The generic name of seven meteorological satellites launched by NASA from 1964 to 1978 to test advanced systems and collect Earth's atmospheric data. The craft were each launched in near-polar, Sun-synchronous orbits, and carried such instruments as infrared radiometers and microwave spectrometers. Nimbus 1 was launched in August 1964 and Nimbus 7 in October 1978. The latter's experiments included using the coastal zone colour scanner (CZCS) to map chlorophyll in coastal waters and ocean currents.