Nimbus

The Nimbus series of satellites were second-generation meteorological research and development (R&D) spacecraft. Designed as stabilized, Earth-oriented platforms, they were used for testing advanced systems to sense and collect atmospheric science data. Seven Nimbus spacecraft were successfully launched into near-polar, Sun-synchronous orbits over a 14-year period:

• Nimbus 1 (or Nimbus-A): launched August 28, 1964 
• Nimbus 2 (or Nimbus-C): launched May 15, 1966
• Nimbus-B: launched May 18 1968, destroyed upon launch
• Nimbus 3 (or Nimbus-B2): launched April 13, 1969
• Nimbus 4 (or Nimbus-D): launched April 8, 1970
• Nimbus 5 (or Nimbus-E): launched December 11, 1972
• Nimbus 6 (or Nimbus-F): launched June 12, 1975
• Nimbus 7 (or Nimbus-G): launched October 24, 1978

Nimbus satellites collected data until 1994, when Nimbus 7 ceased operating. The project improved our understanding of the planet’s weather, radiation budget, sea ice cover, ozone layer, and other atmospheric phenomena.