NIMBUS 5 (06305)

COSPAR: 1972-097A | Alt Name: Nimbus 5

Image
NIMBUS 5 Satellite Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details

Launch Date

December 11, 1972

Launch Site

AFWTR

Launch Pad

SLC2W

Launch Vehicle

Delta 0900

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

06305

International Designator

1972-097A

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 03:27:32 GMT

Apogee

Calculating...

Perigee

Calculating...

Inclination

99.81°

Right Ascension

83.54°

Eccentricity

Calculating...

Argument of Perigee

105.97°

Period

107.12 min

Mean Motion

13.44 rev/day

Latitude

Calculating...

Longitude

Calculating...

Altitude

Calculating...

Velocity

Calculating...

Polar Plot
3D Visualization
Basic Satellite Info

Name

NIMBUS 5

Alternative Name

Nimbus 5

Type

Payload

Status

Non-operational

Owner

GSFC

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs
1 06305U 72097A   26185.14412416 -.00000022  00000-0  36115-4 0  9999
2 06305  99.8056  83.5360 0009174 105.9681  56.6952 13.44256810627001

Source: Celestrak

Summary

Apologies, there is no summary for this satellite yet. I am working to generate these for every object in the catalog, but it is going to take time.

Physical Characteristics

Length

3

Diameter

3.3

Span

3.6

Dry Mass

715

Launch Mass

715

Shape

Cone + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

2.9256

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Nimbus E

Purpose

Meteorology, experimental

Mission

Meteorology, experimental

Manufacturer

GEVF

Life Expectancy

Unknown

Bus

Nimbus

Configuration

Nimbus Bus

Motor

?

Equipment

THIR, ESMR, ITPR, NEMS, SCR, SCMR

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map
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