NASA Nimbus-3 Meteorological Spacecraft
NASA’s third Nimbus Earth-observation orbiter, launched in 1969, made the first orbital atmospheric soundings and advanced global weather, temperature, water-vapor, ozone, and radiation observations; it also hosted NASA’s first successful spacecraft radioisotope power system.
Follow this vehicle family
Future launches and major activity directly linked to this vehicle family.
Identity
- Aliases
- Nimbus-3Nimbus 3Nimbus B-2Nimbus-III
- Family Name
- Nimbus 3
- Full Name
- NASA Nimbus-3 Meteorological Spacecraft
- Roles
- orbiterobservatoryearth_observationresearchweather
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- NASA’s third Nimbus Earth-observation orbiter, launched in 1969, made the first orbital atmospheric soundings and advanced global weather, temperature, water-vapor, ozone, and radiation observations; it also hosted NASA’s first successful spacecraft radioisotope power system.
- First Flight Year
- 1,969
- Operator
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/nimbus/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 06:46:47 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 17:51:21 UTC