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ITOS F

Retired 1976

ITOS F (NORAD 6920, COSPAR 1973-086A) is a retired US satellite, withdrawn from service around 31 Aug 1976, launched on 6 Nov 1973 on the ITOS F mission.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 340 kg. Historical record from Orbital Radar's satellite archive, cross-referenced with the live satellite catalogue.

1973
launched
1976
retired
53
years on orbit
340
kg mass

Lifecycle

Launched6 Nov 1973 · on the ITOS F mission
Operational31 Aug 1976 · entered service
Retired31 Aug 1976 · end of operational service
StatusOn orbit (not live-tracked)

Specifications

NORAD ID6920
COSPAR1973-086A
TypeSatellite
OperatorNOAA
Country / StateUS
ManufacturerRCA
BusTiros M
Mass340 kg
ProgrammeITOS
CategoryMET
OrbitLEO (LEO/S)
Altitude1,501 × 1,512 km
Inclination102.1°

Frequently asked questions

What happened to ITOS F?

ITOS F was retired from service around 31 Aug 1976 after launching in 1973. It is no longer operational but remains catalogued.

Who operated and built ITOS F?

ITOS F was operated by NOAA and built by RCA (US).

Historical record from the Orbital Radar satellite archive. Sources & methodology: data sources. Accessed 2026-09-06.