🛰️ SATELLITE · HISTORICAL RECORD
ITOS A
Retired 1971ITOS A (NORAD 4793, COSPAR 1970-106A) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 19 Aug 1971, launched on 11 Dec 1970 on the ITOS A mission. It was operated by NOAA as part of the ITOS programme. The spacecraft was built by RCA on the Tiros M bus, with a mass of 309 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.
1970
launched
1971
retired
56
years on orbit
309
kg mass
Lifecycle
Launched11 Dec 1970 · on the ITOS A mission
Operational19 Aug 1971 · entered service
Retired19 Aug 1971 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)
Specifications
NORAD ID4793
COSPAR1970-106A
TypeSatellite
OperatorNOAA
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerRCA
BusTiros M
Mass309 kg
ProgrammeITOS
CategoryMET
OrbitLEO (LEO/S)
Altitude1,425 × 1,474 km
Inclination102.0°
Frequently asked questions
What happened to ITOS A?
ITOS A was retired from service around 19 Aug 1971 after launching in 1970. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.
Who operated and built ITOS A?
ITOS A was operated by NOAA and built by RCA (US).
Launched together
Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.