Meteorological satellite- an artificial Earth satellite created to receive meteorological data about the Earth from space, which are used for weather forecasting. Satellites of this type carry instruments on board with which they monitor, in particular, the temperature of the Earth's surface and cloud, snow and ice cover. Methods for obtaining weather information and methods for processing it using weather satellites are studied by satellite meteorology.
Meteorological satellites, together with stations for receiving and processing data, form a meteorological space system. In modern Russia, the operation of meteorological satellites is carried out by the organization of the State Institution “National Research Center “Planet””, the countries of Europe are served by the organization EUMETSAT.
Emergence
Launch of the Meteor-3 satellite
Meteorologists almost immediately after the launch of the first satellites became interested in the possibility of observing the Earth's atmosphere from space. In the USA, already in April 1960, the Tiros-1 apparatus was launched, which proved the suitability of satellites for weather observation. The global satellite system "Tiros" was deployed in February 1966.
In the USSR, after a series of launches of technological satellites, on June 25, 1966, the Cosmos-122 satellite was launched into a circular orbit with a set of instruments for television, actinometric and infrared measurements. After the launch of the Cosmos-144 and Cosmos-156 satellites in 1967, the Soviet Meteor satellite system began to function, used for many years in the CMEA countries. Currently, the Meteor-3 space hydrometeorological system is in operation in Russia.
Weather satellite series
The Meteor series satellites were used in the Soviet Union. In the USA, satellites of the Tyros, Nimbus, NOAA, and GOES series were used in different years. China uses the Fengyun series of satellites.
METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITES
The Earth's meteorological satellites have already been mentioned several times. Let's look at them in more detail. On October 4, 1957, the first artificial Earth satellite was launched into orbit. This opened up prospects for the study of the atmosphere and outer space that even now, more than two decades later, are difficult to fully appreciate. New ideas about the atmosphere immediately arose, having not only general cognitive, but also practical significance - for weather forecasting. Meteorological satellites can provide continuous information over a large area.
In 1905, for the first time in the history of meteorology, a picture of cloud cover over almost the entire earth's surface was obtained. Note that the satellite also takes pictures at night. It should be remembered that ground-based observations provide detailed information about only 1/5 of the earth’s surface, and therefore 4/5 remain very poorly illuminated - this is the surface of the oceans, especially in the north and south of the planet, mountains, inland seas, etc. Observations of cloudiness from the Earth cover only 10-20% of the total cover and probe the atmosphere to a height of 20-25 km. Meteorological satellites show the general distribution of a number of meteorological elements throughout the globe. Satellite viewing latitude up to 1000 km and above. Using satellite television equipment, you can find out the shape and distribution of clouds, snow cover and ice fields in the oceans, the temperature of the upper boundary of the clouds and open areas of the Earth and Oceans. On the. turn to obtain information about precipitation zones, their intensity, and the distribution of centers of thunderstorm activity. Satellites have opened up the possibility of obtaining qualitatively new information about the state of the weather.
What is a weather satellite? This is an artificial Earth satellite designed specifically to receive operational information about the state of the atmosphere over large areas of the earth's surface, used in weather service. Cloud images are recorded in the on-board storage device on magnetic tape and transmitted to Earth as the satellite flies over ground points. Knowing the distribution of cloudiness, one can draw indirect conclusions about the characteristics of the general circulation of the atmosphere. A satellite launched into orbit always passes over a given point on the earth's surface at the same local time. Several series of meteorological satellites already exist. These include the American “Tairos”, “Npmbus”, “ESSA”, and the Soviet ones - “Cosmos”, “Meteor”.
The experiment on the satellite, which turned out to be successful, made it possible to accept the Cosmos-122 satellite as the main system. The satellite was launched into a circular orbit on June 25, 1966. A set of instruments for television, actinometric and infrared measurements and a system ensuring long-term operation in orbit were mounted on this satellite. Cosmos 122 spent four months in flight, providing round-the-clock information that was used by our country's meteorological service and was also transmitted abroad.
The weather satellite is a container with two solar panels. Scientific equipment is located in the lower instrument part of the container, and the power apparatus (service systems) is located in the upper part. Both of these parts are separated and represent hermetic compartments. Connected to the power hardware compartment is an electric drive mechanism for solar panels, which open after the satellite is separated from the launch vehicle. After the successful launch of the meteorological satellite "Cosmos-122" were launched. "Cosmos-144" and "Cosmos-156". It can be considered that from that time on, the experimental Meteor system came into operation, consisting of satellites, points for receiving, processing and distributing information, and at the same time a service for monitoring the status of on-board systems and managing** them. Then, more and more new satellites were launched into orbit with parameters close to those of Cosmos-122, and in such a way that the relative position of their orbits would provide observations of the state of the atmosphere over each region of the globe after 6 hours. The Cosmos and Meteor satellite system made it possible to receive information from almost half of the planet’s surface.
The prospects for the development of meteorological satellites of the Earth (abbreviated as MS) are as follows. First of all, the technical improvement of the satellite itself. It goes in several directions. This is the satellite device: new sensors and equipment, automation of means of receiving, processing and distributing information, the speed of its transmission. It is assumed that an on-board meteorologist will be on the special meteorological satellite. Being at different altitudes, satellites take pictures of clouds at different scales. The American research satellite ATS-3, launched over the Atlantic Ocean, is equipped with a television camera that allows the transmission of color images.
Many still unclear questions about the structure of the atmosphere can be resolved with the help of frequent photographs of the area - the result will be, as it were, not individual photographs, but a film reproducing the dynamics and course of ongoing processes. There are series of frequent collection of information - international aerological day, polar and geophysical years, etc. etc. Naturally, such information from the MSZ will be extremely valuable. At the same time, the meteorological observation program is expanding: vertical sounding of the atmosphere, obtaining information on the vertical profile of atmospheric pressure, humidity, amount and intensity of precipitation, ozone content, snow depth, etc. The satellite can collect information from ground stations operating in such hard-to-reach areas , like oceans, high mountains, deserts, and be a repeater.
It is not uncommon for a satellite to make a real meteorological discovery. On the morning of April 24, 1967, the American ESSA-2 satellite photographed light gray clouds with a uniform upper surface over the entire Caspian Sea. The clouds almost completely followed the coastline, with the exception of the Kara-Bogaz-Gol Bay. It seemed as if there was air above the sea surface. nick fog. This assumption was confirmed by the following: in the eastern part of the sea near the relatively low island of Cheleken there were breaks in the cloud cover on the leeward side. Consequently, the cloudiness was of low height - low stratus clouds or fog. Some coastal stations on the western coast of the sea noted haze that morning. As the analysis showed, the fog formed during partly cloudy weather in air that was warmer (16 - 20°) than the surface of the sea (8-14°). And only in Kara-Bogaz-Gol the air was 3-4° warmer than the water - that’s why there was no fog here. The vertical thickness of the fog in the southern and middle parts of the sea was 200-400 m, and in the northern - up to 600 m. Experts believe that using a conventional synoptic map obtained from surface observations, it would be impossible to determine the existence of fog over the sea area. It was believed that there was a general cover of stratus clouds over the entire Caucasus, the sea and the north-west of Iran - and only a satellite showed the true picture. Thus, literally before our eyes, a new branch of science is emerging - satellite meteorology, which has a great future.
Meteor-M No. 1
Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
This term has other meanings, see Meteor (meanings). Meteor-M spacecraft No. 1
Basic information:
Launch vehicle: Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat
Platform: "Resource-UKP"
Customers: Roscosmos
Roshydromet
Lead developer: FSUE NPP VNIIEM
Satellite type: Meteorological
Specifications:
Spacecraft mass, kg: 2630
Payload weight, kg: 1200
Orbit parameters: Circular, close to sun-synchronous:
Average altitude: 832 km
Circulation period: 101 min
Inclination: 98.8º
Orbit adjustability: None
Overall dimensions of the spacecraft, m: Height: 5.0
Width (with expanded fenders): 14.0
Case diameter: 2.5
BF power (start\end of service), W: 4500\4000
Active life: At least 5 years
Passed: 2 years, 2 months
"Meteor-M" No. 1 (Automatic spacecraft) is the first of a series of promising spacecraft for hydrometeorological support. It is part of the space complex (SC) for hydrometeorological and oceanographic support “Meteor-3M”. Designed for promptly obtaining information for the purpose of weather forecasting, monitoring the ozone layer and radiation situation in near-Earth space, as well as for monitoring the sea surface, including ice conditions. Created on the instructions of Roscosmos and Roshydromet at NPP VNIIEM (Moscow).]
General characteristics
Satellite type - Meteorological
Lead developer - FSUE "NPP VNIIEM"
Current status - in use
Launch vehicles - Soyuz-2.1b/Frigate
The spacecraft orbit is circular, sun-synchronous
altitude: 832 km
inclination: 98.77°
circulation period: 101.3 min
Orbit adjustability - none
Launch mass of spacecraft, kg - 2630
Overall dimensions, m
height: 5.0 m
width with expanded fenders: 14.0
diameter op.okr. housing: 2.5
FEP area, m² - 33.0
PV power, W - 4500/4000
[edit]
Purpose
Providing units of the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, as well as other departments with operational hydrometeorological information.
KA is intended to receive:
Global and local images of clouds, the Earth's surface, ice and snow cover in the visible, IR and microwave ranges;
Data for determining the temperature of the sea surface and the radiation temperature of the underlying surface;
Radar images of the earth's surface;
Data on the distribution of ozone in the atmosphere and its total content;
Information about the heliogeophysical situation in near-Earth space;
Data on the spectral density of outgoing radiation energy brightness to determine the vertical profile of temperature and humidity in the atmosphere, as well as to assess the components of the radiation balance of the Earth-atmosphere system.
[edit]
Spacecraft composition
"Meteor-M" No. 1 (composition)
A satellite consists of a satellite platform (SP) and a payload (PL). The PN includes the following systems:
On-board information complex (BIS) - designed to obtain information in order to solve problems of hydrometeorological support, climate and environmental monitoring, study of the Earth's natural resources, control of the heliogeophysical situation in near-Earth space.
On-board information line
DM radio link
M band radio link
Onboard radio complex of the data collection and transmission system (DSDS)
Multi-spectral low-resolution scanning device (MSU-MR) - designed for wide-area line surveys (span of at least 2800 km) to obtain images of clouds, the earth's surface, ice cover, etc. in the visible and infrared regions of the spectrum with a resolution of at least 1 km.
Complex of multispectral spectral survey of medium resolution (CMSS) - the complex is designed to obtain multispectral images of the Earth's surface and the world ocean using hydrometeorological and eco-natural monitoring and providing various sectors of the economy with operational space information
Module for temperature and humidity sensing of the atmosphere (MTVZA-GYA)
Heliogeophysical hardware complex (GGAC-M) - the complex is designed for global monitoring of heliogeophysical parameters with the aim of:
Monitoring and forecasting the radiation situation in near-Earth space and the state of the magnetic field
Monitoring and forecasting the state of the ionosphere
Diagnostics and monitoring of the state of natural and modified parameters of the magnetosphere, ionosphere and upper atmosphere
10. Onboard radar complex "Severyanin-M" (BRLC) - designed for scanning the Earth's surface in the radio range in order to ensure navigation safety, ice research, flood monitoring, hydrometeorological support for agricultural production, etc.
"Electro-L" (GGKK) ((abbr.) Geostationary Hydrometeorological Space Complex) is a series of Russian satellites for hydrometeorological support of the second generation.
The series has been developed since 2001 at the Lavochkin Research and Production Association on instructions from Roscosmos and Roshydromet as a Russian contribution to the global meteorological observation network. International name of the satellite: Elektro-L / GOMS ((abbr.) Geostationary Operational Meteorological Satellite).
The first of the satellites, “Electro-L No. 1” (GOMS-2), replaced the orbital position of 76° E. d. Electro spacecraft (GOMS-1), which ceased operation in 1998. Following Electro-L No. 1, similar satellites Electro-L No. 2 (GOMS-3) (in 2013) and Electro-L No. 3 (GOMS-4) (in 2015) will be launched.
Purpose
The Elektro-L space complex (SC) was developed to replace the Electro-L spacecraft (GOMS-1) and basically serves the same purposes as its predecessor. KK "Electro-L" is designed to provide Roshydromet with operational information for weather analysis and forecasting, studying the state of seas and oceans, monitoring conditions for aviation flights, as well as studying the state of the ionosphere and the Earth's magnetic field. In addition, the CC is capable of monitoring climate and global changes, monitoring emergency situations and conducting environmental monitoring of the environment.
To achieve these goals, the Electro-L devices are equipped with equipment for conducting multispectral imaging of the Earth in the visible and infrared ranges with a resolution of 1 km and 4 km, respectively, with a frequency of 30 minutes. If necessary, the frequency of shooting can be reduced to 10-15 minutes.
Also, with the help of the heliogeophysical equipment complex GGAC-E, the Elektro-L spacecraft is capable of collecting data on the heliogeophysical situation at the altitude of the spacecraft orbit to solve problems of heliogeophysical support.
In addition, the satellite is equipped with equipment for relaying received information, as well as receiving and relaying data from autonomous meteorological platforms and signals from emergency buoys of the COSPAS-SARSAT system.
The satellite is expected to operate in orbit for at least 10 years.
History of creation
The predecessor of the Electro-L spacecraft, the Electro-L spacecraft, was part of the international meteorological network operating under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization and its coordinating body CGMS (Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites). This group was born on September 19, 1972, when representatives of the European Space Research Organization, Japan, the United States of America, as well as observers from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Joint Planning Staff for the Global Atmosphere Research Program) met in Washington to discuss the compatibility of geostationary weather satellites. In addition, satellites in polar orbits were later added to the CGMS area of responsibility.
The principles of the CGMS imply that information from satellites located on the network is distributed on a voluntary and free basis. The first satellites included in the global meteorological network GOES were launched by the United States in 1977. They were followed by satellites from ESA (Meteosat (English) Russian) and Japan (Himawari (GMS) (English) Russian). Later they were joined by weather satellites from India (Insat, Metsat) and China (FY-2).
After the Elektro spacecraft ceased operation in 1998, Russia was left without a geostationary segment of meteorological satellites (the last of the first-generation highly elliptical Meteor satellites operated until 2005). Therefore, already in 2000-2001, the Lavochkin NPO, under the leadership of chief designer Vladimir Evgenievich Babyshkin, began designing the second-generation Elektro-L spacecraft, the launch of which was initially planned for 2006. However, real work on the device began only with the start of permanent funding in 2005-2007, when the Elektro-L complex was included in the Russian Federal Space Program for 2006-2015.
Although the launch of the first satellite of the Electro-L series No. 1 (GOMS-2) was initially planned in 2006, it was later postponed to 2008, then to the first quarter of 2010. The launch of the Zenit-2SB LV with the Fregat-SB LV and the Elektro-L spacecraft was successfully carried out on January 20, 2011.
Device
The Elektro-L spacecraft consists of three parts: a payload module called the “Target Equipment Complex”, a service systems module and an adapter for attachment to the launch vehicle.
[edit]
Basic service systems module
As a platform, "Electro-L" uses the new unified satellite platform of NPO Lavochkin "Navigator", developed since 2005. The launch weight of the device is 1797 kg (dry weight 1440 kg + 357 kg hydrazine), active life - 10 years .
The power supply system consists of one photovoltaic generator with an area of 8.17 m² and an efficiency of 26.8%, developed at the ISS named after academician M.F. Reshetnev based on three-cascade elements made of gallium arsenide produced by NPO Saturn. The system also includes a nickel-hydrogen battery 30НВ-70А, with a capacity of 70 Ah with an average discharge voltage of 35 V, which provides a power of 1700 W. The battery was also produced by NPO Saturn.
The satellite is equipped with a three-axis orientation system, which includes a gyroscope, three star and two solar sensors, as well as flywheels. The system provides payload pointing accuracy of 1-2" and stabilization amplitude of 2.5". The on-board control complex for the stabilization system was created at the Mars Design Bureau, and the automation and stabilization complex was created at the Polyus Research and Production Center.
The telemetry system produced by the Izhevsk Radio Plant and the command-measuring system developed at JSC Russian Space Systems provide telemetry data transmission, reception of control commands and measurement of orbital parameters via a radio link in the frequency ranges of 5.7 MHz (Earth-Sputnik) and 3.4 GHz (Sputnik- Earth).
The propulsion system (PS) for correction and stabilization of the Elektro-L spacecraft was developed at the NPO named after S. A. Lavochkin and consists of 8 TK500M liquid-propellant rocket engines with a thrust of 5 N and 16 K50-10.1 liquid-propellant rocket engines with a thrust of 0.5 N. The engines for the propulsion system were produced at the NPO " Fakel" in Kaliningrad. The fuel reserve for the remote control is 357 kg (hydrazine is used).
In addition, the NPO named after S.A. Lavochkin has developed the unified Navigator platform itself, made in a non-hermetic design, as well as a thermal control system, an antenna-feeder system and an on-board cable network.
| Device | Manufacturer | Characteristics |
| Multizone scanning device for hydrometeorological support (MSU-GS) | - viewing area - visible disk of the Earth (20°x20°) - 3 channels of the visible range (VD), 7 channels of the infrared (IR) range - resolution - VD - 1 km, IR - 4 km - shooting frequency - 30 min (in automatic mode), 10-15 min (according to commands from the Earth) | |
| Heliogeophysical equipment complex (GGAC-E) | Scientific Center for Operational Earth Monitoring | 7 different specialized sensors: - spectrometers and detectors of electrons and protons with energies from 0.05 to 600 MeV; - meters of solar constant, X-ray and ultraviolet radiation of the Sun; - measuring the vector of the Earth's magnetic field. |
| On-board radio engineering complex (BRTC) | "Russian space systems" | Serves for transmitting images (7.5 GHz, up to 30.72 Mbit/s) and GGAC-E data to Earth, relays and exchanges meteorological information, collects and transmits data to Earth from data collection platforms, as well as relays signals from emergency buoys of the system Cospas-Sarsat. Frequencies: - transmit: 7.5 GHz (X-band), 1.697 GHz, 1.692 GHz, 1.54 GHz (L-band) - receive: 8.2 GHz (X-band), 466 MHz, 406 MHz, 402 MHz (UHF band) |
| On-board data acquisition system (ABDS); | "Russian space systems" | Serves to collect and accumulate data from MSU-GS, GGAC-E and their subsequent transmission (up to 30.72 Mbit/s) to BTK. BSSD memory capacity is 650 MB. |
"Electro-L" No. 1 (GOMS-2) is a Russian second-generation hydrometeorological satellite. Developed at the Lavochkin Research and Production Association to replace the Elektro satellite (GOMS-1) in the same orbital position 76°E. and is part of a series of three identical Elektro-L spacecraft.
The satellite was created on the instructions of Roscosmos and Roshydromet, and is part of the worldwide meteorological observation network. International name of the satellite: Elektro-L No.1 / GOMS-2 ((abbr.) Geostationary Operational Meteorological Satellite - 2).
Following Electro-L No. 1, a similar satellite, Electro-L No. 2, will be launched in 2013.
Purpose
Electro-L, using MSU-GS equipment, conducts multispectral imaging in the visible and infrared ranges with a resolution of 1 km and 4 km, respectively. The frequency of shooting is 30 minutes.
Also installed on the spacecraft is the heliogeophysical equipment complex GGAC-E for measuring the parameters of cosmic radiation. The satellite is expected to operate in orbit for at least 10 years.
History of creation
Design has been carried out since 2001. The launch was initially planned for 2006, but was then postponed to 2008, then to the first quarter of 2010. The launch of the Zenit-2SB LV with the Fregat-SB LV and the Electro-L spacecraft was scheduled for December 25, 2010, but was postponed to January 20, 2011, when it was successfully launched at 15:29 Moscow time. On January 21, 2011 at 00.28 Moscow time, the satellite was launched into the target orbit.
The satellite is operating normally. On February 26, 2011 at 14:30, the Earth was successfully imaged in 10 spectral channels. To date, flight tests of the spacecraft have been completed and trial operation of the spacecraft has begun.
On September 8, 2011, the head of Roshydromet, Alexander Frolov, stated that the equipment installed on the satellite did not correspond to the declared indicators, and the information received was virtually useless, since there was no reference to the measured parameters by altitude.[
A meteorological satellite is one of the types of artificial satellites that performs meteorological observations; with its help, meteorological data is obtained from space. On board the satellite are instruments that allow monitoring the temperature on the surface of the planet, as well as monitoring cloud and snow cover.
In addition to weather satellites, the meteorological system also includes stations that receive and process incoming information.
Weather satellite observations
An image (in the visible region of the spectrum) is a photograph of the Earth, which shows the nature of cloudiness, its volume and distribution over the territory.
Infrared imaging provides information about our planet's surface temperatures and temperature gradients. The information obtained makes it possible to analyze the thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere, and then use the data in weather forecasts.
The resulting images are stored in storage devices and, when flying over the receiving station, are transmitted to ground stations. A satellite in a constant orbit is above a certain point at a fixed time.
The history of satellite meteorological observations began in 1967 with the Cosmos-144 spacecraft. In the same year, the Meteor system, created specifically for weather observation purposes, went into operation.
There are two types of weather satellites:
- Geostationary ones move at an altitude of 38.5 thousand km in a constant orbit at a speed equal to the speed of rotation of the Earth. Therefore, these satellites are always above one point on the equator. Such a satellite constantly observes 42% of the earth's surface. For coverage to be complete, there must be at least 5-6 satellites, however, in this case, the region of the poles remains invisible;
- Polar orbiting satellites provide complete coverage with a single spacecraft. Such low-tier satellites are located at an altitude of 850 to 1200 km, and observe a strip of 2 km.
Operating principles of weather satellites
(Schematic design of the meteorological satellite "Electro-L No. 2")
Structurally, a weather satellite is a container equipped with two or three solar panels. The container is divided into sealed compartments. At the top is a power complex that allows its surveillance systems to be powered by the sun. The lower one houses equipment for scientific observations.
The satellite is launched into orbit using a launch vehicle. When entering a given orbit, it is separated from the rocket, and a special electric drive mechanism opens its batteries.
Information equipment on satellites:
Optical devices KMSS, MSU-MR, operating in various ranges;
Microwave radiometers;
Infrared Fourier spectrometer, which performs sounding of temperature and humidity parameters;
GAK-M is an instrument complex that allows you to analyze a wide spectrum of radiation.
Radar equipment for obtaining images regardless of weather;
A radio engineering complex that collects and transmits information, including from ground-based measurement points.
Problems that meteorological satellite complexes solve today:
- observation of the surface and underlying layer;
- monitoring the state of the environment as a whole;
- emergency monitoring. You can quickly monitor emergencies not only of a natural, but also man-made nature;
- collection and transmission of data from PSD (ground, ice or drifting).
Satellites of Russia today
Until July 8, 2014, there were only two Russian weather satellites in orbit: Meteor-M No. 1 and Elektro-L No. 1.
Meteor-M No. 2 has been operating for almost 2 years, the average rotation period is 101 minutes. By the end of 2016, it is planned to launch the Meteor-M hydrometeorological satellite No. 2-1.”
On December 1, 2015, the Elektro-L No. 2 satellite was launched. The mission of the satellite is to increase the accuracy of weather forecasts. Equipment that will be installed on it:
a multispectral camera, it will transmit images to ground stations every half hour, as well as a complex of heliogeophysical equipment for studying the thermodynamics of the atmosphere.
Meteor 1-1 - the very first device in the Meteor satellite network - ended its life, having spent more than 4 decades in earth orbit. On March 27, 2012, the first Soviet weather satellite, Meteor-1-1, fell in the area of Dronning Maud Land, in Antarctica.
The Meteor satellite network was developed in the Soviet Union in the sixties. Before that, there was only Cosmos 44, an experimental weather satellite launched on August 28, 1964, which transmitted television images of cloud cover.
On March 26, 1969, the Vostok rocket with the Meteor-1-1 device, the first full-fledged operational meteorological satellite of the USSR after a series of experimental devices, was launched into orbit from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The satellite transmitted temperature data to Earth, as well as photographs taken in the visible and infrared ranges. All this data was transferred to the Hydrometeorological Center and meteorological services of other countries. The Meteor-1-1 spacecraft had a mass of 1200-1400 kilograms, a length of 5 meters and a diameter of 2.5 meters. Initially, the device was sent to an orbital altitude of 650 km. Two solar panels, automatically oriented towards the Sun, were able to provide the spacecraft with the required amount of solar energy. Meteor-1-1 used a gravity gradient and a three-coordinate stabilization system to orient itself to the Earth.
On board the spacecraft were two vidicon cameras for daytime imaging, a high-resolution scanning infrared radiometer for daytime and night imaging, and an actinometric instrument for measuring the Earth's radiation field. The instruments were located on the Earth-facing side of the satellite, while solar sensors were installed in the upper section. The successors of “Meteor 1-1” were “Meteor 2-2”, “Meteor-Nature”, “Meteor-3” and “Meteor-3M”. Meteor-M-1-2, the last of the line, was launched aboard a Soyuz 2-2b rocket in 2009. The basic design of satellites has evolved little over the years.
Of the 43 years spent in orbit, Meteor-1-1 operated for only a year. In 1970, the device stopped transmitting information to Earth. But during the year of its operation, the satellite broadcast images in the visible and infrared range and temperature data; this information was available to many countries around the world.
On March 27, the first Soviet weather satellite, Meteor-1-1, fell in the area of Dronning Maud Land, in Antarctica. Researchers quickly managed to calculate the coordinates of the fallen vehicle - 80.9 degrees south latitude and 5.36 degrees west longitude.
On our own behalf, we would add that one can truly envy the highest professionalism of Soviet scientists and specialists who created such a miracle of technology, under conditions disproportionately more difficult than the current ones. Now, when almost every launch ends in an inglorious fall or deorbit, one can only remember with nostalgia and admiration the truly heroic work of our predecessors.
"Meteor 1-1" - the very first device in the Meteor satellite network - ended its life, having spent more than 4 decades in earth orbit
The Meteor satellite network was developed in the Soviet Union in the sixties. Before that, there was only Cosmos 44, an experimental weather satellite launched on August 28, 1964, which transmitted television images of cloud cover.
On March 26, 1969, a Vostok rocket carrying the Meteor-1-1 apparatus, the first operational meteorological satellite of the USSR, was launched into orbit from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The Meteor-1-1 spacecraft had a mass of 1200-1400 kilograms, a length of 5 meters and a diameter of 2.5 meters. Initially, the device was sent to an orbital altitude of 650 km. Two solar panels, automatically oriented towards the Sun, were able to provide the spacecraft with the required amount of solar energy. Meteor-1-1 used a gravity gradient and a three-coordinate stabilization system to orient itself to the Earth.
On board the spacecraft were two vidicon cameras for daytime imaging, a high-resolution scanning infrared radiometer for daytime and night imaging, and an actinometric instrument for measuring the Earth's radiation field. The instruments were located on the Earth-facing side of the satellite, while solar sensors were installed in the upper section. The successors of “Meteor 1-1” were “Meteor 2-2”, “Meteor-Nature”, “Meteor-3” and “Meteor-3M”. Meteor-M 1-2, the last of the line, was launched aboard a Soyuz 2-2b rocket in 2009. The basic design of satellites has evolved little over the years.
Another image taken on March 20th. Solar panels and some smaller structures are clearly visible on the satellite body (photo: Ralph Vandenberg, spacesafetymagazine.com)
Ralf Vandeberg - a Danish astronomer, professional photographer and veteran of many satellite tracking missions - observed the behavior of Meteor 1-1 and described it in several articles:
“On June 2, 2011, I received relatively clear images of the spacecraft, clear enough to make out the solar panels; photographs even made it possible to distinguish the smaller end from the thicker end of the cylindrical satellite body. These images were taken at a distance of approximately 425 km. Even though Meteor 1-1 spent 42 years in orbit, at that time the satellite was at a safe and stable altitude of approximately 400 km. In March 2012, 9 months later, I discovered a spacecraft in very low Earth orbit - approximately 250 km."
Meteor 1-1 satellite in one of its last orbits, March 20 (photo: Ralph Vandenberg, spacesafetymagazine.com)
The scientist says that at that time he realized that the satellite was descending too quickly:
“The satellite appeared near the southern horizon and moved to the northeast with an expectedly high angular velocity. During the first part of the trajectory, the satellite seemed relatively stable, but its brightness changed quite quickly and in contrast. These are typical signs of uncontrolled coups.
Indeed, when viewing the frames, clear signs of the movement of the falling elongated satellite body are visible - the images show an alternation of the long and short sides of the spacecraft body. The best images from the set obtained at the time show the satellite and its solar panels in great detail.
On March 21, one day later, I observed the spacecraft again, this time about 20 degrees lower to the southeast. This time it was easy to see it with the naked eye as an object with a consistent change in brightness."
Vandeberg realized that very soon another satellite would enter the Earth's atmosphere and become part of history.
The crash of the spacecraft Meteor 1-1 (video: Ralph Vandenberg, spacesafetymagazine.com)
Of the 43 years spent in orbit, Meteor-1-1 operated for only a year. In 1970, the device stopped transmitting information to Earth. But during the year of its operation, the satellite broadcast images in the visible and infrared range and temperature data; this information was available to many countries around the world.
On Tuesday, March 27, the first Soviet weather satellite, Meteor-1-1, fell in the area of Dronning Maud Land, in Antarctica. Researchers quickly managed to calculate the coordinates of the fallen vehicle - 80.9 degrees south latitude and 5.36 degrees west longitude.
The Earth's atmosphere is a very complex natural system that is constantly changing, constantly in motion. To know the state of the air envelope of our planet at any given moment and anticipate its changes, it is necessary to monitor the entire atmosphere over the entire surface of the Earth.
Back in the first half of the 20th century, a huge network of meteorological stations on all continents was created for this purpose. But despite the efforts of atmospheric monitors in all countries, there were huge gaps in this network. Vast expanses of oceans remained “uncovered”, over which many cyclones originate, affecting the weather and climate. And on land there are numerous deserts, uninhabited areas covered with virgin forests, ice or high mountains, where it is very difficult to maintain weather stations.
The solution was the idea of using artificial space satellites to observe the Earth's atmosphere. Such a satellite was supposed to photograph clouds over the oceans and uninhabited areas of the planet. After transmitting these photographic images to Earth, they were analyzed by meteorologists who, knowing about the distribution of cloudiness, could already make informed conclusions about the characteristics of the general circulation of the atmosphere and give more accurate weather forecasts. There is no need to explain how important such weather forecasts are in our lives - from simple life to agriculture, the functioning of aviation, etc.
In our country, the first meteorological satellite in history was created in 1966 in Moscow at the All-Union Research Institute of Electromechanics. The first weather satellite was equipped with television and infrared cameras to take pictures not only during the day, but also at night. This made it possible to compare images of the same clouds obtained in visible and infrared rays. Using the satellite's television equipment, it was possible to find out the shape and distribution of clouds in the atmosphere, snow cover on the ground and ice fields in the oceans, the temperature of the cloud tops and open areas of the earth and oceans.
Before launching the first meteorological satellite into space, our scientists conducted a series of experimental launches of so-called technological devices, which were used to test individual systems and the meteorological satellite complex as a whole. A total of four such technological satellites were launched from 1964 to 1966.
The meteorological satellites being created were a container with two solar panels. The lower, “instrumental” part of the container housed scientific equipment, and the upper part housed the power apparatus and all service systems. Both of these parts were hermetically sealed compartments; the power hardware compartment was connected to the electric drive mechanism of the solar panels, which opened after the satellite was separated from the launch vehicle.
The first real weather satellite, named Kosmos-122, was launched into orbit on June 25, 1966 using the Vostok-2M launch vehicle. The satellite spent four months in flight, for the first time providing round-the-clock information on the state of the Earth's atmosphere, which was used by the meteorological service of our country, and was also transmitted to the weather services of other countries.
The Kosmos-122 satellite became the first in the Meteor weather satellite system. Over the next 15 years, 36 meteorological devices of this system were launched, which made it possible to create a global weather service and weather forecasting system for the first time.
Read in the “Society” section How support for domestic producers led to a deterioration in Russia’s foreign economic position