Synchronous Meteorological Satellite
Introduction Illustration of a Synchronous Meteorological SatelliteThe '''Synchronous Meteorological Satellite''' ('''SMS''') program, was a program where NASA developed two weather satellites; which were placed into geosynchronous orbit.
History '''SMS-1''' was launched May 17, 1974 and '''SMS-2''' was launched February 6, 1975.Both satellites were carried to orbit by Delta 2914 rockets. The program was initiated after the successes achieved by the Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) research satellites, which demonstrated the feasibility of using satellites in geosynchronous orbit for meteorology. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program, which now supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking, and meteorology research in the United States, followed immediately after the SMS program; the GOES 1 satellite was initially designated SMS-C. SMS-1 and SMS-2; and GOES-1, GOES-2, and GOES-3; were essentially identical.
List of SMS satellites  Designation  Launch Date/Time (UTC)  Rocket  Launch Site  Longitude  First Image  Status  Retirement  Remarks Launch  Operational===SMS series satellites===     May 17, 1974  Delta 2914                 February 6, 1975  Delta 2914            ===SMS-derived satellites===     October 16, 1975, 22:40  Delta 2914  CCAFS LC-17A    October 25, 1975  Retired  March 7, 1985       June 16, 1977, 10:51  Delta 2914  CCAFS LC-17B  60°W    Retired  1993  Reactivated as comsat in 1995, finally deactivated in May 2001     June 16, 1978, 10:49  Delta 2914  CCAFS LC-17B      Retired  1993  Reactivated as comsat in 1995, was decommissioned 29 June 2016
References