Nimbus 1, the first in a series of second-generation meteorological research-and-development satellites, was designed to serve as a stabilized, earth-oriented platform for the testing of advanced meteorological sensor systems and for collecting meteorological data. August 28, 1964 at 07:56 UTC · Launch Successful Thor SLV-2 Agena B — United States Air Force, to Polar Orbit Space Launch Complex 2E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA The world's 354th orbital launch attempt, and 61st of 1964. Data: Launch Library 2, The Space Devs.