When was the first weather satellite launched?

TIROS-1, short for Television Infrared Observation Satellite, was launched on 1 April 1960 and marked the start of weather observation from space. It carried small television cameras that photographed cloud patterns and relayed the images to ground stations. Although it operated for only about 78 days, it proved that satellites could provide a valuable, sweeping view of Earth weather systems. The success led to a series of increasingly capable weather satellites. Today satellites are essential for tracking storms, forecasting weather, and monitoring the climate.