NASA initiates the Nimbus satellite project, designated as the U.S.'s principal satellite platform for remote-sensing research for the improvement of weather forecasting. Seven Nimbus spacecraft are successfully placed into sun-synchronous near-polar orbits with each satellite providing twice-daily global coverage.

Nimbus is the first to use a three-axis stabilized platform, which allows instruments to remain pointed at the earth. Successful tests of more sophisticated visible, infrared, and microwave remote sensing devices lead to adaptations for operational polar and geostationary platforms (TIROS and NOAA (polar), ATS, and later GOES series).