Nimbus 7 was a NASA satellite that was part of the Nimbus program. The satellite was launched on October 24, 1978, and operated until December 12, 1983. Nimbus 7 carried six instruments to study the Earth’s atmosphere, land, and water.
The six instruments on Nimbus 7 were:
# The High Resolution Infrared Radiometer (HIRS) measured atmospheric temperatures and concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone.
# The Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) measured atmospheric temperatures at different altitudes.
# The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) measured the amount of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere.
# The Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Radiometer (SBUV) measured ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
# The Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) photographed ocean color to study marine biology and pollution.
# The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) acquired images of Earth’s surface for use in environmental studies and mapping.