Esther: The first hurricane viewed from space
Tiros 3 was the United States’ first attempt at developing a satellite system for space-based weather observations, and it’s famous for capturing the first photographed image of a hurricane from space. The hurricane of note was Hurricane Esther, a significant tropical storm during the 1961 Atlantic hurricane season. The satellite’s photographs of Esther were groundbreaking at the time and provided meteorologists with a unique view of the structure of hurricanes, leading to advancements in the understanding of storm development and tracking. This capability has since become a critical tool in weather prediction and monitoring, significantly aiding in disaster preparedness and response.
