The first meteorological satellite was

A meteorological satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. These satellites can be polar orbiting (covering the entire Earth) or geostationary(hovering over the same spot).  They are used to detect the development and movement of storm systems and cloud patterns. 

Key Points

• TIROS-I refers to Television Infrared Observation Satellite.
• It was the world's first weather satellite. 
• It was launched in April 1960. 
• TIROS imaged large swaths of the Earth's surface, allowing forecasters and scientists to see directly for the first time the large-scale features of the earth's weather systems.
• It operated for nearly three months. 
• By the mid-1960s, the civilian TIROS program launched a series of satellites to provide routine, daily weather observations.
• The program is still in operation today and, in conjunction with other weather satellites, has made space-based weather observations a commonplace of contemporary life.

Additional Information

• TRMM which is Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission was a joint space mission between NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA). It was designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall. It was launched on 27 November 1997 from Tanegashima, Japan.
• MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a satellite-based sensor used for earth and climate measurements. There are two MODIS sensors, one on board the TERRA satellite and the other on the AQUA satellite.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is an American scientific and regulatory agency that forecasts weather monitors oceanic, and atmospheric conditions, and conducts deep-sea exploration.

Hence TIROS-I was the first meteorological satellite.