Nimbus B (original) (raw)

Nimbus B was a meteorological satellite launched as part of the Nimbus program. It was released on May 18, 1968 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California, by means of a Thor-Agena launch vehicle, together with the satellite. Nimbus B never achieved orbit because of a malfunction in the booster guidance system forced the destruction of the spacecraft and its payload during launch. The Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator SNAP-19 RTG was salvaged from the water, refurbished and later flown on Nimbus 3.