SeaSat

Launched on the 27th of June 1987, Seasat was the first Earth-orbiting satellite designed for remote sensing of the Earth's oceans. Its purpose was to help scientists gain a better understanding of Earth’s oceans and seas and it was the largest satellite NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory had built and it had the first spaceborne SAR (synthetic-aperture radar). By measuring sea-surface winds, temperatures, wave heights, sea ice and oceanic topography Seasat gave scientists knowledge usable in many different fields on Earth, from tsunami warnings to deep-sea exploration to fishing. The mission ended unpredictably after Seasat had orbited Earth for 105 days due to a short circuit in the electrical system. However, Seasat was viewed as nothing but a success showcasing the abilities and practical appliances to satellites.