The GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) series of weather satellites is at the backbone of our National Weather Service’s monitoring and forecasting efforts. It was on October 16, 1975 when the first GOES satellite was launched.
The GOES satellites are designed to remain geosynchronous orbit (they remain over the same point on the Earth) 22,240 miles above the equator. The series are stabilized so that their cameras are always pointed at the Earth, so they are able to transmit frequent pictures back to forecasters.
The satellites can produce both visible and infrared photographs of cloud structure, calculate surface temperatures, display amounts of atmospheric water vapor present and make soundings of the vertical thermal profiles of the atmosphere.
There are five GOES satellites currently in operation (GOES 9-13). GOES-13 was launched on May 20th of this and transmitted its first picture on June 23, 2006. The satellite is still going through its six month check out period.
Currently, GOES-9 is a backup currently on loan to Japan. GOES-10 is being repositioned over South America to provide full time coverage for the countries of that continent. GOES-11 (also known as GOES-WEST) is positioned above 1355W longitude, providing coverage for the Pacific and western U.S. GOES-12 (or GOES-EAST) is positioned above 75W, providing coverage for the Atlantic and eastern U.S.
The GOES-R series of satellites will first be launched in 2012. Those satellites will be able to scan five times faster than the current satellites, providing even more data for forecasters and research.
The GOES satellites are designed to remain geosynchronous orbit (they remain over the same point on the Earth) 22,240 miles above the equator. The series are stabilized so that their cameras are always pointed at the Earth, so they are able to transmit frequent pictures back to forecasters.
The satellites can produce both visible and infrared photographs of cloud structure, calculate surface temperatures, display amounts of atmospheric water vapor present and make soundings of the vertical thermal profiles of the atmosphere.
There are five GOES satellites currently in operation (GOES 9-13). GOES-13 was launched on May 20th of this and transmitted its first picture on June 23, 2006. The satellite is still going through its six month check out period.
Currently, GOES-9 is a backup currently on loan to Japan. GOES-10 is being repositioned over South America to provide full time coverage for the countries of that continent. GOES-11 (also known as GOES-WEST) is positioned above 1355W longitude, providing coverage for the Pacific and western U.S. GOES-12 (or GOES-EAST) is positioned above 75W, providing coverage for the Atlantic and eastern U.S.
The GOES-R series of satellites will first be launched in 2012. Those satellites will be able to scan five times faster than the current satellites, providing even more data for forecasters and research.