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Nimbus-A, Weather Satellite
| Title |
Nimbus-A, Weather Satellite |
| Full Description |
Nimbus-A, an advanced meteorological satellite, was launched August 28, 1964, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on a Thor-Agena B launch vehicle. The satellite was designed in two sections. The lower circular ring housed the meteorological sensors and electronics. The upper hexagonal section contained the altitude control system and had two solar panels with 10,500 individual panels on each side. Nimbus-A weighed 830 lbs. and was comprised of 40,000 components. The satellite was built by General Electric Company and remained operational until September 23, 1964. |
| Date |
8/9/1964 |
| NASA Center |
Headquarters |
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Artist's Concept of Seasat-A
| Title |
Artist's Concept of Seasat-A |
| Full Description |
An artist's concept of Seasat A, the first spacecraft dedicated for oceanographic studies. Seasat A was designed for monitoring the Earth's oceans with active microwave instruments. The scientific objectives were to collect data on sea-surface winds, oceanography, sea-surface temperatures, wave heights, wavelength and direction, atmospheric water, and sea ice features. Seasat-A was launched on June 16, 1978, on an Atlas-Agena launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The mission ended after 116 days due to a failure of the spacecraft's electric power system. The mission demonstrated the feasibility of using microwave sensors to monitor ocean conditions, and laid the groundwork for future ocean missions. The science of oceanography began more than 100 years ago with the sailing of HMS Challenger. Challenger's round-the- world trip became the model for oceanographic voyages. |
| Date |
5/16/1978 |
| NASA Center |
Headquarters |
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Thorad-Agena Launch vehicle
| Name of Image |
Thorad-Agena Launch vehicle |
| Date of Image |
1970-02-04 |
| Full Description |
The Thorad-Agena launch vehicle with the SERT-2 (Space Electric Rocket Test-2) spacecraft on launch pad at the Western Test Range in California. The SERT-2 was launched on February 4, 1970 and tested the capability of an electric ion thruster system. |
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Official Portrait of Astrona
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| Name of Image |
Official Portrait of Astronaut Michael Collins |
| Date of Image |
1967-01-09 |
| Full Description |
This is the official NASA portrait of astronaut Michael Collins. Collins chose an Air Force career following graduation from West Point. He served as an experimental flight test officer at the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, and, in that capacity, tested performance and stability and control characteristics of Air Force aircraft, primarily jet fighters. Having logged approximately 5,000 hours flying time, Collins was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963. Collins completed two space flights, logging 266 hours in space, of which, 1 hour and 27 minutes was spent in Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA). On July 18, 1966, he served as backup pilot for the Gemini VII mission which included a successful rendezvous and docking with a separately launched Agena target vehicle and, using the power of the Agena, maneuvered the Gemini spacecraft into another orbit for a rendezvous with a second, passive Agena. His skillful performance in completing two periods of EVA included the recovery of a micrometeorite detection experiment from the passive Agena. July 16-24, 1969, Collins served as command module (CM) pilot on Apollo 11, the historic first lunar landing mission. He remained aboard the CM, Columbia, on station in lunar orbit and performed the final re-docking maneuvers following a successful lunar orbit rendezvous with the Lunar Module (LM), Eagle. Collins left NASA in January 1970. |
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Gemini 11 spacecraft and Age
…
| Title |
Gemini 11 spacecraft and Agena Target Vehicle during tethering |
| Description |
The Agena Target Docking Vehicel is tethered to the Gemini 11 spacecraft during its 31st revolution of the earth. Area below is the Gulf of California and Baja California at La Paz. |
| Date Taken |
1966-09-14 |
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Gulf of California as seen f
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| Title |
Gulf of California as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft |
| Description |
Gulf of California as seen from the Gemini 12 spacecraft during its 30th revolution of the earth. Baja California Sur is the peninsula on the left. At lower left is the mainland of Mexico. A 100 ft. tether line connects the Agena Target Docking Vehicle with the Gemini 12 spacecraft. View is looking south. |
| Date Taken |
1966-11-13 |
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