Not until the last two TIROS satellites did the world see a true polar-orbiting weather satellite. The first four TIROS satellites had an inclination of 48 degrees. TIROS 5 through TIROS 8 had an inclination of 58 degrees. So none of the first 8 satellites were polar-orbiting.
TIROS 2
- Launch Date: November 23, 1960
- Rocket Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida
- Dimensions 280 pounds, 42 inch diameter, 19 inches high
- Equipment 2 television cameras, 9260 solar cells, magnetic recorders for the cameras, and two infrared radiation experiments.
- Time Operational for 376 days
TIROS 3
- Launch Date: July 12, 1961
- Rocket Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida
- Dimensions 285 pounds, 19 inches high, 42 inch diameter
- Equipment One camera failed after just 12 days, but the satellite discovered hurricane Esther. Instead of a high and low resolution camera, two wide-angle television cameras were used.
- Time Operational for 230 days
TIROS 4
- Launch Date: February 8, 1962
- Rocket Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida
- Dimensions 285 pounds, 19 inches high, 42 inch diameter
- Equipment A new lens system was used to try to improve the resolution of the meteorological images sent back to the ground.
- Time Operational for 161 days
TIROS 5
- Launch Date: June 19, 1962
- Rocket Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida
- Dimensions 285 pounds, 22 inches high, 42 inch diameter
- Equipment First TIROS to be launched at a higher inclination and with equipment designed to keep it operational for longer periods, although the operational period stayed the same as TIROS 4.
- Time Operational for 161 days
