Nimbus 4
NASA launched Nimbus 4 on April 8, 1970 to test advanced atmospheric and weather-observation sensors from a stabilized polar-orbiting platform. Its instruments included infrared spectrometers for temperature and water-vapor profiles, a temperature-humidity radiometer, visible cloud imaging and a backscatter-ultraviolet detector for ozone profiles and total-column ozone. Additional experiments measured solar ultraviolet radiation and relayed remote meteorological data. Attitude problems began in April 1971, after which experiments operated intermittently until September 30, 1980. The record combines several instrument histories rather than a single uniform period of full observatory performance.
Alerts are unavailable because this mission is no longer active.
Identity
- Aliases
- Nimbus DNimbus-4
- Name
- Nimbus 4
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- NASA launched Nimbus 4 on April 8, 1970 to test advanced atmospheric and weather-observation sensors from a stabilized polar-orbiting platform. Its instruments included infrared spectrometers for temperature and water-vapor profiles, a temperature-humidity radiometer, visible cloud imaging and a backscatter-ultraviolet detector for ozone profiles and total-column ozone. Additional experiments measured solar ultraviolet radiation and relayed remote meteorological data. Attitude problems began in April 1971, after which experiments operated intermittently until September 30, 1980. The record combines several instrument histories rather than a single uniform period of full observatory performance.
- Destination
- Near-circular, Sun-synchronous polar Earth orbit at approximately 1,088 km perigee and 1,099 km apogee (100° inclination; 107-minute period)
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1970-04-08
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 22:30:00 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 29, 2026 at 15:43:03 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles