ESSA-8

ESSA-8 was a weather satellite launched by NASA on December 15, 1968. It operated for 2,644 days until it was deactivated on March 12, 1976. ESSA-8 was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA.

ESSA-8 was an 18-sided polygon. It was 42 inches (1,100 mm) in diameter, 22 inches high, and weighed 290 pounds. It was made of aluminum alloy and stainless steel covered with 10,020 solar cells. The cells charged 63 nickel-cadmium batteries which served as a power source. The satellite could take 8 to 10 pictures every 24 hours. Each photo covered a 2,000-square-mile (5,200 km²) area at a 2 mile per pixel resolution.

ESSA-8's mission was to replace ESSA-6, and provide detailed cloud pattern photography to ground stations worldwide. Partners in the project included the ASA, ESSA, RCA, the US Weather Bureau, and the NMC.

References

• http://www.earth.nasa.gov/history/essa/essa8.html
• http://www.met.fsu.edu/explores/Guide/Essa_Html/essa8.html