# Nimbus B

> U.S. meteorological satellite, lost in a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q55625262](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55625262)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimbus_B)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nimbus-b

## Summary
Nimbus B was an American weather satellite and technology demonstration spacecraft manufactured by the RCA Corporation for the Nimbus program. Weighing 571 kilograms, it was designed to operate under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellite was lost on May 18, 1968, following a launch failure of its Thorad-Agena D rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Weather satellite and technology demonstration spacecraft.
- **Launch Date:** May 18, 1968, at 08:23.
- **Launch Site:** Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thorad-Agena D (Serial/ID: 520/6221).
- **Outcome:** Lost in a launch failure.
- **Mass:** 571 kilograms (launch weight).
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- **Power System:** Two spacecraft solar arrays and a SNAP-19 radioisotope thermoelectric generator.
- **Program Sequence:** Followed Nimbus 2 and was succeeded by Nimbus 3.

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to the Nimbus B satellite?
A: Nimbus B was lost during a launch failure on May 18, 1968. The satellite failed to reach orbit after lifting off from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East aboard a Thorad-Agena D rocket.

### Q: What was the purpose of the Nimbus B mission?
A: The satellite was designed as a weather satellite to monitor climate and as a technology demonstration spacecraft to test experimental technologies. It was part of the second-generation U.S. Nimbus program.

### Q: How was Nimbus B powered?
A: The spacecraft was equipped with two solar arrays and a radioisotope thermoelectric generator identified as the SNAP-19.

## Why It Matters
Nimbus B represents a critical juncture in the development of second-generation U.S. robotic spacecraft designed for meteorological observation. As a joint effort between NASA and NOAA, the satellite aimed to advance the United States' capability to monitor weather and climate from orbit. Its construction by the RCA Corporation and launch weight of 571 kilograms illustrate the increasing complexity and capability of satellite technology during the 1960s.

Although the mission ended in failure, Nimbus B is notable for its incorporation of advanced power systems, specifically the SNAP-19 radioisotope thermoelectric generator. The use of such a power source, alongside traditional solar arrays, highlights the engineering challenges of ensuring sustained energy for sensitive monitoring equipment in space. Furthermore, the deployment of the Thorad-Agena D rocket—a vehicle more powerful than its predecessors—underscores the evolving requirements of lifting heavier, more sophisticated scientific payloads. Despite its loss, the project provided essential data and experience that contributed to the subsequent launch of Nimbus 3.

## Notable For
- Being part of the **Nimbus program**, the second-generation of U.S. robotic spacecraft.
- Utilizing a **radioisotope thermoelectric generator (SNAP-19)** in addition to solar arrays for power.
- Operating as a joint project between **NASA and NOAA**.
- Being manufactured by the **RCA Corporation**, a major technology contractor of the era.
- Suffering a **launch failure** on May 18, 1968, resulting in the loss of the satellite.

## Body

### Mission Overview
Nimbus B was a U.S. meteorological satellite developed as part of the Nimbus program. It functioned as both a weather satellite and a technology demonstration spacecraft. The satellite was intended to succeed Nimbus 2 but was itself followed in the program sequence by Nimbus 3.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a launch mass of 571 kilograms. It was manufactured by the RCA Corporation in the United States. To maintain operations, Nimbus B utilized a dual power system comprising two spacecraft solar arrays and a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, model SNAP-19.

### Launch and Loss
Nimbus B was launched on May 18, 1968, at 08:23 from the Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 East. The launch vehicle used was the Thorad-Agena D. The mission resulted in a launch failure, and the satellite was lost. It is identified in records by the NSSDCA ID `NIMBS-B`.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Nimbus B",
  "description": "U.S. meteorological satellite and technology demonstration spacecraft lost in a launch failure in 1968.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimbus_B",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6272367"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "WeatherSatellite",
    "TechnologyDemonstrationSpacecraft"
  ],
  "identifier": {
    "@type": "PropertyValue",
    "name": "NSSDCA ID",
    "value": "NIMBS-B"
  }
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/nimbus-3.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report