Satellites See Wisconsin: A History Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Jupiter-C Assembly at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA), Redstone Arsenal, in Huntsville, AL. Jupiter-C This global composite image, generated with McIDAS, combines GOES (United States), Satellites See successfully launched the rst American satellite, Explorer 1, Model of the Russian satellite Sputnik 1. Meteosat (European), and MTSAT (Japanese) satellite data to show water vapor in the atmosphere. Credit: NASA into orbit on 31 January 1958. Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison Wisconsin: Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA-MSFC) 1957 1958 A History Congress passes the Space Act, creating In October, the Soviet Union successfully launches Sputnik 1 as GOES-14 launched at Cape Canaveral on 27 June a contribution to the IGY, triggering the space race between the National Aeronautics and Space For more than 50 years, the University of 2009 with a mission to improve weather prediction the United States and the U.S.S.R. Administration, or NASA. Wisconsin-Madison has been a leader in devising First picture of Earth from TIROS-I. in North America. GOES-15 followed in 2010. The United States successfully launches Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ways to view our planet through the eye of a its rst satellite, Explorer-1, on satellite. In particular, scientists at the GOES-8 (artist’s rendition). 31 January 1958. Man-computer Interactive Data Access System (McIDAS). Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Credit: UW-Madison Communications GOES-4 launch on 9 September 1980. Technicians check the alignment of the GOES-O satellite Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center (SSEC) have been at the forefront of ATS-I image, 11 December 1966. GOES-1 launch 16 October 1975. onto a special stand for loading of its propellants. “ S HE WATCHED A Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric developing the satellite technology that makes it First rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, July 1950. Using a V-2 1960 Credit: Schwerdtfeger Library, Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison A Credit: NASA Administration (NOAA) 1980 possible to see and study the intricacies of missile base, the upper stage was able to reach nearly 400 The TIROS Program (Television 1966 FOOTBALL GAME ON Infrared Observation Satellite) GOES-1, the rst geostationary orbiting Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) founded by Earth’s atmosphere from space. Some kilometers, higher than modern space shuttles y today. ATS-I, the rst geostationary satellite, TELEVISION, HE 1972 Credit: NASA was NASA's early program to environmental satellite. Dr. Suomi through an agreement with NOAA and NASA. 2009 of the earliest experiments, beginning in Suomi and Parent had three launch attempts in 1959, an unprecedented eort. Two of the launches launched on 7 December 1966 (UTC). Introduction of Man-computer Interactive Data Access System determine if satellites could be REALIZED THAT WHAT Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-4, launched 9 September 1980, was the rst geostationary satellite to GOES-14 launched 27 June 2009. the 1950s, were led by Professor Verner E. ended in failure, but the third, Explorer 7, was successful, resulting in the rst meteorological experiment It carried Parent and Suomi’s Spin (McIDAS): the world's rst system to visualize satellite images useful in the study of the Earth. provide continuous vertical pro les of atmospheric temperature and of Earth from space. Scan Cloudcover Camera (SSCC), the HE REALLY WANTED and obtain accurate cloud motions. McIDAS complemented 1994 Suomi, founder of the Space Science and 1975 moisture. A new instrument, the Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer Fall color in Wisconsin, taken from the Aqua Credit: Wisconsin State Journal, Friday July 17, 1959, reprinted with permission technology that made viewing Earth WAS AN INSTANT Suomi’s spin-scan camera in geosynchronous orbit, as a Engineering Center, and Professor Robert J. SMS led to GOES-1 GOES-8 launched 13 April 1994 and is the rst GOES satellite deployed on a satellite on 6 October 2003. from geosynchronous orbit possible. system for acquiring, storing, navigating (aligning images with (VISSR) Atmospheric Sounder (VAS), was a modi cation of the original 2016 REPLAY OF WEATHER launched on 16 October three-axis stable platform. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison Parent, of the UW-Madison College of Engineer- The launch of ATS-I ushered in the era Earth locations) and animating images from satellites. The spin-scan design. It was the rst geostationary sounder. Wisconsin research- The Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity 1950 1975, carrying Suomi’s Administration (NOAA) team at SSEC developed ingestors (the devices that ing. of continuous viewing of weather PICTURES.” combination of these two inventions enabled people to see, 1978 ers led the world in developing infrared sounders which dramatically 1988 Observatory (CLARREO) will use black body First rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. 1959 1959 1959 1968 camera. receive satellite data), simulations, and provided technical expertise. from space. Suomi understood the for the rst time, animated cloud images, now a routine First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) planned for 1978-1979. SSEC improved weather forecasts. Real-time applications from VAS were demon- SSEC participated in software and temperature sensors (used for temperature International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957-1958, postal stamp. First day of Failed Vanguard SLV-6 launch Failed Explorer 7x launch Finally, success: Explorer 7 Visualization software developed at SSEC allowed 2002 Continuous observations of the Earth’s bene ts of observing a single feature of television weather reports. was selected to archive satellite wind vectors from cloud heights. strated by the UW/NOAA team. instrument development for calibration and designed by SSEC) and a new type issue. The U.S. participated in the IGY; meteorology was an area of 22 June 1959. 16 July 1959. (See WSJ article above.) launches successfully display and manipulation of the ATS images. Aqua, Latin for water, is a NASA Earth Science satellite mission named for the large atmosphere from space revolutionized scientists' weather phenomenon over time. Suomi played a key organizing role. Europe and Japan adopted McIDAS installations continued to expand with support and systems provided next-generation geostationary satellites. of interferometer. 13 October 1959. amount of information that the mission will collect about the Earth's water cycle. The understanding of the motions of the global cooperation. These kinds of observations were not Suomi’s basic concept to establish geostationary imaging over to the National Hurricane Center, NASA (in support of space shuttle launches), Credit: Don Hillger, Colorado State University Aqua Science Team at UW-Madison and CIMSS processes the imagery to study the possible using the early, low-altitude their parts of the world. weather agencies worldwide, and commercial entities such as United Parcel atmosphere, paving the way for more accurate atmosphere, clouds, precipitation, sea and land ice, and snow cover. weather forecasts and faster and more precise polar-orbiting satellites. Service. warnings for severe weather, which have saved many lives and mitigated damage from storms The Terra satellite is an important part of NASA's Science Mission. The and other severe weather events. Suomi’s VAS data incorporated into many new MODIS Science Team at UW-Madison utilizes imagery from the Moderate contributions set the foundation for the Satellite weather pioneer Verner E. Suomi measured the heat The success of Suomi’s camera on the ATS series of satellites led to NASA's Synchronous products for the National Weather Service. Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite technologies that made the routine observing of budget of a corn eld in support of his doctoral thesis from the Radiometer instrument designed by Suomi and Parent to conduct the rst Earth radiation experiment ies on Explorer 7. With this experiment, Suomi Meteorological Satellite (SMS) with an infrared camera, allowing scientists to see clouds to study developing weather patterns. CIMSS and NOAA’s Advanced Satellite Products Team (ASPT) participated in GOES-12 pre-launch the Earth's weather from space possible. For University of Chicago. He measured the dierence between the establishes the critical role played by clouds in absorbing solar energy, setting the stage for the integration of satellites into the eld of meteorology. ATS-III launched on 5 November 1967. It sent the rst color images from the Multicolor Spin Scan Cloud- at night and to estimate their height in the atmosphere. SMS launched on 17 May 1974. 1983 activities and performed the GOES-12 science tests, checking data quality, producing products UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, working with industry, NOAA 1999 those contributions, he is widely considered to amount of energy absorbed and the amount of energy lost in a cover Camera (MSSCC), the second generation of Suomi's revolutionary technology. The ATS-III was the only from data stream and comparing them to those from other satellites, investigating the impact of Anticipated launch of GOES-R. NOAA and CIMSS scientists corn eld. This led him to think about the Earth’s heat budget. geostationary satellite with a channel for observing phenomena in true blue color, which was, and remains, The Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Atlantic Tropical Experiment (GATE), and NASA, led the design of the High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (HIS), the rst are currently developing and testing instruments for be the “father of satellite meteorology.” 1959 World-wide network of McIDAS sites new spectral bands, and posting hourly displays of data from all 19 sounder channels. a unique feature for a weather satellite. The camera provided color pictures for approximately three months bene tted from the infrared camera that Suomi recommended. GARP was the rst truly hyperspectral GOES sounder, an instrument used to vertically probe the atmosphere. improved and timely weather forecasts and detection of continued to expand. 1953 at which time the red and blue channels failed. The system continued to transmit black-and-white pictures global eort to gather data on atmospheric circulation and other weather phenomena. 2001 meteorological phenomena that aect public safety. With the establishment at Wisconsin of the 1979 U.S. announces plans to launch world's rst man-made satellite. until 11 December 1974. By applying the video-processing capability of McIDAS, the 'nowcasting' concept Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite 1991 2015 evolved emphasizing intermediate-sized atmospheric features yielding better forecasts. Studies (CIMSS) in 1980, satellite meteorology GOES-2 launched on 16 June 1977 1955 1967 GOES-11 launched 3 May 2000. First ocial visible channel aboard a Delta rocket. research at UW-Madison was bolstered through a 1974 image from GOES-11 posted on SSEC website on 17 May. McIDAS V, the fth generation of SSEC’s visualization software now more formal working relationship with the 1977 displays weather satellite and other geophysical data in 2- and 3- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 2000 dimensions for improved analysis of weather phenomena. tion (NOAA). NOAA stations scientists at CIMSS to work side-by-side with Wisconsin researchers 2010 to continue the pioneering research begun by its founder, Verner E. Suomi. Parent and Suomi work on their early satellite instrument. Credit: UW-Madison Communications For more information please visit: http://library.ssec.wisc.edu Suomi (second from right) and colleagues study the heat Suomi and Parent’s instrument for measuring the heat budget of a corn eld in 1953. balance of the Earth was carried on Vanguard SLV-6, Credit: Iowa State College (University) Experiment Station, courtesy Space launched on 22 June 1959. A faulty second stage pressure Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison valve resulted in the mission's failure. SSEC scientists work on the High-resolution Interferometer Sounder (HIS). Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison Workers at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Credit: NASA Wisconsin in winter, taken from the Terra California prepare NASA's Terra spacecraft Presidential press secretary James Hagerty with scientists Explorer VII launches successfully on 13 October 1959. satellite on 22 December 2004. during a meeting at which the announcement of President Credit: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA-MSFC) (right) for encapsulation in its external Scientists work on ATS-III in preparation for launch. Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, structure (left) before launch. Dwight Eisenhower's approval of a satellite plan was made. UW-Madison Credit: NASA Credit: NASA Front, left to right, are: Dr. Alan T. Waterman, Hagerty, Dr. S. Suomi and NASA scientist Herman LeGow Douglas Cornell and Dr. Alan Shapley. Standing, left to right: inspect Explorer 7. This photograph shows the A clear day in Wisconsin, NOAA-11 near infrared image Dr. J. Wallace Joyce and Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus. Credit: NASA actual satellite, not a model. on 30 May 1990 processed using McIDAS. Credit: NASA Glenn Research Center (NASA-GRC) ATS-III image from 18 November 1967. Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison GOES-11 image, 17 May 2000. McIDAS V allows combination and manipulation of data to overlay The Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS). GOES-2 satellite before launch. Credit: NASA Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric atmospheric phenomena onto surface contours of the Earth. Administration (NOAA) Credit: Space Science and Engineering Center, UW-Madison