Weather Watchers Quiz: Test Your Meteorological Satellite IQ

The Fengyun series of weather satellites was launched by China. The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) is responsible for operating the Fengyun satellite program, which provides meteorological data and imagery for weather monitoring and forecasting purposes. Fengyun satellites play a crucial role in observing and understanding atmospheric conditions, climate patterns, and severe weather events in China and the surrounding regions.

The Indian satellite that provides weather forecasting and tracks cyclones in the Indian Ocean region is INSAT-3DR. INSAT-3DR is a geostationary weather satellite operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is equipped with advanced instruments for meteorological observations, including the ability to monitor cyclones, weather patterns, and other atmospheric conditions in real-time.

The Russian Elektro-L series of weather satellites was developed for the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) by NPO Lavochkin. NPO Lavochkin is a Russian company that specializes in the field of spacecraft engineering and manufacturing. The first satellite, Elektro-L No.1, was launched on January 2, 2011.

The United States launched the world's first meteorological satellite, TIROS-1 (Television Infrared Observation Satellite), on April 1, 1960. TIROS-1 marked a significant milestone in space-based weather observation, providing valuable data and imagery for meteorological research and forecasting. The successful launch and operation of TIROS-1 paved the way for subsequent generations of meteorological satellites, contributing to advancements in weather monitoring and our understanding of Earth's atmosphere.

The development of the NOAA series of weather satellites was a joint effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The GOES series of U.S. satellites were developed by a joint NASA-NOAA-Industry partnership, launched by NASA (with industry partners), and operated by NOAA.

The COMS (Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite) for weather monitoring was developed and is operated by South Korea. The COMS satellite is a multipurpose geostationary satellite that serves various functions, including meteorological observation, ocean monitoring, and communication services. It provides valuable data for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster management in the East Asia region.

The first American astronaut to go into space as part of the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission was John Glenn. He made history on February 20, 1962, by becoming the first American to orbit the Earth during the Friendship 7 mission. John Glenn's successful orbital flight marked a significant achievement in the early days of human space exploration.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is associated with the development of the Japanese geostationary weather satellite series Himawari. The Himawari series provides critical meteorological data and imagery, including observations of clouds, atmospheric conditions, and weather patterns over the Asia-Pacific region. JMA plays a key role in operating and utilizing these satellites to enhance weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities.

On 28 February 1966, ESSA-2, which was the first operational polar-orbiting meteorological satellite equipped with an operational real-time picture transmission, the so-called APT, was launched by the United States.

The development of the weather satellite system Meteosat was led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). ESA and EUMETSAT have been key players in advancing weather satellite technology and providing crucial meteorological data for Europe through the Meteosat program.

The Japanese satellite that monitors the Earth's concentrations of greenhouse gases is Ibuki-2. Also known as the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite-2 (GOSAT-2), it is the successor to the original Ibuki (GOSAT) satellite. Ibuki-2 continues the mission of observing and measuring greenhouse gas concentrations in Earth's atmosphere, providing valuable data for climate research and monitoring.

The Meteor-M series of weather satellites is operated by Russia. These satellites are part of Russia's efforts to enhance its capabilities in weather monitoring and environmental observations. The Meteor-M satellites contribute to meteorological forecasting, climate monitoring, and other related applications.

The person commonly referred to as the 'Father of Weather Satellites' is Dr. Verner Suomi. Dr. Suomi was a Finnish-American meteorologist and a key figure in the development of meteorological satellite technology. His work laid the foundation for the use of satellites in observing and monitoring Earth's weather patterns. Suomi played a pivotal role in the creation and launch of the first weather satellite, TIROS-1 (Television Infrared Observation Satellite), which was launched by the United States in 1960. 

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series of weather satellites is operated by the United States, specifically by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is responsible for managing and overseeing the GOES program, which provides crucial weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities for the United States and the surrounding regions.

The European satellite mission that studies Earth's climate and wind patterns is Aeolus. Aeolus is a satellite mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) designed to provide global observations of wind profiles in the Earth's atmosphere. It carries a powerful Doppler wind lidar instrument, known as Aladin (Atmospheric Laser Doppler Instrument), which measures wind speed at different altitudes by observing the backscattered signals from atmospheric particles.