<P> As early as 1946 , the idea of cameras in orbit to observe the weather was being developed . This was due to sparse data observation coverage and the expense of using cloud cameras on rockets . By 1958 , the early prototypes for TIROS and Vanguard ( developed by the Army Signal Corps ) were created . The first weather satellite , Vanguard 2 , was launched on February 17 , 1959 . It was designed to measure cloud cover and resistance , but a poor axis of rotation and its elliptical orbit kept it from collecting a notable amount of useful data . The Explorer VI and VII satellites also contained weather - related experiments . </P>
<P> As early as 1946 , the idea of cameras in orbit to observe the weather was being developed . This was due to sparse data observation coverage and the expense of using cloud cameras on rockets . By 1958 , the early prototypes for TIROS and Vanguard ( developed by the Army Signal Corps ) were created . The first weather satellite , Vanguard 2 , was launched on February 17 , 1959 . It was designed to measure cloud cover and resistance , but a poor axis of rotation and its elliptical orbit kept it from collecting a notable amount of useful data . The Explorer VI and VII satellites also contained weather - related experiments . </P>
when was the first weather satellite launched into space
when was the first weather satellite launched into space
February 17 , 1959
February 17 , 1959