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National Satellite and Information Service

Geostationary OperationalEnvironmental Satellites

(GOES)

Mary E. KiczaDeputy Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

May 1, 2006

4th GOES User's Conference

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AGENDA

• NOAA Geostationary Satellite History

• Operational Status

• GOES-N Launch Activities

• GOES-10 Support to South America

• 2005 Accomplishments

NOAA’s Operational Environmental Satellite Constellation

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NOAA Geostationary Satellite History

1974-1982

NASA's Synchronous Meteorological Satellites (SMS) 1 & 2 • Became NOAA’s GOES-1 through GOES-3 • Geostationary satellite experiment begun in 1966• Limited operational capability

• Observed earth only 10% of the time• Monitored cataclysmic weather events

• Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer (VISSR) • Full-disk day and night imagery of clouds

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NOAA Geostationary Satellite History

1980-1996

• Added vertical sounding – First geostationary satellite to provide vertical atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles • Imaging and sounding instruments could not operate simultaneously• GOES-7 carried experimental search & rescue payload providing near- instantaneous detection of emergency distress signals

GOES-4 through GOES-7

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NOAA Geostationary Satellite History

1994-Present

• Three-axis stabilized spacecraft with separate imager & sounder • Provides simultaneous imaging and sounding, 100% of the time – visual and infrared• Receives data from world-wide in situ sensors: free-floating balloons, buoys and remote automatic data collection stations around the world

GOES-8 through GOES-12

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NOAA Geostationary Satellite History2006 - Present

• Simultaneous and independent imaging and sounding allows more frequent imaging • “Stare” capability added• Improved pointing accuracy and less thermal distortion• Flexible scan control allows for improved short- term weather forecasts in local areas• Improved power subsystem permits uninterrupted operations during eclipse periods

GOES-N through GOES-P

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GOES Constellation

• GOES I-M (8-12)* Series: Operational since 1994

• GOES N-P Series:

– GOES-N: Launch date no earlier than May 18, 2006

– GOES-O: In storage

– GOES-P: In assembly phase

• GOES R Series: In Program Definition and Risk Reduction Phase

* Note: satellites are labeled with letters on the ground and changed to numbers on-orbit

GOES-10135o West

GOES-1275o West

On orbit spare

GOES-10135o West

GOES-1275o West

On orbit spare

Two satellites and on-orbit spare

N

S

SubsatellitePoint

Equator

22,300 Mi

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GOES Mission

GOES East GOES West

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Severe Weather Outbreaks &Tornadic Events

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GOES Operational Status

• GOES-9: Launched May 23, 1995

– Status: Back-up spacecraft located at 155° West Longitude

– Partially mission-capable & nearing end of life

• GOES-10: Launched April 25, 1997

– Status: Operational as GOES West at 135° West Longitude

– Will begin drift maneuver to 60° West Longitude in support South American coverage following successful GOES-N launch and checkout

• GOES-11: Launched May 3, 2000

– Status: On-orbit spare located at 114° West Longitude

– Replacement for GOES-10 at 135° West Longitude location following GOES-10 drift and GOES-N launch and check-out

• GOES-12: Launched July 23, 2001

– Status: Operational as GOES-East at 75° West Longitude

– Sounder filter wheel running slower than normal – ground software modification under consideration

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SpacecraftPlanned Launch Dates

GOES-N18 May

2006

GOES-O Apr 2008

GOES-P Oct 2009

GOES-N Series Planned Launches

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GOES-N Launch and Checkout• Launch scheduled for May 18, 2006

– Window: 2214-2314 GMT (6:14-7:14 p.m. EDT)

– Launch vehicle: Delta IV

– Flight Readiness Review – May 12

– Launch Readiness Review – May 17

– Launch vehicle and spacecraft are “Go”

• Post-Launch Test – Two major phases– Bus & Payload Activation & Characterization Test -- 32 days

• Instrument activation

• Spacecraft bus testing

– System performance and operations testing – 148 days

• Image navigation and registration (INR)

• Radiometric calibration

• Start of station keeping cycle

• Spacecraft placed into storage at conclusion of post-launch test

• NOAA begins mission operations approximately 204 days after launch

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Integrated Global Observing System

Sustained

Integrated

Comprehensive

India INSATU.S. GOES

Global

Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

• Membership open to all countries

– 60 countries (including the EC) are now represented

• International organizations are participants

– 43 organizations are now represented

• Organized into 5 subgroups

• Established GEO Secretariat

• Established Implementation Plan Task Team

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GOES-10 Support South America

• Agreement between NOAA and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Association #3 – Nov 2005

• Objectives– Allow Region 3 members to optimize detection, forecast and warning of severe

weather events

– Strengthen professional growth and training opportunities

– Improve data reception

• Regional Benefits

– Enhance WMO’s World Weather Watch Global Observing System

– Help limit effects of natural disasters in South America – primarily flooding

– Improve energy and water resource management

• Implementation

– GOES-10 will be drifted to 60° West Longitude to provide sensor coverage

• Contingent upon successful launch and activation of GOES-N

• GOES-10 could be recalled if GOES constellation should experience failures

– Operations planned to begin about October 2006

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GOES Program 2005 Accomplishments

• Operational spacecraft – Continues to provide vital data– Played significant role during 2005 hurricane season

• Unprecedented coverage – one image every five minutes for five days

• GOES image provided in real time to airborne NOAA P-3 crew performing Katrina mission

– First-ever South American support planned for later in 2006

• GOES-N Series – Ready for launch– Upgraded power subsystem – significantly reduced eclipse period outages

– Improved pointing accuracy – more consistent imagery

– Increased quantity – 1400 more imagery products; 500 more sounder products per year

• GOES-R Series – Acquisition program underway– Program Definition and Risk Reduction Phase in progress

– Successful Systems Requirements Review

– Will provide significant increases in quantity and quality of data

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GOES Tracks Hurricane Katrina

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