GOES-R, the first of NOAA’s highly advanced geostationary weather satellites, lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 6:42 p.m. EST Nov 19. The satellite will boost the nation’s weather observation network and NOAA’s prediction capabilities, leading to more accurate and timely forecasts, watches and warnings – indeed this is huge news for the weather networks and meteorological buffs out there! The GOES-R series will make available 34 atmospheric, land, ocean, solar and space weather products for the forecasting and warning community… and perhaps a huge plus for app and webmap developers!
About the GOES-R satellite:
GOES’ geostationary status (in which the satellite is always in the same position with respect to the rotating Earth) allows it to hover over one position on the Earth’s surface and provide constant vigil for the atmospheric “triggers” for severe weather conditions such as tornadoes, flash floods, hail storms and hurricanes.
The advanced spacecraft and instrument technology used on the GOES-R series will result in more timely and accurate forecasts and warnings. It will improve support for the detection and observations of meteorological phenomena that directly affect public safety, protection of property, and ultimately, economic health and development.
What?
GOES-R will help meteorologists observe and predict local weather events, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, fog, flash floods, and other severe weather. In addition, GOES-R will monitor hazards such as aerosols, dust storms, volcanic eruptions, and forest fires and will also be used for space weather, oceanography, climate monitoring, in-situ data collection, and for search and rescue.
Who?
The GOES-R series is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA. The GOES-R satellite, the first of the series, will provide continuous imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western Hemisphere and space weather monitoring.
When?
The GOES-R spacecraft is designed for 10 years of on-orbit operation preceded by up to five years of on-orbit storage. The satellite will be able to operate through periodic station-keeping and momentum adjust maneuvers, which will allow for near-continuous instrument observations.
There will be about five months of orbit checkouts before the spacecraft becomes operational
Where?
For developers and others looking at leveraging the data from the bird, see information about all the data products that will be made available
GOES Related Links
- GOES-R photos from NASA Kennedy
- GOES-R website
- Today’s space weather (NOAA)
- GOES-R Launch Blog
- GOES-R Launch Team
- http://www.goes-r.gov
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