Its name was derived from that of its oversight agency, the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA).

It was launched atop a Delta rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The spacecraft had a mass of 132 kilograms (291 lb) at the time of launch.

These cloud cover pictures were used by meteorologists for use in weather forecasting and analysis.

The satellite provided useful cloud pictures for more than four years before the camera systems were placed in standby mode on March 20, 1970.