BackForward Satellite Programme: Heat Capacity Mapping Mission 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Single-satellite programme for land observation.
  • USA programme: NASA responsible for development and operations.
  • The satellite has active 3-axis stabilisation.
  • The design lifetime is two years.
  • The satellite exploits a sunsynchronous orbit around 14:00.
  • See detailed description at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1978-041A.
Data circulation
  • Onboard stored data downlinked to NASA acquisition stations.
  • Data managed by the NASA National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC).
Agencies NASA
Programme lifetime 1978 - 1980
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned

  • Heat Capacity Mapping Mission