Synchronous Meteorological Satellite

"SMS-2" redirects here. For other uses, see SMS2.
"SMS-1" redirects here. For other uses, see SMS1.
Illustration of a Synchronous Meteorological Satellite

The Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) program, was a program where NASA developed two weather satellites; which were placed into geosynchronous orbit.

History

SMS-1 was launched May 17, 1974 and SMS-2 was launched February 6, 1975.[1][2] Both satellites were carried to orbit by Delta 2914 rockets.[3] The program was initiated after the successes achieved by the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) research satellites, which demonstrated the feasibility of using satellites in geosynchronous orbit for meteorology. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program, which now supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, and meteorology research in the United States, followed immediately after the SMS program; the GOES 1 satellite was initially designated SMS-C.[4] SMS-1 and SMS-2; and GOES-1, GOES-2, and GOES-3; were essentially identical.[5]

List of SMS satellites

Designation Launch Date/Time (UTC) Rocket Launch Site Longitude First Image Status Retirement Remarks
Launch Operational

SMS series satellites

SMS-A SMS-1 May 17, 1974 Delta 2914
SMS-B SMS-2 February 6, 1975 Delta 2914

SMS-derived satellites

SMS-C
GOES-A		 GOES 1 October 16, 1975, 22:40 Delta 2914 CCAFS LC-17A October 25, 1975 Retired March 7, 1985[6]
SMS-D
GOES-B		 GOES 2 June 16, 1977, 10:51 Delta 2914 CCAFS LC-17B 60°W Retired 1993[7] Reactivated as comsat in 1995,[7] finally deactivated in May 2001
SMS-E
GOES-C		 GOES 3 June 16, 1978, 10:49 Delta 2914 CCAFS LC-17B Retired 1993[8] Reactivated as comsat in 1995,[8] was decommissioned 29 June 2016

References

  1. ^ "SMS 1 - NSSDC ID: 1974-033A". NASA NSSDC.
  2. ^ "SMS 2 - NSSDC ID: 1975-011A". NASA NSSDC.
  3. ^ Jonathan McDowell. "Launch Log".
  4. ^ "GOES 1 - NSSDC ID: 1975-100A". NASA NSSDC.
  5. ^ "SMS". NASA SMD. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16.
  6. ^ "GOES-1". ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. 1999-05-12. Archived from the original on 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  7. ^ a b "GOES-2". ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. 1999-04-22. Archived from the original on 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  8. ^ a b "GOES-3". ESE 40th Anniversary. NASA. 1999-04-22. Archived from the original on 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2009-06-23.