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Television Infrared Observation Satellite

Television Infrared Observation Satellite is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Television Infrared Observation Satellite rather than just read about it. In short: Television InfraRed Observation Satellite (TIROS) is a series of early weather satellites launched by the United States, beginning with TIROS-1 in 1960. TIROS was the first satellite that was capable of remote sensing of the Earth, enabling scientists to view the Earth from a new perspective: space.

Television Infrared Observation Satellite — main illustration
Television Infrared Observation Satellite — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Television Infrared Observation Satellite belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Television Infrared Observation Satellite to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Television Infrared Observation Satellite from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Television InfraRed Observation Satellite (TIROS) is a series of early weather satellites launched by the United States, beginning with TIROS-1 in 1960. TIROS was the first satellite that was capable of remote sensing of the Earth, enabling scientists to view the Earth from a new perspective: space. The program, promoted by Harry Wexler, proved the usefulness of satellite weather observation, at a time when military reconnaissance satellites were secretly in development or use. TIROS demonstrated at that time that "the key to genius is often simplicity". TIROS is an acronym of "Television InfraRed Observation Satellite" and is also the plural of "tiro" which means "a young soldier, a beginner". The Advanced Research Projects Agency (now DARPA) initiated the TIROS program in 1958 and transferred the program to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1959. Participants in the TIROS program also included, United States Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory, Radio Corporation of America (RCA), the United States Weather Bureau Service, the United States Naval Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC), the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

History

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Television Infrared Observation Satellite illustration
Television Infrared Observation Satellite: One of the first TV images of Earth from space, taken by TIROS-1 in April 1960
One of the first TV images of Earth from space, taken by TIROS-1 in April 1960
Television Infrared Observation Satellite: Diagram showing progression of meteorological satellites from TIROS I to TIROS-N
Diagram showing progression of meteorological satellites from TIROS I to TIROS-N
Television Infrared Observation Satellite: William G. Stroud displaying TIROS-I's circuitry to Lyndon B. Johnson on 4 April 1960.
William G. Stroud displaying TIROS-I's circuitry to Lyndon B. Johnson on 4 April 1960.
Television Infrared Observation Satellite: TIROS meteorological satellite system showing components and photoproducts
TIROS meteorological satellite system showing components and photoproducts

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Television Infrared Observation Satellite

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Television Infrared Observation Satellite claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Television Infrared Observation Satellite before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Television Infrared Observation Satellite ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Television Infrared Observation Satellite

In research
Television Infrared Observation Satellite appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Television Infrared Observation Satellite in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Television Infrared Observation Satellite is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1960s in spaceflight, Infrared imaging, Lockheed Martin satellites, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Television Infrared Observation Satellite outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Television Infrared Observation Satellite in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Television Infrared Observation Satellite means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Television Infrared Observation Satellite out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Television Infrared Observation Satellite in simple terms?

Television InfraRed Observation Satellite (TIROS) is a series of early weather satellites launched by the United States, beginning with TIROS-1 in 1960. TIROS was the first satellite that was capable of remote sensing of the Earth, enabling scientists to view the Earth from a new perspective: space.

Why does Television Infrared Observation Satellite matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Television Infrared Observation Satellite?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Television Infrared Observation Satellite.

Tags

  • 1960s in spaceflight
  • Infrared imaging
  • Lockheed Martin satellites
  • NASA satellites orbiting Earth
  • RCA
  • Satellite series
  • Television Infrared Observation Satellites
  • Weather satellites of the United States

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