Nimbus

past Mission

Type

Orbiter

Launch

Nimbus 1: Aug. 8, 1964

Target

Earth

Objective

Improve weather observations and predictions

A program of seven weather satellites from the 1960s and 1970s that tested advanced sensors and monitored cloud cover, temperature, pollution, ultraviolet solar energy, ozone, microwave radiation, and water vapor, among other factors.

An artist's concept of the Nimbus II spacecraft in orbit above Earth.

Latest News

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Article
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International SWOT Mission Can Improve Flood Prediction 

An aerial photo of a flooded neighborhood in North Dakota
Article
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20 Years Ago: NASA Selects its 19th Group of Astronauts

Artist concept of TESS spacecraft.
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NASA’s TESS Returns to Science Operations

Article15 hours ago
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NASA Challenge Gives Artemis Generation Coders a Chance to Shine

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New Proposals to Help NASA Advance Knowledge of Our Changing Climate

News Release
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James Webb Space Telescope

The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

Perseverance Rover

Parker Solar Probe

Juno