioned officers (ESSA Corps)
In the 1965 reorganization, the commissioned officers of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey were transferred to the control of the Secretary of CommerceUnited States Secretary of Commerce
The United States Secretary of Commerce is the head of the United States Department of Commerce concerned with business and industry; the Department states its mission to be "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce"...
. This created the ESSA Corps, which became the NOAA Corps
NOAA Corps
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps is one of seven federal uniformed services of the United States, which operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , a scientific agency within the Department of Commerce...
in the 1970 reorganization.
Functions and units
In January 1966, ESSA changed the Weather Bureau's name to the National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
(NWS) and the National Data Center was renamed the Environmental Data Service (EDS).
The activities that became known as ESSA's satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
program was begun by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
in 1958, and ended with the decommissioning of the last satellite in 1977. ESSA served as a complement to the The Television Infrared Observation Satellite Program (TIROS
TIROS
TIROS, or Television Infrared Observation Satellite, is a series of early weather satellites launched by NASA, beginning with TIROS-1 in 1960. TIROS was the first satellite that was capable of remote sensing of the Earth. This initial remote-sensing effort was significant because it enabled Earth...
).
As a complement to the TIROS
TIROS
TIROS, or Television Infrared Observation Satellite, is a series of early weather satellites launched by NASA, beginning with TIROS-1 in 1960. TIROS was the first satellite that was capable of remote sensing of the Earth. This initial remote-sensing effort was significant because it enabled Earth...
program, ESSA managed the first operational United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
polar orbit
Polar orbit
A polar orbit is an orbit in which a satellite passes above or nearly above both poles of the body being orbited on each revolution. It therefore has an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator...
ing weather satellite
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
system, known as the Television Infrared Observation Satellite Program (TIROS). These satellites, known as TIROS 1 through 10, were the first generation of American weather satellites. These early satellites carried low resolution television and infrared cameras. Designed mainly to test the feaseability of weather satellites, TIROS proved to be extremely successful, and paved the way for the later project called the TIROS Operational System (TOS).
Tiros Operational System
The TOS project officially began with the launch of ESSA-1ESSA-1
ESSA-1 was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. ESSA-1 was launched on 3 February 1966 at 07:41 UTC. It was launched atop of a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft had a mass of at the time of launch. ESSA-1 had an inclination of 97.91, and an orbited the...
on February 3, 1966http://www.earth.nasa.gov/history/essa/essa1.html. The ESSA program launched nine satellites from 1966 to 1969, each named with ESSA followed by a number from 1 - 9.
See also
TIROS- TIROS-1TIROS-1TIROS I was the first successful weather satellite, and the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites...
- TIROS-2TIROS-2TIROS 2 was a spin-stabilized meteorological satellite. It was the second in a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellite. TIROS 2 was launched on 11 November 1960 at 6:13 a.m., by a Thor-Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft functioned nominally until 22 January 1961...
- TIROS-3
- TIROS-4
- TIROS-5
- TIROS-6
- TIROS-7
- TIROS-8
- TIROS-9
- TIROS-10
ESSA
- ESSA-1ESSA-1ESSA-1 was a spin-stabilized operational meteorological satellite. ESSA-1 was launched on 3 February 1966 at 07:41 UTC. It was launched atop of a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft had a mass of at the time of launch. ESSA-1 had an inclination of 97.91, and an orbited the...
- ESSA-2
- ESSA-3
- ESSA-4
- ESSA-5
- ESSA-6
- ESSA-7
- ESSA-8ESSA-8ESSA-8 was a weather satellite launched by NASA on December 15, 1968. It operated for 2,644 days until it was deactivated on March 12, 1976. ESSA-8 was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA....
- ESSA-9ESSA-9ESSA-9, also known as TOS-G, was a meteorological satellite. ESSA-9 replaced the ESSA-7 satellite.-Launch & orbit:The ESSA-9 was launched on a three stage Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch occurred at 07:47 UTC on 26 February 1969. The spacecraft was placed in a sun-synchronous...